BA were similar in the 2000's - AOC would not allow manual PLOG workings. The day the lady cleaner hoovered the plug out at LHR we stopped flying at LGW. I asked for a still-air plog and met chart - no-can-do, Sir. To the coffee-bar!
Even the 1970's BBG (Before Bill Gates )
Returned to base unexpectedly as pax. from New York one day, we were told to collect our tickets at the airport check-in counter. Arriving there the girl said that we couldn't board because 'the printer' is down and she couldn't print our tickets - the Flt. Engineer quietly handed her his pen.
The girl then tried to charge the F/E for excess baggage, whereupon he opened his suitcase and deposited his uniform, including dirty shirts, Flt. Manual, small toolkit, engineers walk-around torch ( heavy,metal 4x D cell battery type ) and sundry items,and declared that he wasn't going to pay excess baggage for carrying company property, she could have it all and he would indent for new supplies when he got back to London.
Collapse of Stout Party.
Moral - never fly without a Flt. Eng.