If you haven’t already booked your flight to a BAA airport, my advice is don’t during this period. If you are flying to London, use Luton airport instead which is not run by BAA and therefore won’t be affected by the strike. Easyjet cover most of Europe from Luton and Silverjet fly there from New York and Dubai. Another option to consider is City airport.

My understanding is that the airlines are under no obligation to offer any refunds or rebooking as it is not their strike. They can just say, “claim through your travel insurance - if you don’t have any, tough”.

I wonder whether flights departing or arriving the day after each planned strike will be badly effected. Is it the airlines policy to keep scheduled flights on time or roll over the delays?

We’re due to fly to the Caribbean on a ‘weekly’ flight on a strike day. Will this mean we can’t fly until the next week or is it likely they could reschedule a few days later?

We are in the same position as Gill, we are flying with XL. I have rung them several times but they seem to be as much in the dark as us. They will offer no guarantees of getting us out there. Even the insurance company are saying they do not cover strike action. I am considering booking another flight on B.A. for the 5th to try to ensure we get there, thereby losing my XL flight money, but who is to say that they wont change their strike days from the ones originally planned? Any advice welcome!

Darren, yes I think they are charter so maybe it is different. We are flying to Antigua. I just thought that by changing to BA for a supposed non strike day we might at least get there. I dont mind being stranded in Antigua! I bought my travel insurance through Club Toyota, it seems to be a grey area, the brokers were undecided but the underwriters were very pessimistic. However I would pursue that to the nth degree. Thanks for advice.

Darren your doing a sterling job keeping everyone up-to-date.

I found you via Google, where your on the 1st page for BAA strikes.

We’ve been told that we should receive a refund through our travel insurance if the strikes cause a cancellation, but not for delays.

Surely we are entitled to something for delay’s over 12 hours?

Flying with Virgin but have had no joy from their customer services other than we can reschedule now ‘at a cost to us’ or wait and see. Rescheduling is not an option due to other committments. We have annual insurance but again have received conflicting statements. It would be useful if you can get expert advice.

If you have the right travel insurance, you will get refunds for delays which last 12 hours or more.

I am scheduled to fly into gatwick on the 7th January, I don’t know if the strikes do go ahead if that will affect me or not, it there is a strike, what will happen to my suitcase and baggage?

Are the baggage handlers striking too?
If strikes to go ahead, my understanding is the Airports will close because no security, means no Airport will stay open with the terrorism thing thats going on.

Can anyone reccomend a travel insurance policy that will cover me in the event of a strike? I am looking to go on holiday from edinburgh airport on 20th January but my usual provider does not cover for industrial action and even though there is no planned strike i am still concerned the dispute could be extended.

I am flying to Sharm El Sheikh on 14th from Gatwick and am getting so worried about the strikes and the lack of information or advice out there for travellers.

Any more updates so far today?
Thanks Darren for keeping us posted…I’m just crossing my fingers that BAA pulls their finger out soon and puts a stop to all of this!

We are flying out of Egypt to Gatwick on the 14th of Jan -or not. The tour operators and flight information giving is distinctly lacking. They do not have a scenario contingency plan. Or rather it is to wait and see what will happen then they will “react”. If the strikes go ahead I expect there will be flight delays up to 48-72 hours. Check with your hotel\tour operator to see if they will allow you stay without charge (they will probably not be receiving anyone so will not loose anything) while you wait for the next flight. Also if you can rent a car incase you are flown in to another airport (Glasgow!) You will not have to collect it later. Insurance companies will cover strike but only for delay. E.g. Tesco give you £20 after 12hrs and £10 for every subsequent full 12hrs. This is out of our control just make plans -think of snacks/water stuff to do etc. if you have kids, take stuff to do, a good book/laptop. Fingers crossed they will find a resolution.

Me and my Husband were due to fly to Lanzarote with Monarch from Gatwick on 14th January. We phoned them this morning and they transferred our flight to luton on the same day, without charge.

Maybe this is something other readers might like to try?

Flying to Kenya on honeymoon on the 7th!! Spoke to our tour operator and they have said if the delay is longer than 72 hours we will have the option to claim our money back, as they are ATOL protected?? This is there insurance not ours. There view also was that short haul flights would be the first cancelled due to cheaper compensation!

hi we have a flight booked on jan18 from heathrow with korean air. ive never done long haul travel before ,and not sure what we are suposed to do, do we still go to the airport . do we change the day of the flight ? help

Hopefully as Darren has mentioned, strikes are usually averted and so Panic over. In any case you should check with your Airline or Travel Agent that you booked with, generally the advice will be to give yourself plenty of time and check in as normal unless told to the contrary..
Our Insurance Company will not cover claims arising from delay caused by strike if strike or industrial action was notified at the time the insurance was purchased.
It is always important to take out insurance at the time of Booking and read the policy thoroughly to check what you are and are not covered for. If after taking out your policy and it is not designed to cover your needs, you may cancel the policy and gain a refund as long as you do it within 14 days of purchase.

I.m in the same boat flying to jamacia on the 7th. gatwick
Getting no joy out of thomas cook.
My flight is via manchester so i might be lucky depending where the incoming flight lands.

I’m due to fly to New York on the 17th January and I have tried in vain to get any sence out of BA whom I’m flying with or Airmiles whom I booked through both say they can not do anything untill they know the situation with BAA. I have thaught of changing the flight to the day before but as BAA employees will be on stike on the 15th as well there is no gaurantees that my flight would take of due to planes and piolots in wrong position ect.

We are due to fly down to heathrow from newcastle on the 7th of jan, to get our connecting flight with singapore airlines to go to Singapore then onto australia. how do we go about changing airports if the strike goes ahead, we asked our travel agent but he was not helpful at this time as he said they had not heard much about it , but iam sure singapore airlines fly from manchester, if we do not get away on the 7th what happens after that day? do they get you away the next day? we have been waiting to go for a year now to see our grandson he would be devistated if we did not get there, how could these people put a lot of pressure and stress onto us we are not just talking about money here we are talking about all the stress it will cause as my husband has a heart condition and i do not think he could take all the stress.

I have a BA flight to Denver booked for 7th January, booked as part of a package through Trailfinders. I would have been perfectly happy to pay any admin charges to get my flight moved from the 7th to an earlier day to avoid the strikes, I would have even re-routed through another city and paid for an internal flight. Both Trailfinders and BA have told me that because nothing has been confirmed my ticket does not allow me to make any ammendments even though I was willing to pay. I can’t believe it, I am now really concerned I will not get out of the UK. Has anyone got any suggestions?

Any news about the strikes?

we are due to fly to sharm el shiekh from manchester on the 14th of jan, have no idea whether we are to turn up or what, company we booked with proving elusiveon this point. hope for reconciliation.

Just a heads up for anyone Australia bound:

Qantas engineers are more than likely to strike in January as well. This means that MANY airlines in and out of Australia will be affected, as MANY airlines use Qantas engineers to handle their aircraft down here. I’m off to a wedding in January, and although the BAA strikes will probably hit me as I pass thru LHR, i’m backing the employees 100%. Wishing you all safe travels - and a request from an unaffected airline employee on behalf of colleagues on the other side of the world - please don’t take your frustrations out on the staff - they will be doing everything they can. To put it bluntly - they don’t want you in the terminal any longer than you want to be…

Hi am due to go on a world trip on 17th Jan - spoke to Trainfinders to buy another ticket for the first leg and they then said the remainder of the ticket would not be valid unless you had flown the first leg - have been unable to check with quantas as to what their policy will be - and travel insurance with Nat West Black is conflicting (helpdesk where unsure whether strikes were covered) Has anyone considered contacting the Union - unite - i have worked in the private sector like others and when our final salary pension schemes closed to new members it was accepted as it did not affect the current members i find it hard to beleive that union memebers are striking for individuals not yet employed.

Due to fly 7th Jan to Dominican Rep. realisticaly theres only Wed - Thur - Fri for the mess to be sorted. I agree with Sally, its a noble cause but a changing world and the current members are protected.

Hi im flying out on the 7th january from heathrow to barbados and then back on the 17th of january. Were flying with virgin which means we will be affected by all three of the strikes. Were supposed to be getting married out in barbados on the 11th but im a bit worried because of having to be resident in the country for a certain amount of days before you can apply for your licence. Ive tried to contact virgin customer services but they are not intrested. I have taken out holiday and wedding insurance with virgin. If anyone can ofefr me some advice I would be very gratefull.

Im flying to Denver on 14th JAN but from Manchester, are the strikes at the BAA airportslikely to have a knock on effect on Manchester, if airlines decide to land there instead?

So just exactly who is threatening to strike? We are hoping to fly to Rome with RyanAir on the 14th Jan from Stansted. Could passengers get round the problem by just taking hand luggage on board?

Due to fly to Austria from Stansted on the 19th Jan (Not one of the strike days, but could be affected by knock on ) We have the chance to change to Bristol for £68, would it be worth doing that or should I hold on?????

I’m flying into Heathrow on Jan 7th with Virgin, but their customer service told me that their part of the airport “definitely” wouldn’t be affected…

We fly from Gatwick on 14th Jan. I have just rang Thompson Direct and they have advised that if my trip is effected then a letter and/or a phone call WILL happen and then any new arrangements will be confirm in time to travel either to Gatwick or another airport if required.
Here;s hoping BAA and Unions come to their senses. Good luck to us all.

we are going to new york for a late xmas present for are girls on the 7th and have lots of trip paid for and a concert which was 5 hundred pounds am i going to get back the money can any one help / i have 2 young girls that are very upet .

Help please - due to fly with BA from Heathrow to San Francisco on 7th Jan to join up with a tour group who move out on the 8th Jan.
If we don’t get there in time as they leave - our longed for trip will be ruined.

I trust the muppets who are striking will be at the airport to explain to my 3 children why we cannot fly to Olando, I think not as they are cowards - do these people just think of themselves and nobody else - they will get a lot of enemies from the public by doing this.

I’m flying to Faro from Stansted on 15th Jan. for a golfing trip. I know this is a day after one of the affected strike days, but there is a flight from Luton that I could book. Would you recommend re-booking, or sitting tight and see what happens

Thankyou Will Allen for the comment on Quantas engineerers striking which will affect all flights in and out of Australia in January just to add the misery on top of BAA strike, as i said we could do without the stress at this present time, as flying on a long journey is stressful enough, I hope we all get away on time and have a relaxing journey, so please no more comments on strike action other than the one we are all waiting to hear about, i dont know about you guys but i have had a terrible weekend just thinking about it, so please BAA just try to settle and get every one off on thier Holidays.

Will Allan, You must be the only person who is 100% behind the strike beside the strikers, get in the real world. I personally have to had to buy 2 new flights to make sure that I get to my destination and have lost all the money for my original flights on the 7th, wont matter to you but I can ill afford to do it and I do not have a final salary pension scheme. Please do not tell the travelling public how to treat baa employees, they are holding us to ransom and they know they will cause maximum disruption. Frankly they make me sick, and I wish you the biggest hold up possible at LHR, serve you right.

Ive checked about 6 or 7 travel insurance policies and they all confirm what Lee Harrison says: If we take a policy out now, cancellation and/or delays due to industrial action will not be covered now that we have been notified about the strike by Unite.

As my flight ends in a connecting flight from a different airline, I will have to change my whole itinerary with a re-booking fee should the strike go ahead. Is there anyone who we can go to for compensation?

We’re due to fly out to Luxor on 14th Jan. Thankfully we took out travel insurance on 18th Oct before any mention of strike action, but it’s still going to leave us at least £300 out of pocket as the deal with the hotel we booked at Gatwick is pre-paid and non-refundable, as our return flights from Gatwick to Inverness are
Will keep an eye on this topic. Here’s hoping we all get away for whatever reason our trip is for.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7165196.stm

The first strike has been called off…..

A victory for common sense YIPPPPPEEEEEEE!!
It is now officially a happy new year

Great news we can have a couple of extra drinks now tonight! We hope every one has a safe flight and not caught out in any disputes, I also hope we are not caught out in Australia as well, so i hope Will Allen just enjoys his travel and not put any one else in misery with his comments , if we do get caught out in dispute then we will just have to put up with it Bye every one x

Only the strike on 7 January has been called off- the others will go ahead if a final agreement is not reached on the proposed compromise. should be more info after meeting on 4 January.

Brendan Gold, Unite’s aviation organiser, said the action had been provoked by intransigence at Ferrovial. He said: “It’s not a UK management decision but a decision taken in Spain that I do not believe has the backing of the UK management team.”
It is possible to show more despicable xenophobia?

http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/news/article3126403.ece

All strikes off - what a relief!! I can look forward to my holiday now.

Thanks for the charming holiday wishes Ann & Marnie - real adult of you there. I gave the information about the QF strikes not to make you feel bad, but to provide information, to help, perhaps people who might need to take that information into account rather than turn up completely unprepared.
All I said was in this day and age of cost cutting in the aviation industry, occasionally its appropriate to stand up and fight for what you deserve. So, go ahead, take your immature missery out on the staff - lest next time you or someone you love be in their shoes. Direct your anger at the company, not the staff. Calling off the first strike is a good result.

Oh, and just to justify my comment: The BAA union involved represents security and fire fighting staff: PEOPLE WHO KEEP YOU SAFE. You may hate the hassell of security, you may think it is a farce (infact I hate having to go through security up to 5 times a day too, and I do it every day!). The firefighters are highly trained aviation professionals, who you trust your life in EVERYTIME you get on a plane. Cost cutting on safety is not an alternative! I am sure they would not worry about who you are or what wrongs you have done this world if it came to saving your burning backside from an (god forbid) emergency. Take care, safe travels.

IWill Allan I have the utmost respect for all the staff at our airports and realise they do a difficult job, as do many people in this world. I also do not mind going through security procedures at all, I never said that I did. I object to people striking and always will, especially those who know it will cause the maximum disruption to peoples lives, I believe in negotiation and adult discussion. My comments were perfectly valid I feel, you have no idea of my personal circumstances or my and my husbands occupation, you are certainly not a special case. BAA employees receive their salaries and pensions through the fare paying passengers and I for one do not like to be held to ransom.
Marnie Goodwin

Then take your frustrations out on the COMPANY, not the staff, and certainly not ME!
Do you really think the staff enjoy striking? Do you think that if negotiation and adult discussion had worked they would have had to resort to this? Negotiation and Adult discussion is a two way street. If the company take a hard line, the employees have every right to do the same. The dispute is between the employees and the company. Not you and the employees. Striking is reactionary, so if you wish to take issue, take issue with the party that ’caused’ the reaction - as obviously they wont play ball and have bought this situation upon themselves.