TravelMole scanned the BBC and Telegraph websites to offer reaction from the UK public to the Christmas strike threat by BA cabin crew. Here’s an unedited selection:
Why are those people interviewed worried. They would have been separated on the flight, Mum in the front, kids in the middle next to strangers and Dad in the back. When they arrived in the Caribbean there would have been no luggage. Tell them to stay at home and have a Willie Walsh free Merry Christmas
haines, pershore
I worked for BA for 29 years at a North American airport, 1977 was a banner year for strikes of the many I experienced. I would walk in for my shift and ask "what is the strike of the day !!!!"…I ended up working 45 days straight…most times 12-16 hours….a few times 36-48 hours. The British Unions need to be given a reality check, we were once called "the worlds’ favourite airline"….what is our monicker now? Bankrupt Airways? Think people…or you’ll soon be flipping burgers at McD’s.
Richard Simkus, Toronto
As cabin crew – it’s particularly distressing to hear colleages refer to us as ‘waitresses’. We are onboard primarily for safety. We are the one’s who – ‘god forbid’ would empty an aircraft within 2 minutes should the need arise. We are there to perform life saving medical aid should it be required. We have been truly alienated by our management – and it seems, by our colleagues all across the airline.

Look in a mirror and you will find out why. You are highly paid waitresses
Martin Hollands, Aylesbury, United Kingdom
Perhaps it is time for BA to adopt the model and management of Ryanair , if Mr O’Leary was at the helm can you imagine any strikes being allowed to go ahead ?

The message is clear from the public to the cabin crew we are sick of being held to ransom , if you don’t like your job go and take your pension deficit with you
Eddie Green, London
Previously Mr Walsh worked for Aer Lingus&employed similar tactics of pleading poverty. When the aircrew went on strike he hired nearly every aircraft in the western hemisphere to render the strike impotent.

I feel sorry for the staff who have been forced into this, however the airline market has changed significantly over the last 10 years. 

However the old statement of "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys".I wonder if the flying public consider this statement when they are booking flight.
Kiran McDermott, Birmingham
BA service crews increasingly resemble academics with tenure – the fact that they consider themselves untouchable comes over loud and clear when you interact with them – they are, inter alia, bossy and arrogant. This is one of the main reasons I now use BA as an airline of last resort having been a gold member some years back. 

If they go on strike I hope firstly that they lose and secondly that their jobs go so people who are willing to work harder and provide better customer service. Otherwise BA is trapped in a death spiral.
Billy Barnett
