British Airways Employees Vote For Strike; Heathrow Madness Inevitable

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As an update to my earlier post, British Airways cabin crews have voted overwhelmingly to strike right smack in the middle of the holiday travel season, from December 22 to January 2. This won’t be pretty.

According to BBC News, the union members voted nine to one for a strike over anger to constant layoffs and contract changes. This will most definitely disturb British Airways passengers, and its bound to have repercussions for other airlines (i.e. flight delays, upset passengers frantically looking for other flights at Heathrow and every other major BA hub, etc.).

The employees are trying to say they’re sorry in advance, but it still feels selfish.

Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of the Unite union, said: “It goes without saying that we have taken this decision to disrupt passengers and customers over the Christmas period with a heavy heart.”

I’ve had good experiences, for the most part, on British Airways before, but this isn’t going to go over with their customers well. BA has said they’ll let passengers scheduled to fly during or within 48 hours of the strike to rebook to another flight in the next 12 months. Maybe they can all make plans to go home next Christmas…

For my personal plans, I just hope Air France (or SNCF, for that matter) doesn’t decide to pull the same thing, or I’ll never make it home to America in time for Christmas.