New BA ?

[PatsyCline]

Goodness.. has anyone experienced checking-in for British Airways since, I believe, Sunday?On-line/telephone/Desk?I was told that they've introduced a new computer system, at much cost, to the detriment of their general operations throughout the whole network. The lounges are not happy and rumour has it unless things are resolved and pdq this is the final nail in the multi coloured coffin of British Airways.

I use the lounges and out of choice i fly BA, generally they are the better choice, but this madness that staff think should have been put back after 9/11 will finally pull the airline and sadly many others down with it?

anyone else heard simlar? <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

[gas path]

Sorry your having trouble. It's a new computor system called Amadaeus (spelling??). It was bought in to integrate better with the booking system used by (most?) other carriers, and, like all new systems is not without it's teething troubles. The previous system we were told was getting extremely hard to maintain and wouldn't integrate with the upgrades coming to all the other sytems.

[ITguy]

BA decided in Nov 1999 to outsource their reservations & departure control systems (along with many others run on the same systems). In April 2000 they decided to go with Amadeus, a large European CRS (Computer Reservation System). In July 2001 they cut over to using Amadeus Fares instead of Galileo Fares. In Nov 2001 they moved the hardware to the Amadeus datacentre in Germany. On 24th Feb 2002 they switched over to using Amadeus for all their bookings. It's the biggest IT change BA has done in their entire history and has gone amazingly well considering the changes involved. Whether it was the correct thing for BA to do will only be found out in the years to come.

[sweety]

Yes, we had a taste of that trying to book a flight...making people extremely "not happy" this is.... .BA is going down, me thinks... <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

[ 27 February 2002: Message edited by: sweety ]</p>

[topman]

It was such a good idea that its was virtually impossible to talk to anyone on their res number on Monday. Tried all day about 5 times to check availability and prices with no joy.

The web site wouldn't let me book what I needed despite the timetable showing flights available.

[Gaza]

BABS (British Airways Booking System) was creaking badly and had to be replaced. As stated above they replaced it with Amadeus. The cost associated with supporting BABS were huge. It was essentially a home made res system that has been in use for many, many years. If BA had not replaced it they ran the risk of more catastrophic downtime. The changeover has been relatively smooth. I've spoken to Exec Sales 3 times this week and got through quite easily. As with any new system there are a few problems. In addition the staff are still getting to grips with it.

I would bet my house this this WILL NOT bring BA down and, IMHO, those that think it will all talking complete and utter pish!!!

[flypastpastfast]

Funny how whenever anything like this happens to BA, the doom and gloom merchants pop up with "it's the end of BA" etc..etc..

As the above poster pointed out, it is utter pish.

[Anti-ice]

Here here Gaza and Flypastpastfast - its just a longneeded systems update to enhance peoples flying experience . .

Do these other guys really know what they're talking about ? ? <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

[united1]

Anti-Ice

The other guys clearly have no idea of what they are talking about!

Working for BA CitiExpress, the number of delays (in addition to the norm) has been almost non existent.

This system cutover over not only saves the company a hell of a lot of cash, but once staff are upto speed (and that wont take long) all passengers booking will find the whole experience of booking so much easier than before.

It will be like booking for any other airline that has been using Amadeus for several years.

Doubters! Go and pick fault with something you may have a slight amount of knowledge on!

[Gaza]

To give you some idea of the magnitude of the change read the <a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020228/nyth097_1.html" target="_blank">Press Release</a> from Amadeus. These are the highlights:-

* 48,190 terminals and 14,881 printers (ticket and broadcast) were migrated to the Amadeus System

* 2.5 Million PNRs (Passenger Name or booking Records) were migrated from BABS to Amadeus Global Core system.

* 6.5 Million Customer Profiles were migrated from OCD (operational customer database) to the Amadeus Customer Server.

* 13,400 BA staff were trained and set up to use the Amadeus System.

* 51 key systems in British Airways are impacted by the change in systems involving re-organization of interfaces and data streams.

* More than 300 staff from British Airways were involved in managing the migration.

From the lack of queues at LHR and the lack of complaints on Travel Forums, it seems to have gone very smoothly indeed.

[schwabn]

Come on people, I think you're being a bit hasty writing BA off over their booking system.. .I'm no big fan of BA but what you have to recognise is that BA is one of the World's most established airlines and is here to stay.

What I will agree with you on though, is the point that they aren't "The World's favourite Airline" anymore.

[ST.CRISPIN]

This is PatsyCline (loss of password blah blah blah). .I certainly did not mean for the post to sound as gleeful as it might appear.I hold shares (HA!) in BA and really appreciate them.In no way do I want it to disappear and in no way will it happen (BLAIR FORCE ONE....Complete with MOLlyair rugby shirts! I think not..could you imagine the champagne bill for I-Wannabe-Oanassis-Air LTN to Kabul??). .Any way i was simply passing on what i'd heard and the story seemed slighty more positive in Edinburgh today... <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[somewhatconcerned]

I travel to the States more frequently than most but far less frequently than the buisness pax but I have to say that for an economy traveler like my myself they rank very low in my opinion. All ticket purchases are done through agents and check ins are done with the rest of the cattle class so I find that hard to compare with others. However the atmosphere in the cabin created by the cabin crew is appauling. I travel fairly often with a co. that states its dislike of BA's tactics on their aircraft and find them very good. I travel with a major US carrier more frequently than either of those two and find them exceptional.. .BA can only rely on it's rep for so long. It's time for BA to do a long term indepth study into customer satisfaction right down to grass roots level (not just a study that allows management to hear what they want, it needs to be a warts an all affair).. . I think BA may get a shock, I have heard many agree with my humble opinion.

[sweety]

I didn't actually mean it was the end of BA - I very much hope things get better (I've always wanted to work for BA!!! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> ). I meant that seems like they are not doing very well.. I am no expert and wasn't trying to upset anyone, but it's not very nice when the holiday I really look forward to, could not happen, because we can't get tickets ... <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

I hope that what I red above is true & everything will be sorted, maybe already is? They promised it would be completely functional on Saturday.. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Sorry for my English, sometimes what I say seems to be different to what I think...

[M.Mouse]

somewhatconcerned

You state 'However the atmosphere in the cabin created by the cabin crew is appauling (sic)."

That comment is subjective and unfair. I would suggest that many would claim the opposite. Would you care to elaborate?

I appreciate that English is probably not your first language but 'I travel fairly often with a co. that states its dislike of BA's tactics on their aircraft and find them very good.' makes no sense. What do you mean?

BA actually go to great lengths to ascertain customer perception and satisfaction levels. I believe that one thing that has come from these surveys is that we could be more consistent. The results of these various surveys are communicated to the staff. We would be foolish indeed if we did not read and take note.

We carry many millions of passengers. I also travel as a passenger frequently in all cabins and am perhaps more critical than most when observing the experience from the paying customer's point of view. When we are good I believe we are amongst the best. It grieves me when I hear otherwise. What I am sure of is that the majority of BA staff are very loyal and work extremely hard to win and retain passengers.

Yes we have problems (name me an airline in the world that doesn't or hasn't been criticised on this BBS) but overall I believe that most of the puerile criticism of BA, Easyjet, Ryanair, BMI, Virgin etc is out of all proportion to the actual level of dissatisfaction.

[mainfrog2]

somewhatconcerned.

I think you will find BA's web site as easy to find as pprune. Just key in BA because it is a keyword on the internet. Also you can book tickets using the same site and if you click that you are a US resident you will see everything in dollars. My point being don't slag the company off for not doing something it patently does (www.BA.com) just because you can't apparently be bothered to check. Cabin Crew! good and bad everywhere not just at BA. If you want to build up US based airlines please do, but don't do it with misinformation about another company.

[Easy Glider]

w

[Scottie Dog]

Company I work for uses the SABRE reservations system. We had a number of travellers for whom E-tickets had been issued, and where BA checkin staff were unable to see the ticket data.

This meant the travellers having to pa a 2nd time for tickets, and on a number of occassions having to pay a higher fare than necessary as the e-tickets were issued at special 'negotiated' fares that the airline is not able to issue.

Seems a complete Beta testing might have not been done.

Hopefully all has now been resolved - except the hassle of having to process all those refunds for no remuneration!

Scottie Dog