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
#2146
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 635
#2147
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
You clearly have no idea about UK employment law. BA might wish to behave like victorian mill owners but that is not going to happen.
#2148
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
anyway I don’t see that happening, eventually the pilots will have to pay rent/mortgage/school fees/car etc so they can strike a few days a month max like they are doing already
#2149
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dundee
Programs: BA Plastic. HH Diamond. Speedwell Bar Lifetime Platinum.
Posts: 1,425
#2150
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 635
I don't think you realise quite how much Southern and Northern guards went on strike. Northern was every Saturday (and sometimes Sunday, but they needn't do that with it being outside the working week on half their territory) for at least 6 months from memory. Southern was pretty much every other week for a few days during the week. SWR guards have been going for 3-4 day walkouts quite a lot albeit infrequently. This isn't an abuse, it's a practicality of the labour force refusing to provide their labour as a result of dispute - which is eminently legal. Nevertheless, I digress.
#2151
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dundee
Programs: BA Plastic. HH Diamond. Speedwell Bar Lifetime Platinum.
Posts: 1,425
I don't think you realise quite how much Southern and Northern guards went on strike. Northern was every Saturday (and sometimes Sunday, but they needn't do that with it being outside the working week on half their territory) for at least 6 months from memory. Southern was pretty much every other week for a few days during the week. SWR guards have been going for 3-4 day walkouts quite a lot albeit infrequently. This isn't an abuse, it's a practicality of the labour force refusing to provide their labour as a result of dispute - which is eminently legal. Nevertheless, I digress.
Going on strike isn't as easy as it used to be, with the changes to the laws in 2016.
Funnily enough there needs to be greater than 50% of the eligible voters to vote for industrial action to make it count. Imagine if MPs required the same restrictions to get elected?!
#2152
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,744
#2153
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
The initial ballot for IA lasts for 6 months before there's a need to re-ballot the membership.
Going on strike isn't as easy as it used to be, with the changes to the laws in 2016.
Funnily enough there needs to be greater than 50% of the eligible voters to vote for industrial action to make it count. Imagine if MPs required the same restrictions to get elected?!
Going on strike isn't as easy as it used to be, with the changes to the laws in 2016.
Funnily enough there needs to be greater than 50% of the eligible voters to vote for industrial action to make it count. Imagine if MPs required the same restrictions to get elected?!
#2154
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Dorset, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 635
#2155
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dundee
Programs: BA Plastic. HH Diamond. Speedwell Bar Lifetime Platinum.
Posts: 1,425
#2156
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
look if they go on strike now and then no but if they go on strike everyday for weeks then absolutely it’s an abuse.
anyway I don’t see that happening, eventually the pilots will have to pay rent/mortgage/school fees/car etc so they can strike a few days a month max like they are doing already
anyway I don’t see that happening, eventually the pilots will have to pay rent/mortgage/school fees/car etc so they can strike a few days a month max like they are doing already
#2157
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 4,160
I am quite familiar with the situation on this side of the world. We all hear about some well-publicized cases in China and elsewhere. But it seems that they are not many, at least for senior pilots. Your "plenty" of Australian pilots working in China" might be a bit on the sensational side.
#2159
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,059
Incidentally, since China was mentioned, some BA pilots have gone over there without having to leave, it’s dressed as a ‘career break’. I don’t know how many, but at least a few Captains went to Juneyao.
And the ‘magical’ £27k figure is literally for their first year. Then it’s £7k increases every year for at least 7 years. Plus £1k a month on top of that for cadets with big loans. So no, they’re not in any great hardship.
#2160
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
I don't think you realise quite how much Southern and Northern guards went on strike. Northern was every Saturday (and sometimes Sunday, but they needn't do that with it being outside the working week on half their territory) for at least 6 months from memory. Southern was pretty much every other week for a few days during the week. SWR guards have been going for 3-4 day walkouts quite a lot albeit infrequently. This isn't an abuse, it's a practicality of the labour force refusing to provide their labour as a result of dispute - which is eminently legal. Nevertheless, I digress.