Am I nuts to consider booking holiday flights with BA?

[clam]

For August? Had moreorless written off the idea of this particular trip on account of the extortionate costs, but BA have dramatically reduced their current prices (by £800 for the 4 of us) whereas they were on a par with Virgin. This, I presume, is because people are scared of booking in case of strikes.
What should I do?

I have booked longhaul flights for the whole family for December with BA. I am hoping that there won't be any strikes and are still flying,considering the state that the airlines are in!!

I suppose the only thing you can do would be to have good travel insurance and hope the BA staff and management come to some amicable agreement ...

I am flying to Canada with BA in July, I booked it back in Nov. I think it is just a matter of fingers crossed. They do normally sort things out in a matter of days when stuff goes wrong.

I wouldn't.
We got caught up in all the nonsense last christmas and because we had to get back to the UK to collect 2 minor DC we had no choice but to pay for flights with another airline as we couldn't risk not being back.

We are going to Florida later this year and although in previous years we have flown BA we have booked with Virgin. It is a major military operation sorting out our holidays/flights etc as we have 4 children in different places. Two in the Middle East and two in the UK but at different boarding schools so can't risk flights being cancelled/delayed.

I suppose if you are happy with the cheaper flight and the risk thats fine but I just don't need anymore stress in my life. Fingers crossed for you

I presume you are referring to possible strike action.... I recently flew out of Gatwick on the last strike weekend with absolutely no problems whatsoever (apart from the apalling seat pitch and rubbish food!!). The on board staff were all fantastic though!

I gather that BA Ex Gatwick staff are not affected by the current problems (maybe there is an employee of BA on here who can advise??)

Isn't there more strike action planned? Here

We flew during the recent strike with them and our flight was unaffected except that they had more crew than usual because they called for volunteers and more volunteers turned up than they would normally have crew.

Yes Mollie, they have been threatening more strike action, no doubt over the summer and maybe they the october school hols which is why I won't book with them again. I need to know I'm going where I need to go when I need to go. (volcanic ash permitting!)

[[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/may/05/airlines-ba-strike-union-threat from www.guardian.co.uk published 5 May 2010] "Unite is preparing to announce the poll result on Friday but might delay the announcement of strike dates until next week. The union must give BA seven days' notice of a walkout and if it announces dates next Monday, the soonest it can schedule industrial action is the week beginning May 17" - quote

So close after UK polling and so close after the first ash cloud disruptions. Ummm

To be honest I think in light of the government having to help the repatriation during the recent ash cloud, and the effect and financial burden to the UK, companies and individuals, caused whole disruption and uncertainty to travel for passengers at this time, Unite will get very, very little support and sympathy from the general public, if it goes ahead. Get your masks ready again!

Now would I support and book with an airline that got more of its passengers home, and followed EU regs about passenger care, during the ash cloud no fly days (15 to 21 April) than many others? YES I would support British Airways and book with them.

link didn't work - opps www.guardian.co.uk-ba-strike-union-threat

yes, you are

After my ash cloud debarcle and travelling with Qantas/BA, I would fly with them. They did so much for us. Put us up in accommodation etc Not one BA passenger I spoke to was abandoned.

Separating unite the unions? fiction from fact.

Don't believe the press hype [via blog flyingwithfish published 03.22.2010]

Summary of actual numbers

boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2010/03/21/the-british-airways-strike-separating-unite-the-uni ons?-fiction-from-fact

Lou exactly. I would fly BA too. No more shall I say on the matter.

Well, well,

well