With snow predicted in the forecast across the United Kingdom, British Airways decided to cancel 80 flights on Monday and Tuesday, affecting an estimated 10,000 passengers. When the snow didn’t fall, canceled passengers took to social media to express their frustration – but were told they would not receive reimbursement.
Fearing the worst in inclement weather, British Airways canceled 80 scheduled flights set for this week from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), but experienced one major bump: The snow never came down. Britain’s Daily Express reports the airline fielded a number of complaints on social media, but told passengers that despite the error in the forecast no compensation would be offered.
With meteorologists calling for snow to fall on Monday and Tuesday, February 5 and 6, 2018, officials for the British flag carrier made the call to cancel 80 flights, leaving an estimated 10,000 passengers without a flight. However, while some areas of the island received snow, others did not, leaving flyers wondering if they would be compensated for their inconvenience.
In multiple messages sent to British Airways online, flyers expressed their frustration and asked for compensation for the canceled flights. In repeated responses, the airline apologized for the cancelled flights, but said that there was nothing they could do but rebook them on future flights.
“If you cancel flights in advance for ‘adverse weather conditions,’ and it turns out the weather is fine…presume you’re entitled to compensation?” James Townsend, one of the affected flyers, asked British Airways on Twitter. “My flight to Sweden was cancelled and ye the weather is fine?”
“Sorry, but you wouldn’t be entitled to compensation for weather related cancellations,” the airline responded.
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