Strikes and impact!!

RedfordML

Just wonder where we stand with our holiday. We have found out that both our journey out and return will be impacted by staff strikes at Heathrow. 

Now, for us we’ve saved and spent a lot of money on a trip to USA - Florida and we are now extremely worried about the impacts this will have, especially with 3 children with us. 

Have we any options to move the dates of our holiday? 

Can we speak to our travel agent about maybe cancelling the 3 extra days we have paid for and come back after 14 nights? 

Can we at this stage cancel and rebook for another time? 

Having spent so much money on this holiday, I would rather postpone but with the holiday being in August, I fully understand we won’t have any / many options but we don’t want to be sat in airports in the summer heat for hours with long delays! 

Thanks if you can offer any advice on what options we can take. We are going to email our travel agent and ask some questions but they are not back in office until tomw. 

Thanks 

tightauldgit

You'll need to look at the terms and conditions of what you booked but I would suspect that staff strikes at the airport wouldn't offer you any additional rights to cancel or amend you booking unless it actually leads to an impact on your holiday such as a cancelled flight. Equally I don't think insurance would cover you for anything pre-emptive. 

So unless someone is willing to offer you a goodwill gesture I would imagine you would see significant costs in lost deposits or amendment fees if you try to change something now. 

When you say you've found out that your journey will be 'impacted' do you mean you've been informed of changes or just that the strikes will fall on days you are travelling?

Westin

I tend to agree with @tightauldgit on the likely response and answer from your travel agent.

The travel agent will have little or any news on the likely impacts of the proposed industrial action at LHR T3/T5 in August.  Any requested amendments to the travel itinerary will likely be in line with charges laid down against your booking, or with goodwill from those involved.  Nearer the time however airlines ‘may’ offer more flexible concessions to change flights but if you have a package with other arrangements tagged on (like hotels) these may not be changeable under the same conditions.

Alan_Bowen

The last strikes only affected T5 and frankly were less of an impact than BA's collapsing IT system. I wouldn't worry at all at this stage, see what happens during the first weekend strike and if there are serious consequences, and Heathrow is making encouraging noises suggesting there won't be, then talk to your agent and look at the options.

Hopefully, your holiday will not be badly affected, but no doubt the Daily Mail will blow it out of all proportions as usual. As it is the security staff who are striking and you don't go through security on the return journey, I would not be looking to cut your holiday short, I would be far more concerned about the weather in Florida in August which will be vile, in my personal opinion. 

jimi_man

The last strikes offered little impact so I wouldn’t worry too much. I work at LHR and consequently go through security every time and the impact on us was more severe than for passengers. There were very little in the way of queues. 

Doshwaster

I flew into LHR during the last strike and didn't notice much difference. As long as you can use the automated passport gates then you shouldn't have a problem.

A bigger pain are the continued rail strikes. I prefer to get the train to/from airports but on recent trips I've mostly decided to drive which adds to the cost and hassle. 

jimi_man

Doshwaster said:

I flew into LHR during the last strike and didn't notice much difference. As long as you can use the automated passport gates then you shouldn't have a problem.

A bigger pain are the continued rail strikes. I prefer to get the train to/from airports but on recent trips I've mostly decided to drive which adds to the cost and hassle. 

Ok, slight clarification. It’s not Border Force that are going on strike - which would affect passport control, but the security staff which affects … errr.. security, when leaving the U.K. (unless using Flight Connections/CTA).  So no problem on entering the U.K. but the possibility of delays when leaving the U.K.  

CKhalvashi

jimi_man said:

Doshwaster said:

I flew into LHR during the last strike and didn't notice much difference. As long as you can use the automated passport gates then you shouldn't have a problem.

A bigger pain are the continued rail strikes. I prefer to get the train to/from airports but on recent trips I've mostly decided to drive which adds to the cost and hassle. 

Ok, slight clarification. It’s not Border Force that are going on strike - which would affect passport control, but the security staff which affects … errr.. security, when leaving the U.K. (unless using Flight Connections/CTA).  So no problem on entering the U.K. but the possibility of delays when leaving the U.K.  

This is why in any event the advice always is to get to the airport early. I try to be 3 hours even in the event of travelling hand luggage (backpack) only, even longer if travelling with more and in general I'm checked in online.

I doubt OP will be covered for anything they have suggested so far as it appears they're pre-empting a problem when ultimately there shouldn't be one, even in the event of a strike.

Doshwaster

jimi_man said:

Doshwaster said:

I flew into LHR during the last strike and didn't notice much difference. As long as you can use the automated passport gates then you shouldn't have a problem.

A bigger pain are the continued rail strikes. I prefer to get the train to/from airports but on recent trips I've mostly decided to drive which adds to the cost and hassle. 

Ok, slight clarification. It’s not Border Force that are going on strike - which would affect passport control, but the security staff which affects … errr.. security, when leaving the U.K. (unless using Flight Connections/CTA).  So no problem on entering the U.K. but the possibility of delays when leaving the U.K.  

Ah, I hadn't realised that. So many strikes going on that it is hard to keep track.

The advice above is good - travel hand luggage only (I've done 2 weeks with just a carry on bag) and give yourself some extra time. I have a habit of getting to airports ridiculously early anyway. Far better to be mooching around the cafes and bars than getting stressed stuck in queues at check-in or security.

Westin

If the strikes do happen I think you will actually see a repeat of before where you are actually asked NOT to travel with too much hand luggage.  Airlines (like before) may well ask and accept hand baggage to be checked in for free.   It is larger amounts of hand baggage going through the central search areas which could potentially create queues and cause delays.  Those taking hand baggage through will no doubt be reminded whilst queuing about taking laptops out, rules on liquids etc.  The aim will be to get as many bags through the scanners without the need for time consuming secondary checks.

Alan_Bowen

The first strike was called off this afternoon after an increased pay offer, stop worrying and start looking forward to your holiday