British Airways strike - update 12/3/10 - March strike dates named

jcorbygas

BA have advised that you get a refund if you want to cancel your flight between those dates but it doesnt really make it clear if you can actually get a refund if your return flight falls outside of those dates - it says you can change but doesnt mention cancel.
At the moment I think I will hang on till BA advise what is happening to the same flightcode that I will be travelling on during the strike dates, as if I cancelled (managing to get a refund for both flights) the alternative airlines flight times are not really convenient.

Mr_Lahey

jcorbygas wrote: »

BA have advised that you get a refund if you want to cancel your flight between those dates but it doesnt really make it clear if you can actually get a refund if your return flight falls outside of those dates - it says you can change but doesnt mention cancel.
At the moment I think I will hang on till BA advise what is happening to the same flightcode that I will be travelling on during the strike dates, as if I cancelled (managing to get a refund for both flights) the alternative airlines flight times are not really convenient.

If you booked your flight as a single ticket return (as in not 2 singles) then according to BA you can cancel regardless of when your return leg is. If your outbound flight is within the planned strike dates.

ijth

I'm taking my family and 85-year old gran to Tokyo to see the Cherry Blossom on 30th March. I'm going to sit tight and see what happens but it doesn't look good. It's the only time we can go to catch the season that co-incides with the school holidays so don't really have an alternative date. My gran will be deeply disappointed if it's all off - we can go another year but how many more years will she be fit to undertake that sort of journey? Lesson learned: I will never book any flights with BA again. Factions of their staff and their laughable union seem intent on driving business away, irrespecitve of what they say publically. I feel sorry for myself but more so for the majority of BA staff who I'm sure work in the best interests of themselves and their employer.

dmg24

ox-boy wrote: »

so because they have given there 7 day notice for strike dates in March, they could effectively just name when they want to strike again in April???

Surely there must be another minimum number of days of announcing a second string of strike dates?

They do have to give seven days notice, but that seven days could start at any time. There is nothing to stop them announcing further dates to start as soon as the Easter period is over.

I would like to think that the union will have come to their senses by then and realised how silly they look, but who knows. Sorry I can't give better news.

Christina_BA wrote: »

I work for British Airways and appreciate there are a lot of BA-related travel questions given todays announcement. I just wanted to pass on the link to our page which has the most up to date and reliable travel information please visit ba.com/strike
If I hear of any other updates I will flag it up on this forum.

Regards,

Christina

Welcome to MSE Christina! I have noted your link below so people can click straight through.

www.ba.com/strike

dmg24

ijth wrote: »

I'm taking my family and 85-year old gran to Tokyo to see the Cherry Blossom on 30th March. I'm going to sit tight and see what happens but it doesn't look good. It's the only time we can go to catch the season that co-incides with the school holidays so don't really have an alternative date. My gran will be deeply disappointed if it's all off - we can go another year but how many more years will she be fit to undertake that sort of journey? Lesson learned: I will never book any flights with BA again. Factions of their staff and their laughable union seem intent on driving business away, irrespecitve of what they say publically. I feel sorry for myself but more so for the majority of BA staff who I'm sure work in the best interests of themselves and their employer.

Unfortunately this could happen with any airline, there are at least two more transatlantic carriers for whom strikes have been mentioned recently.

It is a nightmare, but there is nothing to stop the staff ignoring the union and continuing to work. Hopefully better news will follow next week.

ijth

I hope so. You're right - there are problems with other airlines and I guess that is syptomatic of an industry in difficulty with pressures on margins, etc. I'm sure the media make a bigger deal of BA's issues more that they would of other airlines but it does seem to be a recurring problem.

ox-boy

worldtraveller wrote: »

Yes, as my post said, I believe they have to give a minimum of 7 days notice, but I can't understand why you believe that the 20th April would therefore necessarily be safe. For example, they could call for a strike on the 20th April anytime from today until the 13th April. The 13th April would be the 7 days minimum, but they could call a strike for the 20th April on any day before the 13th April as well.

i presumed that as they have already announced 2 strike periods they are unlikely to announce another set before 14th April. maybe i am wrong in doing so...

dmg24

ijth wrote: »

I hope so. You're right - there are problems with other airlines and I guess that is syptomatic of an industry in difficulty with pressures on margins, etc. I'm sure the media make a bigger deal of BA's issues more that they would of other airlines but it does seem to be a recurring problem.

Unless of course it was Ryanair!

ox-boy wrote: »

i presumed that as they have already announced 2 strike periods they are unlikely to announce another set before 14th April. maybe i am wrong in doing so...

I would not presume anything with this union. They seem to make it up as they go along.

jackieblack

ox-boy wrote: »

i presumed that as they have already announced 2 strike periods they are unlikely to announce another set before 14th April. maybe i am wrong in doing so...

Fromhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8563728.stm

The union representing British Airways cabin crew has said its members will go on strike for three days from 20 March and for four days from 27 March. The union confirmed it would not strike over Easter, but warned there could be further action after 14 April if a resolution had not been agreed.

Mr_Lahey

Just looking at a little financial info behind the strikes and estimates are that BA will lose £25million for each day that the strike goes ahead.
If that is true and the strikes go ahead BA look set to lose in the region of £175Million.

I am not entirely sure if that estimate includes loss of customers both present and future or is the actual cost incurred daily by the airline.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704131404575117190940124212.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTWhatsNews