BA Aircraft Change

[Rwy in Sight]

Just a quick question why you will have issues with entering in the US?

[El Grifo]

Answer to that is, my daughter, resident in LA, the place we were supposed to be heading, checked with the Travel Dept of her "fruity" employers AND with the relevant Immigration Authorities at LAX and was met with a resounding " No Chance" !
Covid you see :-)
El G.

[The Blu Riband]

when is your flight?

[Asturias56]

I think we all have to realise is that any booking made in advance to go anywhere by any means of transport is subject to immediate change. It's very tough sometimes but these are not normal times by any measure. We just have to live through it.

We have a number of trips (personal & business) in planning and some have come off - but we only make bookings at the very last minute to minimise the risks of cancellation. For example getting from N Italy to the KK - train? Aeroplane?? Car??? Its a matter of fine judgement and you have to be prepared just not to go and even lose out on some cash I'm afraid.

[El Grifo]

28th Aug Blu Riband.
The flight hss not been runing for weeks in end and only recommenced this month !
El Grifo

[WHBM]

Originally Posted by Gulf Julliet Papa

To put it simply, it is not the airlines fault you are unable to travel, on a flight that will still go.

Is that really the case though ? When the OP booked, presumably before things kicked off, LHR-LAX would have been a twice daily A380. Now as I understand it they are just running one 787, I don't know even if it is daily any more. Setting aside the aircraft substitution, it's presumably at a different time and possibly a different flight number. They have resized their offering because only Americans, and a limited number of those, are currently allowed in. Fair enough. But you can't really say both of "we have completely reorganised and reduced the timetable" and "the flight is still going". You can't have it both ways.

[aeromech3]

I have an annual travel insurance for which I pay extra for being over 65, also I take medication for arrhythmia and 2 stents, I could pay another £200 and have this condition covered; my flight booked last Nov for this May was cancelled, I got a voucher, I intend to travel when the restrictions in the vacation country are lifted, and my insurance tell me Covid-19 reasons are still covered for that flight, as long as the F.O. list the destination country as exempt when I book again.
El Grifo, were you going to travel without insurance to the USA, as known as most expensive for medical treatment, as well as not use the protection offered by credit cards?
And you wish to be believed that you planned this journey!
Having said that I also had no joy from B.A. for expenses when there flight was Tech and according to them all hotels were full ( Eid) and I had to resort to private overnight accommodation for which I could not produce a bill.

[Beamr]

Sir, if you have a travel insurance, check the T's n C's.
Above you mention that your wife can't fly anymore due to medical reasons (but was "airworthy" at the time of booking), and in many cases that is sufficient for insurance claim (requires a medical).
I've been to a similar situation (a decade ago).

other than that according to your description of situation I really can't see any other option.

[ASRAAMTOO]

Originally Posted by El Grifo

The two major issues are, that due to her Multiple Sclerosis, my wife is now unable to fly. It is a medical issue !
The last 2 Long Hauls have only been possible in the aforementioned seating config.
The other issue is that we would be turned back at US immigration. We are currently not allowed entry.
I assume It would be the responsibility to return us to the UK immediately !
I have offered BA proof of my wife's condition, but it is falling on deaf ears !
El Grifo

I would assume that BA, like any other airline would expect you to have travel insurance that covers you in the event of a medical condition affecting your ability to travel. Such insurance (if taken out pre covid) would also cover you if a change in FCO recomendations or entry requirements occurred.
It is likely of course that your wife's pre existing condition and your age would make it expensive to procure a decent travel insurance policy, particularly when visiting the USA. In such circumstances the only option may be to effectively "roll the dice" and travel without insurance. Personally I would take that risk within Europe as the flights are inexpensive and medical treatment (for now at least) is generally available at an affordable cost. The USA is a different matter.

[ivor toolbox]

Originally Posted by Rwy in Sight

Just a quick question why you will have issues with entering in the US?

There is currently a standing presidential order preventing travel to USA by non visa holders ( ie those that use ESTA visa waiver scheme) and certain classes of visa holder for an indefinite period.

You can read it all at

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

where it come up in a big red box


Ttfn

[ivor toolbox]

Originally Posted by El Grifo

28th Aug Blu Riband.
The flight hss not been runing for weeks in end and only recommenced this month !
El Grifo

You might find this information of some help,
or not, depending on your circumstance

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ne...d-your-rights/

Ttfn

[El Grifo]

Just to put some minds at rest I of course have a pretty expensive yearly travel insurance cover !
They are not interested as they say the flight is still running !
Taking the same line as BA !
Hiding their heads in the sand, hoping I will go away !
Still cannot understand why BA are telling me that the flight is running whilst being in the full knowledge that I am prohibited from using it !!
Same flight, same timings just different aircraft type !
Rock and a hard place folks !!
El Grifo

[Gulf Julliet Papa]

Originally Posted by El Grifo

Still cannot understand why BA are telling me that the flight is running whilst being in the full knowledge that I am prohibited from using it !!

Sorry El Grifo, but the flight IS running. It is YOU that is prohibited to use it. Until you understand that it is running (BA are correct in telling you that it is...I can't see how you can argue that?) then, unfortunately, it is you that is burying their head in the sand. Without that understanding, you are just going to go round in circles.

[El Grifo]

Question is, why do they not say that instead of pretending everything is perfectly fine !
I have explained my travel route and the effort required to reach LHR !
All they come back with it "the flight is still flying"
No advice to abandon my plans. No hint that I would be denied boarding.
Can you imagine the rucus If I went along with their ruse and was denied boarding.
I have kept copies if all coms along with dates and names of those I have talked to by phone !
Not a single whisper about being being denied boarding.
That Stinks !!
El Grifo

[Ray_Y]

Originally Posted by El Grifo

Still cannot understand why BA are telling me that the flight is running whilst being in the full knowledge that I am prohibited from using it !!

I know, this is very hard to understand, and illogic. The world as whole is illogic in many places.

As far as I know this is special to US bound flights, affecting only these. US authorities delegate precheck of passengers to airlines (and ship operators, I bet). Airline shall collect data and presend it to USA. Airline shall check again before boarding if each single passenger fulfils some basic prerequisites (as visa, or ESTA and so on). If any of that fails and travellers show up to immigration, airline can face high penalties and even as last step denial to operate into USA (or being part of visa waiver program, dunno). So any such airline, if they have to choose between you and continue business into USA, it's clear what's more important.

While this is clear, it's still like the risk is with you. No airline I know of will refund you on a non-flex ticket just because USA force them to refuse you to board. Is this fair? Propably not. Is it common? Yes. Are you the only one affected? Certainly not. Happened to me once we had unexpected technical issue with ESTA. Many years ago. No refund, just rebook with higher fee once we were ready again. The world is unfair and illogic sometimes.

[Ray_Y]

Last help, then I'm gone. I looked at that link from user Ivor Toolbox, seems to cover British Law mainly for people booking there

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ne...d-your-rights/

this section covers your case

I've a future trip booked – what are my rights?

And this would confirm what I worried about: Even a voucher is optional, they are not obligated to.

[Hartington]

What FLIGHT NUMBER were you booked on?
What flight number ARE you booked on?
Have the numbers changed in either direction?

[Not Long Here]

Surely if your wife is no longer medically allowed to fly (that was stated in post #8) then that's the argument for the insurance company. Nothing to do with Covid and even if Covid didn't exist and the world was as this time last year, then she still couldn't fly.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by Hartington

What FLIGHT NUMBER were you booked on?
What flight number ARE you booked on?
Have the numbers changed in either direction?

The OP's first post suggests it's only the aircraft type that has changed, in which case it's presumably BA280 (outbound), which is the only currently operating flight on the route.

It's been typically operated by a B789 in recent years, but was a B744 last winter and was presumably planned to be an A380 for W20, pre-COVID. So, albeit that it's now going to remain a B789, BA could argue that the flight is still operating.

[Chauderon]

USA Entry

From recent experience, you will be asked for your green card at check in. Without that or being the spouse of a citizen in the US, you won’t be permitted on the outbound flight.