UK Border Force Christmas strike - confirmed dates
Dec 8, 2022, 5:17 am
#46
Join Date: Feb 2015
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I seriously doubt strike by border force staff will be covered under EC261, especially given such a short notice. Theoretically this shouldn’t affect the airlines schedule, just the passengers. There is really nothing the airline can do. Anyway, others may have a better idea.
Dec 8, 2022, 5:22 am
#47
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As it happens, apparently the Border Force has written to HAL and asked for volumes not to exceed 80% of 2019 passenger levels, which is roughly where HAL and BA are anyway. These advance notices are based on some assumptions so there may still be some delays in the mornings.
Dec 8, 2022, 5:39 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 331
Positioning from LHR to CDG on the 23rd for a flight out of there on the 24th (BA315 which is a 1510 departure). Wondering how likely this would be affected by delays on the previous flights of that day... rebook on an earlier departure or risk it...! (Would have taken the Eurostar but they have strikes that day as well!).
Dec 8, 2022, 5:45 am
#49
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 503
Strikes outside the airlines' control is a valid reason to decline EC261 compensation (though not Right to Care). A lot depends on the details here, since for example if HAL ask airlines to cut services but doesn't say which ones, then if it's an airline choice as to which service to chop then that pushes it back in scope, at least potentially, for EC261 compensation.
Dec 8, 2022, 6:26 am
#50
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: London
Posts: 102
I wonder if BA will offer a waiver for travel on the impacted dates. I am due to fly MAN-LHR-BOS on Dec 28th and I'd love to move this a day earlier to reduce the chance of any travel headaches!
Dec 8, 2022, 6:41 am
#51
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They might do along the lines of the similar policies they offered earlier this year in relation to HAL passenger caps - i.e. you can move flights even if flights are not cancelled. Hopefully we will find out soon.
Dec 8, 2022, 7:38 am
#52
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: Flying Blue, Miles & Smiles
Posts: 468
And while you all ponder your flights my wife is still struggling to get a visa. It doesn’t help that the current processing times seem to be around the application window (i.e. you need to apply the earliest you possibly can to have a chance of getting a visa for when you wanted to travel…)
We had a planned trip to arrive in that period to BHX, affected, that got pulled due to a visa not being gaurenteed to be ready within the planned travel dates.
So perhaps with that in mind at least immigration may be easier workloads (i.e. not visa nationals because visas are just not being processed in a timely manner).
We had a planned trip to arrive in that period to BHX, affected, that got pulled due to a visa not being gaurenteed to be ready within the planned travel dates.
So perhaps with that in mind at least immigration may be easier workloads (i.e. not visa nationals because visas are just not being processed in a timely manner).
Dec 8, 2022, 8:48 am
#53
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 503
And while you all ponder your flights my wife is still struggling to get a visa. It doesn’t help that the current processing times seem to be around the application window (i.e. you need to apply the earliest you possibly can to have a chance of getting a visa for when you wanted to travel…)
We had a planned trip to arrive in that period to BHX, affected, that got pulled due to a visa not being gaurenteed to be ready within the planned travel dates.
So perhaps with that in mind at least immigration may be easier workloads (i.e. not visa nationals because visas are just not being processed in a timely manner).
We had a planned trip to arrive in that period to BHX, affected, that got pulled due to a visa not being gaurenteed to be ready within the planned travel dates.
So perhaps with that in mind at least immigration may be easier workloads (i.e. not visa nationals because visas are just not being processed in a timely manner).
Dec 8, 2022, 9:10 am
#54
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
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Dec 8, 2022, 9:29 am
#55
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
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Posts: 2,966
I think EZY flights are generally changeable - even to a different route - for a fee (which goes up at t-45 days I believe) and fare difference, so either way you might be able to salvage something
Dec 8, 2022, 9:53 am
#56
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 1
Am I screwed?
I'm flying into LHR from DFW on Dec 21st so I will be OK getting into the UK. I fly out of LHR on Dec 29th so the question is....on the way out, what role does Border Force play in managing passengers out of the country? Am I screwed?
Dec 8, 2022, 10:02 am
#57
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Welcome to FT
For departing the UK I think it is a very passive role - i.e. airlines collect data and send it to UKBF who can see that you are leaving. So hopefully very little impact. However there could be knock on issues, so late departures as arrivals can't offload passengers due to queuing etc.
For departing the UK I think it is a very passive role - i.e. airlines collect data and send it to UKBF who can see that you are leaving. So hopefully very little impact. However there could be knock on issues, so late departures as arrivals can't offload passengers due to queuing etc.
Dec 8, 2022, 10:14 am
#58
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,654
Yeah - the problem is, there's nothing that I want to change it to at the moment. The advantage of a voucher is that I can choose at my leisure.
Dec 8, 2022, 10:20 am
#59
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 381
No doubt cancellations are being worked through now as a contingency measure and I’m sure airlines will announce affected services asap. Those travelling during the strike period just need to be very prepared and to stay as calm as they can - from being held on aircraft if passport zones and flight connection control zones exceed safe capacity limits to queues in the immigration hall and egates.
Dec 8, 2022, 11:16 am
#60
Join Date: Mar 2008
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I fully support workers right to strike but it is very poor form to do it over the Christmas period when people are travelling to see families etc. Shame on them.