I am traveling from the US connecting in Heathrow to arrive in Shannon on British Airlines operated by American Airlines and Aer Lingus on July 8th returning July 17th.
How likely is it that there will be a strike in the next few weeks, I saw the Union had voted in favor of the strike. Should I try to reschedule my flight to avoid Heathrow?
I would wait until they notify your flight is cancelled
It sounds like you bought the flights from BA, but that AA is actually operating them, i.e. you're on an AA plane. (Except for the Aer Lingus part.) Is that correct?
I have a ticket from Seattle to Dublin via Heathrow (7/20) and LHR back to SEA (8/24). I bought it from AA, but BA is operating the flight, i.e, it's on BA metal. Aer Lingus is the connecting flight from LHR to DUB.
It looks like our reservations are opposite sides of the same coin. I'm thinking my flights may be in greater jeopardy than yours since mine are on actual BA planes. But who knows how these partner airline things work in this kind of a situation?
Is BA the boss of Heathrow? I wonder how a BA strike would affect AA or Aer Lingus planes and crews?
Yes, I purchased my ticket from BA but the actual plane is AA. I checked to see what terminals I will be connecting and it's terminal 3 and them terminal 2 at Heathrow. I read terminal 5 is the main terminal for BA.
I wonder too what happens when partner airlines strike? Who operates the gates, and does the union force them to cancel partner flights?
The strike, as of now, is by check-in agents with British Airways. If your AA flight is at Terminal 3 then you have no problem. (AA has their own staff at Terminal 3). Aer Lingus operates out of Terminal 2. Again no problem.
If your arriving fight is on BA, you shouldn't have a problem outside of normal delays due to a lack of staff.
Flights should operate as normal. Just expect major delays with departures on the day of the strike. It hasn't been called yet so no one knows when that will be. It's also possible that other BA staff may walk out in sympathy.
BA is not the "boss" at Heathrow but it does operate the most flights. Unions can't force airlines to cancel flights. If the BA check in staff at Heathrow goes on strike they can't force another airline or workers from another airline to do anything.
Just be patient.
British Airways does not run the airports, Heathrow is owned and run by British Airports Authority (BAA), a separate organisation. So the airport functions will be as they have been for the last few months, erratic but running.
Thank you so much, very helpful information
