WSOP - Potential Virgin Atlantic Pilots Strike!

[duncthehat]

Typical my first visit to the wsop  though in vegas prior to the ballot finishing:

FROM FT.com

Virgin Atlantic faces pilot strike threat

Pilots at Virgin Atlantic Airways are set to ballot for industrial action in a dispute over pay which could see the airline controlled by Sir Richard Branson facing the first strike in its 27-year history.

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), which represents 85 per cent of Virgin’s 750 flight crew, said it would begin balloting its members next week after talks with Acas, the government conciliation service, failed to broker an agreement. Results of the balloting are due on June 21.


If there is enough support for industrial action, the union will need to give the company seven days notice, which means the first strike dates could come in early July in the run-up to the busy holiday period.

The dispute centres on pay and follows a freeze agreed to by pilots since 2008 to help the airline through the economic downturn. Balpa said Virgin Atlantic had offered pilots a 4 per cent increase this year, followed by a 3 per cent rise in 2012 and 2013.

[redsimon]

Unless I win a satty I'll be back before any strike....Just hope it doesn't linger on until September tho

[Rupert]

Yeah really hope they aren't still on strike in November

[boldie]

Always makes me wish for Mrs Thatcher when I read that unions think 4% and 3% isn't enough.

[gobby]

nooooooooooooooooo

I've had my direct flights booked for July for well over 3 months now.

Didn't need this kind of trouble.

[MLHMLH]

Typical my first visit to the wsop  though in vegas prior to the ballot finishing:

FROM FT.com

Virgin Atlantic faces pilot strike threat

Pilots at Virgin Atlantic Airways are set to ballot for industrial action in a dispute over pay which could see the airline controlled by Sir Richard Branson facing the first strike in its 27-year history.

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), which represents 85 per cent of Virgin’s 750 flight crew, said it would begin balloting its members next week after talks with Acas, the government conciliation service, failed to broker an agreement. Results of the balloting are due on June 21.


If there is enough support for industrial action, the union will need to give the company seven days notice, which means the first strike dates could come in early July in the run-up to the busy holiday period.

The dispute centres on pay and follows a freeze agreed to by pilots since 2008 to help the airline through the economic downturn. Balpa said Virgin Atlantic had offered pilots a 4 per cent increase this year, followed by a 3 per cent rise in 2012 and 2013.

Absolutely no way Branson will let this happen! 

[easypickings]

Am I right in thinking that flights with Ba from Heathrow are both much more avaliable and much cheaper at the moment?

[Simon Galloway]

Am I right in thinking that flights with Ba from Heathrow are both much more available and much cheaper at the moment?

Virgin are available daily, economy is £7-800 for WSOP.  BA looks about the same to me (no co-incidence there that their prices are in line..) but if you can find BA a lot cheaper than that, pls lmk.

I'd pick one carrier and keep with them to build up reward miles, and only switch if the price ever gets far enough out of line to be worthwhile.

WSOP dates are set so far in advance though, that the real answer is to be organised and pick up a sale fare after Christmas for £4-500 or P.E. for the same £800 that economy costs now?

[easypickings]

Ah yes cheers, my mistake was that I was was loking at £360 flights, but you pay for each leg individually. So, they're as disappointingly expensive for someone who's left it quite late, whoops

[MPOWER]

This may have something to do with Air Travel.

Strike or no Strike

Regards

M

[Rotty]

They've also managed to blow away some of the seat database so my nice seat selections have gone

[duncthehat]

This may have something to do with Air Travel.

Strike or no Strike

Regards

M

Yeah great.  2nd attempt to play in wsop.   Failed 2 years through no fault of my own.  I fucking hate Iceland!!

[Simon Galloway]

Virgin:

Updated 23 May 2011 11:00H (UK local)

The eruption of Volcano Grimsvotn is not affecting UK airspace and currently all our flights are operating as scheduled. We continue to monitor the direction of the ash cloud it has created and liaise with UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS).

There is no need to call our contact centres for more information. Passengers can check Flight Status for the latest information on arrivals and departures. In addition please update your mobile phone details in My Booking in order for us to send text messages in the event of any significant disruption.