Iberia Strikes

kat1 (Moderator) says on Nov 12, 2009, 01:26:

I read in another newspaper that also have affected flights to Latinoamerica. My daughter is flying with Iberia on the day of the strikes, I am so worry they cancel the flight to Bogota and she'll be stuck in Madrid, she is flying on her own and she is a minor

anyone is travelling those days?

Don't know if to cancel the flight and get a ticket with Air France or to leave it :(

♥

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gimmedub says on Nov 12, 2009, 02:10:

nojoda - my wife is going to be one pissed off costena if she shows up at the airport in Bogota and they tell her the flight's canceled and subsequently her vacation!

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Nov 12, 2009, 04:10:

Imaging How pissed off I am going to be if my daughter get stuck in Madrid! not only she will lose valuable time on her two weeks holidays, but she will be scare not knowing what to do. I have a friend who lives near Madrid I think will contact her just in case something happen. :(

♥

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Papi de Alejo says on Nov 12, 2009, 05:19:

Good idea Kat. Start working on contingency plans. If she can travel earlier, ask them if they can change the ticket. They just might waive any change fees.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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Bill Turley (Moderator) says on Nov 12, 2009, 05:28:

Change airlines, why not? Book on another airline but if she can fly Iberia don't confirm the second tickets

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Darloup says on Nov 12, 2009, 05:31:

Kat, airlines simply LOVE to create havoc during holidays. After all, we travelers are hostages to them.

I'd definitely change plans, especially since there are no guarantees that they won't prolong their strike. If you're set on traveling through Madrid, have you considered Avianca?

If not, Paris is an alternative, but Air France is fairly pricey.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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ddluzdelsol says on Nov 12, 2009, 06:22:

Start calling Iberia... maybe they'll change tickets NOW for her since she is a minor!???

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nine inch nails says on Nov 12, 2009, 08:11:

Wow 8 days is a long airstrike.

Kat I know you had asked about airlines for daughter earlier. Hopefully it will be resolved soon.

Some items from the article that caught my attention:

"lay-offs of all cabin attendants older than 55" - that is harsh, they really do age discriminate in Europe.

"...from an expanding bullet train service." - I did take this one time in Spain (The Talga I think). Very clean and efficient not to mention cost savings Iberia is having competition with.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Nov 12, 2009, 11:26:

I am calling Iberia tomorrow and see what they say :S

♥

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Darloup says on Nov 12, 2009, 12:19:

kat: I've flown from France to Colombia on three different airlines:

Air France (direct)
Iberia (via Madrid)
American Airlines (via the US)

So far, Iberia has been the cheapest, but it sucks big time - even on international flights. They even wanted to charge me 2.50 euros for a mere coffee between Madrid and Paris.

AA is OK.

Air France proved to be the best. Free, and unlimited, Champagne, French wines and Cognac in tourist class. Most passengers arrived utterly stoned in Bogotá. Plus you get an unlimited supply of sandwiches and Haagen-Dazs ice creams from the back of the aircraft. :-)

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Nov 12, 2009, 12:44:

Darloup for me, AA is a BIG NO forever, although it has been the cheapest on my travels to Colombia also has been the most dissaponted.
I flew with Iberia last year not as cheap as AA so so service, but it was OK. I have been traveling with Air france and this year I am doing the same and of all of the other airlines they are the best of course this was after British Airway cancelled all his direct flights to Colombia. BA was the best Airline to flight to Colombia. It was luxury!!

BA fusion now with Iberia so hopefully this will improve Iberia. My daughter is flying with BA to Madrid the with Iberia to Bogota and viceversa.

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Darloup says on Nov 12, 2009, 13:07:

kat,

Sorry to insist, but Iberia gave me the worst in-flight service I ever experienced in my life - and I've traveled a lot.

Which just goes to show how you can't generalize from individual and personal experiences. ;-)

Never really complained with BA (which I used for 20 years with their card). But then, as we all know, BA take themselves far too seriously. At least, on Air France flights, it's perfectly OK to get drunk on Champagne, wines and liquors. I'd dare add this is EXPECTED on a French flight ;-)

1300 euros is more or less what it'll cost you for a return flight Paris-Bogotá over the next 4 months. Nearly twice as much as a return Madrid-Bogotá return flight.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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BillBigD says on Nov 12, 2009, 13:32:

Sorry for your problems but i guess MIAMI doens't look so bad right now.

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tasco66 says on Nov 12, 2009, 13:38:

"1300 euros is more or less what it'll cost you for a return flight Paris-Bogotá"

Wow, that almost $2000. No wonder passengers get stoned on the free booze.

Although they may have to revise their policy if they ever get my amigo Raaayyyy on board...

Newsweek on Uribe: "he's delivered the trifecta of peace, security, and prosperity"

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Darloup says on Nov 12, 2009, 13:45:

Tasco:

"No wonder passengers get stoned on the free booze"

Right!

"Although they may have to revise their policy if they ever get my amigo Raaayyyy on board..."

Nah, they secured that one on the (not so wrong) assumption that Raaay would NEVER fly a frog flight...

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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nine inch nails says on Nov 12, 2009, 14:47:

I like mami (miami) and tons of Colombains working in the airport kat that could look out after your bebe girl.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Nov 12, 2009, 14:58:

No thanks NIN I rather pay first class that send my baby through the USA. :)))

Imaging how many Colombian will be pissed if they cancel their flight!!! it's not like they are going to Germany or England, it Colombia, Miles away!!

♥

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Darloup says on Nov 12, 2009, 15:01:

Kat: I get get you some deals on flying First Class on Air France (honest).

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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Robert Jorge says on Nov 12, 2009, 16:10:

And then your minor daughter can get drunk on free champagne!

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Darloup says on Nov 12, 2009, 16:15:

At least she'll have a ball and something fairly harmless to remember... And she won't be stuck in Madrid.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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nine inch nails says on Nov 12, 2009, 21:17:

I sorry Kat, everyone has their prefs! Any other routes like say thru Italy or Switzerland??

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nine inch nails says on Nov 12, 2009, 21:18:

Via Mexico? BA goes to Mexico?

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Nov 13, 2009, 01:07:

BA goes to Miami and then you change with AA to Bogota, also another excellent airline is Virgin Atalntic I would not mind travelling to Miami on those airlines, my problem is, the conection with AA, they are so unreliable!

Anyway will see what Iberia has to say first also yestersay, British Airways and Iberia finally merge, so they might find some solution to the problem.


OH Another thing is when you flight Iberia or Air France, your check your luggage at heathrow and they'll go straigh to Bogota. If you flight via the USA you have go and to pick your luggage and take to this place where they will put it on your conecting flight.


I am starting to like this champagne thing LOL, I don't drink when I am flying, it goes through my head very quickly also I always think if there is an emergency i wnat to be on with my 6 senses working in order, specially if I am travelling with my Kids.


OH BTW darloup maybe you get good deals on First class because you are frequent flyer with the same airline.

♥

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Nov 13, 2009, 02:09:

ok I called I beria, they told me the strike is not confrmed yet, but if in any case they'll go on strike, they will let us know on time so they will arrange a new flight for her to be taken to her destination.

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sanandressi says on Nov 13, 2009, 06:40:

kat1........yo te dije American Airlines, Continental Airlines.....Calmar.....they will have it all resolved by Dec 18th me thinks but it goes to show that things can happen anywhere. Connecting to Colombia is always going to be best in Miami because you have so many more options....inspite of gringo customs but again there are logical reasons for US customs to be the way it is.....drugs, terrorrism, illegal immigrants.......

You had a bad experience on American and now Iberia has got ya worrried and Air France has been on strike too in the past.

It will work out......

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nine inch nails says on Nov 13, 2009, 07:28:

Yeah I agree AA has the absolute worst "on-time" performance but they have never cancelled a flight on me or denied me entry to board as Avianc did. This

"OH Another thing is when you flight Iberia or Air France, your check your luggage at heathrow and they'll go straigh to Bogota. If you flight via the USA you have go and to pick your luggage and take to this place where they will put it on your conecting flight." is a MAJOR bene and I would seriously consider it too if coming from outside US.

I think AA good for when MIA or FLL is your point of departure rather than a way point. But whatever airline is chosen I always like to get the connecting flight on the same airline (or code share agreement) in case the inbound is late then they are responsible for my delay costs. travel insurance relative low cost can help too. Some dont know but AA has flights to Colombia from FLL also and is connected by the Tri-rail however if you have a lot of bags to drag around is not fun.

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nine inch nails says on Nov 13, 2009, 07:34:

In the end AA will get you there but a lot of chance for delays I do agree. Iberia I believe uses same plane then on to BOG from MIA?

one time my AA flight to CR was more tardy than the flight time itself and another AA to Managua almost as late as the flight time itself!! Will say this though that I went to Argentina didn't have to worry about Aerolineas going on strike (AGAIN). The longer flights (UK, Espain, Argentina, Chile etc. all on AA) I didn't have many delays but the shorter routes to central and SOUTHAM yes I did on AA!!!

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thur says on Nov 21, 2009, 02:12:

Pay deal leads union to call off Iberia strike action

Spain's Iberia has agreed a deal to merge with British Airways Unions representing staff at Spanish airline Iberia have called off planned strike action after a preliminary agreement with management. On Thursday, Iberia said it had agreed an average 4% pay rise for cabin crew. The crew had planned strikes for 30 November to 2 December, and 14 December to 18 December, over the airline's plans for a hiring and wage freeze...
See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8370423.stm

It is resolved :-)
Greetings,

- pbase.com/thur

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Darloup says on Nov 21, 2009, 02:23:

Great news! I hate Iberia (charging me 2.50 euros for a coffee between Madrid and Paris), but I have to acknowledge they have (had?) some cheap fares between Spain and Colombia.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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