Well done BA cabin crew hand a golden ticket to all airlines at LHR.
Seeing as I work on the ground for another LHR based airline, that BA will pay to re-route its PAX under IATA rules. It will cost BA millions! So short sighted of them. Oh well BA going down the pan. Looks like VS and bmi will have a busy xmas picking up BA’s mess as always.

Not like we are going on holiday and BA does not need my money

This is a disaster for BA, with the large pension deficit announced on the same day, they could be heading for up to a £1B loss this year.
One thing I would like a current "independant" union employment lawyer to answer is the situation re an official strike. I few years ago when I was involved in these matters, yes strikers could be dismissed immediately but it had to be collectively and the company were NOT allowed to remploy replacements for 90 days, If this is still the case then this might make all concerned get round the negotiating table.

I dont agree with strikes, never have done, a throw back to the 70s.

But...as little as 2 years ago this company posted 600m profits. previous yrs posted avergave 300 m per yr.

Current crisis caused by bankers/goverment - BA lose premium traffic, and yet again the little person is expected to pay. Bit of a tenous link, but effectively that is whats happened (in my laymans eyes).

Now due to banks/brown balls up the little man has to pay (again), reduction in salary, from a company that 2 yrs ago had record profits.

I do have sympathy from anyone that stands to lose money.

If they went under I seriously doubt the Mandy would let it, not just the BA staff out of work, but literially 1000s of secondary jobs that serve BA.

Not a good situation for anyone to be in - when the Loco's rule the world we shall see how good things used to be!

Perhaps you could explain why the changes in working practices which have provoked this strike have been in place at Gatwick for some while (and work well). Or why they also seem to have worked fine when required at Heathrow (as long as the CC are given extra payments). Or why the level of service is any business of the unions?

Olympic Air
 

Very short sighted, we`ll see if there is a company left for them to return to after the New Year!!

I agree with some to close the company down and start again on new contracts!
This is pretty much what happened when Olympic Airways went bust and is now reincarnate as Olympic Air. They now work very hard and are very pround of their new company.

I flew with them recently, crew were friendly, aircraft were new, sweets on boarding, 3 drinks service, a meal and biscuits to go with the coffee service, all in 3.5 hrs!!
A million times better then the last time i flew BA and their one service, "i`ve worked so hard", attitude!!

The company has today issued the following statement:

"British Airways is extremely disappointed that Unite is planning massive disruption for hundreds of thousands of our customers over the Christmas/New Year holiday period.

"A 12-day strike would be completely unjustified and a huge over-reaction to the modest changes we have announced for cabin crew which are intended to help us recover from record financial losses.

"Unite’s cynical decision betrays a total lack of concern for our customers, our business and other employees within British Airways".

This proposed Christmas strike has the stink of spite all over it. Sod them all. "Heavy hearts" my :mad:. There isn't one heart among them all.

BA should hire in spare aircraft/crew from other airlines (especially from Easyjet and Ryanair - just for spite) and leave these wasters to rot on their picket lines. I'm sure there are thousands of currently jobless CC who would jump at the opportunity to get back to work.

I'm not too sure if at all it worked. I can't speak for LGW crew. You'll have to ask them.

Let them go bust....we don't need BA:ok:

Does anyone actually think this will happen ??? Strikes will be suspended pending talks....

Or you could read their comments on the Cabin Crew forum.........

Have you got any idea what that might do to the service? Do you not think that the passengers who are really paying to keep BA afloat, namely the Club and 1st Class/ business/frequent flyer passengers would leave to other airlines who would treat them with better quality than having to pay for a soggy cheese burger in a plastic oven bag?

GATWICK
 

The press ain't picked up on this yet but 80%+ of the crew at Gatwick will NOT strike, and are as sick as the rest of us, by this attempt to bring the company down.

It might only be a small part, roughly 2000 cabin crew but they know that unite are looking after Heathrow and not them.

They don't earn big bucks, have less crew already, work hard and are the only profitable part of the business. All be it a small part

BA Gatwick will carry on regardless.

BA have messed me about for the last time. They will never get another penny from me. Off to book a new flight.

Thanks. It'll take me a while to sift through all the negativity...

deal off
 

What a highly intelligent thing to do! go on strike when the staff are already amongst the highest paid there is, talk about trying to rob the golden goose what a load of idiots! I wouldnt be a bit surprised if Iberia now pull out of the deal as any sensible company would do and let BA go under. I just wonder what all the jobless berks who supported this strike will do for a job? I can see the next interview now, ah ex Ba staff are you ? no thanks, dont call us, we will call you if we want you, NOT!
I wonder how long the union will continue to pay the strikers after BA is gone?
These guys obviously come from the same school of intelligence as G.W.Bush and the postal workers there is only one job left for low intelligence groups such as these --- send them to Afghanistan as cannon fodder!

Staffing through the strike
 

A BA guy mentioned to me that they had contract CC ready to start should this happen. My understanding is that a CC course takes about 6 days (I'm not saying they'll be great) then some line check etc.... and presto...! Or is that wrong? So presume BA could run a limited service and perhaps wet lease in some a/c to do the short haul stuff. Europe is awash with capacity. Might make sense not to even fly the kites?

Did you know that Iberia staff get payed up to twice what they pay BA crew?

Guess not...

The heavy hearts are surely among the passengers who will never again trust their holiday flights to these leamings. It is not even that they do an outstanging job either. 3 relations returning from Vienna last evening vowed to try any airline but BA next time - aircraft tatty, service careless and haphazard. Pretty much my experience on shorthaul particularly.

Neither BA or its customers owe these people a living as they might soon find out if they continue to wear blinkers in the modern airline world. :=