Guess which airline I'm not travelling with?

[srebbe64]

In the last week I've booked about six flights - a combination of myself and my family. Anyhow, when it comes to a straight shoot-out between BA and Virgin, guess which airline I choose on the basis they're least likely to be on strike. Now I can't be the only one making such decisions, so I'm guessing that even the 'possibility' of strikes must be costing the world's favourite airline a fair bit of custom!

[5pen]

I had a straight choice between the two late last year, and yep, went with VA due to the possibility of what has come to pass.

[davidjpowell]

It's very weird logic. I know when my airline has just lost a bucket load of cash we'll take them to the floor and threaten a strike to make sure no-one books.

I really can't see who the Unions are helping. Even if they do by some miracle win, I think this will cost them dear in the longer run.

[SeeFive]

Just make sure that you are not going to Paris before Saturday, whoever you fly with. I am stuck here at the moment and with a very important meeting in London at 2pm tomorrow, and French ATC taking direct action. There are quite a lot of flights canned.

And before anyone asks, I finished work too late for the last Eurostar tonight. Thought about the TGV, Dover, boat, train, tube, train to Hampshire, and then thought bks, by the tine I get to England, nothing will be running cos it's past teatime.

Com ci com ca. Early start tomorrow with fingers crossed.

[Chris71]

One of my colleagues is going out with a BA trolley dolly. Personally I think they're a bunch of work shy communists, but the story we're constantly told is that the media is mis-reporting it and in fact they're being asked to take huge pay cuts, while the pilots remain on full salary. Apparently they've also introduced a policy whereby the cabin crew have to go immediately onto a short haul flight after a long haul. Allegedly the disruption to their bio-rythms is already considerably shortening their lifespan. Yada yada yada.

Personally if I disliked working somewhere so much I'd go and work elsewhere. It is s ahme if the situation has been forced by bad management, but if there's not enough money to maintain their salaries and it's a case of 'stay on at 10% less or bankrupt the company' then it seems like a no-brainer.

I just don't understand trade union types. If you think you're not up to the job or you object to the working conditions start your own bloody company...

[Dave_ITR]

My sister is cabin crew for BA & says that everybody she knows is against any strike action.

The unions will dress it up as they will & seem to gain support by telling people they will be excluded from the union if their vote is against that of the Union.

[bull996]

I maybe wrong here, so am happy to be corrected, but I am sure I read that BA cabin crew are on about £28k and Virgin about £14k.

Whatever the actual figures are, they are certainly on a lot more money than most of thier rivals.

[Greenie]

Had a very interesting conversation with someone with very good knowledge of the BA situation (esp the pension fund) last night. He is utterly convinced they will be going under in the not too distant. With their financial performance, attitute of the unions and the pension fund situation I found it very difficult to disagree.

[Chris71]

Dave_ITR said:

My sister is cabin crew for BA & says that everybody she knows is against any strike action.

Interesting, I've heard completely the opposite, but you know the old addage about the 3 sides to every story...

bull996 said:

I maybe wrong here, so am happy to be corrected, but I am sure I read that BA cabin crew are on about £28k and Virgin about £14k.

Whatever the actual figures are, they are certainly on a lot more money than most of thier rivals.

The line I've been told - sorry you can probaly tell we're all experts on this having heard about nothing else in the office for weeks - is that the new starters are on about the same. It's only the more experienced crew who are on quite a lot more. Apparently BA is still by no means top of the tree and several do pay more. To which my response was basically sod off and work for them then.

[Dave_ITR]

Greenie said:

Had a very interesting conversation with someone with very good knowledge of the BA situation (esp the pension fund) last night. He is utterly convinced they will be going under in the not too distant. With their financial performance, attitute of the unions and the pension fund situation I found it very difficult to disagree.

I agree but I think the government will throw them a lifeline.

Edited by Dave_ITR on Wednesday 24th February 13:40

[Dakkon]

Dave_ITR said:

Greenie said:

Had a very interesting conversation with someone with very good knowledge of the BA situation (esp the pension fund) last night. He is utterly convinced they will be going under in the not too distant. With their financial performance, attitute of the unions and the pension fund situation I found it very difficult to disagree.

I agree but I think the government will throw them a lifeline.

Edited by Dave_ITR on Wednesday 24th February 13:40

I am not so sure they will.

[Greenie]

Dakkon said:

Dave_ITR said:

Greenie said:

Had a very interesting conversation with someone with very good knowledge of the BA situation (esp the pension fund) last night. He is utterly convinced they will be going under in the not too distant. With their financial performance, attitute of the unions and the pension fund situation I found it very difficult to disagree.

I agree but I think the government will throw them a lifeline.

Edited by Dave_ITR on Wednesday 24th February 13:40

I am not so sure they will.

They might be well advised to go under around General Election time.

[Hub]

Gah - my honeymoon is booked with BA for the beginning of August and I'm getting more and more concerned! (Booked it back in about October when I knew the strike was coming but naively thought it would be all done and dusted by now)

[theaxe]

Chris71 said:

I just don't understand trade union types. If you think you're not up to the job or you object to the working conditions start your own bloody company...

Union reps exist to stir up trouble, without trouble there's no need for them to exist.

[srebbe64]

Greenie said:

Dakkon said:

Dave_ITR said:

Greenie said:

Had a very interesting conversation with someone with very good knowledge of the BA situation (esp the pension fund) last night. He is utterly convinced they will be going under in the not too distant. With their financial performance, attitute of the unions and the pension fund situation I found it very difficult to disagree.

I agree but I think the government will throw them a lifeline.

Edited by Dave_ITR on Wednesday 24th February 13:40

I am not so sure they will.

They might be well advised to go under around General Election time.

These things can become like 'self fulfilling prophecies', in that a rumour deters people from buying the product - rather like Northern Rock.

[wraggy]

Chris71 said:

while the pilots remain on full salary. Apparently they've also introduced a policy whereby the cabin crew have to go immediately onto a short haul flight after a long haul.

I'm sorry but you (or your source) are completely wrong on both of those statements quoted above.

Edited for spelling.

Edited by wraggy on Saturday 27th February 10:45

[TimJMS]

Any Derek Hatton types care to give us their third of the story?