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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can we all stop flying BA?

100 replies

AppleBottomJeans · 25/08/2019 10:29

Whenever there’s an airline strike it seems to be BA staff. The most recent of which seems greedy. Can we all just choose different airlines and let the airline that was in decades gone by a British standard carrier sink?

OP posts:
Sparklingbells · 25/08/2019 10:33

im flying with BA to Florida on Monday so ill pass thanks. And i agree with the strike btw

WorraLiberty · 25/08/2019 10:36

Blimey, I know some people have unrealistic expectations about Mumsnet but you really think this chat forum can sink an entire, firmly established airline?

RainOrSun · 25/08/2019 10:37

Yeah, I'll just fly Ryanair instead. Oh, wait....
Ok I'll find another flight from Heathrow. Oh, wait..
Ok. Gatwick it is. Err.....

Sometimes there isnt the option to switch operators that easily.

NoBaggyPants · 25/08/2019 10:38

The pilots are not being greedy.

Air France, Ryanair and Easyjet have all had strikes this year. Power to the workers!

GCAcademic · 25/08/2019 10:40

i agree with the strike as well. BA’s management is disgusting, and their CEO barely distinguishable from that Ryanair tosser.

Original poster
AppleBottomJeans · 25/08/2019 10:43

Lol I’m just feeling bitter, as our holiday plans are now messy. Unfortunately we’re stuck with a ton of bloody Avios Miles, as we put everything through our BA credit cards as the air miles stack up quickly, but it isn’t worth the uncertainty. Once we’ve spent those though, I’m switching airlines!

OP posts:
Basketofkittens · 25/08/2019 10:43

Considering they have 45 million passengers a year, I don’t think that a few people on MN are going to have any effect.

Anotherusefulname · 25/08/2019 10:44

Well, I haven't flown anywhere for over 15 years, nor will I ever again if I can possibly help it. So I don't think they will miss my custom.
Of all the people I do know that fly, I don't know anyone that ever flies BA.

colourlessgreenidea · 25/08/2019 10:45

Blimey, I know some people have unrealistic expectations about Mumsnet but you really think this chat forum can sink an entire, firmly established airline?

Grin

‘Can “we” all agree to do what I want you to do because I’m in a nark?’

Basketofkittens · 25/08/2019 10:46

Are other airlines really better?

Ryanair crew are also striking and their customer service is shocking. Yet they carry 129 million passengers a year.

Yesmate · 25/08/2019 10:46

I am supposed to be travelling with them on one of the strike days. Have been offered a refund. That’s great, I booked early so the flight was cheap. I will just magic the £300 out of my arse for a new flight. Oh wait, I don’t have that so thanks to the strike my long awaited trip is dead in the water.

NoBaggyPants · 25/08/2019 10:47

I wonder which airlines you're planning to swap to. Are your holiday plans more important than workers rights?

NoBaggyPants · 25/08/2019 10:48

@Yesmate You're entitled to rerouting. You'll need to call them to rearrange this.

Original poster
AppleBottomJeans · 25/08/2019 10:50

I’ll use Virgin for US and Emirates/Singapore for Asia. I don’t often go to Europe.

OP posts:
herethereandeverywhere · 25/08/2019 10:52

My work has a large conference organised (think once in the long lifetime of the company type event). It's in a hotel outside Heathrow, We are global so everyone is booked to fly in to Heathrow. It's the week of the first 2 strikes. If the strikes go ahead the cost to our business will be huge and uncompensated.
I know enough about BA and their pilots to struggle to sympathise with their case.

timshelthechoice · 25/08/2019 10:54

I don't fly with BA because I find their service is shitty but I agree with the strike.

Basketofkittens · 25/08/2019 10:56

I’m surprised that Mixed Fleet cabin crew aren’t striking.

NoBaggyPants · 25/08/2019 10:56

Virgin has an ongoing dispute with their pilots, and the strike was only cancelled because Virgin went to court to block it.

Emirates ill treatment of workers, especially women, is well documented.

If you're going to change airlines on principle, you need to work out what those principles are.

Stompythedinosaur · 25/08/2019 10:57

I support the right to strike!

colourlessgreenidea · 25/08/2019 10:58

Lol I’m just feeling bitter, as our holiday plans are now messy.

I’ll use Virgin for US and Emirates/Singapore for Asia. I don’t often go to Europe.

It’s a brave woman who takes to MN to complain that employee-rights action has disrupted her long-haul holiday flights.

bluebeck · 25/08/2019 11:01

YABU

BA has a history of treating it's employees shoddily and we should all be standing in solidarity regarding the right to strike. Otherwise we just go back to Master and Servant.

avocadotofu · 25/08/2019 11:04

I think the pilots are right to strike, it's a highly skilled profession and I personally want the person who is flying my plane to be well paid so I think YABU.

coffeeforone · 25/08/2019 11:07

Strikes should be illegal - full stop!

I reckon only about a quarter of the entire UK workforce are trade union members. The majority of us get though our working lives just fine without needing to vote for strikes every so often. If you're really not happy at an individual level then move employers.

Original poster
AppleBottomJeans · 25/08/2019 11:08

@colourlessgreenidea You’re absolutely correct. I’ve chosen totally the wrong audience to share my very first world woes 😂 I love MN though for the diversity of views (actually most are along the same lines, but it’s educational nonetheless)

OP posts:
MaxNormal · 25/08/2019 11:08

YABU. It's not a race to the bottom, I applaud anyone standing up for their hard-won workers rights.