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In a dispute over pay and sick leave, members of the Transport and General Workers union, representing British Airways cabin crew employees, are going on strike for two calendar days later this week. If you’re traveling on British Airways later this week, you will likely be affected.

The airline has pre-emptively cancelled 1,300 flights on January 30 and 31, but the ripple effects will last for days. For example, flights from Tokyo back to London are cancelled on February 2 and 3 as well. The list of cities with cancellations stretching as late as February 5 is long, so be sure to check if your flight is operating. Full details of post-January 31 flight cancellations are here. (note that this link is likely temporary, and may go dead soon)

A few minor exceptions remain, such as flights between Manchester and New York, which remain scheduled as normal. Also, if you’re flying on a BA codeshare operated by another airline, or if you’re only flying BA Connect, you shouldn’t be affected. Again, check the schedule.

If you want to re-book, re-route, or outright cancel your affected flights, BA is letting you do so without penalty. Start with the company that sold you the tickets, but don’t pay any fees if your flight isn’t operating.

Strikes could turn into a regular feature of travel on BA. The union has threatened further walkouts on February 5, 6, and 7, and February 12,13, and 14.

British Airways is updating flight cancellation information on its homepage.

UPDATE: Strike is called off, but flights are still canceled. See here.

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