Departures from Gatwick airport

The Unite union has called 24-hour strikes over the Christmas period, playing havoc with holiday plans.

Here are a selection of your comments and experiences:

I'm due to fly to New York on the 28th December. It will be my first time in the USA and maybe my last holiday for the next few years due to family circumstances. If you ask me they are being very selfish and holding the country to ransom is in my view an act of terrorism!
Courtneay Weston, Swindon, UK

People who undertake these strikes do not comprehend the chaos they cause for people like myself who has been working in Iraq for four months, and has missed Christmas with their family. The strike action will delay our replacements from the UK and therefore have a knock on effect to our leave, limiting the time we can spend at home with our loved ones. They should start thinking about others and sort their issues out over the table, rather than ruining our much deserved leave.
Kev Jones, Ramadi, Iraq

I am a check in agent for a very busy airline at gatwick. I do agree with the pension scheme but not the strike. This will cause mayhem to thousands of people and make all our jobs even harder.
mandy, gatwick

I don't understand this. Why are the existing employees striking over something that doesn't effect them? Every business is closing their Final Salary pension schemes to new members these days. Strike by all means, annoy all the passengers if you must, but it's a fact of business life these days - it will close. Accept it and move on.
Kevin, Maidenhead, UK

As a travel agent, I think the decision to stage these strikes is appalling and it can only backfire on the workers themselves. We have had a year of fiasco after fiasco at our major airports - and this will damage the UK's reputation even further - especially among business travellers who already loathe and detest both Heathrow and Gatwick.
Robert Readman, Bournemouth ENGLAND

Who do those who go on strike think this actually affects? Not management but the average person who wants too travel and can't because of blatant selfishness and arrogance. People like me who have flights booked and paid for to be married in another country who can now expect delays and further costs as a result... Get it in perspective people no-one gains by striking there are only losers - you lose respect and credibility and possibly get nowhere by striking anyway.
Andy, Milton Keynes

Are these people mad? My daughter works out of Heathrow and hasn't there been enough disruption? This Union needs to bring itself into the 21st Century and realise how few Final Salary Pension schemes still exist? "Wake up and smell the coffee"!!
R A Coy, Bingley UK

My husband & I have saved for 2 years to fly to Jamaica from Gatwick Airport on the 15th January 2008. The reason behind this holiday is that it is my 50th birthday on the 16th January 2008. We have not had a holiday for 2 years and due to the planned strike on the 14th January, if the strike is extended, we lose our holiday. What a nightmare!!!
Mrs S Johnson, Ashford, Kent

I will not be striking, its aboslute madness. I will be volunteering to help to see that passengers get away for their much deserved holidays!!
Karen Lindup, Staines, UK

I can't believe this nonsense! First of all the British airports are the worst in Europe. Yesterday I flew from Glasgow on a 1h & 20min flight & it took longer to land and pick up my baggage then it did to fly across. Why don't these guys start to run efficient airports and then strike over disputes! As usual it's the commuters who suffer!
John Griffiths, Glasgow

The strikes should be used as a resort to figuring out the problems.
Tanate Rattananen, Bangkok,Thailand

Actually, because of the low turnout (53%), meaning less than a third of Unite's members voted to strike, there won't be a full strike, although there will be action of some kind.
Stuart Holdaway, Heathrow, UK

Just wanted to let you know that since the Spanish takeover of BAA, it has been shambolic, it is very scary to know that this company is responsible for the security of our National airports. I applied to work as a Security Officer at Gatwick and have had a job offer letter since August 2007. To this day I am still waiting for a start date. I am not surprised that people are going on stike I dread to think what the fat cats are deciding in Spain to increase their profits!!!
Ross James, New Malden, United Kingdom

This affects my family very badly as we have booked and paid for a holiday of a lifetime, using all our savings, so no financial room to manoeuvre. The Government should now step in and insist that the owners speak with the Union on pain of compulsory sale to a UK based operator.
Sebastian Dangerfield, Jersey, Channel Islands

I've been planning for the year a holiday of a lifetime flying out 17th Jan from Gatwick - this is a great Christmas present, many thanks!!!!
Rachael, Felixstowe

We are slowly going back to the same problems Labour had in the 60s.They have spent to much. Removed enterprise from the economy. Are unable to run anything. The sooner things like this bring down the government the better.
Johnny Norfolk, Mileham Norfolk GB

Well Manchester is going to busier than normal then....never liked BAA and glad Manchester is not owned by them ...How can it be called British Airports Authority and be owned by Spaniards !!
Mike Day, Kentucky USA

As a passenger, going on a holiday of a lifetime between 6-14 January to Mauritius, I am devastated for myself and my family travelling. We are clearly going to be affected by the BAA strike on our return which could mean that flights are cancelled and work contracts for the following day are broken.
Barry Laden, London, UK

As a private hire operator whose drivers visit daily Heathrow is already a shambles so staff going on strike will make little difference. Baggage frequently takes an age to come through as often the carousal is not working or occasionally no one knows where the luggage is! Customer information is non existent and my customers tell me that Heathrow is amongst the worst in the world.
Colin Butler,

Typical union workers disrupting everyone else and more importantly costing their firm money. When will they wake up and realise that strike should be a final option, otherwise they find the company goes bust.
Neil Small, Scotland