Threatened Sept. 29 strike in Spain
Sep 23rd, 2010, 08:16 AM
#81
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I think baggage handlers are key. I ran into their one day strike in Barcelona airport 4 yrs ago and airport had to close down, all flights after ours were diverted. The airport had to be closed.
Yes, good luck everybody!
Yes, good luck everybody!
Sep 24th, 2010, 06:52 AM
#83
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Many thanks again to all who have kept us posted on the latest regarding the strike on September 29. At this point, we feel fairly confident that our flight will be allowed to land, since it leaves the US before the stroke of midnight (European time) on the 28th. In fact, judyumcer, if you're still checking this site, we're thinking that we may be on the same flight: from ATL, DL 114 ???
If anyone has experience/knowledge as to what happens to luggage when there are few baggage handlers, please post. We're wondering if the airline later delivers your checked luggage to your hotel. (We're hoping you're not doomed to waiting in the airport until they return to work!) We're thinking of packing one carry-on to tide us over for a couple of days. Not sure about our transport to the hotel (even though a private company) and/or food services that will be available. Any latest info or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Good luck to all who may be affected by all this.
If anyone has experience/knowledge as to what happens to luggage when there are few baggage handlers, please post. We're wondering if the airline later delivers your checked luggage to your hotel. (We're hoping you're not doomed to waiting in the airport until they return to work!) We're thinking of packing one carry-on to tide us over for a couple of days. Not sure about our transport to the hotel (even though a private company) and/or food services that will be available. Any latest info or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Good luck to all who may be affected by all this.
Sep 24th, 2010, 09:31 AM
#84
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Hello all.. my friend is getting Married in Nerja and we are all due to fly out Dublin to Malaga 29th Sept .Any updates is so appriciated , Needless to say she is in total panic at present , Regards Irish AL ....
Sep 24th, 2010, 12:21 PM
#86
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Anyone speculate as to what Renfe will do as far as refunding any train fares for now canceled trains? Do you think we have to ask/apply or will it be automatic? I kept my original reservations just in case this whole thing blew over.
Sep 25th, 2010, 01:42 AM
#88
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Tomarkot, regarding the baggage handlers, one of the problems that there was during the negotiations was the fact that according to some IATA regulation foreign airlines had to have priority over domestic flights. I seem to remember that there has been an agreement not to allow that, which means that more than likely your luggage will be delayed.
As cruiseluv mentions, one of the worst strikes in Barcelona airport was 4 years ago with the baggage handlers. I would pack a small change of clothes in your carry-on, just in case, and check with the FA in your flight if they know what you should do. The problem that I see is that the luggage will be delayed coming out of the plane and that they will send it to your hotel, but with the strike it will probably be the following day.
BTW, your flight should have left before 00:00 spanish time to be able to land. Check that.
Irishal, are you sure your flight on the 29th won´t be affected? There will be only 20% of flights allowed within Europe ( 40% intercontinental flights ), so I would make sure. This year, with the snow and the ash cloud, people were able to rebook for the following days without penalties, even with Ryanair ( I did it for a friend studying in Utrecht ), so maybe you should be checking that. I was assuming that you might be flying Ryanair. They are, very optimistic I have to say, saying that they will only allow carry-on passengers on their flights to Spain that day ... I don´t know if it will work ...
Raider, Renfe is saying that you can try to reschedule for one of the remaining trains or you can cancel free of charge on the phone number 902 320 320 or at the train stations. Will you be in Spain before the 29th? In that case, go to the nearest station and check there.
The worst part will come upon the people who have to rely on public transport to get to work, as myself, specially living in Madrid. I suspect that the idea of the trade unions is to block public transport in the big cities, so that it seems that everybody is agreeing to the strike. I will get to the bus station at 6:00 am and try to get one of the few buses to my place of work, if they are allowed to run. As angry as I can be at the lack of proper government measures to do something with this crisis, I am angrier with the two trade union reps at my work that have informed HHRR that as they are worker reps they cannot lose their day wages because of the strike. I have friend and family who have been or are involved in the trade unions, and most of them are planning to work if allowed, not really the best moment to be losing days ...
Rgds, Cova
As cruiseluv mentions, one of the worst strikes in Barcelona airport was 4 years ago with the baggage handlers. I would pack a small change of clothes in your carry-on, just in case, and check with the FA in your flight if they know what you should do. The problem that I see is that the luggage will be delayed coming out of the plane and that they will send it to your hotel, but with the strike it will probably be the following day.
BTW, your flight should have left before 00:00 spanish time to be able to land. Check that.
Irishal, are you sure your flight on the 29th won´t be affected? There will be only 20% of flights allowed within Europe ( 40% intercontinental flights ), so I would make sure. This year, with the snow and the ash cloud, people were able to rebook for the following days without penalties, even with Ryanair ( I did it for a friend studying in Utrecht ), so maybe you should be checking that. I was assuming that you might be flying Ryanair. They are, very optimistic I have to say, saying that they will only allow carry-on passengers on their flights to Spain that day ... I don´t know if it will work ...
Raider, Renfe is saying that you can try to reschedule for one of the remaining trains or you can cancel free of charge on the phone number 902 320 320 or at the train stations. Will you be in Spain before the 29th? In that case, go to the nearest station and check there.
The worst part will come upon the people who have to rely on public transport to get to work, as myself, specially living in Madrid. I suspect that the idea of the trade unions is to block public transport in the big cities, so that it seems that everybody is agreeing to the strike. I will get to the bus station at 6:00 am and try to get one of the few buses to my place of work, if they are allowed to run. As angry as I can be at the lack of proper government measures to do something with this crisis, I am angrier with the two trade union reps at my work that have informed HHRR that as they are worker reps they cannot lose their day wages because of the strike. I have friend and family who have been or are involved in the trade unions, and most of them are planning to work if allowed, not really the best moment to be losing days ...
Rgds, Cova
Sep 25th, 2010, 02:12 AM
#89
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Hey All , we fly with aerlingus , the Wedding is Sat thankfully but we all have flights booked for 29th , I have looked into changing to fly out tues but it is costing 350 euro for me/my husband and 2 babies , arrggggggg what to do ......... of 365 days in the year .........
Sep 25th, 2010, 02:22 AM
#90
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OK, I have been trying to check in the AerLingus site or in their latest newsletter if they mention anything about the strike and I haven´t found anything.
I know that Iberia is allowing for changes to flights for the following days, not before, so maybe you should check with AerLingus if it is possible to fly on the thursday instead.
Rgds, Cova
I know that Iberia is allowing for changes to flights for the following days, not before, so maybe you should check with AerLingus if it is possible to fly on the thursday instead.
Rgds, Cova
Sep 25th, 2010, 02:52 AM
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Hi, first time poster. I have been keeping up to speed with the situation on the General Strike and this forum has been the best for up to date info so I thought I would share my experience.
I had booked flights out of Alicante with Easyjet on the 29th and was obviously worried about cancellation coming late in the day which would entail the usual scramble. Easyjet and BA have both now agreed to free transfers for anyone flying on that date (it would have cost me 300 euros before 5pm GMT yesterday) but seats are at a premium so anyone reading this and flying on that day should check with thier airlines immediately. The fact that Easyjet are offering transfers may give you some leverage with AerLingus etc.
Having said all that there are conflicting views on how much strife the action will cause ranging from hardly at all; http://www.culturespain.com/
to complete carnage
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-22578878/
No-one will know till the day. Hope it works out for everyone - especcially the wedding party!!
I had booked flights out of Alicante with Easyjet on the 29th and was obviously worried about cancellation coming late in the day which would entail the usual scramble. Easyjet and BA have both now agreed to free transfers for anyone flying on that date (it would have cost me 300 euros before 5pm GMT yesterday) but seats are at a premium so anyone reading this and flying on that day should check with thier airlines immediately. The fact that Easyjet are offering transfers may give you some leverage with AerLingus etc.
Having said all that there are conflicting views on how much strife the action will cause ranging from hardly at all; http://www.culturespain.com/
to complete carnage
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-sto...5875-22578878/
No-one will know till the day. Hope it works out for everyone - especcially the wedding party!!
Sep 25th, 2010, 04:23 AM
#93
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My wife and I are scheduled on AA departing JFK (New York) on September 29 (7:00PM) and arriving BCN on September 30 (8:45AM local time). AA has not cancelled the flight but has issued a notice that we are able to reschedule, at our option, to a flight departing between 9/27 - 10/1. As I understand it, the strike is just for the 29th. Since we land on the 30th, I'm thinking our flight will land as scheduled (and baggage handled as normal). One concern is that AA may cancel our flight last minute leaving us to scramble. Is that a reasonable concern? I'd love some advice and guidance. Bottom line: Should we re-schedule or not. Thanks!
Sep 25th, 2010, 07:21 AM
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I am not the best person to address this.. my only thought would be if that flight originated in Spain the 29th a.m. to do a turnaround and leave from the USA the 29th pm..... then maybe it wouldn't have even taken off. Can the airlines tell you if that is a possible scenario with that flight.. as they must know where it originates?
Sep 25th, 2010, 07:22 AM
#97
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At www.flyertalk.com there are many experts there. take a look.
Sep 25th, 2010, 07:42 AM
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lincasanova - I contacted the airlines to try to find out where the flight originates. They said that after 9-11, they can't give out that information. That was worth a shot. Thanks. Any other suggestions?
Sep 25th, 2010, 08:00 AM
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lincasanova - BTW, I looked on AA website. The last flight arriving in JFK from Barcelona [before my flight is scheduled to depart JFK (i.e., 7:00PM)] departs BCN at 11:00AM on 9/29 and arrives in JFK at 1:55PM on 9/29. So that flight will almost certainly be affected/cancelled, etc (although it has not been cancelled yet according to the AA website). The question, which you raised, is: Is that aircraft the one to be used for my flight? Who knows??? Isn't it unlikely that that aircraft would be scheduled to be sitting around from 1:55PM to 7:00PM? That's 5 hours. Would that suggest that the aircraft for my flight has a different point of origination? Given this issue, is it advisable to re-schedule or not?
Sep 25th, 2010, 08:24 AM
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I would imagine most international flights sit around for re-fueling and mechanic checks that long. I really have no idea what to tell you. I'm not sure anyone can answer this for you. I imagine most people would re-schedule if they can just to avoid anymore "ifs".
