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
Sep 23, 2019, 6:20 am
#2386
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Not an ideal silver lining to the cloud I will admit, given th circumstances, but a faint positive amidst the bad news.
Sep 23, 2019, 6:26 am
#2388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Sep 23, 2019, 6:36 am
#2389
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,924
That is not the kind of "stranded" that Thomas Cook customers might face if it were not for the repatriation arrangements that have come into effect.
In contrast, you were inconvenienced - although I do not know the circumstances in which BA was apparently unable to find you any alternative flight back to the UK at all on any airline until three days after your originally booked date.
In contrast, you were inconvenienced - although I do not know the circumstances in which BA was apparently unable to find you any alternative flight back to the UK at all on any airline until three days after your originally booked date.
I was on a 10 day business trip around Asia when the strikes were announced, by the time I had seen the notifications of my cancelled flights and was able to contact BA there was not a single seat available for me to take until 3 days later.
None of that excuses Balpa from prioritising the interests of Thomas Cook passengers over the interests of the equally innocent BA passengers.
Sep 23, 2019, 6:47 am
#2390
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,193
Training needed on landing and take off at airports too I believe as they are all different and whilst some TC pilots may very well know LGW and some BA destinations BA would still needed to assess that knowledge.
Someone posted earlier that the BA training department can only process approx 250 new starters in a year in batches
When a friend of mine switched from easyjet to virgin he had to wait a few months for a place on their induction process.
And it's the same for cabin crew as well.
Sep 23, 2019, 6:57 am
#2391
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
SEP training simulator training on BA procedures general induction training which would all take about 4 weeks if there was any available places. Currently training department is at max capacity for about the next 6 months.
Sep 23, 2019, 7:03 am
#2392
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
With respect, Thomas Cook passengers were always going to be repatriated, and swiftly. The potential inconveniences of those abroad are far less than the inconveniences suffered by many BA passengers as a result of the Balpa industrial action. The CAA announced immediately that all those passengers should continue to enjoy their holidays and they will be repatriated on flights as close to their original flights as possible. Aircraft were dispatched hours before Thomas Cook even announced it was to close down operations.
I was on a 10 day business trip around Asia when the strikes were announced, by the time I had seen the notifications of my cancelled flights and was able to contact BA there was not a single seat available for me to take until 3 days later.
None of that excuses Balpa from prioritising the interests of Thomas Cook passengers over the interests of the equally innocent BA passengers.
I was on a 10 day business trip around Asia when the strikes were announced, by the time I had seen the notifications of my cancelled flights and was able to contact BA there was not a single seat available for me to take until 3 days later.
None of that excuses Balpa from prioritising the interests of Thomas Cook passengers over the interests of the equally innocent BA passengers.
Sep 23, 2019, 7:20 am
#2393
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Berkshire
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 380
Assuming the TC repatriation ‘pause’ will last for 2 weeks (to get everyone home) and then 14 days notice for another strike, it would seem we are safe for a month.
Not an ideal silver lining to the cloud I will admit, given th circumstances, but a faint positive amidst the bad news.
Not an ideal silver lining to the cloud I will admit, given th circumstances, but a faint positive amidst the bad news.
Sep 23, 2019, 7:32 am
#2394
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
Assuming the TC repatriation ‘pause’ will last for 2 weeks (to get everyone home) and then 14 days notice for another strike, it would seem we are safe for a month.
Not an ideal silver lining to the cloud I will admit, given th circumstances, but a faint positive amidst the bad news.
Not an ideal silver lining to the cloud I will admit, given th circumstances, but a faint positive amidst the bad news.
Sep 23, 2019, 7:38 am
#2395
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,375
I did - 3 days I was stranded abroad when I should have been at home enjoying what little precious family time I have. Another trip had to be completely rerouted and reorganised causing me to be away longer than was otherwise necessary.
None of Thomas Cook's passengers are being stranded, repatriation flights are already bringing their passengers home with further flights organised to bring others home close to their original departure time. I could not get home because there was not a single seat available for 3 days.
Balpa should spend their energy on resolving the issues with BA instead playing the PR game.
None of Thomas Cook's passengers are being stranded, repatriation flights are already bringing their passengers home with further flights organised to bring others home close to their original departure time. I could not get home because there was not a single seat available for 3 days.
Balpa should spend their energy on resolving the issues with BA instead playing the PR game.
Sep 23, 2019, 8:09 am
#2396
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,924
With all due respect you need to take that up with BA. You weren’t forced to travel, you chose to start/continue your trip. Thomas Cook passengers from Palms to Glasgow this morning will be flown to Birmingham today and then coached to Glasgow getting home around 9-12 hours late, not ideal but they are getting home.
I was forced to stay abroad because I could not get a seat on any flight home, there simply weren't any, I looked. I have taken up the issue with BA, indeed I have not booked a single BA flight since the date the first strikes were announced. I have a livelihood to keep, I have business commitments to keep, I have a family life that I want to keep.
Being delayed or inconvenienced a few hours I can cope with, being delayed three days and then being told Balpa will take no further action until the repatriation of Thomas Cook passengers is completed is rubbing salt in the wound. What it tells me is that Balpa is more concerned about the passengers of another airline (who in any event are being repatriated by the CAA when their holidays are completed) than they are about the passengers who pay their members' wages.
Sep 23, 2019, 8:22 am
#2397
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,608
Being delayed or inconvenienced a few hours I can cope with, being delayed three days and then being told Balpa will take no further action until the repatriation of Thomas Cook passengers is completed is rubbing salt in the wound. What it tells me is that Balpa is more concerned about the passengers of another airline (who in any event are being repatriated by the CAA when their holidays are completed) than they are about the passengers who pay their members' wages.
You do realise that TC passengers also pay the wages of BALPA members (until they lost their jobs yesterday)?
Sep 23, 2019, 9:02 am
#2398
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,924
Why would you say that?
Perhaps I should have said "... passengers who pay their striking members' wages."?
Perhaps I should have said "... passengers who pay their striking members' wages."?
Sep 23, 2019, 9:53 am
#2399
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
There are many ways in which BA strikes and TC administration impact individuals and, indeed, their pockets (whether corporate or private). In every case it is, to varying degrees, inconvenient. Every individual victim (for such they are) deserves sympathy ... and I do not deign to rate one case against another, as they are all so different.
We have holiday flights with BA, JER-LGW-MLA and return, next month. We can absorb any fiscal shock, or rescheduling, with equanimity. Others will be in completely different territory.
We have holiday flights with BA, JER-LGW-MLA and return, next month. We can absorb any fiscal shock, or rescheduling, with equanimity. Others will be in completely different territory.
Sep 23, 2019, 12:40 pm
#2400
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,375
As a customer I choose to book my air travel according to my needs. I pay my money, not small amounts, to travel exactly when I need to travel. Because of the number of trips I have to undertake my schedules are tight, often meaning I have overlapping itineraries with several airlines. Most of my trips are there and back, same day where possible and a single night away where not. I can forgive delays and cancellations due to weather, due to technical issues and to other events outside an airlines control. As a customer I cannot forgive a business (nor the union) that severely inconveniences me because of industrial action.
I was forced to stay abroad because I could not get a seat on any flight home, there simply weren't any, I looked. I have taken up the issue with BA, indeed I have not booked a single BA flight since the date the first strikes were announced. I have a livelihood to keep, I have business commitments to keep, I have a family life that I want to keep.
Being delayed or inconvenienced a few hours I can cope with, being delayed three days and then being told Balpa will take no further action until the repatriation of Thomas Cook passengers is completed is rubbing salt in the wound. What it tells me is that Balpa is more concerned about the passengers of another airline (who in any event are being repatriated by the CAA when their holidays are completed) than they are about the passengers who pay their members' wages.
I was forced to stay abroad because I could not get a seat on any flight home, there simply weren't any, I looked. I have taken up the issue with BA, indeed I have not booked a single BA flight since the date the first strikes were announced. I have a livelihood to keep, I have business commitments to keep, I have a family life that I want to keep.
Being delayed or inconvenienced a few hours I can cope with, being delayed three days and then being told Balpa will take no further action until the repatriation of Thomas Cook passengers is completed is rubbing salt in the wound. What it tells me is that Balpa is more concerned about the passengers of another airline (who in any event are being repatriated by the CAA when their holidays are completed) than they are about the passengers who pay their members' wages.
The people flying from Palma to Glasgow today 48 hours ago had no idea that they would be going via Birmingham as one wheelchair bound lady said it’s going to be a nightmare but we will get home.