Thousands of family holidays in jeopardy this Easter

Parents across the country are keeping their fingers crossed today that their British Airways flight will not be one of those cancelled due to seven days of strikes by the airline's cabin crew.

British Airways will announce later today (Monday) which flights will be grounded by the three days of industrial action from March 20 and four further days of strikes from March 27.

Although the cabin crew union had pledged not to strike over Easter, its second wave of industrial action will hit families trying to get away at the start of the start of the school holidays.

Unite says there will be further strikes from April 14, unless it reaches a deal with British Airways, which is looking increasingly unlikely.

British Airways is hoping to run 'a substantial' part of its long-haul and short-haul flights from Heathrow during the strikes. At Gatwick it will run almost all its long-haul services and about half its short-haul flights. At London City, flights will continue to operate as normal.

The airline has already trained about 1,000 volunteers, including hundreds of pilots, who will take over from the cabin crew on strike days. BA has also leased a number of aircraft with crew from other airlines. In addition, it has 1,300 crew at Gatwick who are not going on strike.

Passengers booked on short flights with BA from March 19 to 31 are being offered refunds or the chance to defer their flights.

Anyone who booked a package holiday including BA flights should be offered alternative flights or a full refund from their travel agent or tour operator.

Passengers who bought only flights might be able to claim for the loss of flights, accommodation and other expenses from their travel insurance if they bought the policy and the flights before the strike ballot on February 22.

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