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Original poster

BA chaos + now threat of summer strikes

110 replies

peoniesarejustperfect · 31/05/2022 15:33

Anyone fancy joining me for a bit of a moan?

Due to fly with BA twice this summer - once next week long haul and then in August for our family holiday which is booked separately to the holiday bit.

I can't get over what is happening at airports at the moment. I understand all the reasons, just so surprised that they don't know in advance what problems they are going to have in forth coming week. Lots of cancellations, lost luggage, texting people at the gate. Whist def a first world problem, it sounds miserable. And now BA announce that they are balloting for strike action. For some reason it takes them 22 days to do this.

We've been talking about what to do with our August family holiday - that would be the one that would really disappoint us. Whether we should cancel our BA flights and book with another airline, just cross our fingers & hope or cancel it all and book something a bit more reliable. Like so many people we are desperate to get away.

What's everyone else thinking??

OP posts:
DrBlackbird · 30/06/2022 08:04

Okay update is that whilst our BA flight was delayed by 3 hours, check in at T5 went incredibly smoothly (all paperwork done and printed at home) and security was no worse than usual. Flight v smooth and have arrived at my home town with all luggage intact after an absence of 3 years! Happy holidays to everyone else and may the BA strikes not create too much more travel chaos 🙄

NoTvNoWifi · 30/06/2022 08:52

DrBlackbird · 30/06/2022 08:04

Okay update is that whilst our BA flight was delayed by 3 hours, check in at T5 went incredibly smoothly (all paperwork done and printed at home) and security was no worse than usual. Flight v smooth and have arrived at my home town with all luggage intact after an absence of 3 years! Happy holidays to everyone else and may the BA strikes not create too much more travel chaos 🙄

Just read the whole thread and feeling the anxiety however love to hear this lovely home return went well!

Original poster
peoniesarejustperfect · 30/06/2022 09:20

I am so pleased @DrBlackbird That is fantastic news and so heartening to hear. Have a wonderful trip!

OP posts:
DrBlackbird · 30/06/2022 14:23

Just to add that we were long haul and I think BA is prioritising those. In T5 after going through security there were multiple (quite long) queues at all the customer service desks. Someone told us it was for flights that had been cancelled. Presumably short haul ones? Many thanks @peoniesarejustperfect and @NoTvNoWifi and wishing happy summer holiday to everyone else too.

PaniDomu · 30/06/2022 16:07

I’m in a very long queue for fast track security at T3. The queues for checking in luggage and the queues for non- fast track are just a sea of people. I sent my suitcase this morning with AirPortr which seems like a good choice. Fingers crossed for its arrival at my destination!

PaniDomu · 30/06/2022 17:10

I got to the front of the queue for security and was told my flight had been cancelled. Literally while I was waiting in the queue, three hours before departure. No-one seems to know not care what is happening to my checked in bag.

LibertyBlues · 30/06/2022 21:01

Flying to Vancouver from Heathrow on the 18th of July. Hope things are better by then. Luggage should be ok as we are flying to Heathrow from Newcastle so bags already checked in. I'll check in from home and print boarding passes from home too.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 30/06/2022 21:08

My friend flight to Dusseldorf was cancelled this morning. She's rebooked for tomorrow, hopefully it will be OK.

I have tickets to see my parents there end of this week, only for the weekend, so if they cancel I might as well not fly.

I wish they would tell us in advance.

Original poster
peoniesarejustperfect · 01/07/2022 08:13

@PaniDomu 🙀🙀🙀 That is the worst - to put the time into checking bag in advance and then 'the sea of people'. How did they tell you it was cancelled and did you manage to find your bag? So frustrating when they don't give you much warning.

Fingers crossed for everyone else travelling.

OP posts:
DoThePropeller · 01/07/2022 08:35

We’ve had our flights to Greece cancelled, mid-July, rebooked on an alternative… which they’ve cancelled. On hold to them now but feel my holiday slipping away!

FluffingMarvellous · 01/07/2022 12:28

DoThePropeller · 01/07/2022 08:35

We’ve had our flights to Greece cancelled, mid-July, rebooked on an alternative… which they’ve cancelled. On hold to them now but feel my holiday slipping away!

Sorry to hear this, where in Greece were you going?

PaniDomu · 01/07/2022 13:59

@peoniesarejustperfect I got to security and my boarding pass wouldn’t scan - it came up with the message to return to desk. The app was still showing that the flight was on time, but I checked my emails and there was one sent about half an hour before (so when I was in the queue for security) saying that it was cancelled. No idea where the bag is - I’ve registered it as lost. I asked the BA check in staff and one told me she had no idea where it might be and someone else said it would be in a holding area.

DoThePropeller · 03/07/2022 14:08

Thessaloniki. Managed to get on a flight from another airport so fingers crossed 🤞🏼

TizerorFizz · 03/07/2022 23:18

@LibertyBlues
We flew to Vancouver with BA T5 on 18 June. Delay of 2 hours but no other issues. No queues anywhere! Flying back on 5th. Just chosen our seats. Obviously not school holidays but only cancelled flights were short haul. Currently in Prince Rupert snd been unconnected to wi fi for 2 weeks as we’ve been on board a boat. Sunny here right now. Hope you have a lovely time.

DrBlackbird · 04/07/2022 20:43

LibertyBlues · 30/06/2022 21:01

Flying to Vancouver from Heathrow on the 18th of July. Hope things are better by then. Luggage should be ok as we are flying to Heathrow from Newcastle so bags already checked in. I'll check in from home and print boarding passes from home too.

We also uploaded the Verifly app to upload our NHS vaccine letters otherwise you’re not able to print out boarding passes at home 🙄 and of course you still have to fill in the arriveCan documents.

deathbollywood · 04/07/2022 21:59

Anyone flown from Luton recently?

notimagain · 05/07/2022 11:55

deathbollywood · 04/07/2022 21:59

Anyone flown from Luton recently?

Very very very likely not going to be the case if they fly with BA 🙂

You probably need to ask on another thread.

TizerorFizz · 05/07/2022 17:52

@DrBlackbird
we did VeriFLY. All was done correctly and not difficult. We had some glitch with BA going out and DH couldn’t check in though. I could. We weren’t together as a result but no big issue. Ok coming home: checked in yesterday. Vancouver airport was chaotic on arrival though. Arrivals is automated but readers were iffy. Queue huge. DH snd I then queued for an official and that was fine. Virtually no help available. As elsewhere, staff shortages. We then went to Alaska and did arrive Can again to get back into Canada. Getting back to Vancouver later today. More queues I expect!

DrBlackbird · 18/07/2022 23:25

@TizerorFizz we’re flying out of vancouver tonight. Really not looking forward to it! We can’t print boarding passes, so will have to queue for those. Sounds like YVR is another chaotic airport. Plus, it’s looking like it’ll be a delayed flight and then we land tomorrow at Heathrow in the 2nd day of the heat wave in the middle of the day 🥵😱

TizerorFizz · 18/07/2022 23:39

We couldn’t print boarding passes either but the queues were not that bad. Get there early!! Our booking and seats were on our BA app. We were a bit late leaving but no big issue. The BA flight is quite late and the airport didn’t feel too busy. The gate was miles away though!

The plane on the allocated stand at Heathrow had an issue and didn’t leave, and as BA use an A380, we had to wait a long time for a stand. It’s a big plane. Heathrow is air conditioned I think??? It’s going to feel ultra hot outside though ! It’s horrible but ok Wednesday. Good luck.

DrBlackbird · 19/07/2022 05:33

Many thanks 🙏

TizerorFizz · 19/07/2022 12:48

@DrBlackbird
Are you landed safely?

DrBlackbird · 19/07/2022 21:40

Yes @TizerorFizz it went as well as can be expected thanks. Two hour flight delay in Vancouver but relatively tolerable queueing. Then two hour wait to pick up luggage at Heathrow but aircon was on in the building thank goodness. Was brilliant to be back in Vancouver and am missing it already.

pixie5121 · 19/07/2022 22:46

I'm not going to fly this summer. I simply don't think it's worth the stress, hassle and potential expense if it all goes tits up, and I can't stand busy airports and crowds. I'm trying to make the most of the decent weather here by going on day trips to the coast and going to parks and beer gardens and whatever.

I've got a high value BA voucher to use, so really hoping things improve in autumn/winter.

TizerorFizz · 19/07/2022 23:26

@DrBlackbird
We didn’t wait that long for luggage. No queue for passport control was also a blessing. I’m hoping we will be ok in September now. All the best.,