BA - Lesson 1:01: How To Seriously Upset A Group Of Premium Customers
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Business Trip ABZ-LHR. £550.40 return. Packet of seeds as some kind of "snack". One hour 15 min flying time to LHR. One hour 20 min to deliver bags at T5. Tatty and dirty aircraft. How the mighty have fallen .... except the price.
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I'm adding the following pebble to the information mountain in the vain hope that there is a member of BA management that has some influence to point out that it is too late.
Chatting with a family today who had to make a short notice trip from CPT to the UK for a funeral. After chatting about South Africa, I asked which carrier they were on for this trip: "Normally, BA business direct from CPT to LHR but, with this important trip, we came SAA Business. I don't really like their Airbus' but we could not take the risk of using BA. That said, BA Club is not what it was."
Probably time to close this thread, otherwise we're just all going to keep adding sorry stories to it.
Chatting with a family today who had to make a short notice trip from CPT to the UK for a funeral. After chatting about South Africa, I asked which carrier they were on for this trip: "Normally, BA business direct from CPT to LHR but, with this important trip, we came SAA Business. I don't really like their Airbus' but we could not take the risk of using BA. That said, BA Club is not what it was."
Probably time to close this thread, otherwise we're just all going to keep adding sorry stories to it.
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And the truly scary aspect, if you read the CC forum, is that a lot of BA cabin crew seem to think that they are providing service levels that are world beating.
I've never experienced 'bad' service on a BA flight, it is usually acceptable to good, but that is a very different thing to world leading.
From personal experience over the past few years, I have experienced superior service on Emirates, Swiss, Iberia (unbelievable, but true, long haul MAD -GRU) and Air Malta.
And BA ground service is often awful.
I've never experienced 'bad' service on a BA flight, it is usually acceptable to good, but that is a very different thing to world leading.
From personal experience over the past few years, I have experienced superior service on Emirates, Swiss, Iberia (unbelievable, but true, long haul MAD -GRU) and Air Malta.
And BA ground service is often awful.
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[QUOTE]Business Trip ABZ-LHR. £550.40 return. Packet of seeds as some kind of "snack". One hour 15 min flying time to LHR. One hour 20 min to deliver bags at T5. Tatty and dirty aircraft. How the mighty have fallen .... except the price./QUOTE]
Can I ask why you paid so much ? You must have had other options?!
Can I ask why you paid so much ? You must have had other options?!
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F3G
Good service on IBERIA? Lucky you, you have my total envy.
I was reading through this post and thought: welcome to the real world! That treatment sounds like daily OPS for the rest of the world...
Good service on IBERIA? Lucky you, you have my total envy.
I was reading through this post and thought: welcome to the real world! That treatment sounds like daily OPS for the rest of the world...
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Hunter58
I have to admit that I only took 2 Iberia flights, there and back, but the service both ways was excellent, with lovely food (they actually brought a trolley around with hot dishes on proper plates and the roast suckling pig was excellent.)
The staff were friendly, too.
But when you read of other people's experiences, I accept that I must have been very lucky!
I have to admit that I only took 2 Iberia flights, there and back, but the service both ways was excellent, with lovely food (they actually brought a trolley around with hot dishes on proper plates and the roast suckling pig was excellent.)
The staff were friendly, too.
But when you read of other people's experiences, I accept that I must have been very lucky!
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@ PAXboy ...
I really feel it is useful to retain this focal point for those in BA Management who might read PPRuNe. We may be adding pebbles, as you so nicely expressed it, but I also live in hope that those responsible might take note of our overall feelings once the current 'problem' is resolved/clarified.
I'm adding the following pebble to the information mountain in the vain hope that there is a member of BA management that has some influence to point out that it is too late.
......
Probably time to close this thread, otherwise we're just all going to keep adding sorry stories to it.
......
Probably time to close this thread, otherwise we're just all going to keep adding sorry stories to it.
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Referring to Final 3 Greens' post, I had an interesting experience on a BA flight from Houston last month.
My company always fly us either First or Business, with one exception - to and from Houston (because so many of us fly backwards and forwards from Houston).
Going out, BA lost my luggage, which eventually turned up two days later (yes, I was given $250.00 compensation which was appreciated).
HOWEVER, on the return flight, I was assigned seat 40A. As I got on the flight, a male cabin member was all over me and took me directly to seat 4A (First Class). Stupidly, I thought that since I was a Gold Card member, I had been bumped because of the inconvenience on the outward journey. But five minutes later the same member of the cabin staff looked at my Boarding pass as he went past my seat and all hell broke loose! He demanded that I get out of First and get back to my proper seat. I even had difficulties getting my jacket, which was in the wardrobe, because of his haste and bad manners.
As soon as we were airborne, I demanded to see the cabin Services Director. He listened sympathetically and said he would 'sort it out'. However as the aircraft was virtually full, he couldn't move me. I accepted that, but was still furious about the other cabin member.
When we landed, the CSD came back and gave me a bottle of very good wine 'for my inconvenience'. Well done!
However, because of the attitude of the first cabin member, it has cost BA a large amount of money. Because I have had to go to Singapore three times since the episode and guess what? I've travelled Singapore Airlines!
My company always fly us either First or Business, with one exception - to and from Houston (because so many of us fly backwards and forwards from Houston).
Going out, BA lost my luggage, which eventually turned up two days later (yes, I was given $250.00 compensation which was appreciated).
HOWEVER, on the return flight, I was assigned seat 40A. As I got on the flight, a male cabin member was all over me and took me directly to seat 4A (First Class). Stupidly, I thought that since I was a Gold Card member, I had been bumped because of the inconvenience on the outward journey. But five minutes later the same member of the cabin staff looked at my Boarding pass as he went past my seat and all hell broke loose! He demanded that I get out of First and get back to my proper seat. I even had difficulties getting my jacket, which was in the wardrobe, because of his haste and bad manners.
As soon as we were airborne, I demanded to see the cabin Services Director. He listened sympathetically and said he would 'sort it out'. However as the aircraft was virtually full, he couldn't move me. I accepted that, but was still furious about the other cabin member.
When we landed, the CSD came back and gave me a bottle of very good wine 'for my inconvenience'. Well done!
However, because of the attitude of the first cabin member, it has cost BA a large amount of money. Because I have had to go to Singapore three times since the episode and guess what? I've travelled Singapore Airlines!
Last edited by Lukeafb1; 5th Mar 2010 at 11:49. Reason: Spelling error
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Stupidly, I thought that since I was a Gold Card member, I had been bumped because of the inconvenience on the outward journey.
Fortunately, I didn't get thrown out later
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How disappointing to read this thread. I don’t have to use BA any more, so I don’t. I travel to the Far East up to 4 times a year in business class, and SQ, MH, CX, BR, BI, QF, TG, EK could all teach BA cabin crew and their management a thing or two. It is an attitude problem, and the sooner they lose it the better. All other sections of BA seem fine.
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Hey..Final 3 Greens,
Good on ya!
That sort of thing probably happens multiple times, can't quite work out if it's to solve a CG problem or just because the opportunity is there and you happen to be the lucky one!
Anyway, when I flew, (not in BA), those sorts of thoughts go through my mind when the CG is slightly amiss (from the weight sheet setting), at rotate!
Cheers...FD...
Good on ya!
That sort of thing probably happens multiple times, can't quite work out if it's to solve a CG problem or just because the opportunity is there and you happen to be the lucky one!
Anyway, when I flew, (not in BA), those sorts of thoughts go through my mind when the CG is slightly amiss (from the weight sheet setting), at rotate!
Cheers...FD...
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Changed times
Not wishing to say 'when I was a lad', but I will. My first flight with BOAC/Cunard was a long time ago - economy service was similar to somewhere between business and first today (there was no business class in those days of course). Recently on a flight from Antigua - about eight hours or so, after at least one night stop for the crew, pax were asked to be quiet at the rear of the cabin as the cabin crew were trying to sleep. I like BA but am sad that so many are hell bent on their own destruction - a bird in the hand and all that.
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BJH123,
I'm sure that this has been mentioned more than once, but your latest post prompts me to reply.
I have noticed a lot in the last 3 or 4 years, that on long haul, regardless of the time of day, the priorities of cabin crew are:
1. Feed the animals as quickly as possible,
2. Close all of the window blinds (morning and afternoon),
3. Encourage the animals to sleep.
Thus, for most of the flight, these self satisfied crews have little or nothing to do, except sleep themselves.
I'm sure that this has been mentioned more than once, but your latest post prompts me to reply.
I have noticed a lot in the last 3 or 4 years, that on long haul, regardless of the time of day, the priorities of cabin crew are:
1. Feed the animals as quickly as possible,
2. Close all of the window blinds (morning and afternoon),
3. Encourage the animals to sleep.
Thus, for most of the flight, these self satisfied crews have little or nothing to do, except sleep themselves.
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Not sure you can blame the crew for that. Back in the good olde days (when tickets were absolutely ridiculously expensive and you had less choice of carrier than today and going to places like New York was the 'holiday of a lifetime') they would have all sorts of goodies to hand out. Nowadays it must be even more boring for them than it is for us lot with our in flight entertainment (which is far far far superior than it was).
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scumbag o'reilly
If then the crews are so bored that they have nothing else top do on an eight hour flight than sleep, why all of the angst about reduction in the number of crew who are there to be bored
If then the crews are so bored that they have nothing else top do on an eight hour flight than sleep, why all of the angst about reduction in the number of crew who are there to be bored
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Originally Posted by Lukeafb1
...the priorities of cabin crew are:
1. Feed the animals as quickly as possible,
2. Close all of the window blinds (morning and afternoon),
3. Encourage the animals to sleep.
1. Feed the animals as quickly as possible,
2. Close all of the window blinds (morning and afternoon),
3. Encourage the animals to sleep.
I operate LHR-LAX weekly. First service takes about 3 hours, second about 2, plus 30 minutes of duties post take-off (pax documentation, galley prep etc.) and 30 minutes pre-arrival (galley prep, cabin prep etc.). That leaves about a 5 hour window in the middle with no service, usually leading to 2 x 2hour rest periods (half the crew on each).
The non-resting crew have various technical duties to perform (bar stock counting, service prep) but these are fairy low level tasks: We also do a water/juice cabin run in economy approximately every half hour.
We ask window shade blinds to be closed on all flight, the difference being that on a daytime/daylight flight it's a simple request, whereas we are more assertive on night/sleep sectors. On all sectors, a majority of customers snooze.
So back to the question - what should we be doing? If it is something else, please let me know, and we'll do it - what would be the point in not doing so?
Originally Posted by Lukeafb1
Thus, for most of the flight, these self satisfied crews have little or nothing to do, except sleep themselves
And BTW... I have never heard crew members refer to customers as 'Animals' and would take sanctions against any that I did.
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The angst you mention is because..........
Ah another thread.
One does remember the 'good olde days' of the MAN-LHR shuttle when you would be served a drink, three course meal, coffee, drink, liqueur, and sweeties. And sometimes they even got the trolleys in place and were in their seats before we landed.
Cost a small fortune of course but they certainly worked their butts off.
And edited as I forgot the hot towels lol
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We ask window shade blinds to be closed on all flight
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But people are keen on a nap, and rather a lot of them - I'm not imagining it. To help them, we ask for blinds to be drawn down: You have the option to refuse, preferably politely - but being asked the question seems to irritate you?
I'm having problems understanding this apparent antagonism - With a large group of people, there will always be differing requirements. Your crew have attempted to meet the needs of a majority and as a result are branded as being something akin to selfish or lazy.
I'll ask you also, Skipness One Echo - What should we be doing instead? I assume that your preferred option is to have all the window blinds open, so let's pretend that now they are so - what should the crew now do with their time?
I'm having problems understanding this apparent antagonism - With a large group of people, there will always be differing requirements. Your crew have attempted to meet the needs of a majority and as a result are branded as being something akin to selfish or lazy.
I'll ask you also, Skipness One Echo - What should we be doing instead? I assume that your preferred option is to have all the window blinds open, so let's pretend that now they are so - what should the crew now do with their time?
Tighslot, the issue I have with the blinds down policy is that it is not always implemented by crews politely. Last but one trip I made the crew just came along and shut the blinds - no comment of any kind - just down (and done with a tray to extend his reach). So I opened mine up and asked the crew member who did it that next time would he please have the courtesy to ask. I'm not saying it happens every time and it certainly happens on more airlines than just BA but if I'm sitting next to a window I like to be able to look out of it. These days I'm made to feel like a pariah for doing so even when the crew have "asked".