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

jackieblack

samal wrote: »

:question:So what do you think, is July & August are safe bets to use BA?

Personally, I don't think there is any safe time to book with BA, unless you're booking to travel with really short notice before 4th March, or whenever the earliest date they could strike is.

I'm not willing to chance it by booking to travel with BA at any point this year or possibly next, who knows if they'll even still be in business by next year if they carry on the way they have been recently - and alot of people I know feel the same.

If BA think they can carry on with their indifferent attitude, treating customers as shoddily as they do/have done, and think they can get by on their reputation as "The World's Favourite Airline", I think they'll be in for a big shock!

TBH I think anyone booking BA is just asking for a load of hassle and grief - but if they're willing to take the chace and prepare for the worst case scenario and it all works out ok, they should consider themselves fortunate!

jackieblack

captainhaggis wrote: »

Yes. I wouldn't hesitate.

There is a union meeting for the cabin crew on the 25th Feb after the ballot closes on the 22nd.

I would suspect the cabin crew's union will make an announcement about a strike at the meeting so, by my calculations, the earliest the strike could take place will be the 04th March.

Yeah, this strike - what about the next one.... and the one after that..... of course there'd never be any disruption during peak season would there!?

jackieblack

worldtraveller wrote: »

The Unite trade union, which represents about 12,000 air stewards, said it never intended to launch a strike during the spring holiday, from 2 April to 5 April.

I believe the key word in that sentence is LAUNCH!

fifeken wrote: »

But what about the week before or the week after when people may be leaving or returning from an Easter break?

How about both?

Murphy_The_Cat

samal wrote: »

:question:So what do you think, is July & August are safe bets to use BA?

I'd avoid them.
I look forward to my holidays way to much to let the potential threat (even a small potential threat) of some Union hotheads ruin it.

Rosie75

jackieblack wrote: »

I believe the key word in that sentence is LAUNCH!

The BBC news website words things differently (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8469856.stm). It states that Unite have said there will be "no strike action" over the Easter weekend. Other sources (the Times, etc.) corroborate this.
Ballot closes 22 Feb. Unite needs to give BA a week's notice of strike action, and must begin industrial action within 28 days of the ballot closing, ie. by 22 March. However, industrial action can continue indefinitely. The last I heard, Willie Walsh was claiming to be able to train up ground staff to do cabin crew jobs by the end of March in order to break the strike action. I wonder how that's going?

jimd-f

there are plenty of BA staff being trained to act as cabin crew in the event of a strike, and a growing number of BA cabin crew are indicating that they have voted no and will not strike.
a lot can happen before any strike is called, but if there is a strike i believe it will be short and sweet, and the union will be finished. BA will win if a strike is called and the militant union members will get their P45s.
i would have no hesitation in booking with BA for anytime, especially long haul, but i would not book with them for uk or european travel for any period from the 4th march (the earliest date for a strike) until the 11th March so BA can get a full service restored after the strike collapses -which i fully expect to happen on the 4th March.

goldbyron

I am booked to fly with New York for 4 nights on the 11/03-15/03 - is it likely that NY flights will be affected? I am looking into buying a ticket with Virgin and then later paying a £90 fee to change the Virgin flight (will use credit towards a flight to USA later in year) if BA flight still goes ahead. Also not sure at which point BA will offer refund -Does anyone know what happens if it is cancelled and then re-instated? Or if they move your flight to another day - does this count as cancellation? Thanks - really worried as this was a special trip for my partner's 40th. She already had her 40th party cancelled due to the venue going bust - I can't have this as well!!

Murphy_The_Cat

Did anyone else spot that Lufthansa Pilots had voted to take strike action.

Another airlineto avoid

Mr_Lahey

Strikes should be illegal.

JasonLVC

The votes are in and the staff want to............STRIKE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8527100.stm

Union said they would avoid peak bank holiday periods....but this is a union talking.;)