Air France pilot strike: Does it affect you?

Gadling reader Ingrid Ivins writes us asking:

Do you have any advice for those of us taking AF this weekend? My daughter and I are flying Monday from Washington to Tunisia (via Paris). Although we are flying Economy, since I have an unrestricted full-fare ticket and Platinum Elite Status, are we less likely to get booted off the flight? Thank you.

Ingrid -- it's not looking good right now, but you very well may miss a major delay because of your Monday departure.

The Associated Press is reporting that the nearly half of Air France's flights have been grounded today due to this pilot's strike. But the AP is also reporting the that strike is expected to last through the weekend. If you're a glass-half-full traveler, then there might be reason to hope that while Monday might bring about delays you'd expect as AF's network tries to recover, your flight won't be canceled outright.

Pilots walked out to protest an AF plan to extend the age at which pilots can retire from 60 to 65, effective in 2010.

Right now Air France is saying that around 40 percent of its long-haul flights have been canceled, again today. But its unclear whether those cancellations stretch into the weekend, if they do at all. There are also scattered reports that negotiators are trying to bring the strike to an end quickly -- but this is France, which, like Italy, takes its walk-outs seriously.

Best to contact the airline directly and see where your flight stands. With your elite status, you might be able to score a transfer onto another Sky Team partner.

Good luck!