There goes my Christmas then... [Archive] - Absolute Write Water Cooler

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Maxinquaye

12-15-2009, 09:09 AM

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/the-battle-for-british-airways-1840927.html

I was supposed to go back to the auld country on the 23rd. Now I'm looking at christmas pudding instead...

It just goes to show that people don't really care about their own, or other people's, jobs after all.

Fran

12-15-2009, 12:22 PM

I'd wait and see. I heard on the news this morning BA are considering legal action to stop the strike, and BA staff have a history of threatening to strike and then not actually going through with it.

I hope you get home.

Maxinquaye

12-15-2009, 12:34 PM

It's a mad strike. BA is bleeding buckets, and can't compete with Virgin and those cheap carriers, so to save the jobs costs have to be cut.

Oh well... I just hate flying Ryan Air. They drop you off 50-60km away from the city, and communications are pretty bad.

Zoombie

12-15-2009, 12:49 PM

Damn, I'm sorry Max!

Maxinquaye

12-15-2009, 12:53 PM

Yes, pity me. I'm facing the christmas pudding, after all.

Don

12-15-2009, 03:18 PM

British Airways lost £401m in the last financial year, and is set to lose even more in the current year. Its losses are thought to be around £1,000 per minute. BA announced earlier in the day that its pension fund deficit had increased by 75 per cent in the past three years to £3.7bn.

The board believes that unless they can substantially reduce staff costs – which are far higher than its rivals – BA does not have a sustainable future. One source close to the company said it could not back down and would "fight to the death".

Some members of cabin crew were alarmed by the "nuclear option" that the unions had adopted. The ballot merely asked: "Are you in favour of industrial action?" and many were surprised it had chosen such extreme tactics.
Isn't this a classic case of biting the hand that feeds you? Apparently the other lines pay far less for similar jobs; what's to be accomplished by striking?

JimmyB27

12-15-2009, 05:19 PM

Wow, jolly glad I booked my Ruinair flight for NYE early. I expect they'll be flooded if this goes ahead. Hell, even if it doesn't.

Kilawher

12-15-2009, 05:44 PM

I just about screamed when I saw this. I'm doing a semester abroad in France, and BA already mucked up my flight here (had us sitting on the plane for six hours at the airport, then taking us off and delaying the flight 24 hours, then coming back the next day and finding out that the delayed flight was delayed AGAIN for several hours... with a hundred dollar, non-retroactive travel credit as compensation. Gee thanks, that doesn't even cover the 50 euro cab ride I had to take because I missed my orientation bus...) and now this! Aaaaaargh. Never flying British Airways again.

Fran

12-15-2009, 07:02 PM

When I go to France I get the train to London then the Eurostar. Much less stressful. :) (But then I've never been delayed!)

Nadia

12-15-2009, 07:04 PM

Isn't this a classic case of biting the hand that feeds you? Apparently the other lines pay far less for similar jobs; what's to be accomplished by striking?

To show the union power?

BA's UNITE is one of the most powerful unions in England, probably in Europe, from what I read.

Nadia

12-15-2009, 07:05 PM

IdiotsRUs

12-15-2009, 07:56 PM

Yes, pity me. I'm facing the christmas pudding, after all.

I suggest drowning it in brandy.
what's to be accomplished by striking? The union wasn't exactly all above board...as said many who voted didn't realise the extent of the proposed action. They were told 'BA want to cut your wages by 30%, strike, yes or no?'

Still, that sucks Max.

backslashbaby

12-15-2009, 08:53 PM

I'm so sorry. At least there are hot Polish flight attendants on Ryanair ;)

And actually, I always had great luck with Ryanair. Best of luck!

Fran

12-15-2009, 09:32 PM

I'm so sorry. At least there are hot Polish flight attendants on Ryanair ;)

There are?

Hmmm... sod Eurostar. :D

jvc

12-15-2009, 10:20 PM

But at least none of the other airlines are cashing in on this strike and taking advantage of people desperate to see their families this christmas.

Nah, they wouldn't ... would they? (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235881/BAs-12-strikes-Christmas-Cabin-crew-action-hit-million-travellers-cost-500m--destroy-airline-says-boss.html?ITO=1708&referrer=yahoo)

emilycross

12-15-2009, 10:32 PM

backslashbaby

12-15-2009, 10:48 PM

There are?

Hmmm... sod Eurostar. :D

Hee hee :D May I recommend London to Tours via Ryanair (whose schedules tend to be better, too)? Hot Polish flight attendants, hot French Customs Agents (really nice guys :D), and so small that Customs is a breeze. Sod Eurostar, indeed! ;)

Fran

12-15-2009, 11:07 PM

You wanna bet? Michael O'Leary will take advantage whole heartedly i'd imagine lol.

Don't be silly, emily. Michael O'Leary is a kind, quiet, gentle soul who'd never dream of doing such a thing. ;)

emilycross

12-15-2009, 11:12 PM

Don't be silly, emily. Michael O'Leary is a kind, quiet, gentle soul who'd never dream of doing such a thing. ;)

Oh so true, but you've forgotten that he is also a shrinking violet - who shies away from the glare of public life and the spot light, only venturing forth when thinking of others as he walks through life with grace and dignity. Oh Michael, truly you're an example for all mankind!

:roll:

Maxinquaye

12-16-2009, 02:19 AM

I suggest drowning it in brandy.

I'll take the brandy, and skip the pudding.

I'm allergic to nuts and hate plums. :)

Maxinquaye

12-16-2009, 02:22 AM

I'm so sorry. At least there are hot Polish flight attendants on Ryanair ;)

And actually, I always had great luck with Ryanair. Best of luck!

This is news to me.

Dials Ryanair.

Male hairdressers and male flight attendents. What would the world do without them?

IdiotsRUs

12-16-2009, 02:27 AM

I'll take the brandy, and skip the pudding.

I'm allergic to nuts and hate plums. :)

In that case I prescribe lots and lots of brandy, overdosing on sherry trifle and seeing how many people within a mile radius you can offend by singing the rude version of all the christmas songs in one day.

What? It'll be fun!

Maxinquaye

12-20-2009, 09:58 PM

Bloody hell. I feel like I'm the MC of a novel, and there's an author throwing rocks at me.

My goal: To go to the old country on the 23rd

Obstacles:

First a BA strike, which got cancelled.

Second, snow - which screwed up ALL the airlines (and it will snow next week too)

And now... ta dah...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/dec/20/eurostar-suspended-cold-snap

Bloody EuroStar is going down.

Fran

12-20-2009, 10:17 PM

I just watched the thing about Eurostar on the BBC news. I watched it on the news last night as well, when they told everyone not to go to St Pancras today because there won't be any trains. Today they were interviewing people who were moaning a lot because they were at St Pancras and there weren't any trains. Gah.