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
Jul 10, 2019, 4:29 am
#241
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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The guidelines have usually been rebooking for a date a set number of days either side of the strike days so I think you should have some flexibility if there is a strike which affects you.
Jul 10, 2019, 4:30 am
#242
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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See point 4. You are normally given a range of dates before and after the original date, and are normally OK to rebook return dates to maintain the holiday length. Whether this is viable or not depends on the details but to Florida I really would have no concerns, or indeed for anywhere in North America. What would you do now anyway?
Jul 10, 2019, 4:34 am
#244
Join Date: May 2006
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No good when there’s only 2 flights a week to your chosen destination and your accommodation is booked either side of your intended holiday dates and you have zero flexibility on dates 🙄
Jul 10, 2019, 4:48 am
#245
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Jul 10, 2019, 4:51 am
#246
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,225
Oh I wasn't planning on doing anything - I'm secretly hoping that they say come home two days later! We're in a great hotel in Miami so that would suit me perfectly.
Jul 10, 2019, 4:53 am
#247
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,844
Very helpful comments upthread, @corporate-wage-slave - thanks.
I hope that BA and the unions can reach an agreement that all sides feel is fair and addresses the concerns, before it gets to actual industrial action (as opposed to balloting for it).
I hope that BA and the unions can reach an agreement that all sides feel is fair and addresses the concerns, before it gets to actual industrial action (as opposed to balloting for it).
Jul 10, 2019, 5:36 am
#249
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,287
Jul 10, 2019, 6:21 am
#250
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
If the BA pilots go on strike, it will be pretty solid leading to large numbers of BA flights being canceled. The opportunity to rebook to other carriers or charter will be somewhat limited as the summer bookings are already very high. There is perhaps a chance of Bringing in Qatar again, but it would be of limited help. The bigger problem would be where to put all the grounded BA aircraft. There simply is not enough room at LHR. BA knows all this of course, and in the end I would be confident of a settlement being reached. The alternative is a disaster of epic proportions, which would cost far more than settling.
Jul 10, 2019, 6:36 am
#251
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: UK
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Jul 10, 2019, 6:50 am
#252
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Join Date: Jul 2010
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And that's a no win situation. Crossing fingers for you especially that if a strike happens (hoping that a fair resolution can be reached) it doesn't affect you.
Jul 10, 2019, 7:08 am
#253
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: living near Malaga
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Jul 10, 2019, 10:59 am
#255
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 1,408
Skin in the game of what’s currently completely hypothetical disruption. Awkwardly three CW flights to MCO (two reward, one revenue; on separate PNRs) in mid August, back late August. Helpfully friends we share the villa with arrive and leave before we do, so we have flexibility in arriving and departing already sorted. Sadly they are also on BA, so could be messed about.
I’m not flapping until there’s more concrete disruption, and that it will impact my journey.
I’m not flapping until there’s more concrete disruption, and that it will impact my journey.