BA Strike - Your Thoughts & Questions
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I need to book another trip to the USA (Boston), in addition to the several long haul business class I have recently booked by other carriers due to the strike. These include trips to Boston/Sydney/Atlanta and two further Boston ones.
So based on my historic BA preference the travel agent checked prices, same flight class (Business) same dates 18th April out 30th April back
The Price for British Airways £4446.77, Virgin £2967.77, so in the midst of trying to keep passengers, and encourage premium pax back even in the uncertainty of further strike action BA are expecting a £1500 premium.....
Looks like I will be sticking with Virgin on this one, I fear that the damage to BA has been done forever. It is a shame I cant earn points on American Airlines, but then Virgin service is much better in my opinion.
So based on my historic BA preference the travel agent checked prices, same flight class (Business) same dates 18th April out 30th April back
The Price for British Airways £4446.77, Virgin £2967.77, so in the midst of trying to keep passengers, and encourage premium pax back even in the uncertainty of further strike action BA are expecting a £1500 premium.....
Looks like I will be sticking with Virgin on this one, I fear that the damage to BA has been done forever. It is a shame I cant earn points on American Airlines, but then Virgin service is much better in my opinion.
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Well, miamimike, let's hope that everyone will get together again after the strike and if they do, it will be thanks to the efforts of the crews who have operated during the strike keeping the company afloat.
I am told that there is a party atmosphere on the flights and in the crewrooms today that makes the open top 'bus people look rather foolish.
I am told that there is a party atmosphere on the flights and in the crewrooms today that makes the open top 'bus people look rather foolish.
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jethrobee:
I was just discussing this issue with another traveler.
He recently used Virgin to fly back from the States and, though he has a fondness for BA, he stated that the service made BA feel a bit "dated".
I'm hearing far too often that some BA Cabin Crew treat customers (and most people I know fly First or Business) as an aside. Perhaps this strike will create the opportunity for some refreshening of approaches by Crew and provide the company with the flexibility to renew the service standard.
I was just discussing this issue with another traveler.
He recently used Virgin to fly back from the States and, though he has a fondness for BA, he stated that the service made BA feel a bit "dated".
I'm hearing far too often that some BA Cabin Crew treat customers (and most people I know fly First or Business) as an aside. Perhaps this strike will create the opportunity for some refreshening of approaches by Crew and provide the company with the flexibility to renew the service standard.
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@ jethrobee ... in the case of your forward booking, that might well be the case, as the cheaper seats have been sold already.
Do a comparison 3 months ahead of your planned date, and I would expect you'll find the BA/VS prices are the same to a penny/cent.
Do a comparison 3 months ahead of your planned date, and I would expect you'll find the BA/VS prices are the same to a penny/cent.
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@JethroBee
So based on my historic BA preference the travel agent checked prices, same flight class (Business) same dates 18th April out 30th April back
The Price for British Airways £4446.77, Virgin £2967.77, so in the midst of trying to keep passengers, and encourage premium pax back even in the uncertainty of further strike action BA are expecting a £1500 premium.....
So based on my historic BA preference the travel agent checked prices, same flight class (Business) same dates 18th April out 30th April back
The Price for British Airways £4446.77, Virgin £2967.77, so in the midst of trying to keep passengers, and encourage premium pax back even in the uncertainty of further strike action BA are expecting a £1500 premium.....
Must have been a special fare.
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Can somone please expand on the "hot towel" issue I keep hearing about?
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LD12986:
Thank you.
The next time a striking Cabin Crew member says "Its about keeping the service excellent, its about our customers!" I'll simply reply with this:
I believe that excerpt is telling in the extreme.
Thank you.
The next time a striking Cabin Crew member says "Its about keeping the service excellent, its about our customers!" I'll simply reply with this:
British Airways faces significant hurdles if it wants to change work practices, as it found this year when it wanted to start a hot-towel service in premium economy.
Bassa, the union that represents cabin crew, said that negotiation was required.
It wanted the number of crew on a Boeing 747 increased from 15 to 16 — at a cost of tens of millions of pounds — in return for distributing the hot towels.
BA refused, claiming that hot towel service did not constitute a significant change in working practices.
The service has been introduced, but BA cabin crew told The Times that many staff still refuse to give out the hot towels because it is not a union-sanctioned activity.
Bassa, the union that represents cabin crew, said that negotiation was required.
It wanted the number of crew on a Boeing 747 increased from 15 to 16 — at a cost of tens of millions of pounds — in return for distributing the hot towels.
BA refused, claiming that hot towel service did not constitute a significant change in working practices.
The service has been introduced, but BA cabin crew told The Times that many staff still refuse to give out the hot towels because it is not a union-sanctioned activity.
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Two-Tone-Blue:
Looks like I need to start booking a lot earlier for Denver
The problem with Virgin is simply that your options in the States are really limited and to be perfectly honest their website irritates me. lol.
Looks like I need to start booking a lot earlier for Denver
The problem with Virgin is simply that your options in the States are really limited and to be perfectly honest their website irritates me. lol.
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Hi, Diplome!
Pre-booking cuts costs, simples. OK, I/we are the "comfortable retired" who are flexible and can plan ahead, and our trips to our '2nd home' in Virginia usually get booked within a couple of weeks of returning home from the previous one
For those with different scenarios, the pricing scales can be a beeeetch. Short-bookings cost a fortune.
The one thing I will say for Virgin [about to test reliability etc.] is that this time they were the cheapest car rental by a mile!! A 3-week SUV for £534 with Alamo [with ALL the insurances] out of IAD that undercut everything else on the Web - IIRC, the BA equivalent was over £700 when booked with the flights.
Pre-booking cuts costs, simples. OK, I/we are the "comfortable retired" who are flexible and can plan ahead, and our trips to our '2nd home' in Virginia usually get booked within a couple of weeks of returning home from the previous one
For those with different scenarios, the pricing scales can be a beeeetch. Short-bookings cost a fortune.
The one thing I will say for Virgin [about to test reliability etc.] is that this time they were the cheapest car rental by a mile!! A 3-week SUV for £534 with Alamo [with ALL the insurances] out of IAD that undercut everything else on the Web - IIRC, the BA equivalent was over £700 when booked with the flights.
Part of the background to this present shambles is surely that for decades BA has been smothering its CC with praise, assuring them that they are the best in the world, the face of the airline, topline this, world-class that...and pandering accordingly to the ever-ratcheting demands made by the relevant unions. The truth is they have long since been overtaken, having lost sight of world-class standards in their own fog of self-congratulation.
I still like BA as a carrier, and feel a loyalty to them, but it has to be admitted that much of their fleet is now decidedly down-at-heel with a distinctly used look (I'm not too much of a gent to stop myself adding "just like a fair percentage of the cabin crews"), ESPECIALLY in contrast to the fresh, bright and shiny hardware, service and services offered by the Eastern upstarts - Singapore, Emirates, Etihad etc.
And when it comes to BA's sommeliers recommending some wine or other as being "truly exceptional" one is now as likely to add "price-wise", whereas the modern rivals genuinely have pushed the boat out and provide true quality. Once this damned strike is sealed and settled, and appropriate arses have been kicked all round, I hope there's sufficient left in the kitty for BA to update, uprate and climb back onto that dizzy tightrope where they once reigned pretty much supreme. Too optimistic? But a reality check is long overdue...and not just for BASSA and Unite.
I still like BA as a carrier, and feel a loyalty to them, but it has to be admitted that much of their fleet is now decidedly down-at-heel with a distinctly used look (I'm not too much of a gent to stop myself adding "just like a fair percentage of the cabin crews"), ESPECIALLY in contrast to the fresh, bright and shiny hardware, service and services offered by the Eastern upstarts - Singapore, Emirates, Etihad etc.
And when it comes to BA's sommeliers recommending some wine or other as being "truly exceptional" one is now as likely to add "price-wise", whereas the modern rivals genuinely have pushed the boat out and provide true quality. Once this damned strike is sealed and settled, and appropriate arses have been kicked all round, I hope there's sufficient left in the kitty for BA to update, uprate and climb back onto that dizzy tightrope where they once reigned pretty much supreme. Too optimistic? But a reality check is long overdue...and not just for BASSA and Unite.
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Personal opinion, but to me, having used both BA and VS frequently, in all cabins BA beat them in terms of quality of serviceand comfort by a country mile - this is especially the case on the VS LGW 744 fleet - which are terrible.
I do however admit to a degress of bias being ex BA CC!
ST is just a nail for BASSA to hang their coat on, its something tangible to their members and god knows they need that. They fail totally when you look at any other aspect of their handling of this dispute.
WW has them cornered and they are desparate for a reason to distract their members attention away from this fact
I do however admit to a degress of bias being ex BA CC!
ST is just a nail for BASSA to hang their coat on, its something tangible to their members and god knows they need that. They fail totally when you look at any other aspect of their handling of this dispute.
WW has them cornered and they are desparate for a reason to distract their members attention away from this fact
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Two-Tone-Blue:
Good evening
Our travel plans are a definite mix. Part planned ahead, part on the spur of the moment as business requires.
I explored different offerings the other day looking at how the First and Business Class compared and Virgin is limited for some of my needs.
Would be wonderful to see BA come out of this situation more flexible in its ability to serve its customers though I'm not thrilled with the AA partnership. Definitely NOT my preferred carrier in the States.
Have you noted some rather dispirited commentary coming from some of the strikers. They sound a tad less confident.
Perhaps Unite will come to the table with a reasonable offer...though I'm not holding my breath.
Good evening
Our travel plans are a definite mix. Part planned ahead, part on the spur of the moment as business requires.
I explored different offerings the other day looking at how the First and Business Class compared and Virgin is limited for some of my needs.
Would be wonderful to see BA come out of this situation more flexible in its ability to serve its customers though I'm not thrilled with the AA partnership. Definitely NOT my preferred carrier in the States.
Have you noted some rather dispirited commentary coming from some of the strikers. They sound a tad less confident.
Perhaps Unite will come to the table with a reasonable offer...though I'm not holding my breath.
Last edited by Diplome; 28th Mar 2010 at 16:40. Reason: A glass of wine
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@ iwalkedaway ... I couldn't agree more. Especially on the wine, which is either not available as per menu or, if white, insufficiently chilled
However, the BA aircraft may be tired ... but so were Maxjet's during their brief moment in the sun. And their CC, and the incredible lounge at STN, made up for it to the point that you never really noticed the rattles and creaks and scuff-marks. They pitched Customer Service at the top of the list, and for a couple of years that was, for us, the ONLY way to fly.
BA ... I have absolutely ZERO emotion about the airline at all, I'm sorry to say. They fly me from A to B, they feed [and occasionally water] me, they are reliable and well maintained ... and do an average job LHR-IAD.
On other sectors, both European and Domestic, they can be simply amazing.
Remind me, where is all the current problem coming from?
However, the BA aircraft may be tired ... but so were Maxjet's during their brief moment in the sun. And their CC, and the incredible lounge at STN, made up for it to the point that you never really noticed the rattles and creaks and scuff-marks. They pitched Customer Service at the top of the list, and for a couple of years that was, for us, the ONLY way to fly.
BA ... I have absolutely ZERO emotion about the airline at all, I'm sorry to say. They fly me from A to B, they feed [and occasionally water] me, they are reliable and well maintained ... and do an average job LHR-IAD.
On other sectors, both European and Domestic, they can be simply amazing.
Remind me, where is all the current problem coming from?
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@ Diplome ...
1. Spur of the moment business travel is a beeeech. Fortunately I can run my business without having to travel anywhere!
2. VS limited on destinations, BA schedules may not fit - it's hard out there. I can't get to IAD without a night-stop at the Sofitel at LHR, for a start. However, at least IAD is one of BA's 'preserved destinations'.
3. As to the semi-strike - my money remains on WW, simply because he, and his staff [God, they have put in some overtime] have had a complete game-plan, with options, in place for months. The dullards in the Unions may be able to book a bouncy-castle at short notice, and generate random 'distortions of the truth', but I seriously doubt they have any Plan B [or even a Plan A, to be honest].
1. Spur of the moment business travel is a beeeech. Fortunately I can run my business without having to travel anywhere!
2. VS limited on destinations, BA schedules may not fit - it's hard out there. I can't get to IAD without a night-stop at the Sofitel at LHR, for a start. However, at least IAD is one of BA's 'preserved destinations'.
3. As to the semi-strike - my money remains on WW, simply because he, and his staff [God, they have put in some overtime] have had a complete game-plan, with options, in place for months. The dullards in the Unions may be able to book a bouncy-castle at short notice, and generate random 'distortions of the truth', but I seriously doubt they have any Plan B [or even a Plan A, to be honest].
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Dulles, possibly one of my least favorite airports. Do they still use the buses?
I must admit I do maintain a certain fondness of certain businesses (hotels, airlines, etc.) that serve me well. My husband finds it amusing as I can be rather ruthless in certain business areas, but will stay at the same hotel in Washington D.C., regardless of the Willard being next door, will forgive an airline for a miss here and there if the service is outstanding..and will be loathe to change.
I used to fly Alaska Airlines from Seattle to San Diego about 2 or three times a week and grew to love the airline. Moved to another area and it took me ages to readjust.
It has been a bit disconcerting to read that the staff I enjoyed was pitching fits over a hot towel service
I must admit I do maintain a certain fondness of certain businesses (hotels, airlines, etc.) that serve me well. My husband finds it amusing as I can be rather ruthless in certain business areas, but will stay at the same hotel in Washington D.C., regardless of the Willard being next door, will forgive an airline for a miss here and there if the service is outstanding..and will be loathe to change.
I used to fly Alaska Airlines from Seattle to San Diego about 2 or three times a week and grew to love the airline. Moved to another area and it took me ages to readjust.
It has been a bit disconcerting to read that the staff I enjoyed was pitching fits over a hot towel service
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My thourghts for what they are worth
This week I travelled LGW-JER-LGW. JER is my "second home" and I do this route often
My choice on this route is governed by price and convienience.
Convienience to me at the moment is check in at the south terminal as I have to bus it to the north to fly BA. I can get a hold allowance with BA free of charge but I don't need it......others do so BA might then outdo their rival FlyBe on this.
The last time I flew BA on this route (over a year ago) they attempted a "full breakfast service" on a 40 minute flight.....presumably with a reduced crew. The breakfast was delivered but not with the best grace. As CC for another carrier I can empathise with the time pressures on them but as SLF I don't expect my baggette almost thrown at me
I flew FlyBE this week because
It is the minority that are affecting the image/future of BA......the militants at LHR who have had it far too easy for far too long.
So what if a CSD who is on over £50,000 a year+ benefits has to serve on a trolley......welcome to my world luv as a PU where I get nowhere near what you do
If the LGW crew can see the bigger picture then why cannot their LHR colleagues or am I missng something? I've not read the thread so I might be
My choice on this route is governed by price and convienience.
Convienience to me at the moment is check in at the south terminal as I have to bus it to the north to fly BA. I can get a hold allowance with BA free of charge but I don't need it......others do so BA might then outdo their rival FlyBe on this.
The last time I flew BA on this route (over a year ago) they attempted a "full breakfast service" on a 40 minute flight.....presumably with a reduced crew. The breakfast was delivered but not with the best grace. As CC for another carrier I can empathise with the time pressures on them but as SLF I don't expect my baggette almost thrown at me
I flew FlyBE this week because
- They were cheaper than BA when i booked but only just
- They were not affected by threatened IA so my flight was reliable
- They take off from the south terminal (personal preferance but I wouldn't pay to do this)
It is the minority that are affecting the image/future of BA......the militants at LHR who have had it far too easy for far too long.
So what if a CSD who is on over £50,000 a year+ benefits has to serve on a trolley......welcome to my world luv as a PU where I get nowhere near what you do
If the LGW crew can see the bigger picture then why cannot their LHR colleagues or am I missng something? I've not read the thread so I might be
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Full Service Breakfast on a 40 minute flight?
My goodness...lol..that's just crazy. Personally I think you might have gotten off rather lightly. With only 40 minutes I might expect not only the baguette but the coffee to be tossed
My goodness...lol..that's just crazy. Personally I think you might have gotten off rather lightly. With only 40 minutes I might expect not only the baguette but the coffee to be tossed
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In Club, LGW-JER, you get a full [cold] lunch with wine. It's an eating competition to get it down your through before 'top of drop' abeam Alderney.
How the CC manage it, I don't know, but IMO that's a serious positive for the BA CC operating out of LGW. They are amazing.
How the CC manage it, I don't know, but IMO that's a serious positive for the BA CC operating out of LGW. They are amazing.
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cym: This must be a rather painful time for you. I've been a tad surprised that the striking Cabin Crew haven't told their Union to tone down the disparaging remarks made about their airline and to concentrate on the dispute itself.
Unite/BASSA have done more to diminish Cabin Crews' image than anything that management could have dreamed of.
Two-Tone-Blue: I will admit to becoming rather a fan of the Gatwick Crew. Have experienced their fine service and have heard not one negative remark regarding their service from others other than the occassional hiccup that will happen.
Rather telling that Unite acts as if Gatwick doesn't exist and ignores the amazing things they are accomplishing during this difficult time.
Unite/BASSA have done more to diminish Cabin Crews' image than anything that management could have dreamed of.
Two-Tone-Blue: I will admit to becoming rather a fan of the Gatwick Crew. Have experienced their fine service and have heard not one negative remark regarding their service from others other than the occassional hiccup that will happen.
Rather telling that Unite acts as if Gatwick doesn't exist and ignores the amazing things they are accomplishing during this difficult time.
Last edited by Diplome; 28th Mar 2010 at 17:22. Reason: double double