BA Cabin Crew
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Is there part of their training where they learn to be rude ?
Don’t forget that in the past BA management overtly encouraged staff to consider back cabin passengers as unwanted but necessary by stating that they (management) would prefer only to carry premium “front cabin “passengers.
However, they admitted they still needed some cattle to fill up the empty bit at the back.
However, they admitted they still needed some cattle to fill up the empty bit at the back.
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In my experience with European and US Airlines where you find older crew, the older crew are pretty disillusioned probably from far too much exposure to the general public. Younger crew surrounded by disillusioned crew could be easily influenced.
I honestly think if you work with general public for too long, unless you have a really positive attitude, you begin to dislike the customers.
I honestly think if you work with general public for too long, unless you have a really positive attitude, you begin to dislike the customers.
I find that at their worst - which is very infrequent - BA CC are very good. They put to shame Lufthansa, American, United, S/H Air France and DEFINITELY US Air and America West.
Baboo are surprisingly good for a small airline that say that eren't an LCC but they are cheap as far as fares go, but not service.
Qantas are nearly as good as BA, but admittedly, I've only had 36 flights on BA so far this year and 2 on American Eagle - they weren't too bad. I'm flying again next week to CPH, so I could report again next weekend if the thread is still running.
Baboo are surprisingly good for a small airline that say that eren't an LCC but they are cheap as far as fares go, but not service.
Qantas are nearly as good as BA, but admittedly, I've only had 36 flights on BA so far this year and 2 on American Eagle - they weren't too bad. I'm flying again next week to CPH, so I could report again next weekend if the thread is still running.
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Flew with lots of different airlines to and from the far east a few years back and I have to say British Airways cabin crew were abysmal. One cc in particular was so rude when my dad enquired about the broken tv screen of a young child on the long haul flight that he complained and never flew with 'our own' again. Lufthansa cabin crew followed closely. On the other hand Finnair were brilliant! So much so that they bordered annoying ! 
All airlines have bad crew. At the two airlines I have worked/work for I have seen examples of it. Some crew are just like that, I don't know why. You also get those who are having a bad day, not really any excuse and then you get those that occasionally snap when provoked. The latter can be very hard to resist when it's a passenger who persists in arguing the toss when you have politely asked them to do something or who is rude from the outset. This is the only scenario where I have sympathy.
Specifically BA, I think there are some crew who think they are a cut above and in the past they have probably had it instilled in them....but then there are also some passengers who are just naturally intimidated by crew and that might cloud their judgement. A regular example from my experience is if a crew member has left a call bell on or if a passenger accidentally presses a call bell as they move out of their seat, I attend that passenger and ask if they're ok/what can I do .....and they go into a blind panic like they've been accused of something really ghastly.
I'm not excusing such behaviour i'm just saying that it exists at all airlines including mine. There are probably a multitude of reasons for it but I have to say that in general I think passengers are getting ruder. Air travel is getting more stressful and quite often crew are the ones who get the release. But the overwhelming majority of passengers are atleast civil, polite and occasionally an absolute pleasure to have onboard. I think the same can be said about crew.
Specifically BA, I think there are some crew who think they are a cut above and in the past they have probably had it instilled in them....but then there are also some passengers who are just naturally intimidated by crew and that might cloud their judgement. A regular example from my experience is if a crew member has left a call bell on or if a passenger accidentally presses a call bell as they move out of their seat, I attend that passenger and ask if they're ok/what can I do .....and they go into a blind panic like they've been accused of something really ghastly.
I'm not excusing such behaviour i'm just saying that it exists at all airlines including mine. There are probably a multitude of reasons for it but I have to say that in general I think passengers are getting ruder. Air travel is getting more stressful and quite often crew are the ones who get the release. But the overwhelming majority of passengers are atleast civil, polite and occasionally an absolute pleasure to have onboard. I think the same can be said about crew.
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My own experiance of BA crew in the air has been ok, although not excellent. In discussions found them to be "deppressed" about the state of their airline and concerned for the future. I have sympathy with this as the product has been poor, ie old planes , old IFE, and average food.
I have found some of the ground staff at Heathrow to be very poor. For example overheard a conversation in Business class lounge with a passenger asking for a glass of champagne at 11.00am and being told there was none available (seems strange to me). Upon the passenger questioning this very politly she was asked by ground staff "did she have a problem" ie drinking issues. Not quite what you expect in a customer facing business.
In general I would say that previouse posts saying that people have bad days etc is very true, and is true on all carriers, it just seems that when BA crew have a bad day everybody else has one as well.
In closing I have to say that I have voted with my feet and no longer fly with BA unless no option, but this has been down to abandonment of Northern England by their managment not the crews. On the plus side their crews in my experiance do know how to have a good party down route !.
I have found some of the ground staff at Heathrow to be very poor. For example overheard a conversation in Business class lounge with a passenger asking for a glass of champagne at 11.00am and being told there was none available (seems strange to me). Upon the passenger questioning this very politly she was asked by ground staff "did she have a problem" ie drinking issues. Not quite what you expect in a customer facing business.
In general I would say that previouse posts saying that people have bad days etc is very true, and is true on all carriers, it just seems that when BA crew have a bad day everybody else has one as well.
In closing I have to say that I have voted with my feet and no longer fly with BA unless no option, but this has been down to abandonment of Northern England by their managment not the crews. On the plus side their crews in my experiance do know how to have a good party down route !.
Join Date: Aug 2010
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I
I've heard that quite a lot recently, from older, once loyal, BA staff who have been unceremoniously kicked out of their access to the Staff Travel concessions that they were promised in their retirement.
still have to bang my head and say to myself "Did I really work for BA 30 years ago. I look at the youtube clips of BOAC. I then realise I flew for a great airline and was proud to do so!
What of the future? Who knows, but be sure BA won't be getting my hard earned cash
What of the future? Who knows, but be sure BA won't be getting my hard earned cash
I've heard that quite a lot recently, from older, once loyal, BA staff who have been unceremoniously kicked out of their access to the Staff Travel concessions that they were promised in their retirement.
No axe-YT
I have no axe to grind here but to set the record straight BA have changed the rules for retired staff's access to concessionary travel. They haven't denied retirees staff travel.
Where it used to be available for life it is now available only for the same period as you worked for the company. Ie, if you worked for BA for 30 years, retired at (say) 58 then you staff travel would cease at age 88.
Not as good as it once was but considering that many carriers give no staff travel to retirees at all, this ain't too bad.
Also one has to consider the changing world of T's & C's, where everything is being squeezed/shaved.
Where it used to be available for life it is now available only for the same period as you worked for the company. Ie, if you worked for BA for 30 years, retired at (say) 58 then you staff travel would cease at age 88.
Not as good as it once was but considering that many carriers give no staff travel to retirees at all, this ain't too bad.
Also one has to consider the changing world of T's & C's, where everything is being squeezed/shaved.
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Then I must be supremely unlucky. i would not have gone to the effort of posting this if I had thought its a one off.
Someone else commented about the class you travel and the level of rudeness, I have certainly notice the further you go back the worse it becomes.
I too have sought to travel with other airlines and the experience has been much better - as i said, Virgin being by far the best. The age of their cc seems much lower and they genuinely seem to enjoy their jobs.
Someone else commented about the class you travel and the level of rudeness, I have certainly notice the further you go back the worse it becomes.
I too have sought to travel with other airlines and the experience has been much better - as i said, Virgin being by far the best. The age of their cc seems much lower and they genuinely seem to enjoy their jobs.
Paxing All Over The World
Age has nothing to do with it. Once had a Lufthansa CC go waaaaay beyond the call of to get my personal reading light working and she was mature woman. Age is irrelevant.
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BA should be devoting their efforts to make our flying experience ever bit as good as they think it is, but which it isn't.
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I think age does have something to do with it. The younger cc were very enthusiastic, smiley and seemed genuinely happy to be there.
With age brings baggage, issues with pensions, rather be at home etc....... so whilst I agree it shouldnt make a difference it does.
With age brings baggage, issues with pensions, rather be at home etc....... so whilst I agree it shouldnt make a difference it does.
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Sygyzy
Just a selected few.
I think it isn't so much the changed concept that is infuriating them, so much as the retrospective action against them at this late stage of their lives, and I know some - from a past era - who accepted a previous plea to take early retirement on the promise of continued access to concessions.
I know at least one who won't be helping any financial salvation of BA by pouring his hard-earned pension in to buying BA tickets. They have a choice.
White-Man-Talk-With-Forked-Tongue.
I tend to agree with them, sadly.
Thanks.
........They haven't denied retirees staff travel.........
I think it isn't so much the changed concept that is infuriating them, so much as the retrospective action against them at this late stage of their lives, and I know some - from a past era - who accepted a previous plea to take early retirement on the promise of continued access to concessions.
I know at least one who won't be helping any financial salvation of BA by pouring his hard-earned pension in to buying BA tickets. They have a choice.
White-Man-Talk-With-Forked-Tongue.
I tend to agree with them, sadly.
Thanks.
Last edited by YorkshireTyke; 24th Oct 2011 at 21:41.
Paxing All Over The World
It is a problem that countless mature companies have. Contracts and staffing agreements made in the 1980s + 90s and now unsustainable in a totally changed world.
The difference is in how the company deal with the problem and how the staff view the problem. There are numerous facets and, for BA, it has been drawn out over a very long time that has made it more difficult for ALL sides to reach an harmonious agreement. Unfortunately, now, there never will be an harmonious agreement.
The difference is in how the company deal with the problem and how the staff view the problem. There are numerous facets and, for BA, it has been drawn out over a very long time that has made it more difficult for ALL sides to reach an harmonious agreement. Unfortunately, now, there never will be an harmonious agreement.
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Once had a Lufthansa CC go waaaaay beyond the call of to get my personal reading light working and she was mature woman.
Once had a Lufthansa CC go waaaaay beyond the call of to get my personal reading light working because she was mature woman, and therefore knew what to do and how to do it.
YT-I'm with you
YT, Originally this was merely a factual statement.
To make any comment...I'm with you all the way, the move was retrospective/retroactive with no consultation, simply fait accompli. Of course there' no-one to fight your corner once you've retired. Put up and shut up.
That said it's still better than nowt and better than the provision of some other carriers.
S
To make any comment...I'm with you all the way, the move was retrospective/retroactive with no consultation, simply fait accompli. Of course there' no-one to fight your corner once you've retired. Put up and shut up.
That said it's still better than nowt and better than the provision of some other carriers.
S
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That said it's still better than nowt and better than the provision of some other carriers.
It's the HYPPO principle - Here's Your Pension P*ss Off.
Caveat Emptor. ( that applies to all you lot still working - your time will come to be treated like s**t, too)
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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Surprised not to hear mention of Olympic on this thread!
Two class config A300, ATH-LHR. Business and Economy, me Business pax. Find my seat, remove jacket and walk towards forward wardrobe, "sorry, no, they are all full", as indeed they were, with crew suitbags bearing the Olympic logo and crew tags, "Put it in the overhead". I noticed as I returned to my seat that the areas around doors L1 and R1 were completely blocked by cabin crew baggage, all carrying crew labels!
A totally indifferent, grudging cabin service whilst most of their time the two cabin crew assigned to the business cabin stood around, smoking and talking to a pax who they obviously knew and who was holding court from his seat with another pax and other crew members who came forward from time to time.
An unwritten rule is that crew of one airline don't 'dob' in crew from another, but I was sorely tempted!
Two class config A300, ATH-LHR. Business and Economy, me Business pax. Find my seat, remove jacket and walk towards forward wardrobe, "sorry, no, they are all full", as indeed they were, with crew suitbags bearing the Olympic logo and crew tags, "Put it in the overhead". I noticed as I returned to my seat that the areas around doors L1 and R1 were completely blocked by cabin crew baggage, all carrying crew labels!
A totally indifferent, grudging cabin service whilst most of their time the two cabin crew assigned to the business cabin stood around, smoking and talking to a pax who they obviously knew and who was holding court from his seat with another pax and other crew members who came forward from time to time.
An unwritten rule is that crew of one airline don't 'dob' in crew from another, but I was sorely tempted!