crsnyder4

Well said Kommers. That pretty muchs sums it all up! We have flights on March 21st, 27th and April 3rd so we are anxiously awaiting news as well and our flights are into and out of LHR also. It certainly isn't fun to be in a "wait and see" game when you are anxiously awaiting the vacation of a lifetime!

Kommers

Here is the latest news today. Not much actvity in terms of the news coverage, but still something:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...fty-fifty.html

TDudette

Thanks, Kommers. Hate to see an airline go bankrupt but why can't people who work for them be treated with respect. Have unions gone too far? It's a difficult question.

Kommers

Well, one question that immediately rise is this: why unions want to settle their score with employers at my expense? I work all my life for non-unionized companies so I can't just walk out and cause inconvenience to other people who depend on my work. These people who work for unionized companies can do a lot of harm to me: airline won't fly and ruin my vacation, surgeon won't not operate and ruin my health, my children won't go to school because teachers are on strike, etc, etc, etc. Basically, these unions take the rest of the population hostage, and the rest of the population has to swallow it, without being able to fight back. I agree, workers interests should be protected, but the shape this protection takes is ugly and unjust. Trade unions were invented over a hundred years ago; maybe, it is time for them to somehow reform and change their methods?

Ann1

Kommers: You (and I) are probably going to get slammed for what you (and I) said, but I agree. Unions were made for sweat houses...which are still in business, but I truly don't believe they're made for airlines and other companies. This is a world where if you don't like your job or what you're paid...then change. If no one wants to work for that company, they'll change there ways to get good people. I also believe that unions protect the lazy and useless. You should get paid what you're worth and fired if you don't do your job.

crsnyder4

+1 Kommers and Ann1! No slamming here. Unions are outdated for the most part and have their use in certain industries. When your union and its activities begin to infringe upon the customers of the business its just plain wrong.

Ann1

I know that's their point. To hurt the company enough so they'll back down. Problem is.....we're innocent and it hurts us.

crsnyder4

Another update:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...oposals-strike

Kommers

I still think that what Unite tries is mostly a publicity action, to keep a good face for these whose interests it is supposed to defend. I red some of their statements and selfishness just spills over the mug here. Take this, for instance, in which they talk about daily negotioations this is funny:

"We have made ourselves available at any time since then. Despite our offers to continue talks BA has chosen to leave the building at 6pm or earlier on numerous occasions."

Yeah, these BA bastards, they go home after 6pm to their families, whereas we offered to stay late! How dare they??

Enough said, huh?

dutyfree

As someone who has worked for an airline for most of my life, I agree that the unions have no place in the airlines in this day and age. The problem with BA and other European airlines is that they never readjusted like the US airlines in regards to staffing and pay cuts.
Most of us have lost a week's vacation;have no pension after 30 plus years;work understaffed flights and make less now than we did 10-15 years ago.They need to wake up and smell the coffee about today's economy.

markrosy

BA staff still think that are working for a natioanlised government company.

Many government workers in the UK need a rocket up their behind and a sharp reminder of waht real life in a deep economic recession is like. I have long suspected that BA have managed to get by for years by milking the routes where they have little competition.

Only hope that if things do go wrong, and the staff get a sharp lesson in market forces, Gordon Brown doesn't come and bail them out like the slob bankers.

In short if they do strike - vote with your feet. Go elsewhere.

crsnyder4

I'd love to vote with my feet but unfortunately I (and many others) can't. We have nonrefundable tickets booked during the potential strike period. I also have events scheduled and deposits paid for, of which I doubt I can recoup in the worst case scenario. Instead we are all waiting to see what will happen to our vacations that have been saved for for months, some years....

markrosy

crsnyder4

I realise that and it is a situation that as a prepaid customer, you should never be in. It still think that it is an absolute scam that airlines have got away with 100% payments in advance for non tangible, easily scheduled services.

I am open to correction here (by anyone) but I do not see why standard industry terms should not be payment on the day of travel say with a 25% holding deposit paid on booking.

That way in the event of their non delivery you could walk away.

The vote with your feet was a suggestion to prospective cutomers who haven't yet booked who should punish BA and their staff for the way YOU have been treated.

crsnyder4

I just truly hope for an amicable resolution to this for everyone involved (BA, cabin crew and passengers)! I like your idea of airlines charging a deposit. That would be fabulous and would but the customer in more control.

pebbles99

Thanks again for any updates

Ann1

A couple of years ago we were re-directed onto two BA flights..Frankfort to London, London to DC because of an Air France strike. When the flight attendant ask about what happened and we explained and two of the attendants said BA paid well. Well, as mentioned before....We're all taking pay cuts, many mega companies are not giving pensions anymore, medical insurance is being cut, etc, etc. They have to deal with it, too.

Many years ago we didn't pay for our reservations until just before the flight. Now they keep and use our money for months.

melissa19

We are scheduled to take BA (first time!) March 16 PHL-LHR-AMS and March 24 CDG-LHR-PHL.

Will a strike decision be made on the 9th, or is that just the last day of talks?

Thanks... keeping my fingers crossed.

crsnyder4

Your guess is as good as mine Melissa19. Last week they said they'd announce dates on Friday and then that got changed. Now they are saying Tues "close of play." Who knows anymore....

Kommers

melissa19: 9th is the last day of talks, but not necessarily the day of strike days announcement. If they go on strike, they have to announce it no later than 15th and start the strike no later than 22nd (by law, they must give BA 7 days advance warning). Therefore, technically, the time frame for the strike start is March 16-22

melissa19

I guess I would have a little bit of warning then. Would you expect BA to start rescheduling and notifying people immediately?

This is not a good start to our vacation!