Aug 1, 2019, 2:54 am
Last edit by: corporate-wage-slave
This thread is about the now deferredindustrial action (strikes) by Heathrow Airport Limited staff. Click here for the official and detailed BA advice, particularly for departing and connecting passengers.
The strikes planned for Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 August have now both been cancelled and normal services can be expected, with the possible exception of some catering changes on shorthaul services. A revised pay offer is being put to the workforce and in the meantime strike action has been postponed.
This is a different and unrelated dispute to the possible BA strike (there is a separate thread for this). It only affects LHR but all airlines, all terminals
As things stand the next strike days are Friday 23 - Saturday 24 August, there may be further dates announced. The impact is on departing and connecting passengers, with restrictions on hand baggage (one small item only), no First Wing or Fast Track security, and changed catering arrangements on some shorter services. See links above for details, there are no changes noted for passengers arriving into Heathrow, other than the catering changes. On Sunday BA will announce any service changes, usually this comes around 17:00 hrs London time. BA is offering a Twilight Check-In service from 18:00 hrs the night before travel to allow passengers to get their bags into the system before the day of travel.
BA is allowing short haul bookings from LHR on 5-6 August to be rebooked to either LCY or LGW - or to other dates from Heathrow on or before 12 August so long as they avoid 5-6 August. This include redemptions. Tickets need to be booked on or before 31 July. It would appear that currently flights TO Heathrow are not in scope.
The strikes planned for Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 August have now both been cancelled and normal services can be expected, with the possible exception of some catering changes on shorthaul services. A revised pay offer is being put to the workforce and in the meantime strike action has been postponed.
This is a different and unrelated dispute to the possible BA strike (there is a separate thread for this). It only affects LHR but all airlines, all terminals
As things stand the next strike days are Friday 23 - Saturday 24 August, there may be further dates announced. The impact is on departing and connecting passengers, with restrictions on hand baggage (one small item only), no First Wing or Fast Track security, and changed catering arrangements on some shorter services. See links above for details, there are no changes noted for passengers arriving into Heathrow, other than the catering changes. On Sunday BA will announce any service changes, usually this comes around 17:00 hrs London time. BA is offering a Twilight Check-In service from 18:00 hrs the night before travel to allow passengers to get their bags into the system before the day of travel.
BA is allowing short haul bookings from LHR on 5-6 August to be rebooked to either LCY or LGW - or to other dates from Heathrow on or before 12 August so long as they avoid 5-6 August. This include redemptions. Tickets need to be booked on or before 31 July. It would appear that currently flights TO Heathrow are not in scope.
LHR strikes (HAL employees) - 23/24 Aug 2019 [called off for now]
Jul 13, 2019, 7:53 am
#1
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LHR strikes (HAL employees) - 23/24 Aug 2019 [called off for now]
Unite announced yesterday six strike dates for workers at LHR, two later this month and four in August. I’m not especially clear as to which employees at LHR this would affect; it is being reported that they are customer service, engineering and security staff. LHR says it has contingency plans in place to keep things running.
Anyway, the point: I’m due to fly on one of the strike dates. Has anyone in the past flown on a strike day and experienced the efficacy (or otherwise) of the contingency plans. Idly wondering what I can expect...
Anyway, the point: I’m due to fly on one of the strike dates. Has anyone in the past flown on a strike day and experienced the efficacy (or otherwise) of the contingency plans. Idly wondering what I can expect...
Jul 13, 2019, 8:01 am
#2
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Also included are airside operational staff.HAL staff have never striked before, so nobody has first hand experience of this.
Jul 13, 2019, 8:08 am
#3
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Would be nice to include the strike dates!
Jul 13, 2019, 8:13 am
#4
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Strike dates: 26 July, 27 July, 5 August, 6 August, 23 August and 24 August.
I can (obviously!) read the categories of striking workers, but I have no idea (for example) how many LHR customer service employees who might be striking do things that actually affect passengers. Are they sales staff in the shops? Or are they lounge staff? Or check in staff (who I thought we’re employed by the airlines)?
Anyway, sounds like it’s a first so a bit of a learning experience for everyone. What japes!
I can (obviously!) read the categories of striking workers, but I have no idea (for example) how many LHR customer service employees who might be striking do things that actually affect passengers. Are they sales staff in the shops? Or are they lounge staff? Or check in staff (who I thought we’re employed by the airlines)?
Anyway, sounds like it’s a first so a bit of a learning experience for everyone. What japes!
Jul 13, 2019, 8:15 am
#5
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Jul 13, 2019, 8:24 am
#6
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I can (obviously!) read the categories of striking workers, but I have no idea (for example) how many LHR customer service employees who might be striking do things that actually affect passengers. Are they sales staff in the shops? Or are they lounge staff? Or check in staff (who I thought we’re employed by the airlines)?
Most HAL customer service staff are behind the scenes (although trolley operatives are visible, for example), as are engineering (who maintain the infrastructure) and other operations staff (responsible for airfield safety, non-T5 stand allocation etc.).
Sales staff in shops are employed by the retailers, not HAL. Ground staff are employed by ground handlers or airlines, not HAL.
Jul 13, 2019, 9:44 am
#8
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The main population of HAL staff affected are security officers, and this would be the most notable interaction with HAL staff for the majority of passengers.
Most HAL customer service staff are behind the scenes (although trolley operatives are visible, for example), as are engineering (who maintain the infrastructure) and other operations staff (responsible for airfield safety, non-T5 stand allocation etc.).
Sales staff in shops are employed by the retailers, not HAL. Ground staff are employed by ground handlers or airlines, not HAL.
Most HAL customer service staff are behind the scenes (although trolley operatives are visible, for example), as are engineering (who maintain the infrastructure) and other operations staff (responsible for airfield safety, non-T5 stand allocation etc.).
Sales staff in shops are employed by the retailers, not HAL. Ground staff are employed by ground handlers or airlines, not HAL.
Thanks. Sounds like this has the potential to be quite disruptive.
Balls.
ETA:
Jul 13, 2019, 10:24 am
#9
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Different strike to the BA employees strike - which might actually happen at the same time in early August for some double mayhem.
Hoping my flight landing into LHR on the 6th August won't be affected. It'll need to depart LHR the bad before to position, so if that's affected then, well, who knows.
Hoping my flight landing into LHR on the 6th August won't be affected. It'll need to depart LHR the bad before to position, so if that's affected then, well, who knows.
Jul 13, 2019, 11:56 am
#10
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I’m flying on the 26th too. As well as on a couple of the other days scheduled.
Predictable over reactions on this forum, people only read the headlines and panic.
Heathrow have said they have the contingency plans in place to deal with the strike and BA on Twitter have said they plan to operate a normal schedule. For now, chill out guys.
Predictable over reactions on this forum, people only read the headlines and panic.
Heathrow have said they have the contingency plans in place to deal with the strike and BA on Twitter have said they plan to operate a normal schedule. For now, chill out guys.
Jul 14, 2019, 1:27 am
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So the first date is after many of the London schools break up for summer and the last one is the bank holiday weekend.
That’ll be fun
That’ll be fun
Jul 14, 2019, 1:45 am
#13
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I have a paid BA ticket OTP-LHR for 6 Aug (when there may be a HAL and BA strike).
I have panicked and taken out some insurance in the form of a FR ticket OTP-STN for the same day (similar timings too) for £50. If the LHR option goes belly up I hope to be able to cancel for free.
I have panicked and taken out some insurance in the form of a FR ticket OTP-STN for the same day (similar timings too) for £50. If the LHR option goes belly up I hope to be able to cancel for free.
Jul 14, 2019, 1:58 am
#14
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I haven’t been back to the UK in 5 years and have been dodging strikes the entire way. Amusingly 26th July is my return date. I’ll be a transit passenger at LHR so hopefully will be OK but I have a nice long buffer of time ex BCN so perhaps will see if I can take an earlier flight to LHR, if IB do the business
Jul 14, 2019, 2:08 am
#15
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I have a paid BA ticket OTP-LHR for 6 Aug (when there may be a HAL and BA strike).
I have panicked and taken out some insurance in the form of a FR ticket OTP-STN for the same day (similar timings too) for £50. If the LHR option goes belly up I hope to be able to cancel for free.
I have panicked and taken out some insurance in the form of a FR ticket OTP-STN for the same day (similar timings too) for £50. If the LHR option goes belly up I hope to be able to cancel for free.
More details in the thread in the UK&I forum:
London Heathrow / LHR (+LGW, STN) Strikes Jul-Aug 2019