Once again, this IS a major event, it IS one of the main news, and has been talked about forever in the last few weeks. It's strange for someone to live in Spain and not know about this.

Just to prove it is in the news............Here are some links (in Spanish)
http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/8101...forma/laboral/
http://www.ccoo.es/huelga29s/menu.do?Inicio:96437
http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20100909...a/353043.shtml
Note the last one is from TV España. There are loads more examples on the web.

Thanks for the info, ribeirasacra. With our very basic Spanish, we tried our best to understand where things stand, and we're unable to do that. Would you be kind enough to tell us if any of these news' discussions included effects on international flights on the 29th? Thanks so much!

It is important to note that the guy in the photos contained in the first link posted by ribeirasacra is *not* Mr Bean.

tomarkot,

I note your posts on here and elsewhere. I understand your consternation but, with respect, you should understand by now what will happen is impossible to forecast. Whether a specific group of workers are striking or not and causing disruption to flights or not at all, there is possibly/likely/probably going to be a 'knock on' effect caused by another group.

I see nothing in the info. provided by ribeirasacra which will assist you in any definitive answer.

Best wishes.

Until/unless some announcement is made a day or so before the 29th of known totally disrupted activities, I am afraid there is not much more to be said. By law, there must be minimum services, however, the law sometimes is not respected.

Popular support is not high yet.

tomarkot
it is not important as to whether or not you understand what is being said or written I posted those links to illustrate to you that this is being discussed in the press. It is a big issue and both sides say they have the support of their actions.
As my forum friend WomBatt has said many times we just do not know how this is going to affect vacationers or those of us who live and work in Spain.

We are sticking with our plans. Delta will have to get us there one way or the other. We have till Oct. 1st to make our cruise. So, 2 days of wiggle room. I am going to consider this an adventure. I would advise a private car for pick up at the airport.

We're realizing that we'll just have live with continued "uncertainties" in all this. We're attempting to stay flexible, but sticking with our current plan. We, too, have arranged a private car for airport pick up. Thanks to all for information you shared or continue to share.

We decided yesterday to change our flight and arrive a day earlier to avoid this disruption. The anxiety was finally getting to me and spoiling my anticipation of a wonderful trip.

For all of you sticking with your plans - our best wishes that this works out.

Royal, we can understand how the anxiety would get to you, and cause you to change your flight. We've been trying to concentrate on other things going on with us and forget about our trip for a while. . .though normally the anticipation and prep for the trip is part of the fun. We'll just see how it goes. When we booked our flight, we paid more for a more desirable itinerary, intending this to be a relaxed trip. So we're hesitating to spend even more to change it. For now, we're just hanging in there. We'll check periodically to see if any updated information becomes available. We'll post any change of heart. Best wishes in your planning and your travels!

Watching the news the unions are stepping up their campaign for the strike. But it is still not clear as to the affect it will have on the public.

Once they start making unions receive their monies form their members, not from us, the taxpayers, we will see the REAL union support in this country.

Ribeirasacra..how many millions of euros had they been given for their operations?

Linca......No I dear.

My SIL is presently in Spain but booked her return date Sept 29 months ago. She has tried to change it but American Airlines in their infinite wisdom has said no. Thus she will be one of thousands at Barajas trying to change her ticket.

Brilliant American Airlines.

We were booked to leave Barcelona on 29 September. Our return path was BCN-CDG-SFO. Air France was happy to change our BCN-CDG leg to one day earlier. So we now get a day to enjoy Paris. When asked why I needed to change the connection, I replied "general strike in Spain 29 September". She entered it into their system and that was that. I suggest calling the res centers multiple times to get a reasonable agent, perhaps that will help?

Patrick, out of curiosity, is your ticket a FF miles ticket or is it purchased? If the latter, you certainly were very lucky to get such an understanding agent.

cruiseluv - Purchased. I agree. I'm just saying there is always a chance to get a human being who groks the situation. The first time I called, a few days prior, I was told I had to wait until a few days before the strike - or when the chaos is potentially starting to erupt. That is a formula for much pain. So I called back, and the Fates rewarded me. Worse case, I would have booked a train ride and eaten the first flight. I almost always book a two hopper, it affords flexibility when this stuff happens.

Patrick- Thanks, you did luck out but it happens! Reservations agents have a lot of discretion and can make it happen if they want.

Delta is still not changing ours; probably because it is FF miles Business Class. Well, it is up to them to find us a flight. We hope to arrive early in the morning on the 29th. Our cruise doesn't leave till Oct 1st at 6 p.m. Anyone I speak with abou this doesn't seem to know anything about it. Go figure. Maybe we will end up in Paris for the night. Who knows?

judyumcer - no one knows anything because at this point no one knows what, if anything WILL happen. It's all designed to create anxiety and is modeled leverage by the unions. I am not judging their motives, just describing basic strike tactics. If you are diverted, it is pretty easy to grab a train - Paris is 8 or so hours and a very pretty ride. Otherwise, with the two days slack you mentioned, I think you'll be fine - if not frazzled.:-)

The unions have just presented their suggestions for the strike. They aim to totally isolate this country not allowing any international flights to land or take off. They only propose for commuter trains to run from 6 am to 9 am , and 6-9 pm

Tomorrow the government will accept or decline this agenda. Today the government has said it is their obligation to provide minimum services and that is what they will aim for.

Good luck everyone.
Seems they always ask for this total isolation but then it is not allowed. We shall see.

I hope I have interpreted the little I saw on TV an hour or so ago.

Perhaps more light tonight on the evening news.

Lincasonova, thanks very much for keeping us updated on the strike situation. There may be more than just a handful of us who are waiting and watching...and hoping.

Oops! A correction to your name spelling, lincasanova! Our apologies.

Civil servant friends and neighbors are verifying that they are NOT going on strike. No one can afford to lose a day's pay.

I presently have a railwayman staying at my Casa Rural and he is going to stop work.
Things are still fluid as far as I can see.

These I refer to are museum and regional social workers.

Seems transportation will be hit hardest..

Hopefully the legal minimum services will be fulfilled.

Let us know tomorrow when you hear about it on the news. Seems they should know by now! Thanks!

After 4.5 hours no agreement has been reached. Syndicates want only minimum services during rush hour for commuter trains only. The gov't wants 25% minimum service for planes and 20% trains.

We shall see where this goes.

In other words, it is likely they will let international flights land in Barcelona? I really appreciate your keeping us informed.

They are still negotiating today. The syndicates do not want any duplicate transportation in the country. If one can take a train, then no planes or buses, etc.

The government wants them to comply with the % stipulated by law, which is more or less a very heavy slow down with minimum services all day long.. not just during rush hours.

Will keep you posted.

still no agreement. The syndicates do not want to accept the government's 40% of scheduled flights allotment.

Maybe we will have some new news later on today.

Hi, I've just registered here after reading your questions. My name's Tom and I live in Barcelona.

My employer today received information from AirEuropa, Vueling, SpanAir and Iberia that passengers with bookings on the 29th may make changes to those bookings.

I would strongly advise taking steps to avoid the strike by changing your booking. Even if minimum services are agreed to, not all international flights might land here.

(And on a side note: I expect the strike will receive more support than the press is letting on. It is the major political story here, and has been for weeks.)

Thank you Tom. I have passed the information along to my SIL who is currently in Soria.

Thank you, thebadrash, for jumping onboard and offering to keep those of us scheduled to land in BCN on the 29th updated on what to possibly expect. We really appreciate people like yourself and lincasanova.

I just heard from a friend that they will let planes land only if they leave before midnight on the 28th. We are leaving Atlanta at 8:55 p.m. on the 28th. Just barely under the wire! Let us know if you hear anymore. Thanks!

I'm going to fly in Madrid on 9/30 morning.
Do you think we will be effected by this strike?
I'm pretty sure it won't be the same.
Please let us know what can you expect.

The agreement between the government and the unions allows for 40% of intercontinental flights and 20% of European flights to be conducted the day of the strike.
(http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news...le_27271.shtml)

Flights on the 28th *should* be fine. Flights on the 30th could, I suppose, be affected.

This information is, as I understand it, final. Therefore, you probably now have something you can take to your travel agents or airlines. I'll see if I can find an actual governmental document related to it.

Please do and thank you for your concern for us. I also heard this morning to be true. I hope they have baggage handlers there to unload the plane.

thebadrash.. looks like it is final. Good luck, everyone!