Aug 24, 2019, 4:29 am
Last edit by: corporate-wage-slave
Quick answers to FAQ
Update 18 September 2019: BALPA, the pilots union, has called off their strike for 27 September. We are awaiting a status update from BA on the next steps.
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, see post 540 for an example of a mistake cancellation, see post 818 for a genuinely cancelled flight.
Post 540 (mistake cancellation): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31451182-post540.html
Post 818 (real cancellation): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31454467-post818.html
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) have announced strike dates.
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 here
and BA Trade Site guidance here
The list of airlines that can be used for rebooking BA flights is now very long, and the list is available here:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/traveltrade/bookings-policies/policies/askba?faqid=7594
As of 27 August, this was the old list, and you can track the rollout of OAL via the main thread: Iberia, AA, Aer Lingus (Transatlantic routed limited to 09/10 Sep Only), Finnair, JAL, Malaysia, Qatar, SAS, Brussels, Egyptair, Precision Air, Cathay Pacific and Etihad, Saudia, Gulf, Qantas, Tradewind Aviation, Interjet, LATAM, Air France, KLM, Air New Zealand, Philippine Airlines, EVA Air, Kenya Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Baltic, Air Atlantic, Croatia and Vueling. Between LHR/MAN and SIN only for Economy passengers, Singapore Airlines is allowed. Between LON and SOF only, Bulgaria is allowed. Between London and Newcastle, Leeds and Edinburgh BA can rebook via the LNER rail company. Suspended then but now allowed: Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian
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): here
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.[/left]
Update 18 September 2019: BALPA, the pilots union, has called off their strike for 27 September. We are awaiting a status update from BA on the next steps.
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, see post 540 for an example of a mistake cancellation, see post 818 for a genuinely cancelled flight.
Post 540 (mistake cancellation): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31451182-post540.html
Post 818 (real cancellation): https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31454467-post818.html
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) have announced strike dates.
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 here
and BA Trade Site guidance here
The list of airlines that can be used for rebooking BA flights is now very long, and the list is available here:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/traveltrade/bookings-policies/policies/askba?faqid=7594
As of 27 August, this was the old list, and you can track the rollout of OAL via the main thread: Iberia, AA, Aer Lingus (Transatlantic routed limited to 09/10 Sep Only), Finnair, JAL, Malaysia, Qatar, SAS, Brussels, Egyptair, Precision Air, Cathay Pacific and Etihad, Saudia, Gulf, Qantas, Tradewind Aviation, Interjet, LATAM, Air France, KLM, Air New Zealand, Philippine Airlines, EVA Air, Kenya Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Baltic, Air Atlantic, Croatia and Vueling. Between LHR/MAN and SIN only for Economy passengers, Singapore Airlines is allowed. Between LON and SOF only, Bulgaria is allowed. Between London and Newcastle, Leeds and Edinburgh BA can rebook via the LNER rail company. Suspended then but now allowed: Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian
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): here
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.[/left]
Help Desk: practical assistance for those affected by strikes on 9, 10, 27 Sep
Aug 23, 2019, 9:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Staffordshire
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum Amb
Posts: 150
Help Desk: practical assistance for those affected by strikes on 9, 10, 27 Sep
Far far too early to tell. but those with knowledge from previous strikes. I have a flight from JFK taking off on the 8th, but lands on the 9th at LHR. Would a strike cover all fights due to be in the air on the 9th, or just flights due to take off on the 9th? (I wouldn't mind an extra couple of days in New York!!). My 1830hrs dep from JFK would be 2330hrs on the 8th UK time so we should just manage to take off? Or are the strikes at outstations timed at the local time or the time back in the UK. Oh so many questions.....
Bri
Bri
Aug 23, 2019, 9:50 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: London
Posts: 30
Far far too early to tell. but those with knowledge from previous strikes. I have a flight from JFK taking off on the 8th, but lands on the 9th at LHR. Would a strike cover all fights due to be in the air on the 9th, or just flights due to take off on the 9th? (I wouldn't mind an extra couple of days in New York!!). My 1830hrs dep from JFK would be 2330hrs on the 8th UK time so we should just manage to take off? Or are the strikes at outstations timed at the local time or the time back in the UK. Oh so many questions.....
Bri
Bri
Aug 23, 2019, 9:53 am
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 244
Ugh...we are supposed to be returning from vacation flying JNB-LHR on 9/9 and then LHR-IAD on 9/10 in F on a 2-4-1. Can't leave earlier without losing a day of our very expensive vacation and rearranging intra-Africa flights, and can't leave later as I have work commitments back in DC on 9/11. Hope BA announces contingency plans quickly - I'm going to be at remote camps in Africa beginning 8/28 and will largely not have access to wifi/cell service. It would be nice to know whether we're going to be accommodated on other carriers and whether we are going to be accommodated in F if the strike goes forward without having to worry about it all vacation. Surely they have to have them in place given the last few weeks of this dragging on?
Aug 23, 2019, 9:53 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,020
I have a couple of bookings on the 10th. MAD-LHR-EDI on one ticket and then a EDI-LCY on CityFlyer on a separate booking, both outbound flights already flown. Firstly I assume I can get a full refund or rebooking, and as over 14 days out there is no other compensation due - refund is my preferred. Secondly do you think they will allow me to cancel the CityFlyer booking too? Any normal procedures, such as to make another seat available for others who want to travel EDI-LON that day? Normally is it easier to try to sort immediately, or wait until they are less busy?
Aug 23, 2019, 9:55 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,203
People need to be patient. In the meantime look at alternative routings especially on OW partners as those are the ones BA will rebook on to first,
Aug 23, 2019, 9:56 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,107
There will be no space at LHR and LGW to park the grounded aircraft so I would expect very few to be operated back even if there are crew and aircraft down route to operate them.
Aug 23, 2019, 9:57 am
#7
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 23, 2019, 9:57 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
Aug 23, 2019, 10:07 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LCY is always preferred
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,026
Double whammy for me. Coming back from LBA on the 9th, and then from FCO on the 27th.
Train from Leeds is an option, but for me and a Friend back from Rome, only direct option is Alitalia..
I better get the Tier points for the flights!!
Train from Leeds is an option, but for me and a Friend back from Rome, only direct option is Alitalia..
I better get the Tier points for the flights!!
Aug 23, 2019, 10:07 am
#11
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Philadelphia, USA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, American Platinum, Singapore KrisFlyer
Posts: 138
My flights narrowly avoid the dates proposed by BALPA. I fly long haul from US to India transiting through LHR on September 4 and September 24
I know there are people who are directly impacted, so I apologize for asking this. But is it safe to assume that there would be minimal impact to my schedule? I do realize there is no such thing as a guarantee.
This is a personal holiday for me, and I need to know if I should plan for a contingency plan just in case.
I know there are people who are directly impacted, so I apologize for asking this. But is it safe to assume that there would be minimal impact to my schedule? I do realize there is no such thing as a guarantee.
This is a personal holiday for me, and I need to know if I should plan for a contingency plan just in case.
Aug 23, 2019, 10:09 am
#12
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: 63,846
That's the ISB service departing from London. I don't think it will be affected, the strike starts the next day, and only for departures from London at that point. But check BA.com, MMB and here. I would expect BA to be replotting schedules right now.
Aug 23, 2019, 10:13 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,197
Pretty worried about my flight out on the 11th now as obviously flights that day are going to be heavily impacted by flights being cancelled the day before.
Fingers crossed that there aren't a bunch of whales booked on flights the day before. =/
Fingers crossed that there aren't a bunch of whales booked on flights the day before. =/