Jul 20, 2019, 3:27 am
Last edit by: corporate-wage-slave
Quick answers to FAQ:
Help! What do I do now?
Most importantly, don't panic and don't do anything in haste. Read these FAQ. Read the thread, particularly the posts starting from the time that the strike dates were announced. Identify your options. Think about what works for you. Then take action. If you do anything in haste, you may have thrown away good options, or you may have thrown away money that you needn't have spent.
NOTE: Some emails have been sent out by mistake notifying the cancellation of flights on 8 September and other dates. If your booking still looks OK in MMB then you don't need to take further action. A cancelled flight should be shown in MMB with struck-through text. If your flight details are not struck through, then it probably hasn't actually been cancelled. You could check ba.com to see whether BA is still taking reservations for the flight in question. If so, then the flight has not been cancelled. You may also try checking on ExpertFlyer, if you have access, to see whether your flight appears still to be operating and whether BA is still taking reservations. However, some afternoon/evening flights on 8 September have genuinely been cancelled. See main thread for details.
Has a strike been called yet?
Yes. BALPA, the pilots' union, has voted in favour of strike action, and the Court of Appeal has rejected BA's submission to have the poll set aside, so the legal process is now over. The two parties went back into talks after the legal proceedings and those talks were expected to continue into the week of 5 August.
BALPA on 23 Aug announced strikes on Monday 9 September Tuesday 10 September and Friday 27 September.
Any further strikes normally require 2 weeks notice under UK legislation.
What flights may be affected?
LHR and LGW based flights. Not LCY or STN flights. Both cabin and flight crew are in dispute with BA, but the pilots (captains, senior first officers, first officers) are closest to strike action.
How long would a strike last?
The initial strikes are for two days the a single day, with normal working in between. Any other strikes could be of any length. It would be rare in the UK for there to be a full time strike.
What would happen to my flights if it is a strike day?
A range of options have been announced, see post 1551 below for more information: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...l#post31451055
and BA Trade Site guidance here: https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...kba?faqid=7594
Rebooking is now allowed on Iberia, AA, Finnair, JAL and Qatar. Within Europe EI and Vueling are also allowed. This is for both revenue and redemption flights.
and the FAQ on BA.com here (this includes information on BA Holidays bookings which are substantially different): https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...st-information
Can I do anything with an existing booking now?
Yes. Your options are different depending on whether your flights are currently showing as cancelled or not. See the links above.
What about Heathrow staff - aren't their strikes planned there too?
Yes there is a separate dispute at the moment between Heathrow Airport (HAL) and their staff such as those who operate the security checkpoints. See the separate thread on the issue.
Am I protected by EC261 if there is a problem?
You are always covered by the Right to Care provisions of Regulation EC261. You could potentially be able to claim compensation for delays, cancellations and downgrades caused by BA staff action too, but not for HAL strikes (for cancellations only if there is flight is less than 14 day’s notice). See the main EC261 thread in the BA Forum Dashboard.
Help! What do I do now?
Most importantly, don't panic and don't do anything in haste. Read these FAQ. Read the thread, particularly the posts starting from the time that the strike dates were announced. Identify your options. Think about what works for you. Then take action. If you do anything in haste, you may have thrown away good options, or you may have thrown away money that you needn't have spent.
NOTE: Some emails have been sent out by mistake notifying the cancellation of flights on 8 September and other dates. If your booking still looks OK in MMB then you don't need to take further action. A cancelled flight should be shown in MMB with struck-through text. If your flight details are not struck through, then it probably hasn't actually been cancelled. You could check ba.com to see whether BA is still taking reservations for the flight in question. If so, then the flight has not been cancelled. You may also try checking on ExpertFlyer, if you have access, to see whether your flight appears still to be operating and whether BA is still taking reservations. However, some afternoon/evening flights on 8 September have genuinely been cancelled. See main thread for details.
Has a strike been called yet?
Yes. BALPA, the pilots' union, has voted in favour of strike action, and the Court of Appeal has rejected BA's submission to have the poll set aside, so the legal process is now over. The two parties went back into talks after the legal proceedings and those talks were expected to continue into the week of 5 August.
BALPA on 23 Aug announced strikes on Monday 9 September Tuesday 10 September and Friday 27 September.
Any further strikes normally require 2 weeks notice under UK legislation.
What flights may be affected?
LHR and LGW based flights. Not LCY or STN flights. Both cabin and flight crew are in dispute with BA, but the pilots (captains, senior first officers, first officers) are closest to strike action.
How long would a strike last?
The initial strikes are for two days the a single day, with normal working in between. Any other strikes could be of any length. It would be rare in the UK for there to be a full time strike.
What would happen to my flights if it is a strike day?
A range of options have been announced, see post 1551 below for more information: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...l#post31451055
and BA Trade Site guidance here: https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...kba?faqid=7594
Rebooking is now allowed on Iberia, AA, Finnair, JAL and Qatar. Within Europe EI and Vueling are also allowed. This is for both revenue and redemption flights.
and the FAQ on BA.com here (this includes information on BA Holidays bookings which are substantially different): https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...st-information
Can I do anything with an existing booking now?
Yes. Your options are different depending on whether your flights are currently showing as cancelled or not. See the links above.
What about Heathrow staff - aren't their strikes planned there too?
Yes there is a separate dispute at the moment between Heathrow Airport (HAL) and their staff such as those who operate the security checkpoints. See the separate thread on the issue.
Am I protected by EC261 if there is a problem?
You are always covered by the Right to Care provisions of Regulation EC261. You could potentially be able to claim compensation for delays, cancellations and downgrades caused by BA staff action too, but not for HAL strikes (for cancellations only if there is flight is less than 14 day’s notice). See the main EC261 thread in the BA Forum Dashboard.
LHR/LGW pilots (BALPA) industrial action 9 Sep, 10 Sep, and 27 Sep
Aug 25, 2019, 1:43 pm
#1501
Join Date: May 2006
Location: 5 miles from EMA
Programs: BD, BAEC Pleb, VS Pleb, Accor Pleb, HHonors Gold, Big White Season Pass
Posts: 5,904
Dear sirs
My Spanish cousin has recently acquired $20 million and wishes to share his good fortune with you.
Please send us your our bank account details
😂
Aug 25, 2019, 2:04 pm
#1502
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 23
A gem of a post in any circumstances - but considering it’s your first ...... 
(You may have understood from our email sent last week that our ‘final offer’ could be construed as a ‘final offer’. This was in fact sent in error, and we now wish to make it clear that ........)
(You may have understood from our email sent last week that our ‘final offer’ could be construed as a ‘final offer’. This was in fact sent in error, and we now wish to make it clear that ........)
It's just such a shame to see a difficult situation handled so very poorly, causing much extra totally unnecessary stress and upset for so many, whether they are ultimately affected by a cancelled flight or not. Even in less troubled times, the disconnect between the image promoted and the service the staff are enabled/permitted to deliver just grows wider and wider.
Aug 25, 2019, 3:47 pm
#1503
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: BA Gold A3 Gold PC Platinum
Posts: 154
Nice to see that BA have put up fares to the maximum on the days next to the strike (or at least let their demand algorithm run riot)
What a shoddy airline it sadly is now with a one trick pony, cost cutting [individual] in charge combined with greedy and inconsiderate pilots and generally demoralised staff across the organisation
What a shoddy airline it sadly is now with a one trick pony, cost cutting [individual] in charge combined with greedy and inconsiderate pilots and generally demoralised staff across the organisation
Last edited by Prospero; Aug 26, 2019 at 5:06 am Reason: to comply with FT rules on diversity
Aug 25, 2019, 4:01 pm
#1504
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 305
Following the announcement that the pilots’ union BALPA has issued dates for industrial action, we’ve been reviewing our group remuneration policies.
We contacted you last week to advise you that our previous offer was a final offer. We’re pleased to update you that, as part of our £6.5 billion investment for customers, our offer has increased and that your demands will now be fulfilled as originally requested.
We’re sorry for any inconvenience this temporary offer may have caused you, and we look forward to your ongoing employment.
Aug 25, 2019, 4:13 pm
#1505
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 4,160
Nice to see that BA have put up fares to the maximum on the days next to the strike (or at least let their demand algorithm run riot)
What a shoddy airline it sadly is now with a one trick pony, cost cutting [individual] in charge combined with greedy and inconsiderate pilots and generally demoralised staff across the organisation
What a shoddy airline it sadly is now with a one trick pony, cost cutting [individual] in charge combined with greedy and inconsiderate pilots and generally demoralised staff across the organisation
Last edited by Prospero; Aug 26, 2019 at 5:07 am Reason: amend quoted content
Aug 26, 2019, 5:23 am
#1506
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Of course, BA is used to the maxim that no good deed goes unpunished.
Aug 26, 2019, 5:53 am
#1507
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,281
So as to protect space for those who need to be reaccommodated because their flights aren't operating. You would have a different perspective on this if you tried to think about it from someone else's viewpoint.
Of course, BA is used to the maxim that no good deed goes unpunished.
Of course, BA is used to the maxim that no good deed goes unpunished.
Or the other place where it plays out is if someone is initially rebooked 2 days after the strike, but a seat becomes available 1 day earlier, and BA refuses to budge on their one-rebooking-only rule. Then it looks like profiteering.
Aug 26, 2019, 9:46 am
#1508
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Newcastle UK
Posts: 1,114
So as to protect space for those who need to be reaccommodated because their flights aren't operating. You would have a different perspective on this if you tried to think about it from someone else's viewpoint.
Of course, BA is used to the maxim that no good deed goes unpunished.
Of course, BA is used to the maxim that no good deed goes unpunished.
Aug 26, 2019, 10:02 am
#1509
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: London. Or a plane.
Programs: "Only" 50,000 TPs until BA GGLfL
Posts: 2,779
If BA wanted to truly protect space, they wouldn't be selling seats on these flights. Yes it does loosely protect in a roundabout way, but only because the majority of people won't pay the high fare, but also let's face it, it's fairly obvious that it's about making money.
The only other alternative would be to stop selling tickets on Adjacent flights and then forcibly rebook passengers on to those Adjacent flights, even if they aren't convenient. This is the best mix of preserving seats and offering cancelled passengers a degree of choice.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:13 pm
#1511
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
If BA wanted to truly protect space, they wouldn't be selling seats on these flights. Yes it does loosely protect in a roundabout way, but only because the majority of people won't pay the high fare, but also let's face it, it's fairly obvious that it's about making money.
By restricting availability to the full-fare booking classes, BA is protecting space for those who need to rebook because BA won't take the raft of reservations in discount classes that might otherwise have come its way. BA clearly doesn't think that it will need every last bit of space on every flight on adjacent dates - for example, many displaced passengers won't want to travel on an adjacent day and will have to be booked on another airline on a strike day; and some will just cancel their trips. In the meantime, the world continues to turn, and people continue to have important reasons for making new travel bookings even on adjacent days. Why can't BA manage the increased but not overwhelming demand for flights on adjacent dates in exactly the same way that it does (without complaint from the outside world) on any other high-demand flight or date? That appears to be what it's doing.
The way this discussion goes, anyone would think that BA is only allowed to do one thing or the other, and not both at once.
Aug 26, 2019, 6:39 pm
#1513
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,382
FWIW I think BALPA have played a blinder here, there could have been total carnage this weekend with the bank holiday and Centenary celebrations.
After BALPA initially getting a bit of grief now the heat and angst is firmly directed back at BA due to the erroneous emails concerning the cancellation of flights that weren’t.
Again i I do feel sorry for anybody affected. One of my friends got the cancellation email, booked alternatives at a cost of £265 more as he couldn’t get through and was travelling for a specific purpose only to get the we sent this to you in error.
I’d hope people can hold BA accountable for loses even if they cancelled as a result of the email sent in error..
Just think those PPI cold callers are out of a job in 3 days..
After BALPA initially getting a bit of grief now the heat and angst is firmly directed back at BA due to the erroneous emails concerning the cancellation of flights that weren’t.
Again i I do feel sorry for anybody affected. One of my friends got the cancellation email, booked alternatives at a cost of £265 more as he couldn’t get through and was travelling for a specific purpose only to get the we sent this to you in error.
I’d hope people can hold BA accountable for loses even if they cancelled as a result of the email sent in error..
Just think those PPI cold callers are out of a job in 3 days..
Aug 27, 2019, 1:56 am
#1514
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: BAEC Bronze, Mucci recipient
Posts: 1,786
Aug 27, 2019, 3:03 am
#1515
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,203
IIRC the report after the T5 opening debacle wasn’t very pretty.