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, 8:09 am
#1186
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
I believe the same wording was on the site almost three weeks ago ..... so perhaps it has just sat there ever since.
Aug 21, 2019, 8:13 am
#1187
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Cork, Ireland
Programs: BAEC Gold, TK Elite, HH Diamond
Posts: 259
main thing they're looking for is profit sharing if I recall, which BA won't give into, so it's down to whether BA give into that, or if pilots accept increases in pay + allowances. Both parties are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Aug 21, 2019, 8:20 am
#1188
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Because I'm stressed out about it, trying to find time to investigate alternative routes and airlines and then hotels at 2 destinations near the 2 possible airports in Cyprus for a variety of dates, which I shouldn't have to be doing as I booked these flights last year, but need to be prepared so I can make an instant decision if strike dates are announced for when I call BA to rebook.
Reading what is posted to this thread will also help. But repeatedly asking questions which are not going to be answered will not help your stress levels.
Aug 21, 2019, 8:25 am
#1189
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,200
Because I'm stressed out about it, trying to find time to investigate alternative routes and airlines and then hotels at 2 destinations near the 2 possible airports in Cyprus for a variety of dates, which I shouldn't have to be doing as I booked these flights last year, but need to be prepared so I can make an instant decision if strike dates are announced for when I call BA to rebook.
BALPA does not have to call out every pilot. It does not have to be every date, it could strike on a Wednesday and Sunday but not Friday and Tuesday. It could call out just LHR Pilots but not LGW or only A380 pilots or only Boeing fleet or any combination of all of those factors.
Until BA gets that info and looks at its operations and pilots rostas and assess the affects it is simply not going to immediately allow people to rebook.
You really do need to calm down until firm information is available and that will come when it comes.
Aug 21, 2019, 8:36 am
#1190
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 34
Aug 21, 2019, 9:14 am
#1191
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 4,160
In fairness to uncle @T8191 and others, and as much as I disagree with the concept of strikes being for workers not professionals etc, i’m glad he has raised his disappointment here as this blows the “September will only affect business travellers/little children shouldn’t be allowed to be disappointed” argument out of the water IMO
there is no “good time” for a strike
come on BA, sort it out!
there is no “good time” for a strike
come on BA, sort it out!
Aug 21, 2019, 9:44 am
#1192
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Programs: MUCCI; BAEC Lifetime Gold; Marriott Bonvoy Emeritus Titanium; Hertz#1, Avis President’s Club
Posts: 3,214
Aug 21, 2019, 9:48 am
#1193
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,293
Aug 21, 2019, 10:00 am
#1195
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Toronto
Programs: BA Exec Club - Demoted to Bronze and re-promoted to Silver alongside AC Elite 50K (gold) in 2022
Posts: 393
What slightly changes for BA in terms of alternatives is the ongoing dreamliner engine issues, no MAXs and the Hadj season
The likes of Titan, Wamos, EuroAtlantic, HiFly / HighFly Malta, Privilege, Eastern(US) and Air Belgium are already flying at full stretch. (on flight radar 24 yesterday), there were 6 x 767s in the air with EuroAtlantic covering for Icelandair, Norgwegian and others whilst HiFly had 4 x A340s operating, and WAMOS had 4 x 747 and 3 x A330s working various routes. Gatwick crews may not be available to operate Heathrow flights either.
Even QATAR who BA relied on last time for SH aircraft is covering 2 Air Canada european flights from Montreal (with A330s) and a RAM flight too and so with these ongoing issues, BA's ability to charter aircraft in is severely limited.
Unless the pilot's requests such as profit share are red line items for BA, it makes no sense whatsoever for the business to allow this uncertainty to fester. Bookings MUST be down and even over the life time of a deal, it will pale into insignificance relative to the loss of business, increased costs with charters and other carriers and loss of market share.
The likes of Titan, Wamos, EuroAtlantic, HiFly / HighFly Malta, Privilege, Eastern(US) and Air Belgium are already flying at full stretch. (on flight radar 24 yesterday), there were 6 x 767s in the air with EuroAtlantic covering for Icelandair, Norgwegian and others whilst HiFly had 4 x A340s operating, and WAMOS had 4 x 747 and 3 x A330s working various routes. Gatwick crews may not be available to operate Heathrow flights either.
Even QATAR who BA relied on last time for SH aircraft is covering 2 Air Canada european flights from Montreal (with A330s) and a RAM flight too and so with these ongoing issues, BA's ability to charter aircraft in is severely limited.
Unless the pilot's requests such as profit share are red line items for BA, it makes no sense whatsoever for the business to allow this uncertainty to fester. Bookings MUST be down and even over the life time of a deal, it will pale into insignificance relative to the loss of business, increased costs with charters and other carriers and loss of market share.
Last edited by Mikey Mike Mike; Aug 21, 2019 at 10:01 am Reason: grammar and spelling
Aug 21, 2019, 10:13 am
#1198
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 152
Yes poteentially, but my understanding from other messages in this thread is that BA labelled the offers as their "final offer"... so we'll see!
Aug 21, 2019, 10:54 am
#1199
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,746
I read it as similar to their "final position" when they reject a passengers 261 claim. It suddenly becomes a lot less final when it goes to MCOL.
Aug 21, 2019, 10:55 am
#1200
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Lemonia. Best Greek ever.
Posts: 2,274
I once ran heavy-duty UK IR for a major corporate, having been trained in it by the best. I have to say that words are very important. I do not remember ever using the phrase "final offer". The English language's complexities allow many ways to negotiate. The best TU negotiators do not ask for a final offer.
However, BALPA have not had a serious strike-level issue with BA for many, many years. Maybe both sets of negotiators are too inexperienced.
However, BALPA have not had a serious strike-level issue with BA for many, many years. Maybe both sets of negotiators are too inexperienced.