BAA strike

20021991

I booked flights with flyglobespan for the 27th of December About 6 months ago, and I’m getting quite worried about the impending strike with BAA staff. From what I gathered this would include the airport fire fighters which would bring the airports to a complete closedown between Christmas and new year. According to the papers the ballot is taking place today, however the result will not be announced until just days before Christmas. Which I think is highly unfair to potentially ruin peoples Christmas holidays for people that haven’t even joined the company yet! As this has nothing to do with current BAA staff only future employees.

I called flyglobespan today and ‘apparently’ they didn’t even know about the ballot, this has been in the papers since the 23rd!

So I asked if the airports shut because of a strike what would happen to my flight? Would I get a refund? As I would not be able to travel after the 27th.

They said they couldn’t comment until a strike had actually been called.

Who would be liable for the cost flights? BAA or flyglobespan?

As I haven’t booked my insurance yet I presume my return flights with other airlines that return once the strike is over would not be covered by anyone. Is that right?

Sam_Bee

Rather horrendously, they can't do anything re your flights until a strike has been called, and even then are unlikely (history tells us) to offer a refund until the actual day of travel should the strike still be happening, even then they might offer you simply a flight on a later date, as the strike is not in their hands.

Strikes are called to create maximum disruption. And tend to happen around Christmas / New Year quite a lot strangely.

Insurance I don't think would protect you. But if it turned out it did, I wouldn't see an issue with taking out insurance, as the news is in the public domain and hasn't been called yet.

blindman

20021991 wrote: »

I booked flights with flyglobespan for the 27th of December About 6 months ago,

As I haven’t booked my insurance yet.......

:wall::wall:

Regardless of the impending strike, book insurance NOW!

vermont100

the strike ballot may well have started but the process of balloting thousands of workers takes time and that is why it takes weeks rather then days before the result is known. addressing the issue of the strike, workers are worried that the final salary scheme will be stopped for them in the future and that if no new people are joining their scheme how will it be funded in the future if no one is paying in to it but workers are retiring and claiming their pensions. lets face it when your paying contributions for 36 years you expect to get something at the end of it. blame BAA management for trying to enforce this with NO consultation

trets77

agreed , my company tried a similar thing a few years ago and we threatened to strike and stop the entire rail network unless they re opened the Final salary scheme, which they did . but you have to be in service for 5 years before you enter ( with contributions backdated to start date).

i,m sorry if action like this causes people problems , but BAA workers have the right to defend what they work for. blame Mr Brown and BAA managment if you want to blame someone . it seems like airport workers like many others are one of the groups who suffer under Browns econmic policy.

well real power is the power to stop a thing and i say good luck BAA workers :T

Voyager2002

The OP has given another compelling example of why you should take out travel insurance as soon as you book travel.

vermont100

the other thing to remember is that baa workers are not asking for a pay rise or more annual leave just the right to have a decent pension that they have paid into all their lives.

Strapped

I have a BAA pension and I didn't know anything about this... (no longer there but kept the pension). I really must keep a better eye on my finances :eek:

TBH, many people stay with the company just because of the pension - the wages are not very competitive - so the company might shoot itself in the foot even if it gets it's way.

TonyMcQueen

I am a BAA worker and I have voted yes for industrial action (and I know most my friends at Gatwick have too).

We are the engine behind the airport, it's about time that the spanish management recognised that without us... there is no airport.

If I were a doing the same job in France I would retire on full sallary (not even a final sallary scheme like I get). Why do the people loading the planes not not deserve equal pay and conditions to the people offloading them?

I'm sorry people have to loose their holiday - but they need to stop being so selfish - there are more important things at play here than their reschedulable holiday.

teeb

Quick question - if the strike does go through is anyone aware of the starting date it would take?

I don't want to be trapped in France for Xmas! He says having already been trapped in France once due to the SNCF striking

angy400

I am flying from SFO to Spain through Heathrow on Dec. 16th coming home, same route, Jan 5th. My getting to Spain will be no problem but coming home may be. I am flying with British Airways. What is their policy if I am stuck in Spain and cant get home? Will they rebook me through Spain on another airline?? This has really worried me as I need to get my son home on time as he has school

Angela