British Airways cabin crew have once again voted to go on strike, but unlike the previous attempt over Christmas the unions have been slow to announce dates for their industrial action.

The reason for Unite’s tardiness in setting specific dates is twofold. First, talks with BA management are continuing and the union – mindful of the battering its cabin crew took in the press over Christmas – will want to exhaust every option before inflicting another devastating blow on passengers.

Second, and less encouragingly, unions have 28 days in which to make their mind up under industrial relations law. That grace period allows Unite to keep the pressure on management, as the airline continues to lose customers each and every day that the uncertainty over the strike drags on.

Stuck in the middle of this ongoing dispute are the flag carrier’s loyal passengers. In an effort to help, Cheapflights has responded by producing the following Q&A for travellers.

 
When will the BA strike occur?

The dates have yet to be announced, but we know the union is promising not to target the Easter break. Unfortunately for passengers, that reassurance must be taken with a pinch of salt as disruption could still take place on either side of the holiday. Air services take days to return to normal following walkouts, meaning that anyone due to fly over Easter could still face delays or even cancellations.

March currently seems the most likely date. Regardless of when the strike occurs the union must give seven days notice, which means outbound services booked for the next few days will be spared. Worryingly, as long as Unite abides by industrial law, its mandate for strike action will continue into the summer.

 
How bad will the disruption to flights be?

This depends on a number of factors, including the duration of the strike action and the strength of the cabin crew turnout. No matter what happens the flag carrier is certain to run a limited service, most likely focusing on protecting its lucrative long-haul flights to Asia and North America. The decision by BA boss Willie Walsh to hire a team of volunteer cabin crew as strike-breakers will prop up operations.

But the impact on services across its route network cannot accurately be predicted until we find out what type of strike cabin crew are opting for. A ten-day walkout will paralyse services for a relatively short period of time, whereas a series of 48-hour strikes would result in more prolonged disruption.

 
Am I entitled to an automatic refund?

Unfortunately it’s not that simple. If your flight falls within the strike period BA will immediately offer you the chance to rebook on any date within one year of your original departure. You’ll be allowed to fly to or from the same airport, or a nearby one if that is more convenient for you.

However, refunds will not be forthcoming until BA has categorically cancelled the flight. Unfortunately, because the airline is making every effort to keep services running, cancellations may not officially be announced until the very last moment. Refunds are therefore far from guaranteed, and passengers are strongly advised not to book flights with an alternative carrier until more details are announced.

 
What about my insurance – will that cover me?

Again the situation is complicated. Even if you receive a refund for your BA flight the airline certainly won’t pay out for hotel or car bookings, therefore many travellers are looking to insurance providers. The Association of British Insurers is warning that anyone who booked their flight after Monday 22 February – when Unite declared its intention to go on strike – will not be entitled to claim on their insurance policy.

Check the terms of your agreement now. Most insurers will only pay out if you are delayed for more than 12 hours following a cancellation, and some providers have exclusions for strikes. Package holiday travellers are slightly better off, though, as their travel agent should be protected by the ATOL scheme.

 
What are my chances of getting compensation?

Slim to none. EU regulations entitle passengers to compensation if their flight is cancelled within 14 days of departure, but airlines have a get-out-of-jail-free card in the form of “extraordinary circumstances” beyond their control. Unfortunately, this is widely believed to including industrial action.

 
When will the BA strike threat go away?

That’s the question on everyone’s lips, and the answer varies hugely depending on who you ask. Unite insists it will stop threatening walkouts when management backs down over its cost-cutting programme; BA maintains that its belt-tightening regimen is vital to returning to company to profitability.

Whomever you side with, one thing is certain. The longer BA and Unite continue this dispute, the greater the chance that customers will desert them and that Britain’s once-proud flag carrier will find itself declaring bankruptcy. Cheapflights stands firmly with the flying public in urging both sides of this dispute to return to the negotiating table and stop inflicting unfair punishment on air passengers.

Did we miss anything? Post your questions below and we’ll do our best to help.

 
© Cheapflights Ltd (Creative Commons image: StartAgain / Flickr)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 2:10 pm and is filed under 180125. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.