DarkStar et al:
You don't have ANY idea what you are talking about. The vast majority of these cancellations were probably due to the fact that the flights that were cancelled probably didn't have the onboard passenger loads to justify it. They would have been re-booked onto another flight at little or no cost to us, thus saving us a considerable amount of money. This is definitely not an un-heard of practise - ALL airlines do it.
Crew shortages? You've got to be joking! I'm currently on a transfer list to LHR WorldWide - that hasn't moved for over a month. Now, if there was this supposed crew shortage problem they would be moving us cabin crew on EuroFleet over to WW at a rate of knots as all the new entrant cabin crew in EF (and there are LOADS of them) would balance out our transfer. So there is obviously no problem with crew imbalances. Also, from what I hear the amount of crew on 24 hour availability is unbelieveable - again, if the problem was crew-related all these crew on standby would be called to duty.
And don't get bashing our unions - the reason why people apply to come to BA hand over fist is because of the terms and conditions that they have secured for us. We are not the community who fingers should be pointing to - rather try our grossly overpaid, underworked, useless management structure. They have alot to answer for.
'Nuff said.
