There goes my Christmas then...

Maxinquaye · Dec 14, 2009

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 · Dec 15, 2009

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 · Dec 15, 2009

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 · Dec 15, 2009

Damn, I'm sorry Max!

Maxinquaye · Dec 15, 2009

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

Don · Dec 15, 2009

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 · Dec 15, 2009

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 · Dec 15, 2009

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 · Dec 15, 2009

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 · Dec 15, 2009

Don said:
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 · Dec 15, 2009

Maxinquaye said:
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.

That's awful. I'm so sorry to hear that.

Mr Flibble · Dec 15, 2009

Maxinquaye said:
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 · Dec 15, 2009

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 · Dec 15, 2009

backslashbaby said:
I'm so sorry. At least there are hot Polish flight attendants on Ryanair

There are?

Hmmm... sod Eurostar.

jvc · Dec 15, 2009

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/art...irline-says-boss.html?ITO=1708&referrer=yahoo

emilycross · Dec 15, 2009

jvc said:
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?

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

backslashbaby · Dec 15, 2009

Fran said:
There are?

Hmmm... sod Eurostar.

Hee hee

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

), and so small that Customs is a breeze. Sod Eurostar, indeed!

Fran · Dec 15, 2009

emilycross said:
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 · Dec 15, 2009

Fran said:
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 · Dec 15, 2009

IdiotsRUs said:
I suggest drowning it in brandy.

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

I'm allergic to nuts and hate plums.

Maxinquaye · Dec 15, 2009

backslashbaby said:
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?

Mr Flibble · Dec 15, 2009

Maxinquaye said:
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 · Dec 20, 2009

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 · Dec 20, 2009

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.

There goes my Christmas then...

That cheeky buggerer

Slate grey mole person

That cheeky buggerer

Dragon of the Multiverse

That cheeky buggerer

All Living is Local

Hoopy frood

Chronic Semicolon Overuser

Slate grey mole person

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

~~~~*~~~~

Slate grey mole person

Fearsome Dragon Mod

is away with the fairies

~~~~*~~~~

Slate grey mole person

is away with the fairies

That cheeky buggerer

That cheeky buggerer

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

That cheeky buggerer

Slate grey mole person

*

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