Stranded

[Ticktock]

I wonder whether these policies really save money or generate profit, considering the loss of goodwill from customers and the cost of employing people to argue with disgruntled customers.

I agree. Over the past few years I've used BA and partners for multiple business trips to Australia, US, Singapore, China, around Europe, of course my weekly commute, and I'm using them for my holiday in a couple of weeks - the main reason was because a previous client used them to fly me out somewhere and I started collecting the Exec Club points.
I don't actually like BA all that much - I find their staff less friendly than other airlines, I face regular delays on my weekly flights (as I might with any other airline) - the only benefits I have is that I reached Silver a couple of years ago and managed to retain it. If I don't fly enough to retain it next year then I'm perfectly happy to switch to airlines with other schemes - them going "the extra mile" might have made me reconsider that.

 

[DirtyDog]

That it was BA surprises me. I would expect them to be more helpful.

No, really I would. I'm not joking.

I've used them quite a bit this year and have found the customer service to be excellent.

I took them to small claims court a couple of years back because they cancelled my flight and refused compensation. A week before the case, they offered to settle in vouchers. Two days before the case, they paid up in cash.

Originally all I wanted was the compensation due, but in the end they ended up paying almost double because of added costs.

 

[fullyautomatix]

I took them to small claims court a couple of years back because they cancelled my flight and refused compensation. A week before the case, they offered to settle in vouchers. Two days before the case, they paid up in cash.

Originally all I wanted was the compensation due, but in the end they ended up paying almost double because of added costs.

Really ? That surprises me. Years ago when the volcano exploded in Iceland and they cancelled the flights I got a refund immediately. What was the story behind your cancellation ?

 

[Clare@InTouch]

Yep pretty standard, if you miss the outbound flight they assume you are not there so don't need to come back

That happened to me once, and even though I was stood at the airline help desk saying "I'm getting a different flight out, but can I still get the same return please?" they flat out refused to do so. I suspect it was because they thought they could then sell my return seat and make more money out of it. Pants.

 

[KentPhilip]

So what happens if you have a return ticket, and (genuinely) miss your outbound flight, and instead make your way to the destination anyway (say by hitchhiking). Are you saying that they would refuse to honour the return ticket when you check in to return?

 

[Ticktock]

So what happens if you have a return ticket, and (genuinely) miss your outbound flight, and instead make your way to the destination anyway (say by hitchhiking). Are you saying that they would refuse to honour the return ticket when you check in to return?

In my case, yes. The booking no longer shows in the Exec Club list of bookings. If I search using the booking reference it says all flights have already flown. Having called them they say it's been cancelled and I need to buy another ticket.

 

[DirtyDog]

Really ? That surprises me. Years ago when the volcano exploded in Iceland and they cancelled the flights I got a refund immediately. What was the story behind your cancellation ?

First excuse was that there wasn't a plane.

Then there were "technical issues" with the plane.

Then there was a weather delay.

Eventually, the full excuse became that there was a technical problem, then they hit a weather delay, then the captain was ill and they didn't have a spare crew because they had let them go home.

They paid about £450 in total.

 

[tarbera]

eeerrmmmm

eeerrmmmm

I'd been flying up and down to Edinburgh every week for the past 6 months, and booking flights about a month in advance each time.
For the past 2 weeks Clientco suddenly asked me to work in their offices down south, and then I'll be moving to their London office for the rest of the contract. I had a return flight booked to go up last Sunday and return this Saturday, but instead I fly up tomorrow, do 2 days in Edinburgh and then clean out my flat and come back.

I called Customer Services to say I wanted to cancel the original Sunday outbound flight only, but wanted to keep the return. They said I'd get a refund of about £49, but there would be an admin fee of £51, so we agreed not to bother cancelling, I'd just book my new outbound flight.
I just went online and have found that my return flight has disappeared from my Exec Club page, and if I search using the booking reference get the message "Sorry, we are unable to display your booking as all the flights have been flown".

All I can think is that because I didn't get on the plane on Saturday they have cancelled my return flight, and of course customer services is now closed so I can't check. I really don't want to be stranded up there - I have a birthday party to go to Saturday night!

Get Client to pay for new flight (lloydes or RBS I presume) they wont have an issue, it they have made you change where you work at short notice

 

[Ticktock]

Get Client to pay for new flight (lloydes or RBS I presume) they wont have an issue, it they have made you change where you work at short notice

No, not a bank. My contracted location is Edinburgh and I've had multiple arguments over expenses with them, like the fact that when I work in the London office they're happy to pay for my train in, but refused to buy flights because "you live down there anyway, so would already be buying a flight". I got tired of arguing and I'm just waiting the contract out now.

If I can't get BA to give me a refund then I think I will be kicking off to get the client to pay.

 

[SimonMac]

That happened to me once, and even though I was stood at the airline help desk saying "I'm getting a different flight out, but can I still get the same return please?" they flat out refused to do so. I suspect it was because they thought they could then sell my return seat and make more money out of it. Pants.

Airlines over book seats anyway, so that would happen if you make the outward journey or not