BA (potential) strike FAQs

1. Who may go on strike? About 2, 500 cabin crew members of the Unite union.
2. Why are they considering a strike? British Airways wants to cut current staff and reduce compensation for new hires.
3. Why is the airline doing this? BA has suffered huge financial losses recently. Some industry experts think the airline is in some danger of bankruptcy if it doesn't make changes soon.
4. When will the strike vote be taken? Starts November 16 and ends on December 14.
5. What's the earliest possible strike date? December 21.
6. Likelihood of actual strike? Really, who knows? But the prospect seems very possible.
7. Isn't someone going to court over this? Of course...it's the "age of litigation" after all. The union talked about legal action to block job cuts, then backed off. The airline has gotten injunctions against strikes in the past.
8. Should I change my plans to fly British Airways? If you're flying before December 21, there's little chance of a problem. After that, it's hard to tell. If your trip is time-critical, or during the holidays, you may want to think about options.
   
9. If I already have paid for tickets, can I make a change? In past "labor events" airlines tried to maintain flight schedules and/or try to re-book passengers on other flights. Most airlines will waive penalties for rebooking....but not until a strike is actually underway. And rebooking during peak holiday periods will be difficult.