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 21, 2019, 1:30 pm
#1216
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,804
My schedule is perhaps little more than that, but yes, absolutely the right attitude and I totally agree with your perspective. I've got too many flights to be worried about any one of them so I'm not even starting.
Aug 21, 2019, 1:46 pm
#1218
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
Shame we can't still use Avios on FlyBe. I'd probably let that pan out as MAN/AMS is a well frequented route with FlyBe, Easy and KLM, plus Virgin/Eurostar options or train to Hull and the boat. Even if BA didn't reroute should be easy enough to get there.
Aug 21, 2019, 1:52 pm
#1219
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
HighwayToHEL & C-W-S have schedules that will almost certainly catch a flying bullet! Good luck to you both.
We Leisure pax have, of course, slightly different issues with pre-paid accommodation etc.
But it’s still cr@p for all of us.
I might just offer our next Flight Deck guys a couple of Jersey £1 notes to help them out ... as a gesture!
We Leisure pax have, of course, slightly different issues with pre-paid accommodation etc.
But it’s still cr@p for all of us.
I might just offer our next Flight Deck guys a couple of Jersey £1 notes to help them out ... as a gesture!
Aug 21, 2019, 2:00 pm
#1220
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
Roughly same number and into October, definately what will be will be now the family holiday is safe. Very much easier to find me a new seat/option for a bus trip than for 6 of us going on hols. Only one that would be a bind to ditch would be the A350 in CW in late Oct.
Still hope they avoid it.
Aug 21, 2019, 2:02 pm
#1221
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Roughly same number and into October, definately what will be will be now the family holiday is safe. Very much easier to find me a new seat/option for a bus trip than for 6 of us going on hols. Only one that would be a bind to ditch would be the A350 in CW in late Oct.
Still hope they avoid it.
Roughly same number and into October, definately what will be will be now the family holiday is safe. Very much easier to find me a new seat/option for a bus trip than for 6 of us going on hols. Only one that would be a bind to ditch would be the A350 in CW in late Oct.
Still hope they avoid it.
Aug 21, 2019, 2:07 pm
#1222
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
Yep, just more difficult to rearrange/adapt, coupled with the relative rarity of such trips compared to business trips. Sure Travel Insurance would cover material costs but you can't put a price on quality family time.
Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed.
Aug 21, 2019, 3:22 pm
#1224
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 152
I don’t think we’ll know answers to such questions until a strike is announced. It’s unlikely BA can make you come back early to avoid a strike, in which case they’d be liable for your accommodation until the next available flight, but may not be the hotel you’re staying at.
Aug 21, 2019, 4:29 pm
#1225
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I don't particularly fancy wearing the potential financial consequences of BA flight cancellations leading to my having to pay a bucketful to change non-BA flights that I later miss (even though they are flex tickets there will be fare differences), hence my annual policy being essential.My view is that adequate precautions should be taken but trying to micro-manage something for which key facts are not known is pretty pointless and merely adds to one's stress level.
Aug 21, 2019, 5:42 pm
#1226
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,746
Are strikes covered as reasons to pay out? I thought a number of policies excluded strikes in the fine print. The insurance on my credit card would not cover delay or cancellation of a flight caused by a strike.
Aug 21, 2019, 6:13 pm
#1227
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Absolutely covered by the policy I chose. You just have to go through every single bit of the relevant fine print when choosing your policy, and you may need to go to the extent of getting clarifications in writing if anything isn't clear.
Aug 21, 2019, 6:21 pm
#1228
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,293
HighwayToHEL & C-W-S have schedules that will almost certainly catch a flying bullet! Good luck to you both.
We Leisure pax have, of course, slightly different issues with pre-paid accommodation etc.
But it’s still cr@p for all of us.
I might just offer our next Flight Deck guys a couple of Jersey £1 notes to help them out ... as a gesture!
We Leisure pax have, of course, slightly different issues with pre-paid accommodation etc.
But it’s still cr@p for all of us.
I might just offer our next Flight Deck guys a couple of Jersey £1 notes to help them out ... as a gesture!
Aug 21, 2019, 6:35 pm
#1229
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,378
Aug 21, 2019, 7:03 pm
#1230
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: La Conner, WA
Programs: IHGPlatinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 158
I just got mine before strike was called. AIG will cover as long as the action has not been announced. I called and asked specifically before purchase. I have flights from YVR-LHR-VCE on 1 Oct, and return on 16 Oct. Prepaid wine and food tour in Croatia...can't miss that!!