The BA "Helpline" said even if their were seats available, they couldn't book me on it. (Is this a lie? Do they have to? If so, under what regs?)
The regulations are stated here( CH is considered EU for this purpose), but there are many weasel clauses that they can invoke :
Cancellation | AUC Home
Extraordinary circumstances and Regulation EC261/2004*
Regulation EC261/2004 states circumstances under which airlines must pay compensation to their passengers when their flights are disrupted. But it also says that airlines do not have to pay compensation when an event "has been caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken".
The Regulation also gives the following examples of such circumstances:
* political instability
* bad weather
* security risks
* unexpected flight safety shortcomings
* strikes that affect the operation of an air carrier
* air traffic management decisions
The EU and its regulations are about as useful as a paper fireguard, but a common sense view on this would lead a reasonable person to the conclusion that they should book inconvenienced pax onto the next alternative flight. This may well cost the ticketing airline money but commercial goodwill dictates that you do it. If the alternative flight has fewer seats on it than pax wanting to use it (normally this would be the case) then a hierarchical order has to be applied. Criteria would be passenger value (FF status, fare paid, ongoing connections, to name just a few) and then it will often be the case that the mouthy will get on and the meek won't.