Heathrow strikes - options?

[Citygirlrurallife]

A WWYD really. We’re supposed to be flying Gatwick to Naples on 30th June which is now a strike day, BA Terminal 5.

I’ve found a TUI flight we can get from Gatwick instead that morning but what happens with our BA flight? Do we only get compensated for it being delayed or cancelled if we show up at the airport? Has anyone managed to claim compensation in advance of a flight? We’re only
going for 3 so getting the TUI flight at least gets us there but the loss of money is not great

has anyone gone through this with previous strikes?

Think you will need to check in and go through security to claim. Are you sure it will be affected as not all terminals/flights will be.

Ugh. Unless I suppose they cancel our flight well before? I think we’ll just have to suck it up then - I don’t want to be sat at Heathrow for hours and hours and then not have a flight to get on 😔

DD had a cancelled flight (another company). Their preferred option was to rebook another flight, which luckily she needed but had to wait six days. Sadly the strike dates are going to ruin many holidays, family visits and business plans this summer, as there aren't going to be flights available a few days later.

I think your only option if you don't want to ruin your holiday is cancel the BA flight so at least you can get back taxes and then eat the cost of booking the alternative. Not ideal though.

You need to be careful as BA Will potentially cancel your return flight if you don’t take the outward bound flight.

They will definitely do this.

BA aren't going to compensate you in advance for an event outside of their control that hasn't happened yet!

@NewIdeasToday and @AMuser I hand't considered that - thanks for bringing it up!

@Cat1066 obviously!!! I mean after the fact...

@LIZS it will def be affected - they're striking Terminal 5 BA flights and that's what we're booked on. I knew I should have booked Easyjet and Gatwick from the beginning....

Only if it's a return booking. Lots are two singles these days, which doesn't have the same T&Cs.

You said gatwick in your OP but also T5?

@similarminimer oh yeah I did - that was a mistake, def terminal 5 at Heathrow