British Airways is coming under fire after axing a one-hour flight. This disruption ruined the onward travel plans of about 40 passengers returning from a Tui river cruise in Switzerland. The attack hit on the very day these people were about to board and head home. Instead, they found themselves isolated and angry, fighting against enormous lag times.
The airline then added the flights for the cruise bundle. Once it did cancel the return flight, that left most travelers with a long backup across multiple states with extreme inconvenience. British Airways eventually rebooked the passengers on a flight not scheduled to leave for 36 hours. This reversal increased their wait time and made their itinerary much more difficult.
British Airways has denied liability for paying the £220 compensation that is legally due to each affected passenger. This decision has violated the very requirements imposed by EC regulations. Based on these regulations, passengers can claim compensation under certain conditions, especially in the event of flight cancellations. Recent judicial interpretations have helped provide guidance as to when just compensation is appropriate. This has only served to deepen the frustration of those most affected by the shocking cancellation.
British Airways’ ongoing refusal to follow these regulations has caused many to question their dedication to overall customer service. Once lauded as “the world’s favorite airline,” the company is under intense scrutiny. It raises questions about how effectively it handles customer issues and adheres to regulatory benchmarks.
As passengers continue to wait for updates from British Airways, many say they are disgusted with how such an ordeal was handled. Thousands have already raised their concerns. They do not have to suffer from the false blame that comes when they are left unsupported through a challenging transition they didn’t cause.