Angry passengers wait for fate on flights

LONDON - One million people were eagerly awaiting the wise words of Justice Cox when she ruled overnight on the legality of the Christmas strike ballot by British Airways cabin crew.

Until that case is concluded - or a settlement is negotiated between BA and the union, Unite - the airline will not disclose its plans for the strike.

There are three possible outcomes: no flights from Heathrow or Gatwick, some flights, or all flights.

But until the result is known, those million prospective passengers are enduring a degree of uncertainty akin to waiting on an aircraft without a take-off slot.

They cannot leave and find another flight without potentially forfeiting their fare. And, with only five days remaining before the first departures due from Heathrow to Istanbul and Gatwick to Amsterdam on December 22, they have no idea where they will spend Christmas or New Year.

Yesterday the news got worse: baggage handlers and check-in staff at Heathrow and Aberdeen airports announced strikes in tandem with work stoppages by the British Airways cabin crews.

From news websites to radio phone-ins to online forums, the fury from these passengers is plain.

"I just want to thank British Airways cabin crew for ruining my holiday, and thousands and thousands of other holidays," Toni from Harrow told listeners to the London news station, LBC 97.3.

She was in tears as she said that her long-planned trip for a family reunion in New York on Christmas Eve appeared to be wrecked. "I booked my flight six months ago and thought 'I'll fly the flag'. I tell you: the worst thing I ever did was book with British Airways."

The frequent-flyer online forum FlyerTalk had recorded nearly 50,000 views on the BA Christmas strike threat. Many contributors expressed exasperation at what they regard as the airline's slackness in publishing a schedule or transferring passengers to other airlines.

One contributor wrote: "If worst comes to worst, we can start a big FlyerTalk video chat on Christmas Day when we are stuck in places other than our final destination."

Meanwhile, Scottish airline Flyglobespan says it will file for bankruptcy. Its flights have been grounded.

- INDEPENDENT, AP