British Airways Strike Action Update - Travel News
BA - Strike Action Update (24/03/2010)
Covered2go have been watching the BA situation carefully and can summarise the current situation as follows:
The second series of BA walkouts are scheduled for four days from Saturday, March 27 to Tuesday, March 30, although disruption to flights is anticipated in the intervening periods, between March 23 and March 26 and including March 31.
Are all BA flights be cancelled on the strike dates?
No. BA will announce its full strike schedule later today. As with the last strike, short-haul and domestic flights are expected to bear the brunt of the disruption. The airline anticipates that Gatwick and London City flights will be unaffected during the strike.
The planned schedule will be published on the BA website.
Will the strikes definitely go ahead?
A last-minute deal between the union and BA management should not be ruled out, but passengers would be wise to have contingency plans in place.
Can I still book flights during the strike period?
You can still book flights if they are operating during the strike period, however many flights are now full, so it is unlikely you will get a seat. Other flights have been reinstated and have good availability - it varies by destination - check ba.com for the latest fares (booking flights after strikes have been announced could affect the validity of travel insurance in the event of a flight cancellation - see below).
What happens if my flight is operating before or during the strikes but I don't want to fly?
If you are booked to travel between March 23 and 26 and your flight is operating, you can opt to rebook onto an alternative flight unless your flight is from Gatwick or London City, in which case normal booking rules apply.
If you are travelling between March 27 and 31 and your flight is operating you can rebook or refund your flight unless your flight is from Gatwick or London City, in which case normal booking rules apply.
What happens if my flight is cancelled either before or during the strikes?
If your flight is cancelled, BA will offer a rebooking or a full refund. The details are on ba.com.
What if my flight has been reinstated?
If you cancelled your original booking you would be treated as a new customer and can make a new booking, subject to availability, at the new fare.
If you changed your booking onto another BA flight outside the strike period you can change back onto your original flight at no extra cost, subject to availability. You need to contact a travel agent or BA office to make this change.
What if I booked the flight as part of a package holiday?
If you booked through a high street or online travel agent or through a tour operator and paid for the flights together with other elements of a holiday, your booking is protected under the Package Holiday Regulations. In the event of flight cancellation, the agent or operator is responsible for repatriation, alternative flights to your original destination, an alternative holiday or full refund.
What if my flight is delayed?
BA will not pay compensation to passengers whose flights are cancelled or delayed, but it will provide vouchers or refunds for the cost of meals, hotel accommodation and related expenses to disrupted passengers. These costs are strictly limited under European regulation 261/04.
Will travel insurance cover the cost of flights, hotels and other expenses in the event of disruption?
It depends when you bought the cover. Your insurer could argue that policies bought after February 22, when the latest strike ballot was announced, will not cover the cost of hotels, car hire and other incidental losses because you should have been aware of the risk of booking with BA.