Hi. British Airways just cancelled our flight #2026 on this Wednesday, NOvember 5th. They have booked us on an earlier flight #2024 same day. It is terrible inconvient (ie: childcare, 6 hour layover in London). Is there anything I can do. They said they would refund my ticket if I wanted them to. It's just makes me mad that they can cancel. Now we are on a crowded plane, they benefit, I don't. Any suggestions. Do the airlines have do anything when they cancel flights.

They put you on another flight the same day - so unless you just want to be unhappy, accept that you will have a longer layover.

"Is there anything I can do" - yes deicde to go and enjoy it, or take up their offer of a refund.

well, they did the same thing to me only a much MORE inconvenient change and I had a big hassle getting a change and no offer of refund.. so yours doesn't sound that bad.

If they changed the flight time, what else do you want them to do other than reroute you or offer a refund? they aren't going to schedule a flight just for you.

I don't know if this is realistic or not, but why not ask for a free upgrade to Business class? This would make the trip with children more comfortable.

also could you fly to another departure city in usa and fly from there at a convenient time for you??

All these suggestions like asking for upgrades, etc., are wonderful but I suspect you've already figured out that all the OTHER passengers who were on your original flight are going to be thinking the same thing.
I think you have little recourse unless you want the refund, which you don't, other than to accept the fact that the airlines get to make the rules.

PS; I'd really like to meet these people who bought the cheapest possible ticket and claim they've marched up the counter and asked for/demanded an upgrade and gotten one without using any FF miles, paying any extra money, etc., etc. With airline business as it is these days I somehow suspect these folks are very few and far between.

Have that person who is traveling with you share some of this grief..that might help, too.

It's simple:

The conditions of carriage clearly state that the airline has the right to cancel any flight for any reason. In return you have 2 choices. Get a full refund or accept the new flights.

If you have status with the airline, they may throw a bone. Either some miles in your account for the inconvienience or possibly an upgrade. That's an extra, NOT a given.

Your decision.

Unfortunately, Joanne, that's the way the game is played.

On our recent trip, our flight was cancelled and we were not informed. When I called about the schedule, it turned out that we hadn't been assigned seats on the new flight. Furthermore, the equipment was changed to a smaller, less comfortable plane. We also had to endure a four-hour layover in Philadelphia. At least you can get to see London for a few hours.

one of the phenomena of post 9/11 is that Americans are traveling less often. Flights are very full because airlines are reducing the number of flights to save the cost of empty seats on underutilized flights.

I'd hurry up and see what seats are still available so you don't end up in the middle or in the last row. THAT would induce me to take the refund.
Try calling and being very nice, it's more incentive for them to try to make things up to you.

Are you flying BA from London to your final destination, and is there an earlier BA flight? If so, maybe BA could put you on that so that your layover is shorter. Otherwise, as everyone has said, that's the way it goes....

We had a similar problem but were able to change our connecting flight to an earlier flight as it had all been booked on BA. You might try asking them to assist you on arranging your next flight (even if it isn't on BA). Good luck!