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And IRIS registration was indeed closed again...
Is it ever open in t5?

I'm flying into LHR on BA118 from BLR, connecting to BA269 to LAX. The transit time is 3 hours 35 minutes. I will not be going landside, simply connecting. Will this strike affect me in any way (can my flight be cancelled due to lack of cabin crew, for example?)

Difficulties in crew and employees getting to work, I think.

Unless I am mistaken, you will simply go to flight connections as you will not be 'entering' the UK
and thus no need to pass through immigration. 3+ hours is plenty of time.

Not quite sure why there would be a lack of cabin crew as this is supposed to be a public sector
strike and not BA cabin crew.

H

Why? I'm not aware of a public transport strike being planned.
From what I've seen in the media so far, the only staff who may have problems are parents who would have to look after children if schools close.

Don't know, just echoing some previous posts :p

I'm due to be returning to the UK early morning of the 30th... can't change my plans so I guess I'll just have to pray that IRIS is working.

I am wondering why I haven't heard anything about borders/immigration being affected by this strike outside of FT though (almost all the coverage seems to be about teachers)... surely it's likely to have pretty visible effects?

More than one type of strike!
 

The "strike" problem may come in many forms. Not just at the airport, but it had also involved getting to the airport. This thread from another forum might help explain things:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/u-k-i...strikes-2.html

ps - before you read all the way to the end, the proposed tube strike for the 30th seems to have been called off.

And something similar from the Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...day-chaos.html

I may be getting thick in my old age, but I don't understand why, if the Border Control Staff are on strike, there should be delays in entering the UK? Surely if any staff are working they are scabs, blacklegs and strike breakers (add your own pejorative)? If it is a 100% strike then one could just walk through the border area? :confused:;)

Its going to be interesting to see how many go on strike with such a low turnout in the voting process.

As for letting people in, it would appear to the Daily Mail that they do that anyway.

as an aside, could I just mention that not all teaching unions are on strike, if a school has a majority of staff in the other unions then there is every chance the school will be open

Sounds as though some of us are going to be in a pickle come Thursday.

We are being urged not to fly that day, but some of us cannot change our plans at this late date.

I was surprised to hear that the Border Agency were unionized and could strike in the first place. They are the defense of the country's borders. It just seems odd that this is a position so critical to national security and safety is considered discretionary....as in you don't have to show up if you are on strike. So, it's open borders in the UK on Thursday then? Whooppee!(Okay tongue in cheek but still...)

How is this going to go then? No f'erners get in that day? Only a few get in? We sit on the planes on the Tarmac and cannot get off, because the arrivals hall is full and nobody else can join the queue?

This is going to be interesting. I just hope the Sofitel doesn't give my prepaid room away if I take all day trying to past the "border" when the Sofitel is under pressure from stranded pax.

What a daffy duck picnic.

Good luck everybody!