MSE News: British Airways strike threat - should you book BA? 18 January 2010 at 7:15PM edited 18 January 2010 at 7:20PM in Flights, currency & car hire 33 replies 5.1K views

Former_MSE_Guy

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Travellers considering booking a British Airways (BA) flight for travel this March or April should be wary given today's announcement of potential strikes ..."

Read the full story:
British Airways strike threat - should you book BA?

Rosie75

The articles states: "If you've already got a BA flight booked and don't have travel insurance, consider taking out protection soon to cover costs if your flight is cancelled.".

I'd be interested to know which insurer would offer cover for strike action which appears to be a strong possibility at the time of taking out the policy?

We are supposed to be flying with BA for our honeymoon, departing on Good Friday. I can see the flight being cancelled and us losing the £3000 that we've spend on accommodation unless we're willing to stump up for expensive last-minute tickets with another airline (and we just haven't budgeted for that).

PolishBigSpender

There's a very good chance that they will vote against the strike. Most BA staff were badly affected by the criticism that they got last time - and as they can't actually trust the union not to make a mess of things, it's very possible that they'll vote against strike action.

malkie76

Good chance long haul will be unaffected.

edit

whether or not to book BA? It's worth pointing out that passengers who had flights booked at Christmas received compensation despite the strike not going ahead.

MumandKids

Last week I booked return flights to Delhi for my son and myself - a long planned and long awaited retirement present for me! Supposed to be travelling 1st April - 14th April. Now I am very wary about booking our hotels/travel etc whilst in India. Any suggestions? I must have been stupid to book through BA but too late now. I looked at how much I would get back if I cancelled the flights - £240 refund on flights which cost £1200.00. Sickening!

voiceofreason

MumandKids wrote: »

Last week I booked return flights to Delhi for my son and myself - a long planned and long awaited retirement present for me! Supposed to be travelling 1st April - 14th April. Now I am very wary about booking our hotels/travel etc whilst in India. Any suggestions? I must have been stupid to book through BA but too late now. I looked at how much I would get back if I cancelled the flights - £240 refund on flights which cost £1200.00. Sickening!

Did you not know about the possible strike action?

MumandKids

Obviously aware at Christmas but recent press articles had looked positive - hence the dismay today. Of course, you're right. I should have avoided them completely. Now I have to decide whether or not to cut my losses. I'm obviously concerned that any hotel/travel reservations I make now will not be insurable. (I have travel insurance through my bank). Thanks.

DaleN

The last strike just happened to fall over Christmas and the union insisted it wasn't intentional but just an unfortunate coincidence due to the legally-required timing of the strike ballot. That strike was stopped but now, surprise, surprise, this one just happens to fall over Easter - another "unfortunate coincidence" no doubt.

I used to love BA, diligently collecting my BA Miles for years, preferring them over every other airline unless the price was significantly cheaper, but their history of baggage handlers, pilots, caterers, and now cabin crew, going on strike at every inopportune moment has completely destroyed any faith the public might once have had.

Their staff might as well go on strike and try to grab as much cash as they can now, because I can't see this airline surviving beyond the end of the year in its current form. Their only hope for survival is to be bought or merge with another airline, at which time the staff packages are likely to be forced down toward the industry norms which I understand are lower than where BA staff are now, along with the self-same redundancies they are already moaning about. So let them grab whatever cash they can now if they want. Because sure, strikes and cancelled flights are just the things needed to restore public confidence and increase bookings after a recession, aren't they?

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't book a flight on a failing airline. Just remember all the other airlines that have collapsed over the past few years. Big name airlines like Sabena, Swissair, Alitalia and - just today - JAL. How much warning did the public have? A few days at most. Most of us were blissfully unaware of their problems until their planes stopped flying. Do you think BA is immune? I wouldn't go anywhere near them.

warehouse

To answer the original question...

NO

whatusername

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

There's a very good chance that they will vote against the strike. Most BA staff were badly affected by the criticism that they got last time - and as they can't actually trust the union not to make a mess of things, it's very possible that they'll vote against strike action.

I wouldn't count on it, many many staff are furious at the way the union handled it but realise its the only way to bring their employers to the table.

I believe the strike will happen.

qwerty123456

If there was a yes to the strike then the latest it could start is 22nd March making Easter disruption out of the question.