ATG: Award Travel Guide

13,500 members of British Airways cabin crew union Unite has voted overwhelmingly to go on strike for 12 days over the holidays.  The resulting cancellations coudl affect more than 1,000,000 passengers over the Christmas/ holidays travel season reports Britiss daily Telegraph on their web site.

British Airlines is promising full refunds if flights are cancelled, but not until the actual cancellation takes place, which makes it very difficult for anyone with non-refundable fares to make alternate travel plans even if they can find seats on other flights.  Those with fully refundable fares can and obviously should start making new plans.

In the past airlines have occasionally given miles as gesture of goodwill to passengers affected by strikes.  Furthermore this compensation has sometimes been higher for business and first class passengers or elite members of the frequent flyer program.  This means that those brazen enough can try to profit from the expected strike by buying fully refundable premium class tickets with intention of never flying.  If strikes goes on as planned, then wait and hope for extra compensation (miles) beyond full refund, if strike is averted it’s possible to cancel the tickets regardless.  If you don’t moral problems with strategy like this, then it’s best to really read the fine print on your fare rules.

Good luck for the innocent frequent and in-frequent flyers caught in the potential mess.