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
#526
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA, YVR
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Flying Blue Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 568
I've been calling the YouFirst line via Skype so not too much damage to the phone bill =) But thank you, I will try not to worry, its just hard for someone prone to overthinking!
#527
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: 63,787
Thanks, that's a good tip, so I never have to hear the phrase " there are contingency plans in place" ever again =)
On another note...thinking about preemptively booking myself LCY to AMS. As long as I can get to London (SEA to LHR departs 25th, arrives on the 26th), I figure I should be able to figure out how to get to AMS, even Eurostar if needed.
On another note...thinking about preemptively booking myself LCY to AMS. As long as I can get to London (SEA to LHR departs 25th, arrives on the 26th), I figure I should be able to figure out how to get to AMS, even Eurostar if needed.
#528
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 62
Has it it been confirmed that the appeal will only be heard as early as Friday or Monday?
#529
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 4,160
#530
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,746
Apologies if I have missed it, but is the HAL strike on Friday a "possible" strike, or a "definite" strike? My partner will be doing FCO-LHR-YVR on Friday, with a connection to Westjet in Canada on a separate ticket from YVR, so I'm curious what the chances of disruption to his trip are?
#531
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: 63,787
Apologies if I have missed it, but is the HAL strike on Friday a "possible" strike, or a "definite" strike? My partner will be doing FCO-LHR-YVR on Friday, with a connection to Westjet in Canada on a separate ticket from YVR, so I'm curious what the chances of disruption to his trip are?
#532
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: BA Executive Club (lowly Blue but with MUCCI, apparently)
Posts: 1,186
👍 I missed three days of our last Florida holiday through the Gatwick drone chaos. I don’t mind if I’m delayed coming back but was worried about losing accommodation costs (again) if delayed getting out there.
Has it it been confirmed that the appeal will only be heard as early as Friday or Monday?
From my point of view, any strike action would be fine after the 19th or for just a few days sometime between the 11th and the 18th.
I just last week moved a bunch of our accommodations to pre-paid. It saved about $450 all-told - enough to pay for the travel insurance that it looks like I may have to use for the first time ever!
#533
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SEA, YVR
Programs: Alaska MVPG, Flying Blue Gold, BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 568
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a9017816.html
"Mr Strutton confirmed to The Independent that no strike will be announced before next Monday, 29 July. The union must give BA at least two weeks’ notice, so the earliest any industrial could begin is 13 August."
#534
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 36
So i've spent the last 4 years saving Avios and finally booked F for me and my mate using an Amex 2 for 1 on the 14th Aug LHR to JFK, and 20th JFK to LHR. If i get unlucky and they strike when i am due to fly is it cancelled by BA then i am refunded points + voucher plus cash for the surcharges or do i just get cash back ? Do i get compensation from BA? I've got no idea what happens.
#535
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,945
So i've spent the last 4 years saving Avios and finally booked F for me and my mate using an Amex 2 for 1 on the 14th Aug LHR to JFK, and 20th JFK to LHR. If i get unlucky and they strike when i am due to fly is it cancelled by BA then i am refunded points + voucher plus cash for the surcharges or do i just get cash back ? Do i get compensation from BA? I've got no idea what happens.
#537
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
Posts: 818
Am I right in thinking that if the strike starts the day I’m due to fly back from the US it won’t effect me as the pilots already down route fly back to base as normal ?
#538
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
Let's hope for Monday. With the two weeks requirement, that clears me for both the inbound to LHR on the Tuesday and the onwared flight to OSL on the Saturday. Then all I'd have to do is worry about getting us home on the 19th.
From my point of view, any strike action would be fine after the 19th or for just a few days sometime between the 11th and the 18th.
I just last week moved a bunch of our accommodations to pre-paid. It saved about $450 all-told - enough to pay for the travel insurance that it looks like I may have to use for the first time ever!
From my point of view, any strike action would be fine after the 19th or for just a few days sometime between the 11th and the 18th.
I just last week moved a bunch of our accommodations to pre-paid. It saved about $450 all-told - enough to pay for the travel insurance that it looks like I may have to use for the first time ever!
#539
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
In past strikes, cabin crew who were downroute on strike days did not take part in the strike and completed their trips as normal. Although I personally can't remember BA pilots striking, ISTR that there were good reasons for the cabin crew to take that approach and AIUI the same would apply to any pilots who do strike.
#540
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
Not necessarily, if the pilots are striking BA may not want all the aircraft returning to LHR. They would have no parking places for them. BA may cancel flights pro actively at their discretion. Or they may not and believe enough flights will leave on strike day to not be a problem. Or best of all BA may make a sensible offer and settle.