At the time of writing, British Airways workers are considering a strike to start Dec. 21. The strike vote has already been taken, but results will not be announced until Monday. The issues are reasonably standard: crew cutback and pay freezes.
A strike around the holidays would be a public relations nightmare for both the airline and their employees. And seven days between an announced strike vote and the actual strike gives both sides plenty of room for threats, posturing, and ultimately negotiations. Unfortunately, such a deal could be last minute.
So, in the meantime, other than thinking good thoughts, here are a few tickets for those flying to Europe and beyond on British Airways, and those booked on other carriers.
First, for those booked on British Airways, who will clearly be the most affected.
Starting next week, do check with your travel agent or booking site regularly for updates. Alternatively updates may be posted on British Airways’ website. Along with possible policies in the even of a strike.
Start looking for a couple backup options. You, or your travel agent, will be unable to just book and hold backup reservations, as the airlines will cancel them within a day or few days if they aren’t ticketed. (And British Airways will not protect passengers on alternate flights until and unless they strike.)
If money is no object, you can purchase a refundable ticket on another carrier. But even if British Airways does go on strike, while they will credit any unused parts of your ticket for a cancelled flight, the airline will not reimburse you the difference between their fare and your new ticket.
If money is an object, as it is for most travelers, having backup ideas will help in the rebooking process. And consider options that avoid Heathrow as those flights will fill first. Consider Gatwick, consider different U.S. connection cities, and/or flights through other cities in Europe, even if London is your destination.
While there are never guarantees, during past strikes carriers generally have transferred their tickets to most other airlines, as long as the new booking is in the same cabin. (With the exception of Internet-only airlines, and domestic ticketless carriers such as JetBlue, Virgin America, and Southwest.)
In fact, what I’ve tried to do in the past for clients is have a couple options ready, so I can grab the seats as soon as travel agents get the authorization that we are allowed to do so.
But even if you are travelling to Europe and not booked on British Airways, it’s good to be aware of the situation. Crossing a picket line in front of the terminal may not be that difficult, but if they strike, the airports will have a new layer of chaos added to an already difficult time.
In addition, British Airways passengers will be trying to get on alternate flights. Which means with long standby lists that those flight cutoff times will be enforced more stringently than usual. So make an extra effort to get to the airport early.
Finally, which is true any time a major carrier is on strike, have a little extra empathy and be nice to gate agents. It’s no fun telling people, especially around the holidays, that you can’t give them a seat for days. You may not have your ideal bulkhead seat on the plane or a window in front of the wing, but if you have a confirmed seat, you will be better off than a lot of other people.
Besides, being nice is good karma. And next time it may be your airline on strike.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
