Travel question: Will British Airways go on strike and should we cancel our Greece trip?

Have a question? Ask our expert

Like any flight, there is always a risk of cancellation (PA)

Q We have booked a summer holiday to Greece based on British Airways flights from and to Gatwick. I understand ballots for strikes are taking place and am getting increasingly concerned we will not get where we need to be. Should we cancel and rebook on another airline?

Sarah C

A For the first time, trades unions representing pilots, cabin crew, ground staff and engineers at British Airways are negotiating with the airline collectively. They say they want a fair share of the profits made by BA of around £5m per day in the past financial year.

The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) has announced a strike ballot, while Unite and the GMB union are consulting their members over possible industrial action. Separately, cabin crew at British Airways’ Gatwick base are in dispute over changes to rosters. Were a strike to take place, August looks a likely month. In 2017, when BA’s “mixed fleet” cabin crew were in dispute over pay, members of the Unite union stopped work through July and August. The rules on notification mean that a strike could not begin until August.

Your booking, like any flight, cannot be completely guaranteed. But as British Airways points out: “A ballot means just that. It does not mean there will be disruption at this point.”

In addition, there is a long tradition of unions in aviation securing large majorities for industrial action and using those as a weapon in negotiation.

Having said that, over the past decade BA has sustained a fair amount of strikes specifically by cabin crew. The airline will already be looking at contingencies, which will include chartering in capacity from its part-owner, Qatar Airways. A “sub-fleet” of short-haul aircraft operated many British Airways flights during the 2017 strikes.

A spokesperson for the airline said: “We are extremely disappointed that Balpa has raised the prospect of a ballot for industrial action and disruption for hard-working families planning their summer breaks.

“We believe our pay and benefits for pilots are among the best in the industry. We remain open and flexible to discuss our pay proposal with our colleagues and unions.”

In the unlikely event that your flight is cancelled, British Airways would be responsible for finding you suitable alternative travel, which could include buying flights for you on easyJet. Furthermore normal cancellation conditions will continue to apply unless your flight is jeopardised by possible industrial action. So if you book alternative flights there is little prospect of getting the cash for your original itinerary back. That could be very expensive insurance.

Every day our travel correspondent Simon Calder tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder