Late Airport Transfer Caused Missed Flight
- Passenger paid for a premium car transfer service to the airport.
- The transfer was late and caused the passenger to miss their flight.
- British Airways refused to assist as the car firm was a third party.
In May, a couple's holiday to Lake Como, Italy, took an unexpected turn after they encountered significant issues with their travel arrangements. They booked a hotel and a private premium car transfer through the British Airways (BA) website, costing £432. However, upon missing their flight due to heavy traffic, they found themselves over £1,000 out of pocket for replacement flights and were left without the Avios points they would have earned from the missed return flight. Despite their attempts to resolve the situation, BA directed them to the car company for complaints, refusing to disclose the name of the firm involved. The couple argued that since the transfer was booked as an add-on through BA, the airline should bear some responsibility for the service provided. They were also surprised to learn that BA would not accommodate them on another flight that day, citing their payment method of Avios points as a reason. The car company claimed that the heavy traffic constituted a 'force majeure' event, exempting them from refund obligations. This left the couple with numerous unanswered questions about their travel experience. After further inquiries, BA has agreed to refund £300 in cash and provide 8,500 Avios points, offering some relief amid their travel troubles. The couple hopes this resolution will help mitigate their financial losses from the disrupted holiday.