British Airways Strike at Christmas

[K50 DEL]

Just been reported that the BA Cabin Crew unions have voted in favour of a 12 day strike between 22 Dec and 2 Jan.

It seems that (in order to guarantee the survival of the airline) BA were asking the cabin crew to make some (allegedly minor) changes to their working conditions.
Instead of accepting them, the unions have now decided to go on strike, an action which in all likelihood will kill BA entirely.

Let's see how happy all the "yes" voters are when they no longer have any job.

[K50 DEL]

LilCat said:

Not good!

So looks like the 150+ PO's I have placed over the Christmas and New Year will need to be amended!!!!

Our travel and logistics manager is looking a little frayed around the edges right now as well - Angola isn't the easiest of places to get into and out of as it is, without our major travel provider screwing the pooch at Christmas.

Ah well, at least I'll be at home when the strike starts, so worst case I get a few extra days in the UK.

[K50 DEL]

Puggit said:

K50 DEL said:

Our travel and logistics manager is looking a little frayed around the edges right now as well - Angola isn't the easiest of places to get into and out of as it is, without our major travel provider screwing the pooch at Christmas

TAP via Lisbon or SAA via Joburg - two Star Alliance carriers for you to consider

Having had the misfortune to fly TAP via Lisbon once, I can safely say that I'd rather stay here.

My routing this time is supposed to be SAA to JoBurg then BA to London and the same going home.
I'm home before the strike starts, but due to fly back right in the middle of it. Apparently it's down to BA to re-route me, so we'll see what they come up with!

[K50 DEL]

Puggit said:

K50 DEL said:

My routing this time is supposed to be SAA to JoBurg then BA to London and the same going home.
I'm home before the strike starts, but due to fly back right in the middle of it. Apparently it's down to BA to re-route me, so we'll see what they come up with!

SAA still fly 747s on the Luanda-Joburg route, AFAIK their only route with First Class

Very true, it's actually not too bad, BA F is better and on the LAD - LHR run it's normally pretty empty, but as long as I get home from here I really don't mind!

My flight with TAP last year was a BA re-route (their 777 got crashed into on the apron by a Hanjin Airways plane) that meant a downgrade to business as TAP don't have F on that route

[K50 DEL]

Puggit said:

K50 DEL said:

Puggit said:

K50 DEL said:

My routing this time is supposed to be SAA to JoBurg then BA to London and the same going home.
I'm home before the strike starts, but due to fly back right in the middle of it. Apparently it's down to BA to re-route me, so we'll see what they come up with!

SAA still fly 747s on the Luanda-Joburg route, AFAIK their only route with First Class

Very true, it's actually not too bad, BA F is better and on the LAD - LHR run it's normally pretty empty, but as long as I get home from here I really don't mind!

My flight with TAP last year was a BA re-route (their 777 got crashed into on the apron by a Hanjin Airways plane) that meant a downgrade to business as TAP don't have F on that route

Since when do IT consultants get F treatment anyway?

Clearly I'm in the wrong bit of IT...

To be fair, I don't get it all the time, probably about 70/30 F / J
Good contract negotiations initially got me minimum J flights and helping out the guy who controls our travel with his personal IT problems helps get the F ones - he's also a petrol head and car parts are a lot cheaper to buy in the UK and fairly easy to bring into LAD - tit for tat you know!!

[K50 DEL]

Strike is now off as the High Court have ruled the ballot illegal.

Panic over for all those who would have been stranded at Christmas.

[K50 DEL]

Fer said:

Here we go again. How come BA only pick days I am flying to strike!

I got lucky this time, I leave Luanda 2 days before they start the first strike and I leave London 3 days after the second one ends.

[K50 DEL]

Puggit said:

K50 DEL said:

Fer said:

Here we go again. How come BA only pick days I am flying to strike!

I got lucky this time, I leave Luanda 2 days before they start the first strike and I leave London 3 days after the second one ends.

Didn't you enjoy your Star Alliance trip last time?

Never had to do it.
As we were sure the strike was going to be cancelled I never cancelled my BA tickets so I flew with them. They even gave me an extra 25k air miles as a thank-you for not cancelling my bookings.