BA Strikes this Summer ?

davidlizard

Does anyone know what the current situation is regarding their pilots (or any other staff) planning to strike this summer over pensions ? A google on the subject turns up conflicting views.

We have booked a BA flight to Athens for the summer ages ago, but now am very wary about booking up accomodation on an Island somewhere (we usually don't bother booking accomodation in advance - we just turn up but taking a 1 year old this time we want at least the first couple of nights booked) and am very cautious of booking somewhere only to find ourselves stranded at Heathrow - and of course, BA will only refund or reschedule the flights, and insurance will not pay up for other expenses incurred such as untaken accomodation, so we could lose out.

Thanks in advance.

bazza1603

Hi,

We are expecting strikes this summer from all BA staff. BA management say there willnot be strikes. But the staff are very uphappy about there pensions. I would expect the worst. The Unions willnot let on to the last minute possible about strikes.

I would suggest booking with a major chain directly. Someone like Holiday inn normally allow you to cancel Free until 1600 local time day of arrival.

Or if you have booked directly with BA, get them to arrange the hotels so you can get them to help when things go wrong.

Good Luck

Barry
https://www.theairlineguide.co.uk

WiseInvestor_2

If there are strikes this summer, it won't be over Pensions as BA have decided to delay negotiations until the results of the latest actuarial review, due in October.

There will, however, be unpopular changes made to existing working practices particularly for cabin crew which could cause problems but I doubt they'll strike.

The last 4 summers have been highly embarrassing for BA management and CEO Willie Walsh will be doing his best to prevent repeat performances this year; the two main ringleaders of last summer's illegal walkout over the Gate Gourmet dispute were publicly sacked sending a very strong warning to other would-be rebels.

Personally, I'd go ahead and book but I agree with Bazza - go with a chain.

davidlizard

Many thanks WiseInvestor and Bazza. I think going with a chain may not be viable in the whole as we plan to go to some fairly small islands where theres really only the choice of smallish family run establishments (but needless to say excellent). So I guess we will just have to "wing" it (again)- i.e. find accomodation when we get there - once we get to Athens, we can always book the next few nights ahead.

But one place I will indeed heed your advice is, as we plan to spend the first and last nights in Athens, I will book such a hotel there where I can cancel without penalty at short notice should the worse come to the worse.

Every year we seem to have some sort threat of industrial action from BA causing us to keep plans very flexible. May well use Olympic next year, even if they are a few quid more.

Cheers

Dave