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 9, 2019, 6:17 am
#1006
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Lemonia. Best Greek ever.
Posts: 2,274
Apparently, the money element is only one part of the pilots concerns.
1. There is a money issue in relation to perceptions of promises from the past. A better, less "managerial" profit share would resolve that.
2. The open - ended wording about being willing to take any future changes in working practices, at management's instigation, needs to change.
3. The Junior Captains and most FOs believe that their scheduling has become overly arduous and inflexible in recent years. Some sort of agreement to at least listen to pilots concerns, and then act on them would be beneficial.
1. There is a money issue in relation to perceptions of promises from the past. A better, less "managerial" profit share would resolve that.
2. The open - ended wording about being willing to take any future changes in working practices, at management's instigation, needs to change.
3. The Junior Captains and most FOs believe that their scheduling has become overly arduous and inflexible in recent years. Some sort of agreement to at least listen to pilots concerns, and then act on them would be beneficial.
Aug 9, 2019, 7:32 am
#1007
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Programs: plenty - ggl, ccr, etc, etc.
Posts: 1,704
Oddly, as of now (12:34 BST) there is no publicly available resource (BALPA Twitter, BA Twitter, BA website, online news organisations, BBC etc) which discloses the contents of this bulletin or that a bulletin has been issued. Indeed AFAIAA Bellerophon is the sole source available concerning this bulletin
Aug 9, 2019, 7:39 am
#1009
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
I've got EDI > LHR return, EDI > IAD return, EDI > ATL return in the next month, all BA. So I'm being optimistic almost to the point of denial. But since my TP reset today like probably a lot of people, I'm keen for the TP so it's worth the gamble.
Aug 9, 2019, 7:39 am
#1010
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
Aug 9, 2019, 8:05 am
#1011
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 266
If they fail to announce strikes for the bank holiday weekend and centenary then BALPA either (a) are very close to/confident of an agreement or (b) have lost their nerve and have ceded the upper hand to BA, which isn’t very smart.
Aug 9, 2019, 8:20 am
#1012
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,911
School holiday disruption, angry parents, crying children, etc must be negative press for the airline and BALPA.
I've wondered from the outset why they weren't waiting for the resumption of business travel in September. Once children are back at school, it's less emotional, and potentially greater impact on reputation and finances for the airline as high value business flights are cancelled and important business meetings are missed.
I've wondered from the outset why they weren't waiting for the resumption of business travel in September. Once children are back at school, it's less emotional, and potentially greater impact on reputation and finances for the airline as high value business flights are cancelled and important business meetings are missed.
Aug 9, 2019, 9:09 am
#1014
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,846
The information @Bellerophon posted upthread accords with what I’ve seen (via a reputable source), which also implied that more information would be forthcoming today.
Hopefully, the fact that nothing else has come out means that there was some progress today in spite of the above.
Hopefully, the fact that nothing else has come out means that there was some progress today in spite of the above.
Aug 9, 2019, 9:34 am
#1015
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
Aug 9, 2019, 10:03 am
#1016
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
School holiday disruption, angry parents, crying children, etc must be negative press for the airline and BALPA.
I've wondered from the outset why they weren't waiting for the resumption of business travel in September. Once children are back at school, it's less emotional, and potentially greater impact on reputation and finances for the airline as high value business flights are cancelled and important business meetings are missed.
I've wondered from the outset why they weren't waiting for the resumption of business travel in September. Once children are back at school, it's less emotional, and potentially greater impact on reputation and finances for the airline as high value business flights are cancelled and important business meetings are missed.
Aug 9, 2019, 10:37 am
#1018
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
Aug 9, 2019, 10:42 am
#1020
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 335
Sorry unfamiliar with rules... extract from the Gibraltar Chronicle today
Alan Jones, PA Industrial Correspondent
Leaders of the pilots' union have continued to meet with British Airways management in a bid to avert a strike over pay.
The two sides held talks on Thursday under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas, which said they had "concluded for now".
Members of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) have voted in favour of industrial action.
Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said on Friday: "Talks at Acas concluded without agreement yesterday evening, however talks between Balpa and British Airways continued overnight. We will bring further news as soon as there are any concrete developments."
Union leaders have held back from naming strike dates while talks continue.
Any news yet?
Alan Jones, PA Industrial Correspondent
Leaders of the pilots' union have continued to meet with British Airways management in a bid to avert a strike over pay.
The two sides held talks on Thursday under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas, which said they had "concluded for now".
Members of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) have voted in favour of industrial action.
Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said on Friday: "Talks at Acas concluded without agreement yesterday evening, however talks between Balpa and British Airways continued overnight. We will bring further news as soon as there are any concrete developments."
Union leaders have held back from naming strike dates while talks continue.
Any news yet?