Weddings and honeymoons in doubt over British Airways pilots strike

Weddings, honeymoons and holidays of a lifetime have been thrown into doubt by the announcement British Airways pilots will strike for three days in September.

Swathes of passengers on flights which will be grounded on September 9, 10 and 27 have been trying in vain to contact the airline to make alternative arrangements.

One told the PA news agency his 10-year wedding anniversary “trip of a lifetime” was in doubt after more than 100 calls to BA to get a refund went unanswered.

The airline’s customer service lines were jammed on Saturday morning after passengers booked on flights received emails overnight warning “a large number of delays and cancellations” were likely during the action.

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) announced the strikes on Friday night after 93% of its members rejected an 11.5% pay rise across three years.

Scott Kishere, a filmmaker and police community officer, told PA: “My wife and I have been told that our flight to Toronto has been cancelled.

“This was a full package we booked through BA for our 10-year wedding anniversary. I have made over 100 attempts to contact them for a refund and they’re not answering.

“Until we get a refund we do not have the money to rebook our trip of a lifetime.

“With the days counting down it now looks unlikely we will be able to celebrate our 10-year anniversary as expected.”

Mr Kishere, from Dorset, is one of hundreds of passengers who have tried desperately to contact BA on social media and its phone lines.

He said he also plans to travel to Chicago, for the city’s marathon, with his partner one week after the final day of strikes, but fears that could also be impacted.

“We have worked so hard for these trips and BA do not have the decency or customer care to support us.

“For them this has been on the cards for a long time and I cannot believe they didn’t have a contingency in place.”

Others have also tweeted at BA telling them their wedding plans have been threatened by the action.

Criticism has been levelled at both the airline itself and the pilots who voted for strike action following a long-running dispute.

Chris Deverell, 36, from Bedford, said his “trip of a lifetime” to watch the Rugby World Cup in Japan with his father was in jeopardy.

“At the moment I have not heard anything from BA as to whether it’s going to be cancelled or not,” said Mr Deverell, whose trip has been roughly four years in the making.

“They have just basically been saying ‘keep checking the website’ and they will email and let us know if it’s going to be cancelled.”

He said they have been able to use airmiles to book an alternative flight three days after their planned outbound flight, which was on September 27, but said the threat to the trip was “totally gutting, I’m furious”.

“I’m not going to be able to repeat that experience again,” he said, adding arrangements when he arrived in Japan have also been impacted.

“It’s not like a holiday I can do next year, there’s never going to be another Rugby World Cup in Japan in my lifetime.

“The pilots should not be asking for anything more than anybody else.”

BA has said its proposed pay deal has been accepted by members of the Unite and GMB unions, which represent engineers, cabin crew and ground staff.

Balpa said more strike dates could yet be announced, adding they are “a last resort and with enormous frustration at the way the business is now being run”.

Peter Dempsey, 41, said his family could be forced to pay hundreds of pounds for alternative flights to return from a family wedding in Seville, southern Spain.

“It’s the return that has completely screwed us up as we are flying back with our in-laws and we cannot move the dates,” said Mr Dempsey, who flies out on September 5 for his wife’s cousin’s wedding.

“We have no option but to completely cancel both legs and rebook or they won’t give a refund.”

The replacement flights could cost between £200 and £330 each, compared to the £550 they paid for all four, he said.

“It’s not a massive amount but not everyone has that kind of money. God knows what it is costing others who have flights to America.”

Mr Dempsey described the service since the announcement as “shocking”, adding BA “clearly don’t have enough people to handle such a crisis”.

The airline said it will offer refunds and rebookings, adding: “We will do everything we can to get as many people away on their journeys as possible.”

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