I'm SLF, an EC Gold with BA and I do about 15 L/Hauls a year with BA, never mind the other airlines. I'm 52, and have been flying since I was about 2 - I still have my BOAC junior jet club logbook - signed by Captain O.P. Jones (never mind - in the days when Pilots were like God, he was "the man").
From Britannias through Comets to 777's BA FA's have looked after me really well. As a child, when I tripped on the top step of the VC 10 stairs as an excited kid coming home for the holidays in BAH - a BA FA caught me headfirst at the bottom and literally saved me from breaking my neck. As a teenager when I checked in (can't remember where) and they saw me chatting admiringly to a beautiful teenager next in line, I somehow ended up in the adjacent seat. As a professional when I was down after a bad business trip in BKK an FA cheered me up. When I had the pre-wedding jitters coming back from BWI one of you calmed me down and talked to me in the small hours.
Whether I have been in 1A or 59K I have - with a few exceptions - recieved incredible service. Yes, there have been a few miserable FA's on a few miserable flights but overall BA have the best, and that is is why I continually defy my company travel policy to fly with you - even if you are not always the cheapest.
I will make two observations. Firstly, the Exectutive Club reward and recognition system from SLF to FA's is not good. I know the thinking behind it (your job is reward enough) and you can e-mail, but I think we should have a more formalised method to say 'thank you' if it was really special. Secondly, I've noticed that its very rare to get a miserable or rude FA in isolation. Generally everyone is efficient, or maybe jokey, but sometimes you get entire crews with a bad attitude - its as if it comes down from the top.
Does that mirror how it is?
Anyhow this is my overdue thank-you note to those BA crews that have made my life bearable in my travels.
Rob - BA 73878354