Hey, if the average big-time CEO wasn't making 1000x the average workers' wage, it wouldn't be an issue.

If he wants his employees to make a sacrifice, make a real sacrifice himself. His offer was akin to me offering a homeless dude $100. Get over it.

BTW, you know I'm a Libertarian. Still, that kind of "sacrificial" bullshit is wrong. If he wants to keep the company afloat, ask himself and the board whether they want to give up a month of salary. I bet that alone would keep the company afloat for a week.

Besides, whose fault is this? If the leaders aren't held accountable for a company failure, who is? This pseudo-capitalism is fucking killing me.

Oh and additionally I wouldn't work for free for a month. I mean they'll probably just go under anyway and i'd be screwed.

Serves' em right for only flying to Lisbon and not Oporto! :P

Now seriously, I didn't know BA was in so much trouble. Then again the last time I flew with them the plane and service were mediocre (even in an intercontinental flight).

Is there an airway not in trouble?  Airplane fuel is super expensive... and getting worse due to enviromental taxes, a push away from oil based fuel and a number of other factors.

I have a feeling in the future airlines will be nationalized.... everywhere.  With not everyone being able to get flights places.

The world will suddenly get smaller for most people.

Call me paranoid though.

@Kasz216: Yeah I knew airlines were losing a lot of money, but not so much that they can't pay salaries. I guess I haven't been paying enough attention, at least to BA.

Fuel is not as expensive as last year, so I thought they at least had some breathing room right now.

Your future scenario is plausible. The same could happen to car fuels getting rationed (or alternatively prices being so high that few will be able to afford them). The most important use of fuels is in shipping trucks... food has to circulate no matter what.

If anyone wants a followup, CNN has this:

"LONDON, England (CNN) -- More than 1 in 6 British Airways staff have agreed to work for free, take unpaid leave or work part-time, the airline said Thursday after the announcement of cost-cutting measures last week."

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/06/25/british.airways.work.free/index.html

They should be promised the money back when things get better.