Is this strike for the same reasons as the French one Dave? Have they said how long it's for ?

Am so sorry Dave, I'm anxious as well as we fly out on 28th June to Malaga and just hope we are ok.

the real holidaymaker wrote:

well after weeks of getting info, new tee shirts and shorts and sorting out what restaurants and pubs we will be going to, it seems like there is to be a strike on the day we go to the Algarve. 27/06/13 what a day to pick and with only two weeks to go it looks like that could be it for us no holiday till October, I just wish now we had picked some were other than Portugal.
Not a very happy Dave.

Will it affect the airlines, hotels, taxis, restaurants etc though, I thought it was more of a public service strike ie local government, nationalised industries, schools, railways, post offices ? The private sector doesn't normally get involved in theses general strikes don't think they want to risk their jobs/income.

I guess the only issue is if air traffic control strike as presumably that is public sector, would imagine the airlines themselves are private company's.

Also if France is on general strike it could mess up the French airspace which might have a knock on effect to Spain and Portugal, if they fly over France to get there ( I am clueless on plane routes )

Doe

My friend returned yesterday from Benidorm and they were worried about the French strike. It ended 6ish yesterday morning. Their 12.10 flight took off just half an hour late.

I think we are going to see disruptions all over Europe this summer.
The French ATC's were on strike because the EU intends to make a single European sky. ATC's in other European countries are not happy about it either and are muttering strike or 'go slow' action.
Portugal is intending to hold a national strike against the austerity measures - the workers have had pay cuts, the retirement age upped and increases in taxes.

My friend was spitting fire on Wednesday, especially over the treatment received from Ryaniar staff. Between them, the French and Ryanair they ruined my friend (and husband) getting to her sister's wedding which took place the next day in the afternoon.
9.35pm on the plane and due to take off, a 2 hour delay.
Midnight still hadn't moved and offered a drink of water, then told to get off the plane for an hour.
2-30 am, crew walk passed them with their cases telling her she will be back on the plane in 15 minutes.
3-30am, told flight cancelled and to go to Ryanair's help desk in Malaga's other terminal - nobody there and desks don't open until 6-30 am.
No drinks, no food vouchers, no apology. They went back to their apartment, but other people had nowhere else to go.
She was gutted at missing her sister's wedding.!

Sanji x

I think that the T9 air corridor over the sea to the west of France which is not controlled by French ATC will see a lot of use this summer, hence possible (short) delays through weight of traffic.

That's terrible treatment Sanji of your friends Tell them to claim for the delay on their travel insurance. Surely Ryanair were in breach of regulations?

Sanji wrote:

I think we are going to see disruptions all over Europe this summer.
The French ATC's were on strike because the EU intends to make a single European sky. ATC's in other European countries are not happy about it either and are muttering strike or 'go slow' action.
Portugal is intending to hold a national strike against the austerity measures - the workers have had pay cuts, the retirement age upped and increases in taxes.

My friend was spitting fire on Wednesday, especially over the treatment received from Ryaniar staff. Between them, the French and Ryanair they ruined my friend (and husband) getting to her sister's wedding which took place the next day in the afternoon.
9.35pm on the plane and due to take off, a 2 hour delay.
Midnight still hadn't moved and offered a drink of water, then told to get off the plane for an hour.
2-30 am, crew walk passed them with their cases telling her she will be back on the plane in 15 minutes.
3-30am, told flight cancelled and to go to Ryanair's help desk in Malaga's other terminal - nobody there and desks don't open until 6-30 am.
No drinks, no food vouchers, no apology. They went back to their apartment, but other people had nowhere else to go.
She was gutted at missing her sister's wedding.!

Sanji x

That's a really sad story about your friend Sanji. Something's are precious like seeing your sister get married. My DD is due back from Malaga tonight on a late flight and I am already anxious even though I know the current French strike is now over.

Does travel insurance cover thinks like this Glynis ? Wondering if the French going on strike might be deemed an act of God or some such get out of jail free card, by the Insurance Company's.

Alsacienne wrote:

I think that the T9 air corridor over the sea to the west of France which is not controlled by French ATC will see a lot of use this summer, hence possible (short) delays through weight of traffic.

I think there's 2 Oceanic corridors T9 and T16 - a north/south kind of 'motorway' to avoid French airspace from the UK to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands.
Ok, I'm no aviation geek, but I think T9 and T16 are sort of air routes that go from positions about 200 miles south of Cork to positions off Spain's coast. They are oceanic routes meaning that there is very little, often no, radar coverage.
So with little radar coverage you need more space between the planes, but it is a more direct route, which I suppose saves time and fuel, but you'll get delays because of the time/space needed between aircraft.

I have flown back from Spain and avoided French airspace - I remember that we headed across to the Balearic Islands and had a great view of Palma/Mallorca, and then I seem to recall that we went up through Germany- obviously the flight was longer, but we definitely have flown from Spain (I think twice) and avoided the French ATC's.

Sanji

Full info on T9 and T16 here http://worldairops.com/NAT/docs/NAT_W_T9T16routes.pdf

Looking good for French ATC avoidance if the current unrest continues.

Alsacienne wrote:

Full info on T9 and T16 here http://worldairops.com/NAT/docs/NAT_W_T9T16routes.pdf

Looking good for French ATC avoidance if the current unrest continues.

Are they all fed up over there then Alsa, do you think I will be a summer of unrest ?

doe wrote:

Does travel insurance cover thinks like this Glynis ? Wondering if the French going on strike might be deemed an act of God or some such get out of jail free card, by the Insurance Company's.

We were covered with our insurance when we got caught in the 3 day Spanish taxi driver's strike many years ago Doe. Think the acts of god apply to weather conditions etc. However since our delay the rules have changes and now airlines too are responsible for compensation here's some info http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/holidays/article-2271213/How-claim-EU-flight-delay-compensation-EC-261-2004.html

What's bugging me more is that Ryanair are bound by law to provide refreshments and accommodation for long delays

Are they all fed up over there then Alsa, do you think I will be a summer of unrest ?

I would hope not, Doe, but we have had a terrible year weather-wise (just like the UK) so far, and most people are feeling a bit browned-off by all that grey sky, not to mention the wet stuff that descends incessantly!!

I think the French are disillusioned with their President (and his government), and knowing that they can't do anything for a few years does tend to make them sulky. We probably have major problems pending on the education front with proposed changes to school days and school hours (OK ) but I think that it could be a difficult summer if other ATCs such as Italian and Spanish controllers go slow and form a 'block' of closed airspace that would put pressure on increased numbers of aircraft (holiday charters etc) to have to avoid and thus create longer flight times.

I know that last week we had an ATC strike, plus the train drivers, EDF and the Post Office (separate issues, but generally to show disillusionment with the current Government.)

Once Paris goes on holiday on 14 July, things may well settle down for the summer as there'll be fewer people around to cause chaos! Let's hope so!!

Oh, and French law that governs strikes (because we do have the legal right to go on strike) requires that strikers post a 'préavis de grève', which means that they HAVE to give notice of the days and times of strikes at least a week ahead. Usually this means emergency measures are put into place such as a reduced but maintained train timetable or certain flights (usually long haul) get priority. Wildcat strikes are illegal, and I think that over the years, bitter experience has discouraged the French from this tactic.

It will never be a waste of time to check out your journey and travel arrangements several times ahead of the actual date of travel!

Thanks for that Alsa - interesting

Sanji wrote:

Portugal is intending to hold a national strike against the austerity measures - the workers have had pay cuts, the retirement age upped and increases in taxes.

sounds much like they have done to us in the uk but we never went on strike

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