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Pax Going Hungry on BA (Merged)

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Old 14th Aug 2005, 14:51
  #41 (permalink)  

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Crazy Fists

If his track record is any guide, he will sign a contract with an outside firm, commit to payments and then find he can't get rid of the existing contract/staffing.

At EI, they contracted out the cleaning but couldn't get rid of the EI cleaners which led to EI paying the cleaning company to do nothing.
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Old 14th Aug 2005, 15:22
  #42 (permalink)  
 
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The man has a very ruthless reputation. This is what is required in BA right now. The militant workers and the unions are running and ruining BA. It is no longer a state owned airline and is just as vulnerable as the other airline. It seems that the current BA employees can not see this and believe that the government will automatically inject cash at the slightest sign of BA going into bankruptcy.
Willy may have made some errors in Lingus, but I do not think that he will put up the mindless work dodgers of BA, that the current spineless management do today. Although he his not at the helm just yet, I really hope that BA staff are quaking in their boots.
I look forward to the day he does take control. I can help but think they have sent in the hatchet man here. I hope he brings a very large megaphone with him.
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Old 14th Aug 2005, 15:24
  #43 (permalink)  
 
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Crazy Fists and 411A,

I'm happy that you both share the same opinions. Of course you are entitled to these, but try and have a little more perspective on things.

I have been working on the Gate Gourmet strike situation within BA Ops Control for the past month. The continually moving goalposts have made planning for this event very, very difficult indeed. I wont bore you with the details.

Firstly, the Gate Gourmet strike directly affected BAs operations and the standard of service we endeavour to provide. Dont forget that.

Secondly, the strike by BA LHR staff was unofficial. Now, if you concentrate really, really hard, even you will understand that the planning bods within BA could in no way have predicted this and, as a dire consequence, the operation has suffered considerably.

Thirdly and for the particular benefit of 411A, on Saturday we carried a below par 52,500 passengers, expected to be the same Sunday. Bearing in mind our usual load factor is well above this, can you please explain the relevance in an increased load from 132 to 362 on a particular service? Again for your benefit, what more than likely happened was food was brought forward and loaded from later sectors to yours, with GG having to prepare food from scratch for the 'robbed' sectors. Not rocket science. Could you also answer me what other companies in the LHR area do you think can arrange to cater a company of BAs size and diversity at such short notice? Maybe I misread your posts, but I believe this is to what you were alluding. If I have misread, then I apologise, but it seemed a pretty ridiculous statement.

I am in no way blinkered to the hassle and distress that BA has caused to many thousands of people recently, and as I work for the company I find this particularly embarassing. We are a full service airline and could not provide the service levels to which we are reputed. I find certain comments here just another excuse to bash a reputable airline, a reputation that has been tarnished by a small minority. This small minority is now firmly in the sights of the leadership team.
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Old 14th Aug 2005, 15:42
  #44 (permalink)  
 
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Stirling,

If you have been working on the Gate Gourmet strike situation for the past month, it is not fair to say that you were aware of this situation long before it arose. Thus granting you plenty of time to be prepared if there was industrial action. If this is the case then some of the blame should fall on the shoulders of BA for not taking the necessary steps beforehand.

It may also come as a surprise to you that BA no longer has the service levels it was once reputed to have. There are several other UK airlines, and many other European airlines that provide a much better service than that of BA. I think that you are blind to the fact that BA is a mediocre airline at best.

I too work for BA and I am embarrassed at the way our passengers are treated. I think that we both know the current regime will not change with our present mismanagement team.
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Old 14th Aug 2005, 16:47
  #45 (permalink)  
 
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Crazy Fists,

Many thanks for your reply. I cannot argue with you on the point that the current leadership we are under is disappointing at best.

However, you seem well versed in what we could have actively done to avoid the initial strike - that of Gate Gourmet. I am open to suggestions above and beyond what has already been considered, ie.reverse catering out of larger stations, at outstations having small plastic food bags handed out at the gate, assuming that is that these other stations can provide this service etc.
Please tell me, upwards of 60,000 pax meals a day, crew food, bars, incidentals etc what should BA have done?

Attempts were made to mitigate the situation by BA, but Gate Gourmet is a seperate company to ours, thus the controls we had over the situation were limited. What we (hopefully) can control in the future is the distgusting way in which a small minority ground the entire network to a hault.

Your point about BA being mediocre at best is I would argue quite indicative of how you approach your daily work. I am truly embarassed by BAs antics but that in no way means I dont work extremely hard to assist you and other colleagues to drag BA up from your percieved mediocrity.

Last edited by Stirling; 14th Aug 2005 at 17:45.
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Old 14th Aug 2005, 22:17
  #46 (permalink)  
 
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Apologies for double posting, but just want to ask here - mate is coming Dulles - LHR on Wed ... is catering limited on inbound services too?

Jordan
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 08:06
  #47 (permalink)  
 
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Sterling,

Firstly, I believe it is your job and that of your colleagues to make the suggestions to overcome this problem, not mine. A month is a long time to overcome a problem that is anticipated. From my experience of working in BA (which is quite some time now), most people scratch their ass and look around at each other expecting them to deal with issue. In the end the situation is not resolved and we encounter a problem like we did last week. It is a simple case of ‘If people did their job, then this mess could have been avoided’. I am totally fed up of having to do the jobs of the work shy to try and keep this airline on the road (I am not the only one either)

I believe that BA is a mediocre airline, but unfortunately Sterling, I am NOT a mediocre operator. Most of my colleagues would also agree with me here. BA train their staff very well (about the only good thing I have to say about them), and I go to work every day upbeat and come home very disheartened. I have put a great deal into this airline and got nothing out of it except being dumped on from a great height. I am not a person that will sit there and moan until I retire. When my passengers, my team and myself are continually having the p!ss taken out of, I believe it is time to leave.

I have to decided to leave this mediocre outfit and take my professional skills to a professional airline. Most in BA are living in a dream world and it has been a real ‘Alice in Wonderland’ experience for the past few years.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 08:45
  #48 (permalink)  
 
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Right,

So you refuse to comment on what could be done to avoid unofficial action. I'll say that again so you understand properly, unofficial action. Sadly, the crystal balls were sold as part of future size and shape.

What you have also failed to realise, is that a majority of people within BA do action what they are paid to do, and attempt to do their tasks well. Last week was as a result of a small, petty minded minority. Do you realise this also?

I am truly glad to hear you're leaving. Please stay in touch when you realise that BA is not mediocre. It has many recognised problems that need to be addressed, but, as a veteran of 7 airlines now, I am enjoying the challenge of working for a diverse full service, profitable airline. Oh, have you forgotten this too?

I'm off to scratch my ass now.

ps/If you're gonna attemt to make yourself look in any way credible, at least try and spell someones name right. May even help you in your new non-mediocre outfit.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 09:40
  #49 (permalink)  
 
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Firstly, I am sorry for the incorrect spelling of your name. But if you look back in your recent posts spelling is not one of your strong points.

We all know that this was unofficial action and I do not need to be reminded of that. However, if you knew that this was a possibility, contingency plans should have been in place for this eventuality. There is nothing that can be done about unofficial action, not by you, me or anyone. I believe from previous posts that it is your job to work around this anticipated issue. I am not involved in the catering side (unlike you), and therefore can not come up with a solution (like you).

I am wondering why you have been through so many airlines! That was not a question, so there is no need to answer that one, I think I know the reason.

I too am glad to be leaving. I will not have to deal arrogant incompetent people that think they are just Stirling.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 10:06
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Ah, a spelling contest. Very mature response.

So then, all day Wednesday and Thursday morning, if you recall when Gate Gourmet were first on strike, went, well, very, very well actually. So, our contingency plans worked. No?

Again, to labour the point, the unofficial, unplanned and completely illegal action caught the entire airline off guard. We actually did work around the problem as best we could. No?

I do not work in catering, so try reading posts correctly before making silly assumptions.

I have worked for Air Europe, Dan Air, Inter European, Air Uk Leisure and Ambassador to name a few. You are quite correct in that it was entirely my fault they all went bust. I look forward to hearing your reasons for my unfortunate early career moves.

Your tired and quite pointless responses are, well, pointless. We prepared for a situation beyond our control, we reacted to a secondary situation beyond our control, and we have (operationally at least) now revovered from a situation beyond our control. Or are you going to put up a lame arguement with these factual comments?

Best of luck loading in your new company. Think BA will be better of without your narrow minded opinions.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 10:39
  #51 (permalink)  
 
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Typical BA response; criticize others for something they can not do themselves. It appears that a spelling contest is about your level. I am enjoying your responses. I am just wondering how deeper hole you can dig. You must have a very big shovel!

Where in my posts do you think I made assumptions? I know full well you work in catering. As for the supposedly factual comments that BA responded and recovered from a situation beyond their control, I think that you will find most of the general public that paid good money to travel that day will disagree. Only two days ago, most, if not all of the jumbo fleet were out of place. Well Handled? Think not.

The points that I make a very valid and I will no longer try to defend this airline. I do not think you will find anyone as broad minded as myself in this company. In the past I have sweated blood for them to get the job done.

I now think that Gate Gourmet will not have their contract renewed with BA. You could be promoted to chief sandwich maker now. Good luck with it Stirling.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 10:54
  #52 (permalink)  
 
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Ha ha ha,,,a genius in the making! I have decided to lower myself to your pathetic level. I work for catering, eh? Well the Ops Planning, Scheduling, Ops Control, contingency and emergency planning people I work for and with will be amazed to hear that.

Dig a hole? Blame others? WHAT????

Please answer me one question as you appear to have been unable to so far with any of my previous. DO YOU WORK FOR AN AIRLINE? It appears you have little, sorry, no concept of how the airline world works. In fact, it appears to me you may well be one of the staff members who walked out. Getting close?

You have made no valid points WHATSOEVER, apart from being critical and abusive of me and your claimed employer, which, lets be honest, is not really the case. Sweated blood to get the job done - HA HA HA...by the sounds of your hateful overtones you have done cock all to assist BA.

Tell you what you fool, next time you want a couple of days off, take a sickie or use your leave. That is assuming you ever manage to find employment again. Oh, sorry, I forget, you're off to a high flying airline now, not a mediocre one, eh? Care to tell me which one?

I too look forward to your responses. Your inability to reason adequately is pitiful, your comments are contradictory and you seem unable to answer any question put to you. The gene pool was really left empty when you arrived!
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 12:03
  #53 (permalink)  
 
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This is great. It appears that your blood is now at boiling point (best take the Prozac). It appears that you are the genius here. I was one of the workers that walked out last week. Generally I just walk in to work, clock in, make myself invisible for the day, clock out and go home. As for loading the aircraft, you are lucky if I see a suitcase all day. So who is the fool here? If BA have these trouble makers in their sights then why have they not gone already?

At some point we seem to have gotten off the point. I have made some very valid points here Stirling, but quite obviously you are not willing to admit some of them.

Here are some of the answers to your questions. This time in layman’s terms.

I do work for British Airways. I was not one of the workers that walked out (I am not in their area of expertise). I am fully aware that BA have made a profit. As for giving suggestions as to overcome the catering problem, that is someone else’s area of expertise. But I think that most of us will agree it was handled very badly.

The airline that I am leaving BA to work for is none of your business. I am not leaving myself open to more insults from you. Critical of BA I am, abusive I am not. I just tell it like it is. If you do not like what people honestly think of the company you work for then you too could leave. I have a lot of pride and dignity. That is why I am leaving.

Believe all your direct questions have been answered now.

Ps. It does not really take a genius to work out how stupid you are.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 12:13
  #54 (permalink)  
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OK stop there!

If you cannot control your angst at one another and control the obvious abuse BEFORE it gets out of hand, the thread gets closed. You appear to have good points still to make but aiming snipes and childish digs is NOT ging to be part of it.

So................your call guys or the thread goes.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 12:35
  #55 (permalink)  
 
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Well done and a big thank you Crazy Fists.

My colleagues and I have now had a great laugh - we're all in Ops right now if you want to stop by, I'm the one who's blood is boiling, apparantley - at your jibes against us and the company. It has made our morning, it really has! We will certainly take on board your sad, ill informed and bitter comments on how poor we all are in BA.

You have finally managed, after many requests, to answer some but not all of my questions. You have admitted to turning up for work, doing cock all, and walking out again. You are, in fact, a thief to BA. You have made no valid points - FACT - as my area is not yours of expertise. You have been both critical and abusive in your posts, and I have lowered myself to your level, as this is what you understand.

We wish you all the best leaving the national flag carrier, especially at a time when a corner is being turned. We are both profitable and still envied by many worldwide.

Please stop by and see us all upstairs. I cannot stress to you how much you have made us all laugh today.

Stay in touch now, wont you.


PPRuNe Pop - I apologise for lowering myself to this bitter person.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 13:41
  #56 (permalink)  
 
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You do not really understand the sarcasm in my posts do you? You really are gullible. Can I ask you what you are doing during the company time (and I assume on company equipment) spending hours making useless and pathetic posts on pprune. Is it not you that is the BA thief?
If you call this present time in BA turning the corner. May god be with you all.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 13:51
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Not come up to see us all yet? Give it up sonny. BA are obviously of little interest to you. The reason we keep checking is how hilariously idiotic your posts have been. It has kept us very, very amused. Thank you again.
Ha ha ha...loser.
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Old 15th Aug 2005, 20:30
  #58 (permalink)  
 
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Returned on BA today from SFO and got no food, although there were plently of bottles of water handed out, plus a $20 voucher to buy food in the terminal, although not sure if this was for everyone or just for silver and above card holders.

BA also provided us with a packed lunch with biscuits, another bottle of water, a banana, crackers, nuts and cheese and a bag of crisps.

To be honest, I didn't really miss the meal that much as I don't like airline meals at the best of times and I thought BA did what they could very well.

Seems to me this is just another excuse for BA knockers to have a go....
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