Families who are planning to jet off with Virgin Atlantic over the summer face having their holidays ruined as pilots vote on a walkout. According to the British Airline Pilots Association, it members are unhappy with the latest pay deal that have been offered. Jim McAuslan, general secretary at BALPA, said pilots had agreed to a pay freeze which started in 2008 as the global economic problems hit.

He explained that this was done on the understanding that compensation would be made when the economic situation was healthier. Apparently, pilots have been offered a 2011 pay rise of four percent and three percent rises in 2012 and 2013. McAuslan said this level was unacceptable and actually meant pilots were being offered years of pay reductions.

The ballot is due to begin next week and should be competed by 21 June. The union will then have to offer a weeks notice of any intended walkouts. These could happen as early as July as families are intending to travel abroad to popular destinations such as Florida’s Disneyworld and California’s Disneyland.

In all, some 750 pilots could decide to strike affecting other long-haul destinations such as Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Sydney and the Caribbean.

The trouble comes as rival airline British Airways appears to have made peace with its cabin crew. A dispute has been rumbling on for 18 months, but it looks like the latest peace offering from the flag carrier has been accepted. This will mean a sigh of relief from BA ticket holders.