As per others on here, they took my money for one set of flights and then unilaterally changed the dates and times and asked me to pay for the changes, blaming the airline.
However, this is illegal, as this is considered a "Significant Change" under law:
Significant Changes
A significant change is one that substantially alters the main terms of your contract. Common examples include:
-Flight cancellations.
-Changes to flight times that affect your travel plans (e.g., moving the flight by several hours or to another day).
-Change of departure or arrival airport (especially if it results in extra travel or costs).
-Downgrade in travel class.
-Adding additional stops or rerouting a direct flight.
Under UK law, if a significant change occurs, the following rights apply:
A. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA)
Section 49: Services must be provided with reasonable care and skill.
Section 50: If specific terms were agreed upon (e.g., flight details), these form part of the contract. If the airline or agent cannot fulfill these terms, it may be considered a breach of contract, entitling you to a refund or remedy.
I will be filing at the Small Claims Court and if you have been similarly impacted, I suggest you do the same.