A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us a question about a double flight cancellation on a British Airways itinerary ex-Toronto and how the EU Air Passenger Rights legislation deals with this.
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You can access BA here.
The EC 261/2004 doesn’t apply here as the reader is not departing from an EU/EEA country or on an EU/EEA airline. The UK, however, has implemented an identical UK 261 regulation to the EC 261/2004 that does.
The reader’s first flight was canceled, and he was rebooked on the flight leaving the following day, which was also canceled.
The reader should file for compensation of 520 GBP for each of these two flights and accommodation and meal expenses incurred in Toronto. The Duty to Care always applies regardless of the reason behind the delay or cancellation.
The reader should file the compensation request per UK 261 with BA and see what their response is. The BA can only deny the payment if it can prove that these cancellations were due to genuinely extraordinary circumstances.
If they refuse to pay for reasons that cannot be considered extraordinary circumstances, they should then file with the CEDR or MCOL. BA often refuses to pay valid claims for dubious reasons, and the CEDR is then usually the best option.
BTW if you Google UK 261, the first 10 or so Google hits are for claim agencies that you should avoid (they take 30% to 40% of the claim amount). There is a Citizens Advice website (access here) with sound advice.