BA strikers may lose travel perks

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British Airways has threatened that cabin crew who go on strike will lose their travel perks permanently.

Staff with the airline can book flights for themselves and nominated friends or family at a 90% discount - though only on a standby basis.

The airline says a strike would have serious financial implications and it would have to cut staff benefits.

BA also says it would review the standard of hotels that crew are put up in overnight while they are away.

The move represents an escalation in the war between BA and the Unite union, and comes a few days after the union said it would not strike over Easter.

A 12-day strike was also planned for Christmas, but was stopped when the High Court deemed it illegal because of the way it was balloted.

The new strike ballot among cabin crew will open on 25 January and finish on 22 February.

Unions are unhappy about job cuts and changes to staff contracts, which they say they have not been consulted on.

BA has reduced the number of cabin crew from 15 to 14 on all long-haul flights, and has frozen pay for two years.

The carrier says that it must restructure and permanently reduce its costs in order to return to profit.