If you are due to travel next Wednesday, 30 November, the day of the mass public sector strike, pack extra patience because airport operating officers are expecting significant disruption.
Up to 18,000 immigration officials are expected to walk out on Wednesday and civil servants will step into the breach to cover their work. However, slow-moving queues may mean that travellers will be asked to stay on the aircraft, which would quickly cause gridlock.
Normand Boivin, Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow, said “Modelling of the impacts of strike action on passenger flows at Heathrow show that there are likely to be very long delays of up to 12 hours to arriving passengers.” Carriers flying long haul to Heathrow have been asked to reduce their “load factors” by half.
His counterpart at Gatwick Airport, Scott Stanley said: “We have had face to face meetings with our major airline carriers to discuss contingency plans for the day and have called on them to offer their arriving passengers the opportunity, where possible, to rebook their flights either in the days immediately before or after November 30.”
“We would warn passengers to be prepared for the potential for significant disruption at the border zones on 30 November,” he continued.
Other airports around the UK such as London Stansted and Manchester are not expecting as much disruption as Heathrow and Gatwick.
I’m flying on Wednesday, what should I do?
The biggest disruption will be to flights arriving to the UK. Passengers departing the UK should not expect much disruption, but it is a good idea to keep in touch with your airline or tour operator and follow their advice.
I’m returning to the UK next Wednesday. What should I do?
If you can’t absorb a delay into your plans and depending on the airline you are flying with you may be able to change your date. British Airways and Virgin are allowing passengers to change their flights without penalty. Emirates is also allowing passengers to rebook their flights up to two days earlier or two days later (between 28 November and 2 December) at no extra cost.
easyJet, the largest airline at Gatwick, is not offering customers free rebooking. A spokeswoman told the Guardian: “We plan on running a full schedule of flights.” “Passengers will travel as usual and we will work with Border Agency and the airport on contingency plans,” she said.
At the airport
If you are arriving back in the UK next Wednesday, keep all your travel documents, including passports, close to hand. Use the automatic e-Passport gates where they are available. Have your landing cards completed and ready to present to an officer and, if travelling in a family or group, stay close together.
I have travel insurance so I’ll be covered for delays, won’t I?
Maybe. Check the fine print carefully to see if they cover delays and cancellations.
I’ll find a policy today, that’ll cover me, won’t it?
Sadly not as the strike has already been announced.
(Image: celesteh)
