Where is BA "The World's Favourite" in the top 100 World Airlines 2015?
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Excellent post Wirbelstrum. Totally agree.
If I recall rightly, the term "Worlds Favourite Airline" was coined because, at the time, BA carried more International passengers than any other carrier, not necessarily because they were the best carrier.
The world has moved on since then, and so has BA.
If I recall rightly, the term "Worlds Favourite Airline" was coined because, at the time, BA carried more International passengers than any other carrier, not necessarily because they were the best carrier.
The world has moved on since then, and so has BA.
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Even in Wallyworld they must surely recognise that BA is on the waterslide to obscurity - alongside the likes of Garuda, Continental, BanglaBiman, American, EgyptAir, Malaysian, et al.
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Even in Wallyworld they must surely recognise that BA is on the waterslide to obscurity - alongside the likes of Garuda, Continental, BanglaBiman, American, EgyptAir, Malaysian, et al.
Terrible slide.
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Now that the disgusting and unreliable Gatwick 737 fleet has nearly gone, BA arguably provides a reasonable and cost competitive European service with its A 3xx fleet. The equipment is (usually) clean, and in my experience when delays occur, they are more often due to airport congestion than tech failures.
This is in sharp contrast to the longhaul fleet which is dire. Again, in my experience the 777s are OK but often subject to tech delays but paradoxically the geriatric 744 fleet seems reasonably reliable but I feel like having a shower mid flight. They are, frankly, embarrasingly shabby. By contrast the remaining Lufthansa 744s are spotless. And before you flame me for having a (rare) opinion I fly as pax more than most pilots fly as their job - in the past 5 weeks I have been to St Johns (AC), Perth (BA/CX), Beijing (BA/Dragonair), San Francisco (Virgin), and yesterday, Lisbon (BA).
So I have a fair idea.
This is in sharp contrast to the longhaul fleet which is dire. Again, in my experience the 777s are OK but often subject to tech delays but paradoxically the geriatric 744 fleet seems reasonably reliable but I feel like having a shower mid flight. They are, frankly, embarrasingly shabby. By contrast the remaining Lufthansa 744s are spotless. And before you flame me for having a (rare) opinion I fly as pax more than most pilots fly as their job - in the past 5 weeks I have been to St Johns (AC), Perth (BA/CX), Beijing (BA/Dragonair), San Francisco (Virgin), and yesterday, Lisbon (BA).
So I have a fair idea.
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Crews becoming tired and fatigued as EASA screws scientifically proven rostering in favour of a one glove fits all approach and the Airline execs can screw more working hours out of their crews.
coming from then. Are we talking BA crews in specific or is this a general ill informed rant?The subject is BA's position in the rankings. My personal view is yes might be on a clapped out 747 so the service might not be great but i'd rather be sitting with a BA crew in an event than a non EASA airline that comes out better service wise. You only have to look at other forums about Crews working hard, you very rarely see comments about over worked BA crews here....
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you very rarely see comments about over worked BA crews here..
Doesn't this thread belong in SLF? It's hardly news.......
For what it's worth, you can look at it two ways.
From an economic perspective BA are a successful business in an industry where the playing field is far from level.
From a passengers perspective, they're nothing special and I don't even think they aspire to be. If I can avoid them long haul then I will.
For what it's worth, you can look at it two ways.
From an economic perspective BA are a successful business in an industry where the playing field is far from level.
From a passengers perspective, they're nothing special and I don't even think they aspire to be. If I can avoid them long haul then I will.
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World's Favourite Airline
The slogan "World's Favourite Airline" goes back a long way, to 1982 IIRC, when the aviation industry was quite different.
At the time BA was a "public corporation" owned by the government. It was one of those much maligned institutions, a nationalised industry.
Draw your own conclusions.
As for the "clapped out" B747s, it is a pity that B747-8s were not considered as suitable replacements.
At the time BA was a "public corporation" owned by the government. It was one of those much maligned institutions, a nationalised industry.
Draw your own conclusions.
As for the "clapped out" B747s, it is a pity that B747-8s were not considered as suitable replacements.
Most of the time BA Cabin Crew do an excellent job. Flight Crew do an excellent job ALL of the time as far as I'm concerned. Yes I'm biased towards BA because I used to fly for them. However if managers decided to sit in front of laptops cutting the product to the bare bone and along with ancient aircraft with poor interiors and facilities flying longhaul routes then the world will start to compare and criticise with other carriers. Is it any wonder they are not 'top of the pops' What is that old idiom "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear''? Crew can only serve what they are given to serve. If there is nothing there then it can't be their fault.
Hell I'm flying Egyptair on a 738 to Luxor in a few weeks. I wonder what treats I'm in for
Hell I'm flying Egyptair on a 738 to Luxor in a few weeks. I wonder what treats I'm in for
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I think they provide a fairly robust product for the London market. They're facing pressure from competitors and the benefits of flying BA aren't as clear cut as before. In years gone by I didn't mind paying that little by extra knowing I could select a seat in advance, put my bag in the hold and get a meal or snack.
Nowadays the free seat selection is just 24 hours before departure and the choice is limited (paying to select a seat is quite expensive), it costs more to put a bag in the hold and the meal/snack is now a packet of savoury snacks and a drink. The new A320 cabin looks good, but the reality is you're squeezed in like a LCC.
I also find the cabin crew very inconsistent. Some are lovely and will do anything for you but some of them seem to take pleasure from treating the pax like dirt.
I live in the regions and fly them to London. Connections onward to mainland Europe are not feasible due to their prices. They were exactly double the cost of my upcoming flight to Berlin with AFKLM. There's no way that they are worth paying that much extra for.
I've never flown them long haul but westbound the new American and Delta have really upped their game lately (United is still, well, United!) and to the east. the MEB3 have good products and prices. I do wonder where this leaves BA.
Nowadays the free seat selection is just 24 hours before departure and the choice is limited (paying to select a seat is quite expensive), it costs more to put a bag in the hold and the meal/snack is now a packet of savoury snacks and a drink. The new A320 cabin looks good, but the reality is you're squeezed in like a LCC.
I also find the cabin crew very inconsistent. Some are lovely and will do anything for you but some of them seem to take pleasure from treating the pax like dirt.
I live in the regions and fly them to London. Connections onward to mainland Europe are not feasible due to their prices. They were exactly double the cost of my upcoming flight to Berlin with AFKLM. There's no way that they are worth paying that much extra for.
I've never flown them long haul but westbound the new American and Delta have really upped their game lately (United is still, well, United!) and to the east. the MEB3 have good products and prices. I do wonder where this leaves BA.
Having flown with them long haul in World Traveller Plus recently, I endorse that 100%. My most enduring memory of the experience, though, was the dry croissant and granola bar I was served for 'breakfast'.......
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Hell I'm flying Egyptair on a 738 to Luxor in a few weeks. I wonder what treats I'm in for
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I'm a tad biased, however, having flown for companies in the US for the past five years, I'd still say that the difference in service between BA and the North American carriers is night and day. Delta, on their day, can be acceptable. United are exceptionally inconsistent in terms of the hard product, but the staff let them down more often than not, and the catering is below par. However, American are the pits. Unless you get a brand new 77W the product is appalling. Across the Atlantic I have yet to experience on demand IFE, in fact on my last three flights there has been no IFE. The food on American has been disgusting for the last few years, so much so that my wife and I bring our own stuff, even when flying Business.
BA on the other hand have a good, solid product, if not earth shattering. The IFE is good, seats are comfortable, the crew are excellent 90% of the time, the other 10% they are indifferent at worst, never rude though. Additionally I have found the food to be a lot better than the North American carriers, even in economy.
On short haul BA constantly impress me. Last year I flew LBA to LHR and the crew managed three drinks services and a choice of snacks on a 30 minute flight with a full load. In this day and age a hot meal isn't necessary on a flight under three hours, and I'd rather choose something in the terminal myself.
The BA 744 fleet needs replacing, it's not in a great state and a deep clean would not go amiss, but compared to the ramshackle 767s I've flown on with US carriers, even the BA 744s are a haven.
However, Virgin have really upped their product recently, and the ME3 are roaring ahead. BA need to start thinking about a serious service refresh, but for now they are doing fine.
BA on the other hand have a good, solid product, if not earth shattering. The IFE is good, seats are comfortable, the crew are excellent 90% of the time, the other 10% they are indifferent at worst, never rude though. Additionally I have found the food to be a lot better than the North American carriers, even in economy.
On short haul BA constantly impress me. Last year I flew LBA to LHR and the crew managed three drinks services and a choice of snacks on a 30 minute flight with a full load. In this day and age a hot meal isn't necessary on a flight under three hours, and I'd rather choose something in the terminal myself.
The BA 744 fleet needs replacing, it's not in a great state and a deep clean would not go amiss, but compared to the ramshackle 767s I've flown on with US carriers, even the BA 744s are a haven.
However, Virgin have really upped their product recently, and the ME3 are roaring ahead. BA need to start thinking about a serious service refresh, but for now they are doing fine.
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Having used the LHR/LBA flight I must say your experience is very much the exception. Down the back the trolley gets to you with just enough time to serve you. If anyone got three drinks it's because they're sat close to a galley. There's no way a crew would willingly haul a trolley through the length of a cabin doing three services when they don't need to.
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Maybe I was just lucky with my crew then Mockingjay. I was mid cabin in economy, and the whole cabin got served three times. In my experience that hasn't been the exception either, in the last year I must've flown 15-20 times on short haul with BA to LBA, MAN, EDI, WAW, AMS, BRU, DUS, FRA, HAM and CPH. On every flight I've been impressed with the in-flight service. Granted, on long haul I've only done ORD-LHR-ORD in the last year, but on the couple of occasions I've used that service, it's been great, although admittedly on a newer 77W.
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I must have been unlucky. I have been given a second drink on request but the crew have never done several services. I've only used them on NCL, LBA and CDG asp my exposure is fairly limited.
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Having used the LHR/LBA flight I must say your experience is very much the exception. Down the back the trolley gets to you with just enough time to serve you. If anyone got three drinks it's because they're sat close to a galley. There's no way a crew would willingly haul a trolley through the length of a cabin doing three services when they don't need to.
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This was last time I flew BA on LAX-LHR in a rattling 747. My neighbor had condensation drip on him the entire flight and since it was full, the stewardesses just offered him a blanket he could wrap around his head like a turban to soak it up. Haven't been back since.
Even Virgin have become Essex chavvy. My only choice on that route these days are Air New Zealand. They are great and an example of how a national carrier should be. Reminds me of SAS in their heydays in the 80's. Clean, crisp and minimalist.
http://www.adamfrisch.com/images/ba-filth.jpg
Even Virgin have become Essex chavvy. My only choice on that route these days are Air New Zealand. They are great and an example of how a national carrier should be. Reminds me of SAS in their heydays in the 80's. Clean, crisp and minimalist.
http://www.adamfrisch.com/images/ba-filth.jpg
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I was paid a commission when I was crew. The more I sold the more I made so I had an incentive. Even with that in mind doing more services than was mandated just wouldn't happen but if BA crew are willing to do three services in a domestic then I take my hat off to them.