British Airways strike update

Cabin crew union begins a new strike authorization vote this week. Earliest possible strike date is March 1.

Ryanair pisses off public

From the Irish Times:

RYANAIR says it will press ahead with plans to charge passengers to use its aircraft’s toilets. Despite admitting its announcement last year that it might install coin-operated facilities was a publicity stunt, chief executive Michael O’Leary is now revisiting the issue, according to the airline.

Ryanair would also like to remove the two toilets at the back of each aircraft, leaving only one on board and creating room for six extra seats.

Read it...and consider staying far away from this airline!

Plastic only

American Airlines has joined other carriers in banning cash from its planes. No, that doesn't mean you have to surrender the bills in your wallet when you board. It simply means you can't buy those tasty in-flight drinks, snacks or other items using cash. Credit and debit cards are gladly accepted.

British Airways strike replay?

The union representing British Airways cabin crew plans to hold a new vote to authorize a strike against the airline. A previous strike attempt was stopped by a court injunction in mid-December. The court action helped the airline avoid major disruptions during the busy holiday travel period.

Results of the new vote would not be known until early February and any strike would follow the announcement.

Media reports indicate that British Airways and its cabin crew union continue negotiations to head off a possible strike, although the status of the talks has not been made public.

The planned December strike's length was unprecedented and the action appeared to have a high level of support among union members. Over 12,500 workers were expected to participate in the walkout. The planned strike followed announced job reductions and changes in staffing levels in response to continued operating losses at British Airways.

British Airways' last strike was in 1997. The airline and its unions reached last minute agreements to avoid a potential strike in 2007.

European airlines strke woes

Strikes and threats of same are having an impact on European airlines as the holiday travel season approaches. See our article on the Examiner.com travel site.

You and 800 fellow passengers

Imagine boarding a plane with 839 fellow passengers. That's right 800-plus people going through check-in, baggage checks, security...and then coming into the same airport at the same time and doing the 0ff-boarding process. Sounds like a nightmare to this frequent flier, but it will be reality for some poor souls, er lucky fliers on Air Austral airlines in the near future.

The airline has ordered two "high density" Airbus 380 super-jumbo jets for its Paris-to-La Reunion routes. For those unfamiliar with the destination La Reunion is a smallish island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar.

A leg up?

Frontier Airlines recently announced its version of premium economy (there's an oxymoron if ever there was one.) Frontier joins a select few domestic U.S. carriers–United and JetBlue for example–and a host of overseas carriers in providing a bit more legroom for a bit more money.

But as several observers have noted, Frontier is adding legroom for some seats at the expense of others! Airlines certainly have a unique business model–can you imagine say, Starbucks, introducing a premium coffee and then putting vinegar in their regular brew?