[Alex McWhirter]

Today France’s Le Monde reports that ten Air France unions have called for another strike on March 23.

Le Monde says, “Two weeks after the February 22 strike, the demands of the Air France unions have not changed. After six years of wage freezes and 10,000 job cuts the 10 unions are calling for an overall increase of six per cent.”

Air France management says it cannot afford to meet union demands.

So if you plan to travel on or around the above date it’s best to be aware.

Report in French.

http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2018/03/06/l-intersyndicale-d-air-france-appelle-a-une-nouvelle-journee-de-greve-le-23-mars_5266267_3234.html

[capetonianm]

Wiser to simply avoid France and its airlines and leave them to rot in their socialist run hell.

[Tom Otley]

Definitely going ahead – a lot of cancellations.

France strike to cause travel disruption

“A national strike by French workers on Thursday (March 22) is set to disrupt flights and public transport around the country.

Unions representing air traffic controllers in France are among those scheduled to take industrial action in protest over proposed labour law changes by French president Emmanuel Macron. Rail unions are also set to join the national strike on the same day with SNCF warning about “disturbances” to services on Thursday.

ATC workers are due to walk out from 18.00 UK time on Wednesday (March 21) until 05.00 on Friday (March 23).

French civil aviation authorities have already issued instructions for airlines to reduce flights to and from French airports during this strike period. This includes a 30 per cent reduction in flights at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes and Toulouse….”

More details from Air France here

https://www.airfrance.co.uk/GB/en/common/page_flottante/hp/news-air-traffic-air-france.htm

Can I postpone my trip?

If you have a valid Air France or HOP! ticket, issued on or before 20 March, for a travel within metropolitan France, Europe, or North Africa, on 22 March 2018, you can:
– anticipate your trip on 21 March 2018 or
– postpone your trip from 25 to 28 March 2018 inclusive

Save time by changing your booking directly online, in the “Your reservations” section of the website or in the mobile app. You can change your booking at no extra cost for the same travel cabin.
You can also contact your travel agent.

You may also choose to postpone your flight to after 28 March 2018, change your country of destination or origin or cancel your trip. In this case, we will provide you with a voucher valid for 1 year on AIR FRANCE, KLM or HOP! flights. This voucher is non-refundable.

[Tom Otley]

And here is the
ASSISTANCE AND COMPENSATION
page

Required by Regulation 261/2004 of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

The rights referred to in this document apply in the following circumstances:
Your operating carrier is:
– Air France or KLM, or,
– CityJet or HOP! Air France (provided on behalf of Air France), or,
– Delta Air Lines or Kenya Airways (when departing from an airport in the EU).
You have a confirmed reservation on the flight.
You are fully checked in at the time of the indicated check-in deadline or, if no time is indicated, no later than 45 minutes before the departure time.
You are traveling on a fare available to the public, or on a ticket issued under a frequent traveler program.
You are traveling on a flight departing from an airport within the European Union (EU).
Please note: if you are traveling on a flight departing from an airport in a third country (outside the EU), the rights described in this document apply only if you are traveling with a carrier from the EU and arriving at an airport located within the EU, and if no local regulation applies to departures from that third country.

[Alex McWhirter]

Following the strike on March 23 the Air France unions plan to hold another strike on March 30.

From leparisien.fr [FR]

http://www.leparisien.fr/economie/air-france-une-nouvelle-journee-de-greve-le-30-mars-15-03-2018-7609995.php

[capetonianm]

There’s a grey area here, and one that AF will doubtless use to try to avoid paying compensation under EU261.

If their own staff go on strike and flights are disrupted, it’s not deemed an extraordinary circumstance (strikes in France are as predictable as night following day), but if the ATC or other external industrial actions cause cancellations, AF can justifiably claim that it was beyond their control.

No doubt mummy’s boy will give in to the unions just like all the other French presidents who were going to be tough and stand up to the unions. C’est la France.

[Alex McWhirter]

The next Air France strike on March 30 is still set to go ahead.

Management and unions are to meet on March 27 to see if it can be cancelled.

Via lesechos.fr [FR]

https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/tourisme-transport/0301470445994-air-france-negociations-dans-limpasse-et-nouvelles-greves-en-vue-2163348.php#xtor=CS1-33

[christopheL]

capetonianm 21 Mar 2018 at 20:31 “There’s a grey area here, and one that AF will doubtless use to try to avoid paying compensation under EU261.”

AF may try, BA do !

BA and EU261

Allegations are allegations, facts are facts

[capetonianm]

AF may try, BA do !

All airlines try. Some yield against pressure, some will hold out for longer than others. My experience in claiming with BA has been better than with some other airlines. I’ve submitted around 60 claims in the last couple of years, all but 2 on behalf of other people, let’s just say I treat it as a hobby and I don’t make anything out of it other than the satisfaction of winning. Therefore I do have considerable factual knowledge of the matter, whatever christopheL may think.

[Author]

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