Heathrow Airport strikes: 172 flights to and from the UK have been cancelled next week
HEATHROW will be plunged into chaos next week as 172 flights have been cancelled over strikes affecting thousands of passengers
Brits travelling through the airport on Monday August 5 and Tuesday August 6 have been advised to check with their airlines regarding whether their flights are cancelled.
There are 91 airlines that operate out of Heathrow.
Due to the planned strikes, the airport has worked with airlines including BA to "proactively cancel" 172 flights out of the hub.
British Airways, which is based at Heathrow, is expected to be one of the most heavily affected.
A two-day strike involving security guards, firefighters, engineers, passenger service operatives and passenger service drivers is planned to start at 00:01 on Monday August 5, finishing at 23:59 Tuesday August 6.
Unite said that around 88,000 passengers will be affected if the industrial action goes ahead.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that Unite has rejected the latest pay offer and will continue to seek an agreement at ACAS.
"Unite is proceeding with its unnecessary strike action on 5th and 6th August and we regret that passengers looking to get away on well-earned breaks will be impacted by this.
"We have activated contingency plans which will keep the airport open and safe on both strike days. We expect security queue times to be slightly longer than normal and advise passengers to check our website for detailed information on how to prepare for their flights and when to arrive at the airport.
"As part of our plans, we are working with airlines to proactively consolidate flights and rebook passengers onto alternative services in advance. We also advise passengers to contact their airlines for the latest information, as well as follow our Twitter and Facebook accounts for further updates."
The airport also advised passengers to allow plenty of time for their journey as queues may be longer than usual.
They should arrive two hours before departure for UK and European flights and three hours for all other flights.
STRUCK OUT Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted Airport strikes that could cause travel chaos for Brits this summer
The strikes involving over 4,000 security guards, firefighters, engineers, passenger service operatives and passenger service drivers are set to take place on Monday August 5 and Tuesday August 6.
They were planned as part of a series of walk outs over pay last month.
The first two dates, which were set to take place on Friday July 26 and Saturday July 27, were suspended "while the workforce votes on a new pay offer".
The vote closed at 5pm today (August 2) with Unite confirming that the pay deal was rejected.
Unite said it would immediately enter into talks at the conciliation service Acas this evening (Friday August 2).
And if talks fail, the strikes next week, as well as ones planned for Friday August 23 and Saturday August 24, will go ahead.
Along with the two dates ahead of August Bank Holiday, Heathrow could end up paying £4.6million in compensation to airlines according to Unite.
Unite regional coordinating officer Wayne King said: “Rather than provoking the disruption that strike action will cause, we would urge Heathrow Airport to use this money for an improved pay offer that better reflects the hard work of the workers who keep the airport running safely and smoothly.
“This latest vote for strike action points to growing anger among the airport’s workers in a whole range of vital jobs which are essential to the smooth and safe running of Heathrow. Airport bosses need to heed this latest strike vote and the overwhelming rejection by our members of the revised pay offer which offers little over and above the original offer of £3.75 extra a day for many workers.
“It is in Heathrow bosses’ power to settle this dispute. We would urge them to work with us to do so and avoid the disruption to passengers that strike action will inevitably bring.”
Will I get my money back if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
If your flight is cancelled, you have the legal right to either a full refund within seven days or a replacement flight to your destination.
This applies for whatever reason your flight was cancelled or how long before you were told it would no longer be be flying.
If your flight is delayed by three hours or more and you were flying to or from a European airport, or with an EU-based airline such as Ryanair or British Airways then you can claim compensation up to €250 (£229) for short-haul flights and €400 (£367) for mid-haul flights and €600 (£530) for long-haul flights.
But the airline might not payout if it's out of their control, for example, due to bad weather or strikes.
Heathrow previously said that the pay deal offered means frontline staff will receive a pay increase of 7.3 per cent over two years.
It added that the pay increase is higher than those recently offered to public sector staff and the airport's own managerial team.
The airport had previously proposed a 4.6 per cent pay increase for 70 per cent of its frontline staff, with the remainder to receive 3.2 per cent increase over 18 months.
There are a number of other strikes that could affect Brits this summer.
Ryanair pilots are currently voting on whether or not to strike.
BA pilots have also voted for strike action although the dates have yet to be confirmed.
Sun Online Travel has contacted BA for comment.