Check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew at 18 UK airports plan 48-hour strike

worldtraveller

Check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew at 18 UK airports plan 48-hour strike from 23 December in a pay row, the Unite Union says.

Workers at Swissport, the world's largest ground and cargo handler, are taking the action following a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

Unite called on management to take part in "constructive talks".

It said the action, which will hit Christmas travel, was "a last resort".

BBC News

Ganga

They know what they are doing,a lot of people go away for christmas,will cause a lot of heartache.

littlereddevil

Thank goodness I am heading off on Sunday

1981trouble

My oh is flying into lhr on Saturday lunchtime (xmas eve). In a how long is a piece of string moment -

What impact does this strike have on flights? Is it likely to delay him or cause issues with bags etc?

He is booked onto a train from st Pancras mid afternoon and my biggest worry is he misses the last train (6pmish) and is stuck in London for a few days!

He has 2 suitcases of xmas presents coming with him! Working out what to do with them Aswell is turning out to be a pain too.

Fingers crossed it doesn't go ahead

Westin

1981trouble wrote: »

My oh is flying into lhr on Saturday lunchtime (xmas eve). In a how long is a piece of string moment -

What impact does this strike have on flights? Is it likely to delay him or cause issues with bags etc?

He is booked onto a train from st Pancras mid afternoon and my biggest worry is he misses the last train (6pmish) and is stuck in London for a few days!

He has 2 suitcases of xmas presents coming with him! Working out what to do with them Aswell is turning out to be a pain too.

Fingers crossed it doesn't go ahead

Well first off establish which airline he is flying with. He may not be impacted as Swissport is not the sole handling agent at many airports.

This link shows which UK airports they serve.

http://www.swissport.com/index.php?id=4&level=country&continentId=4&countryId=72

peachyprice

Yep, just changed my flight from BFS to STN from Fri morning to Thurs evening, no way am I going to risk getting stuck in Belfast for Christmas!

mavisangelica

Westin wrote: »

Well first off establish which airline he is flying with. He may not be impacted as Swissport is not the sole handling agent at many airports.

This link shows which UK airports they serve.

http://www.swissport.com/index.php?id=4&level=country&continentId=4&countryId=72

Son flies back to Edinburgh airport on a BA charter flight on the 24th Dec at 18.30. Just checked the link and Swissport are the ground handling there.

I have seen somewhere that Ryanair are talking about specifying only hand luggage flights if the strike goes ahead. So if this was the case, how do you go about retrieving your baggage? We will be travelling from Newcastle to pick son up, so if there were passenger delays then that would be a pain but not a major issue but in terms of collecting his bag later, how would that work?

Moto2

Presumably it'd be couriered, whether the passenger or the airline pick up the tab, I'm not sure.
If it were to happen, I think it'd be quite a while before he got it back and I'd be taking the precaution of maybe having it wrapped or at least some extra straps and locks etc. on it.

Kit1

We fly out on 25 Dec and if the strike goes ahead would any delays etc be covered by the airline for a non service and hotel fees?

Never been hit by a strike before so not sure what happens.

Westin

mavisangelica wrote: »

Son flies back to Edinburgh airport on a BA charter flight on the 24th Dec at 18.30. Just checked the link and Swissport are the ground handling there.

I have seen somewhere that Ryanair are talking about specifying only hand luggage flights if the strike goes ahead. So if this was the case, how do you go about retrieving your baggage? We will be travelling from Newcastle to pick son up, so if there were passenger delays then that would be a pain but not a major issue but in terms of collecting his bag later, how would that work?

If the baggage is off loaded in EDI, as Moto2 suggests, I would expect the airline would arrange delivery. Keep in mind however that there will be a massive backlog and with the holiday season, it would likely not be something which would happen as quickly as when bags are misplaced normally. It could take well over a week. I suspect the airlines or handling agents will encourage people to return to the airport after the strike to collect luggage, although this won't work for you.

Hand baggage only would be a safer bet if it can be managed as you neeed to keep in mind that if the Swissport ramp staff strike then potentially there is no one available to offload the luggage anyway at EDI. If the airline knows this in advance then they may not accept hold luggage in the first place. This is potentially the route Ryanair will go.

From tomorrow, check BA.com and regularly there after for travel information and updates.

Westin

Kit1 wrote: »

We fly out on 25 Dec and if the strike goes ahead would any delays etc be covered by the airline for a non service and hotel fees?

Never been hit by a strike before so not sure what happens.

Possibly and possibly not.

The airline has a duty of care but will not compensate on delays as this is likely classed as outside of their control.

Christmas Day will also potentially complicate matters as airport concessions might not all be open to allow multiple delayed flights to be fed. Local coach companies might not have drivers available for possible transportation to other airports etc etc.

You need to check your airlines website prior to travelling to check what they advise. Contingency planning will be underway but updates are likely to be issued over several days in the run up to the potential strike action. Keep checking their website from tomorrow and regularly thereafter.