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Air France strike 23 March

Fitzroy, Australia
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Air France strike 23 March
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Hi people

It looks like I'm likely to be impacted by the AF strike announced for 23 March. I'm currently booked on MEL-BKK on 22 March on Thai, BKK-CDG on 23 March with AF and CDG-AGP on 24 March with Easyjet. Thai Airways say it's nothing to do with them, and any changes to the MEL-CDG flight will have to be paid for under existing amendment/cancellation rules. The next flight from CDG to Malaga on Easyjet is Monday 25 March.

To help me get an idea of how things stand, I'd like to ask if there is anyone who was adversely impacted by any previous AF strikes a couple of questions.

Is it more likely that flights outbound from Paris would be cancelled, rather than flights inbound? And did AF stump up for additional accommodation expenses where they couldn't be avoided?

Many thanks.

Edited: 6 years ago
Fitzroy, Australia
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1. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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I'm now wondering given the General Strike in France on 22 March, which will involve Air Traffic Controllers, whether CG to BKK will happen on 22 March, and whether there will be a plane in place in BKK to fly to CDG on the 23rd in any case. Starting to become a real problem!

Dubai, United Arab...
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2. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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Nobody can predict the impact of the strike for your flight.

If the strike is on 23rd March, there is no issue for flights leaving on 22nd. Hence your aircraft should be in BKK on 23rd.

During the strike on 22nd Feb. half of the CDG outbound long-haul flights were cancelled but the incoming flights were not affected.

Your Easyjet flight will not be affected by the AF strike.

If you are very much concerned or this is a top important trip, then prepare a plan B (eg. BKK-ZRH-AGP), but, that could be an expensive change, especially as this is also the time of the mid-term brake in some parts of the world and a week before Easter.

Also, from what you are writing, these flights seem no to be on one ticket and worst case you have not booked them directly with the airline but via a shonky third party.

Hope you have a travel insurance covering this risk.

Fitzroy, Australia
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3. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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Philipp

I don't know why you think the tickets are with a shonky 3rd party. The bookings are with Thai and Air France. The problem is that Thai don't regard the AF strike as being anything to do with them. It is not possible to have these flights on one ticket. If there is an Air Traffic Controller's strike on 22 March then there will be an impact on AF and other flights in France. Perhaps if you don't understand the issue it might be better to refrain from making inane comments.

Dubai, United Arab...
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4. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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<<I don't know why you think the tickets are with a shonky 3rd party.>> Because those are often selling separate tickets instead of flights on one tickets. And as you do not write details, I covered the eventuality and wrote <<worst case>>.

The extent and impact of the strike are unclear: https://visiontravel.ca/2018/03/14/france-strikes-march-21-23/

<<The problem is that Thai don't regard the AF strike as being anything to do with them.>> If the flight is on a separate ticket, that is for sure correct.

<<It is not possible to have these flights on one ticket.>> Yes, a real travel agent could have booked them on one ticket. It is not possible to book these flights as a consumer on the website, so.

You have only two options, wait and look how things develop or cancel and book a different ticket, now.

Back to your question:

<<Is it more likely that flights outbound from Paris would be cancelled, rather than flights inbound?>> Yes, IF they follow the past pattern. If not, then not.

Even in case of a strike, the airline has a duty of care. However, as AF has time to prepare, they also could advice not to come to the airport. That could then change a bit the duty of care obligation.

As the strike is outside of the control of the airline, a delay does not qualify for EU261 compensation payments.

If you miss your Easyjet flight, nobody will pay for it (risk of separate tickets / non payment for consequential damages).

Edited: 6 years ago
Cape Town Central...
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5. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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I am also due to land in Paris on the 23rd with an onward connection.

I have spoken to a customer service agent in South Africa (my point of departure) who has told me that there will be no issue with a flight that departs on 22 March landing on 23 March. Only onward Air France connections or Air France flights scheduled to depart on the 23rd might be affected.

They will have a better idea the day before the strike as to how many employees will actually strike and how many flights it will affect. They also said I would be notified the day before departure if my flights are cancelled.

Lewes, United...
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6. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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I cannot help either posters with AF flights mentioned on this topic with what will happen, or might happen.

I am not clear, OP how you booked your tickets. Did you use a travel agent of any kind? Did you book the Thai and AF legs on one, airline website, whether TG or AF? Or are each of the flights you mention entirely separate bookings, made by yourself on the airline websites, each time?

The easyJet flight - for the moment - is unaffected and a separate issue.

If the MEL to CGD via BKK two flight reservation was made under a single booking on AF's website, then when you reach BKK, AF have a EU regulated duty of care responsibility for you. How that will work, I don't know enough to make any suggestions. If it was all booked on TG's website, then it's possible that TG may route you on a different airline (if there are any) to fly you on the BKK to CGD leg, if the AF flight is not operating. That may involve further stops, of course and may not be the same day as seat availability issues may have relevance, and you won't be the only person in BKK wanting to get to CDG on AF.

However, the real reason I posted on this topic is to suggest, if you've not already done so, is to go and read and also post on the Paris destination forum.

The AF strike (and there may also be ATC ones) on 23 March is part of a 2 day strike, and France is in the throes of a wave of strikes affecting all sorts of other forms of transport at the moment and for the next few months. There are some very detailed, helpful threads on that forum (mostly concerned with the trains) but also with responses to other travellers affected by other methods of transport.

SWT

Ostersund, Sweden
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7. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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I am also flying Air France on the 23rd of March. Keeping fingers crossed for as little disruption as possible. Flying Oslo-Paris then Paris-Mexico City

sh*t, good luck

Brisbane Region...
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8. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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This won't provide answers but may give you some insight as to how Air France "looked after its customers" during the 2014 pilots strike. We only found out about it whilst on a boat trip on a Greek island when we met a travel agent. I monitored the same ATH/PAR sector daily to see it get cancelled every day, leading up to our departure date. I contacted my travel agent and AF just said it will be ok for our flight. As expected, they cancelled it and offered no alternative routing and I couldn't get thru to them by phone and the AF office in Athens was not handy. I had already been in touch with my insurance company to understand my options and asked my travel agent to find alternatives which were fast disappearing. I ended up paying A$1000 per person to fly ATH/ZRH/PAR on Swiss and eventually was reimbursed by insurance for it. My agent managed to get the PAR/SIN rerouted to PAR/ZRH/SIN on Swiss and new e-tickets were emailed to me in Paris. So, do not expect any help from AF once you have departed.

SWT questions are valid as if the MEL/CDG is all on one ticket or not. I would make enquiries with AF now and also consult your travel insurance provider so you know your position and have alternatives. If you miss your Easy Jet flight you will need to book alternative flights (expect there may be nil refund) but find out where you sit with insurance cover. Do Not Wait. Just my personal experience. Good luck.

Fitzroy, Australia
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9. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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Thanks people for your responses. I've got fingers crossed if the AF flight goes from CDG-BKK the day before (AF says the General strike on 22 March won't effect their long haul flights) then they will want to bring them home on 23 March.

For info, it isn't possible to get the MEL-CDG on a single ticket. Thai and AF aren't even in the same Alliance. Easyjet have indicated I might get some airport tax back but that's all. The Pullman at CDG however are happy to move the non-refundable booking to another day if necessary, so hats off to them.

Unfortunately many travel insurance companied include non provision of service as one of their standard exclusions, so I'd get some coverage under travel delay provisions, plus some compensation from AF, which would go so way to pay for rebooking CDG-AGP on Air Europa.

However, lets hope that all this will be unnecessary, and I'll be enjoying some tapas in Malaga on Saturday evening!

UK
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10. Re: Air France strike 23 March
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"plus some compensation from AF"

What compensation are you expecting here? AF will only provide duty of care while you are delayed, EU261 cash compensation does not apply.

However I agree that the long haul flights should be protected, so as long as the EasyJet aircraft isn't out of position due to ATC related cancellations you will get to AGP as planned.

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