British Airways Flights
Dec 20th, 2010, 04:23 AM
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British Airways Flights
British Airways is still having trouble with cancelations at Heathrow. My flight from Newark to Heathrow was canceled. Does this mean the return flight is canceled? The ticketing included the roundtrip. Their website is so busy I can't get through to rebook. Any specific info about the airport being open or closed?
Dec 20th, 2010, 04:34 AM
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The airport is open and flights are taking off, but the schedule is severely disrupted.
Yesterday, for example, there were no arrivals allowed because there are no free stands.
Long-haul departures are being prioritised at the moment. It's not impossible that your return flight might still be operating.
Yesterday, for example, there were no arrivals allowed because there are no free stands.
Long-haul departures are being prioritised at the moment. It's not impossible that your return flight might still be operating.
Dec 20th, 2010, 08:31 AM
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Thomas,
The situation at LHR is changing by the hour but is currently very difficult. Only 1 of the 2 runways is open and the airport operator BAA is telling people not to travel to Terminals 1 or 3. Some flights are still operating (mainly long haul), but there are MANY cancellations and long delays to outgoing flights.
If the BA website is not working, check the latest info at the www.heathrowairport.com, www.bbc.co.uk/news, www.skynews.com
I don't know how critical is was to you to get to London, but the signs are not good I'm afraid. Once the BA website is working again, you should be able to get a refund or rearrange travel for another date. Incidentally the situatio is equally as bad at Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Frankfurt - it's not just a Heathrow problem although the volume of traffic going through the airport leaves little margin when things go wrong.
The situation at LHR is changing by the hour but is currently very difficult. Only 1 of the 2 runways is open and the airport operator BAA is telling people not to travel to Terminals 1 or 3. Some flights are still operating (mainly long haul), but there are MANY cancellations and long delays to outgoing flights.
If the BA website is not working, check the latest info at the www.heathrowairport.com, www.bbc.co.uk/news, www.skynews.com
I don't know how critical is was to you to get to London, but the signs are not good I'm afraid. Once the BA website is working again, you should be able to get a refund or rearrange travel for another date. Incidentally the situatio is equally as bad at Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Frankfurt - it's not just a Heathrow problem although the volume of traffic going through the airport leaves little margin when things go wrong.
Dec 20th, 2010, 08:56 AM
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Heathrow operates at 98% capacity, so there is no room when things go wrong. When you consider that there is a flight every 40 seconds, even just closing the runway for 20 minutes for de-icing costs dozens of flights.
On top of this, the closures of other European airports mean scheduled departures cannot leave even if Heathrow are in a position to dispatch (which they have been), because there is nowhere for the short haul flights to land at the other end.
Regarding Eurostar, there is no extra capacity there either at the moment, and they are asking anyone who doesn't have a valid ticket not to turn up on the off chance, because there is no chance of getting a place. Even people with confirmed tickets are having to queue for hours - many outside in the cold. Again, there is not much that can be done from this end as very severe weather in Northern France is necessitating speed reductions that are disrupting the schedules.
On top of this, the closures of other European airports mean scheduled departures cannot leave even if Heathrow are in a position to dispatch (which they have been), because there is nowhere for the short haul flights to land at the other end.
Regarding Eurostar, there is no extra capacity there either at the moment, and they are asking anyone who doesn't have a valid ticket not to turn up on the off chance, because there is no chance of getting a place. Even people with confirmed tickets are having to queue for hours - many outside in the cold. Again, there is not much that can be done from this end as very severe weather in Northern France is necessitating speed reductions that are disrupting the schedules.
Dec 20th, 2010, 10:09 AM
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As to your 2nd question. No - it does not mean that your return is canceled. You still have a valid ticket NY to London and back, and BA will put you on the first available flight. That could be days from now, or longer, with all the other passengers needing rebooking.
You have the option of getting a full refund (including the round trip), or waiting it out and getting the next available flight.
Several colleagues of mine who are stuck in Europe have decided to just rebook their home leave back to the US for a later time and stay where they are for Christmas. Not ideal, but to them it's better than waiting days at airports.
You have the option of getting a full refund (including the round trip), or waiting it out and getting the next available flight.
Several colleagues of mine who are stuck in Europe have decided to just rebook their home leave back to the US for a later time and stay where they are for Christmas. Not ideal, but to them it's better than waiting days at airports.
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