Anyone else freaking out about the Gatwick strikes

[NoMoreLimbo]

I am heading off on a much longed for holiday with OH and our four DCs. We have saved and saved and have booked flights and accomodation separately and planned for over a year.

Now with the upcoming strikes I am so anxious that our flight will be cancelled. I can live with a delay but not a cancelled flight. Last year we were amongst the many who ended up being cancelled off an Easy Jet flight.

I completely realise that this is completely out of my power and deep breaths and all that but I just want to go on holiday!! I remember the days when one booked a holiday and then could actually start to look forward to it and plan and be excited. Now I am just a nervous wreck whether everything will be cancelled.

I'm sure it'll be fine - it's only a small amount of flights that are cancelled.
Given your previous experience, I'm surprised you've opted to book separately again - if you book a package holiday you have a lot more protection when things like this happen.

Good luck, and enjoy your holiday!

I know how you feel OP. Travelling has definitely become a lot more stressful an experience than it used to be 😏

We've ended up swapping our flights to fly from Luton instead. Cost us £220 to change which isn't ideal but for peace of mind, it's worth it! Even if our flight isn't cancelled, I would hate to be caught up in the massive queues and delays 🙈

Yep. Flying 5th august. I don't want to spend not shy of 10k and have the added stress.

@Deathbyfluffy it’s not just the cancellation risks, it’s the huge delays that are expected.
And yes @NoMoreLimbo I am stressing about it. I would cost £700 to change to a different airport so we will risk it but I’ll be so disappointed if we lose a day or more of holiday.

@Deathbyfluffy I hear you on the protection of a package holiday but with six of us it’s cheaper to do separate flights and self cater through a Villa. We also wanted a bit more of a secluded experience.
@JustPickleRick I wish I could change to a different airport but location etc makes it impossible.

Yes I even rang today to ask what we can expect, our package holiday people were v reassuring, maybe as we are an early flight in the first day. Going to drop bags the night before.

We are also doing an early-ish am
flight and just doing carry on luggage. Plus I have booked premium security.

Trying not to stress! We go on 29th and is part of a cruise package with Tui. I have no idea what happens if we don't make it to Palma in time when the Cruise departs. I know that 'talks' were happening early this week but not seen any updates as yet. I did look into changing flights but as others have said - it's so much more expensive and so I am in the 'hoping for the best' camp at the mo!

@lemonsaretheonlyfruit I am also checking for updates but have not seen anything as of yet.

I truly hope everyone makes their flights...

@NoMoreLimbo

I'm working on the basis that no news is good news (also known as sticking head in the sand!)

Potentially very good news today.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-unite-union-says-more-dhl-workers-suspend-strikes-gatwick-2023-07-24/

@Dominey That’s great. Thanks for sharing