As T5 security crisis looms, Virgin Atlantic allows rebooking (from T3) whilst BA (at T5) does not

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• David says:

  27 Mar27 March 06:27

  What a palaver and Im due to fly on Friday 🙁

  Im not a numbers guy but wouldnt the oncoming bedlam and mess roughly equate to just giving in and giving the security staff 10%?

  • Alex R says:

    27 Mar27 March 06:30

    As the article states – they’ve in fact already rejected the 10% offer made.

  • tony says:

    27 Mar27 March 06:38

    The unions were offered 10% and this cohort rejected it.

  • Bagoly says:

    27 Mar27 March 08:13

    Without taking any position on this dispute, but “just giving in” is not a good guideline, E.g. ransomware, or Russia invading one’s territory.

    • momomo says:

      27 Mar27 March 08:46

      You just compared people fighting to get pay restitution (after salary cuts and in the face of increased pay to those higher up the chain) to two examples of criminality. Looks like you’ve subconsciously taken a position there.

      • Andrew says:

        27 Mar27 March 12:27

        Agree that the comparison to war is a bit crass but if the employer just gives in because it’s cheaper than strike action then the unions/employees will do exactly the same in every subsequent year. I’ve no idea what outcome would be ‘fair’ in this dispute but giving employees everything they want rarely ends up well for a business and therefore ultimately customers and employees.

• masaccio says:

  27 Mar27 March 06:32

  I have options with AA for my Saturday flight, but it’ll cost me and the OH the best part of 6 grand. I don’t look forward to getting BA to pay that.

  • Krvpik says:

    27 Mar27 March 06:38

    AA have 19 from 23 flights oversold this Saturday

  • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

    27 Mar27 March 06:44

    BA won’t be paying that if they issued a waiver and moved you to AA.

    Airlines have special rates they charge each other and since AA and BA are in the joint business arrangement all fare income on the included routes is pooled.

    • Paul says:

      27 Mar27 March 11:58

      No need for waiver as the revenue is shared on TATL. It is utterly preposterous that BA did not allow people to move such flights, ie where revenue is shared over the weekend.

      My daughter was due to fly next Saturday at the start of a ski trip. BA cancelled with just 7 days notice and their disingenuous email said rebook or refund. I simply do not understand what they are not compelled to include or we can re route you as they are obliged to do under EU261UK261 legislation.

      She and her friend were all set to cancel a ski trip until I pointed out BA obligations.

      In the end however and despite what legislation says, I and she adopted a pragmatic approach and quickly rebooked two days earlier and then a hotel for two night. The extra £100 each was frankly money well spent and they can start their holiday as planned. As I said, if they cancel the return tay have to get you home.

      Not everyone can be as flexible but if BA cancel your flight they must get you to where you are going. No if or buts!

  • Lady London says:

    27 Mar27 March 18:06

    AA will be fine for BA to rebook you onto, mysteriously. That is, if there are any seats left.

    Naturally the fact that all revenue on flights on transatlantic routes is shared between BA, AA and Finnair at least, regardless of whose flight it is, has nothing to do with it.

• LewisB says:

  27 Mar27 March 06:37

  Also flying on Friday but with United to Denver. Shouldn’t have much of an impact for me, I hope. No baggage etc.

  If United want volunteers to delay for a few days I’d be quite likely to sign up.

• Patrycja says:

  27 Mar27 March 06:41

  I am flying on Friday into T5 from Edinburgh and out of T3 to Krakow. I’ll have to go through security in T3 but I am concerned my flight into Heathrow will be impacted. Heathrow really needs to do better.

  • NorthernLass says:

    27 Mar27 March 06:45

    Domestic flights are usually the first to be culled – it’s not clear to what extent flights INTO T5 are going to be affected but you might want to start looking at alternatives to get to LHR – it’s not impossible that you could arrive at EDI on Friday to find your flight has been cancelled, unfortunately.

    • Patrycja says:

      27 Mar27 March 07:41

      Fully aware of that. We could easily fly on Thursday night and book an overnight hotel if BA were a bit more proactive. Alternative is always to take a train to London as we are flying in the evening.

      • Red Flyer says:

        27 Mar27 March 07:47

        Short notice EDI-LON by train likely to cost more than whole trip to Krakow!

        • NorthernLass says:

          27 Mar27 March 07:54

          But if BA cancels they will have to reimburse the cost of that. They will pay for a taxi if necessary!

        • Patrycja says:

          27 Mar27 March 08:03

          BA will have to cover the cost of re-routing . It will be just more hassle than necessary. Another option is to fly into City and make our way to Heathrow. None are particularly attractive but we might need to be creative on Friday.

        • Paul says:

          27 Mar27 March 12:00

          But that is BA’s problem not the passengers

• David says:

  27 Mar27 March 06:51

  Why dont BA give me the chance to change my AMS ticket now wether then wait for 404 stampede on Wed/Thurs? Bottom scrappers WizzAir cancelled my flight in August yesterday, gave me the chance to rebook there and then for the next day’s flight.

  • Andrew J says:

    27 Mar27 March 06:52

    But BA haven’t cancelled the flight….

• Andrew J says:

  27 Mar27 March 06:52

  Why would staff need to “agree to move from other terminals”? Surely they just go where their shift sends them?

  • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

    27 Mar27 March 06:55

    They may not wish to cross picket lines.

    • JDB says:

      27 Mar27 March 07:05

      The airport by-laws will generally not allow picket lines; the issue relates to working practices which like on the railways/tube and some other sectors are very archaic and costly for the employer and form part of the dispute.

      • David says:

        27 Mar27 March 07:31

        Cross picket lines is an expression, not an expectation is a physical picket line presense.

    • Rob says:

      27 Mar27 March 07:07

      Thought that was obvious and did not need spelling out to be honest!

    • Mike Hunt says:

      27 Mar27 March 08:51

      Surely workers can be told where to work – and refusal to comply is gross misconduct

      • Rob says:

        27 Mar27 March 09:08

        Workers have a legal right to refuse to cross a picket line without sanction, I believe.

      • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

        27 Mar27 March 11:13

        So you want workers to be disciplined for gross misconduct thus making the situation worse? Airports are already having enough problems recruiting staff as it is with out disciplining people for what is in effect a minor infraction when gross misconduct is for serious issues such as theft or damaging an employers premises whcih warrants immediate dismissal.

        Would you be so sanguine if your employer told you to work from another location and then started disciplinary action if you refused?

        • NorthernLass says:

          27 Mar27 March 11:27

          It would depend on one’s contract of employment, plenty of employees are expected to work from different locations. I would expect a service like airport security to be able to be moved wherever they are needed at very little notice.

        • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

          27 Mar27 March 11:35

          And they can refuse such a move.

          It may have consequences but they can still refuse.

          But it would as you say depend on the contract. If their contract says ‘based at T4’ and dosent say anything about working in another terminal then HAL would be in breach of contract if they forced a terminal switch.

        • Bagoly says:

          27 Mar27 March 17:31

          If staff are contracted to turn up at T4, and continue to do so, with the airport moving them to another terminal, and back to T4 within contracted hours, I suggest that refusal is pigheadedness.
          If the airport expects staff to get to a different terminal at the start of the shift, and stops paying them when they leave that terminal at the end of the shift, then management is being unreasonable.

• Martin Price says:

  27 Mar27 March 06:53

  I wonder if and how this will affect inbound BA flights into T5?

• DaveC says:

  27 Mar27 March 07:08

  What is your best guess as to how flights INTO T5 will be affected ?. My wife and I are due to land T5 at 10:30pm 6th April. Being relatively ancient we are not capable of standing in a queue for hours and hours.

  • Rhys says:

    27 Mar27 March 09:02

    If BA cancels flights then inbound flights are cancelled too, because the aircraft aren’t where they need to be.

  • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

    27 Mar27 March 09:14

    If your flying into LHR and then leaving the airport this won’t affect you.

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