[Hippocampus]

Rebekah, I am surprised AC is not allowing protective alternative routings. It may that if you try again (and again) you might get the answer you are looking for. LHR is not going to return to normal before Christmas so if the trip is really essential, I would try and avoid LHR entirely if possible.

[Rebekah1989]

That was what I called AC to confirm. I was hoping that I could just plan today to take a flight via Helsinki or any other airport that works. Rome, Zurich, Barcelona etc. I was told that as the flight isn’t canceled they can’t do anything. My option is to buy a ticket ($3,000 one way) and be reimbursed for the AC ticket IF my flight is canceled.

FURTHERMORE, all flights to Switzerland via other routes or direct are full, I was told the first flight to Zurich I can get with AC is on the 30th! When I asked if they could put me on another carrier I was told that because of the different reservation systems it would take 48 hours to process a change of ticket onto another airline that they will only do AFTER my flight has been canceled.

I called Swiss Air, who I fly from LHR with, they were much more helpful. I’ll try calling AC again, and from the airport tomorrow kick up a fuss and try get on another flight.

[DisgustedofSwieqi]

Hi Rebekah

I agree with with Hippocampus Heathrow will not fully recover before Xmas – you might need to prompt them ‘creatively’, e.g. Montreal via Newark to Lisbon and then on to Switzerland.

Whatever you do, my best wishes and hopes you get to see your family.

[Rebekah1989]

I know this is a thread for terminal 5, but does anyone know what the situation at terminal 3 is? the terminal 3 page on LHR’s site doesn’t say anything.

If my flight is canceled, I will insist they get creative 🙂

[DisgustedofSwieqi]

Hi Rebekah

I don’t know, I’m sitting 2,000km away watching the TV and internet, but I think the point is that the whole airport is running at about 1/3 capacity, thus making it a lottery.

Sorry I can’t be more positive.

[Hippocampus]

Rebekah – Terminal 3 was closed to departing passengers earlier this afternoon because of congestion. The terminal is not a pleasant experience at the best of times. Hence, the best advice is to avoid LHR entirely.

As the subject of this thread is T5, and although this is little comfort to those disrupted, I suspect things would have been a lot worse had BA been based in T1 and, in particular, T4.

[CallMeIshmael]

The cynical use of VCC (Volunteer Cabin Crew – other BA staff, trained to basic level in CC duties, to aid in breaking legitimate industrial action) has undoubtably exaserpated the situation.

De-icing specialists are working as VCC as opposed to being on stand-by and working in this weather, they have been caught down line unable to return. VK is mistaken wrt VCC routes – BA, in order to incentivise VCC and punish experienced crew, place VCC on the more lucrative routes – many of which are LHR based.

BA leadership reneged on a November agreement with BASSA to utilise the professional, experienced crew, who had made themselves available first, when a disruption is invoked , and use VCC as last resort.

With experienced crew available, BA leaders chose to roster VCC thus breaking the disruption agreement.

This latest batch of bad weather has again necessitated invoking a “disruption”. Unfortunately as BA’s leadership took advantage of the November disruption to push their VCC agenda this time the “disruption” does not have the support of BASSA. The BA leadership cannot be trusted to put passengers first in times of disruption .

Guess BA’s leadership took a leaf out of Southern Rail’s book of managment when they put both their de-icing trains in for annual maintenance …. in Winter! It would be laughable if it wasn’t so tragic for passengers.

[VintageKrug]

VintageKrug – 07/01/2010 01:19 GMT

More evidence of BASSA militancy, this sourced from another website but communicated via email to BASSA (BA Stewards and Stewardesses Association) employees:

————- Originally Posted by BASSA:

During this period of disruption due to the heavy snow and related transport chaos, it is paramount that all crew adhere to our respective agreements that we normally work to, i.e. World Wide Agreement, Euro fleet Agreement and the MOA at Gatwick.

If you are in any doubt whether you are being asked to work outside of your agreement please call BASSA. We have 24 hour coverage.

Thank you. ————–

[Hippocampus]

Excuse me, but what is a “de-icing expert”?

Does BA actually have “de-icing experts”?

The latest Galley FM/crewmour that “de-icing experts” are stuck downroute due to VCC recency flights is a feeble, intellectually bankrupt falsehood circulated here and elsewhere by BASSA supporters in an utterly hopeless attempt to give credence to their cause.

As anyone who has witnessed events at LHR today, the current issue at LHR is the lack of runway capacity which is affecting all airlines at LHR. BA is not suffering anymore than other airlines because its “de-icing experts” are downroute. Indeed, the media has featured complaints that BA flights are taking off whilst other airlines have remained grounded.

[CallMeIshmael]

So Hippo with your logic anyone can hop onto a de-icer and operate it. I hope you do not employ anyone as it is an obligation of all employers to fully train and certify staff annually in the use of specialised equipment – but I guess that is intellectually bankrupt thing to do – pretty much the same as recency… doh.

[Hippocampus]

I am well aware that staff need to be trained to use equipment but it is my understanding that BA does not have a dedicated group of staff for the sole purpose of de-icing, which is what has been implied here and elsewhere.

Given the investment BA made in VCC it seems a perfectly sensible long-term business decision to ensure they have recency and can be used to support the operation when required.

The claim that BA is being hampered by de-icing experts stuck downroute is a lie and you know it is.

The repeatedly hopeless attempts to seize on anything to give credence to BASSA’s cause and create a post-event rationalisation to the mess BASSA have dug their members into and string out an ever changing narrative for what BASSA is fighting for are shot through with holes.

[MartynSinclair]

CallMeIshmael verses VintageKrug, this is about T5 not BASSA – whilst I am sure both of you have your thoughts on the relationship between BASSA and the T5 chaos, start yer own story line please.

[CallMeIshmael]

Clearly BA does not keep a group solely for De-icing. Adequate numbers are cross-trained, and paid, for this function however the numbers were not adjusted to take into account them being assigned away from base VCC rosters, hence the shortfall.

The greater problem will be BA’s ability to recover quickly when the situation eases.

As noted earlier, as the BA leadership broke the disruption agreement by pushing its VCC agenda in precedence to caring for and serving passengers during the November disruption, they cannot be trusted. The good-will account is now empty.

[JohnPhelanAustralia]

CallMeIshmael – this thread is NOT about industrial issues. It is DISGRACEFUL that you and Alasdair are trying to latch onto people’s misery as some sort of industrial campaigning tactic. GO AWAY!!

[Rebekah1989]

A friend has told me that a couple of BA flights have taken off, her friend managed to get to India, and her travel agent said there should be no problem for her arriving there 22nd morning.

Still no news for me about Air Canada, I’ve been told my flight is scheduled to go as promised, the AC website isn’t as positive.

Are things clearing up? Is it snowing there again?

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