Matt

This is a general strike to which all workers are called, and it will happen for sure, it's not just a threat. Expect major disruptions in transportation and all sort of other services, especially in the public sector.

cruiseluv

Royal,

Yes, you are right. I was in Madrid in early August and the Spanish Air Traffic Controllers were threatening a strike and something was mentioned about the "10 days rule". However, please see that notice has already been served for the Sept. 29 strike.

summer08bride

is this just a one-day strike? (although I imagine the effects will be felt for a few days after) or can this potentially last for multiple days?

WomBatt

summer08bride,

This is a one day strike as legislation requires and as advertised.

Best wishes.

WomBatt

Sorry - should read 'as legislation requires' - notification.

Royal

Spoke to our TA today and she advises us to hold on this situation. She feels it's most unlikely that all flights will be cancelled and possibly just domestic flights.

As we arrive early in the morning of the 29th we may just get lucky. Think we will book for a car pickup though at the airport.

tomarkot

Royal, we also spoke with our TA who advised us that Delta said that until they had knowledge of the strike, with our flight being affected, we couldn't push our flight back a day without penalties. She advised us that, since we had trip insurance which does cover strikes, we should just wait it out and "be positive". We're just hoping, as you, that since our flight arrives early in the morning of the 29th, we will be able to land in Barcelona. We have no transportation connections out of Barcelona to make, and our transport to the hotel is through a private company.

When it was mentioned on this site that the ATC are required to give a 10-day advance notice before a strike, does that mean that they could have already given more than a 10-day notice, and the strike is set to go, or that ten days prior to the 29th (the 19th) they must give notice. Would someone be willing to explain this in a little more detail?

Let's just hope that, whatever it is, all of us who are traveling to/from Spain on the 29th will not have our plans interrupted! All of this uncertainty surrounding our travel to Spain kind of dims the anticipation and excitement we would normally have. Does anyone else feel this way?

Royal

tomarkot - I feel exactly as you do. The pre-trip excitement has turned to pre-trip anxiety.

Also hope someone responds to your question as to whether the ATC have already given notice. If they have it is surprising that the airlines don't seem to know about it or aren't responding to it.

WomBatt

The strike always was inevitable, as the Spanish government was not going to do an about turn on new labour legislation,(which, has only days ago, finished the final stages in process).
If you want confirmation -
http://www.expatica.com/es/news/span...-29_94587.html
http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/spa...ff421.html?x=0

Royal

Thanks WomBatt.

I read both those articles and while the unions have given formal notice it would appear the members are giving it little support.

tomarkot

Thanks to WomBatt for the information. We appreciate any updates. We're with you Royal, hoping that the strike doesn't have big support, especially the workers involved in international flights. That would seem to discourage tourists, big time, from planning future visits.

LindyinLA

Thanks for all the info.from everyone.My pre trip anxiety has been relieved.My anxiety was fueled by Lufthansa's just wait and see attitude.We contacted the source of our Star Alliance miles-United-and they rebooked us on Luft,without charge a day early out of Barcelona on the 28th because of the strike.Hate to miss a day + in Spain but worth the peace of mind.Good luck to all of you on 9/29.I hope it is a cultural experience of the pleasant sort.We have an unused room at the Constanza on the 28th -looks like we will be paying for it-still working on compensation.

judyumcer

We, also are due to land on the 29th via Delta @ 0855. I have called Delta twice and they know nothing. Don't seem to have any back-up plans on their part. I don't want to end up at Charles DeGaulle (their hub) on the day of the 29th. I hate that airport. What to do??????????????

giggy_18

Hi,

I have plans to be in Seville/Cordoba/Granada around September 29 through Oct 2. After reading the discussion here, should I understand that the strike will last only 1 day? Is that a guarantee?

Also, I have only seen reference that transportation workers will be on strike. How about workers at the sites, like those working at Alhambra and what not? Can anyone shed any light to that? I'd really appreciate it.

judyumcer

I spoke with a Delta Rep and he said they will have to let us land in Barcelona on the 29th after flying all night. They want an additional 74,000 sky miles and $270 some per person. He suggested we sit tight. That they are more likely not to let planes take off but they have to let us land. Does anyone really know what is going to happen?

WomBatt

judyumcer and all,

'Does anyone really know what is going to happen?' - No.

It is a general strike. How effective or ineffectual support will be is open to debate. If anyone does not 'sit on the fence' with their suggestion on what will actually happen on the 29th, they are being foolish.

Best wishes.

cruiseluv

Judy,

Unfortunately nobody here has a crystal ball and that Delta rep doesn't either. I think it was very misguided for him to tell you that "they have to let us land". When I was affected by the bagagge handlers strike in Barcelona, our flight was the last one allowed to land. Other flights were diverted to other airports.

tomarkot

For what it's worth: We asked some friends whose son lives in Barcelona to find out what he's picking up from local TV/newspapers regarding the Sept. 29 strike. They said he knew nothing about it! And he himself has plans to fly to the US from Barcelona on Sept. 30. He's normally a "dialed in" guy, but perhaps with a young baby he and his Barcelonan wife are not keeping up with daily news. Who knows?

Instead of using what prep time we have for our trip to check out info/plan activities for Barcelona and vicinity, and learn some basic Catalan, we're trying to scan Spain newspapers (English versions) and other websites, to figure out what impact this strike might have on our plans, and see very little info. One would think that a general strike, with potentially wide-reaching impact, would get a bit more attention from people living in Spain. The mystery and anxiety remain!!!

Royal

tomarkot - It is very unusual that there is almost no recent coverage of this major event in the Spanish press. Perhaps the only people paying attention are the union leaders.

None of the airlines here in N.America have anything to say about it either.

As you said - a mystery.

LindyinLA

I wrote this already in the Air Travel forum but I will repeat it here.United just allowed us to change our Lufthansa flight from 9/29 to 9/28 out of Barcelona.There was no charge due to the strike.We had to go through United-the source of our earned miles.I am sad about missing an extra day in Spain but will have a day in Germany before going home.The Constanza hotel was not so generous.They refuse to alter their no refund policy for the 29th.I know they are full and many will need the room.Good luck everyone.