BA Strike 22nd December-2nd Jan

I'm going home for Christmas YAY!!!!

Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho!!!

Thank goodness the strike has been called off as the court has deemed it unlawful and we can continue with our holiday plans.

I do feel sorry for Ba but my sympathy is running out because they won't just tell me anything. I appreciate they are working on schedules etc but in the meantime a QA refundable ticket is £1450 per seat and I can't afford to pay out any more.

Also, one of my facebook friends who is BA cabin crew and is going to strike updated her status this morning saying how hungover she was from the BA Christmas party! charming that thousands of pounds of our money pay for the posh hotel and open bar but we don't even get our tickets. Someone should have cancelled the party and given the money to the poor call centre staff instead.

I just switched our tickets to the 20th for no charge. Got the last seat available!

Mandi

Thanks Mandy - at least the BA Mgmt and Union (UNITE) are talking now so maybe a chance of a settlement.

Peter, it will have to be another airline since BA won't be flying during a strike. Or they will offer a flight earlier or later than the planned days.

Mandi

When they BA say will "re-route" passengers do they mean they will re-route using a different airline, or just re-route to an alternative BA flight if one is available to you think?

Well This will not affect me hopefully, but I feel all of your pain. I have been caught in airline strikes twice before. The most recent was leaving Doha back in January when I cam for a little class I was teaching. Lufthanselandgretel had something cooked up for the morning I landed in Germany. A four hour strike by the cabin crew or something. Anyways that delayed my return by a day. I spent about 10 hours waiting in the airport, then flew on to Amsterdam. By then, I was not able to connect, and had to eat the cost of a hotel.

The first time it happened to me, I was eventually banned from flying America West airlines. Suffice it to say, they neednt have banned me, because I was willing to walk rather than get on another of their aircraft.

Are they going on strike because they are paid more than other airlines or what because last I heard they were on higher salaries than other airlines' staff.

Thanks Mandi. I am a little panicked about this. In theory I should be ok because I am flying on the 21st. They have my mobile number and email and I am hoping never to hear from them. However if anyone else hears anything from BA by SMS or email direct, could they please post here.

This is a despicable act by the trade union. It's disgusting how heartless can they be :(

DOH-LHR would definitely be affected. Timebandit, you should be OK unless BA would decide to reposition aircraft in anticipation of a strike. And no, they won't be able to tell you now. Make sure they have your personal info (e-mail, mobile, etc.) up-to-date.

Mandi

Does anyone have any inside info? I read on the BA Website that franchaise operated flights are unaffected but no idea if Doha to London is one of these. The BA phone lines are engaged!

eeEEKK!!! My flight out of DOH is booked for 11:55pm on Monday 21st. Therefore I am hoping I am just 5 minutes outside of the strike action.

Does anyone know if there is a BA office in DOH, as I wouldn't mind checking with them to see if I am safe.

Planes Train's and Auto mobiles is a great film, I just don't want to be in the movie :(

My kids were coming to Dubai for Christmas on BA - thats not going to happen now - just another hard luck story. Its going to be a mess over the next week with all sorts of recriminations between Union and management - the sides are a long way apart and a settlement seems unlikely - other carriers who were already full anyway will take some of the overspill but the reality is that the best BA are going to be able to do is offer full refund - they have down this before in similar circs (this is going to cost them a fortune with upto a million passengers affected) or allow passengers to defer their flight and make another plan - with BA - which really doesnt solve the christmas hols and seeing family issue. There are going to be a lot of disappointed folks over the festive period. Best thing to do is make sure that BA have your CORRECT contact details as they are saying they will contact each passenger with an alternative - which I guess is going to be a totally inadequate flight with another carrier, a full refund or an offer to reschedule your flight. The proper newspapers on line are giving good coverage and its worth keeping abreast of activity with them. There are no winners here - least of all us the passengers who are once again being held hostage by a desperate management and an antiquated Trade Union who are already coining the phrase "the 12 days of Christmas" as a propoganda conduit - they are laughing all the way to their Christmas parties.

It's not the refund I am worried about, I know they are legally obliged to IF they cancel.But I just can't afford it.

My husband is booked on the 22nd on BA I bought him a refundable one-way ticket on QR. At least I know he'll be here for Xmas. We'll sort out the return and refund later. If the flight is cancelled, you will get a refund.

Mandi