Right - thats what I thought.

Is it ever OK to check in one hour before an international flight?? I think thats where all the problems began.

It is highly unlikely that the staff in Abuja were BA employees, more than likely the check in was run by a local ground support agency. Very difficult to prove as it's your word against theres.

Like AD says, one hour for check in on an International Flight is cutting it fine.

As for the fares rip off, it would not be the first time this has happened in Nigeria - more the norm.

What is the listed cut-off time for check-in/bag drop at Abuja airport? BA doesn't say on their website but I can see that both KLM and Lufthansa have it listed at 90 minutes. If it's 90 minutes with BA as well you were simply late for your flight.

can you call 0800 number from abroad?

The BA website says you must have a boarding pass by the time check in closes but gives no time although it can be accessed via Manage my Booking.

The other 4 passengers could have completed online check in prior to arrival at the airport - I , like others, don't believe that 1hr 15mins is enough for check in on an international flight and the passenger was simply late.

One post whinger.

1st post, complains about one alleged incident 3 months ago and another 2 years ago.

Additionally it all happens in a nation with a terrible reputation for financial scams.

Smells fishier than Billingsgate.

Hi,

A couple of issues here...

As to the check-in part.. To me this all hinges on what's their formal rule and what time did this all happen..

In most cases the "deadline" for airlines means you are DONE completely with ALL the parts of check-in.. That includes having you physically checked-in, boarding passes issued, *and* your bags weighed/tagged and accepted..

So, to me, IF you didn't get all this done, before the posted deadline, then I think BA would be right.. but again, I'd like to know exactly how does BA define this by not only task, but timeline.

The next part about BA (va the 0800 line) allegedly telling the OP that BA would reimburse them for the funds paid for the date change.. IF that what was in fact told to the OP by BA staff, then I think BA has some level of ownership over that answer..

This part is hard to assess as we'd need to hear the *whole* conversation to know.. I can see it as being exactly as the OP notes.. but.... I can *also* see this as being a misinterpretation or the like.. So, on this part, as I see it, specifics do matter.

The part about 2010 travel to me is kind of background noise and not really germane this *this* case.. For the OP it's pretty clear that they've used it (and perhaps understandably so) to form a "it's always like this with BA" opinion.. but the reality is that from a factual point of view, the 2010 case has no real bearing on the current case as the OP presents it.

Travel Safe,

I just looked at FlightStats for that flight and it gets interesting.

It lists BA82 with, as the OP says, a scheduled departure time of 10:35. But it lists an ACTUAL departure time of 10:15. That's 20 minutes EARLIER than scheduled.

=====

(BA) British Airways 82 - (ABV) Abuja, NG to (LHR) London, EN, GB

Status: Landed - On-time

DEPARTURE ARRIVAL

Scheduled Departure: 10:35 AM - Thu Oct-11-2012

Actual Departure: 10:15 AM - Thu Oct-11-2012

=====

So there's a discrepancy there between the scheduled and actual departure time. Obviously I have no clue as to which one was at the time correct, but it's something to research further. Especially, as the OP supposedly checked in at 10:20.

IF BA did still have a scheduled departure time of 10:35, and refused you check in at 10:20, AND you can show that the minimum check in time at ABJ is T-60, then you have a case. Not just for the refund of your new ticket, but additional compensation (€600) EU261 for DENIED boarding.

eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do…