Kommers

Well, this is a good question. Obviously, BA has some raw draft of the flight schedule should strike occur. However, I don't think this schedule is set in stone for the simple reason: they don't yet know what resources they can count on. They trained some 1000 ground crew members to take place of the flight crew, plus they have some other resources, including leasing third party aircraft and crew but the main question now stands: how many BA flight crew will actually walk out? BA can't possibly know it now although historical data suggests there won't be too many. In any case, until they calculate available resources, they won't be able to put into effect any real flight schedule. Another thing that is known from BA history is that they first cancel domestic and short haul flights, i.e these destinations that are reachable by train. I would personally say, that unles by some miracle they already have the firm schedule, it will take them at least a couple of days to create one and start notifying people.

Kommers

A strike by BA cabin crew appeared increasingly likely after a last-ditch offer of a 2.6% pay cut failed to achieve a breakthrough in talks today.

BA is seeking an extension to discussions until tomorrow afternoon to allow more time to consider the offer.
(Guardian)

Kommers

A strike by BA cabin crew is in the balance after the airline today asked for an extension to talks in order to consider a last-ditch offer of a 2.6% pay cut.

The Unite trade union agreed to continue discussions until midday tomorrow to allow BA more time. Yesterday, representatives of Unite and its Bassa cabin crew branch tabled a cost-cutting package including a pay cut this year and reductions in perks such as telephone allowances.

(latest from Guardian)

crsnyder4

Over on flyertalk you can read the text of an email Unite sent to its members this evening. Based on the last sentence they do not expect to come to an agreement. Very unfortunate if that turns out to be the case.

crsnyder4

Here is the link: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ussion-55.html

markrosy

I expect that the strike will be during the two weeks round Easter - our holidays and aimed at maximum impact.

crsnyder4

Unite/BASSA have already "promised" they would not conduct the strikes around the Easter holiday especially after the huge backlash from the public when they announced the original strikes around the Christmas/New Years holidays. It will be interesting to see if they hold to that "promise."

Kommers

They will, since they made it official. I am just wondering if they have a mandate from their members to announce the dates and duration of the strike without calling a meeting first. If they have to have a meeting first, then they probably won't give BA strike notice until Thursday. so the strike may commence only on 18th or after. Interestingly, about one third of these members supporting the strike are in favor of making it last 10+ days, two thirds are either against sunch length or they abstained.

markrosy

It is absolutely ridiculous that there are people out there who have paid in full (in good faith) for service that they do not know whether they will receive.

Colleen

As a long-time Air Canada customer who jumped at the chance of a bargain rate on British Airways on May 5th and May 21st, I certainly have learnt my lesson. This is causing much stress to my husband and I as we have paid deposits on hotels etc. I will never travel on BA again no matter what they offer!

BKP

Colleen -- Are you worried that the strike will last until your flights? I'm only speaking from what I've learned by reading all of the bulletins and forums that I can -- but if your flights are in May I really don't think you have much to worry about. I believe the strike (if they have one) MUST start by March 22. People are speculating if it will go shorter or longer than 10 days. I haven't read anyone expecting it to last 6 weeks.

Kommers

as of 8.20 am EST:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8558399.stm

melissa19

Can't decide if this is good news, or if they are just dragging out the inevitable!

Thanks for the updates...

Christina_BA

I work for British Airways and appreciate there are a lot of BA-related travel questions at the moment, given the potential strike by cabin crew. I just wanted to pass on the link to our page which has the most up to date and reliable travel information about how possible industrial action could affect your travel plans (http://www.ba.com/strike). If I hear of any updates I will try to flag it up on this forum moving forward.

Regards

Christina

Kommers

No deal, strike is likely

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8561138.stm

Kommers

one more from Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...s-strike-talks

BKP

Kommers -- not great news.
I just spent a while reading flyertalk.com. On it was a link to Unite's website. In the header was a photograph of Willie Walsh (the president of BA) with photoshopped red eyes. Unprofessional.

Supposedly there will be a press conference tomorrow at noon, GMT. Fingers crossed for everyone's flights on this thread!

Kommers

BKP: well, Unite also said that BA has time until strike dates are announced to come up with counteroffers. That leaves some chance here. Another thing is that if Unite decides to go with 10+ days strike (which will be determined by electronic vote among union members, I heard) then BA will most likely take Unite to UK High Court againg like they did before Christmas. We all remember, that among the reasons why strike was not allowed by the court was its length.

sfgirl42

I am not a union member but I have friends in the US who are and even with the union the various machinations by the airlines lost them their pensions sompletely. The pilot who successfully landed the plane in the Hudson suffered a loss of at least 50% of his previous pension.
I think the Unite staff are seeing what has happened elsewhere and because they have lived up to their commitment to the contracts, they expect BA to live up to theirs.
I don't think it's all salary costs that are hurting BA--look at the cockup with tne new LHR terminal--how much did that fiasco cost them? OK, that's my personal rant.
Now as far as BA, from everything I've read in the UK papers in the past, I resolved to never fly BA because of what I've read about them, EVEN WHEN THEY HAD GREAT FARES.
I would also like to point out this is why it is a very, very good idea to get good travel insurance as soon as you book your ticket. But do check the policy you get includes strike coverage.
Of course since I usually fly to France I could be confronted by a strike there, but they tend to be on specific days (and with the Metro workers in Paris, at specific times).

Kommers

Unfortunately, when one buys a ticket from Travelocity, Orbitz or Expedia, these great sites don't have a section like "what other folks say about this airline". But even if they did, I am sure you can find passenger horror stories for each and every airline with the number of such stories being in hundreds. Just like you say "never fly BA no matter how great their rates are", I can say "never fly AA" because they once cancelled my outbound flight and then delayed return flight for 16 hours. "never fly Finnair" because once they managed to poison me with their cabbage and I missed the train from Helsinki because I could not say Goodbye to the restroom in airport for good 5 hrs (sorry for details). Never fly Delta because they routinely delay their flights, never fly Lufhansa (they just had their own strike), never fly Alitalia (they may go under any moment) and on, and on and on. Sorry for venting out. I am thinking about buying an insurance from BA, for the first time of my life.