knifeandfork

I've been a member of this parish a dozen years or so, longer if you count the time I was a lurker.

Rightly, the BAEC forum is regarded as one of the jewels in the crown of FT. Knowledge, whimsy, good humour: we're the light in the darkness.

We also used to talk about fish when the mood struck us. And how spotwelder arranged himself for sleeping in premium cabins. Great memories.

Traditionally as a forum we have let ourselves down whenever strikes have been an issue. Threads about fat people on planes and children in premium cabins have hardly been our finest hours, either.

I'm impressed by how measured and non-inflammatory the tone of this thread has been, certainly in comparison to the toxic bun-fights in years gone by.

I suspect this owes a little to deft moderation.

But anyway. Well done us. Let us continue to disagree when we disagree but also not be d!cks about it when we do.

Tafflyer

I think this is more likely due to a wide understanding and agreement with Mixed Fleet grievences.

expataus

To ask a selfish question: my honeymoon flight is BA015 to SYD on 24 December which I think is an MF flight.

Does this mean if the strike goes ahead a chance that once we get to SIN, they'll kick us off the plane and we'll need to wait around for the strike to end?

WeLoveSpace

Somehow this post boasting that "life is good" feels a tad insensitive in a conversation about decent hard working crew who barely get enough to live on

I too have a flight that "squeaks through" but somehow my thoughts are about the injustices facing mixed fleet.

Separately, I have complained to customer services about the wording of the Twitter feed

corporate-wage-slave

I would be reasonably confident that won't happen. Have a look upthread (e.g. post 654) to see about how the strike will operate: just one crew report location is affected, and that is LHR Terminal 5 (though that also covers T3 by proxy), and the dates are also clearly set down. Crew who are already in the system during the strike days will continue to work until their next report occasion. I hope you have a great honeymoon, congratulations on your forthcoming (or indeed past) wedding.

PUCCI GALORE

Actually - we even had a couple of TFTGs about Jewel (and Bunny) - odd thing is our paths sort of crossed on WW recently. Strange that.

MCM1

Apologies, I haven't read all thread to see if this question has been covered.

I'm booked on 27th to LHR-JFK at 9:40am which I know with present information should be fine, but just wondering due to knock-on effect of rebooking for others from 24th/25th if we should expect T5 to be very busy morning of 27th, or just normal?

corporate-wage-slave

Mystic Meg hasn't posted for a while in this forum, but normally the week between Christmas and New Year is very quiet and a great time to be in T5. Subject to any weather issues, I would think it would be fine for you.

MCM1

Thanks C-W-S, just not sure what to expect the first morning after a strike, if they put on more flights etc.

Agent69

I'd missed the earlier post and not appreciated how things work.

Assuming only the 1200 that voted for strike action will actually withdraw their labour, then how many of the 1200 would be due to log on at base during the first day of the strike? Also what happens if the cabin crew don't turn up but the pilots do. Will they fly empty to their destination if there are passengers and crew who are due to return during the strike period?

corporate-wage-slave

Bit of speculation here. It's not just the 1200, it's all the Unite members who could potentially and legitimately go on strike, it's a secret postal ballot so you can't read across like that. That's 2000 or so members, plus any recent joiners who wouldn't have been entitled to vote. Some may still work even if they voted Yes, but my opening assumption would be covered by the 311 No voters, many of whom will go on strike despite the way they voted. Not all of them would be scheduled to go through Crew Report Centre - they are on leave, downroute, out of hours and so on, so I guess only a minority of the 2000 would be due to go through CRC. The "fly empty" issue may happen, but in reality if you look at the destination lists only a few are night stops and not for all services either. My guess is that they'll scrub the back to back trips to MAN, ABZ, HAJ, HAM, DUS and what-not if they don't have enough crew on the day.

ahmetdouas

Seat 1A? You arent Alex Cruz on this forum under another name are you? = )))

If i were you i would hold fire until the cancelled flights get posted. Worst case they'll put you on an earlier flight and put you in a hotel, or find an arrangement where you take another airline/train which means you won't really be out of pocket if BA refund that leg for you or make other arrangements. Keep us up to date!

Nikki Spoiler

I am due to fly from LHR to LCA on the 26th 11.20am flight, I can see this should apparently not be affected by the strike action, but I am flying with two children and if long delays are a possible knock on effect I may consider swapping dates. I am a total novice here, so with your great wealth of knowledge and experience, what would you do is this situation ? (We are flying CE so at least I can take them up to the lounge)

KARFA

As you say not on the list of MF routes and the routes BA has noted may be disrupted so tbh I really wouldn't worry about it. No reason to think your flight should be affected.

Swampz64

Whilst many agree with the MF grievances on their conditions, is it just me or does this strike stink as being part of a coordinated union attempt the damage the government?? Too many key infrastructure strikes at the same time, IMHO the MF crew are being used as union pawns despite what they might think.