What is wrong with BA?
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What is wrong with BA?
Why is it that BA still insists on pushing customers away?
Today I tried to book a return flight from Manchester to Amsterdam. I presently fly this route (well Liverpool – Amsterdam) regularly with easyJet. A slightly different Friday night departure would suit me better, and BA fly it.
So I log onto the Internet fill everything out and then it tells me I cannot book it using a credit card from outside the UK when travelling from the UK. WHAT? I ring up and the guy says no he cannot do it either you will have to go to the BA office in Manchester and do it in person and be charged an additional £10 for the privilege. For my own security they say. Bollix I say, BA is the only airline who do this. It is just plain stupid. The better convenience of the BA flight is more than lost when I have to go to so much trouble to book it. How many foreign business travellers must be using other airlines because BA is pushing them away with this idiotic booking system? A perfect example of globalisation, not!
So back to easyJet it is for me. Nothing like making it easy for your competitors. Madness.
Today I tried to book a return flight from Manchester to Amsterdam. I presently fly this route (well Liverpool – Amsterdam) regularly with easyJet. A slightly different Friday night departure would suit me better, and BA fly it.
So I log onto the Internet fill everything out and then it tells me I cannot book it using a credit card from outside the UK when travelling from the UK. WHAT? I ring up and the guy says no he cannot do it either you will have to go to the BA office in Manchester and do it in person and be charged an additional £10 for the privilege. For my own security they say. Bollix I say, BA is the only airline who do this. It is just plain stupid. The better convenience of the BA flight is more than lost when I have to go to so much trouble to book it. How many foreign business travellers must be using other airlines because BA is pushing them away with this idiotic booking system? A perfect example of globalisation, not!
So back to easyJet it is for me. Nothing like making it easy for your competitors. Madness.
Not just BA. Living in the deep south of NL my nearest international gateways are BRU and DUS. I had the same problem trying to book a flight on the internet from DUS to VIE with Austrian. I called reservations and complained about their discriminatory policy. They took my booking and dropped the booking charge! At least they showed some common sense.
Last edited by Avman; 22nd Jul 2002 at 19:33.
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Every tried booking a ticket in the USA using a UK credit card? You'll need to show up at the nearest ticket office to pay for and collect the ticket every time. Its a pain in the rear but BA aren't the only airline doing it and I suspect it has something to do with credit card company rules rather than airline rules.
Had tha same problem trying to book South African internal flights via the internet a few weeks ago - only a South African credit card accepted so had to go to a travel agency here! Actually fare was cheaper still !!!
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BA is getting very ragged round the edges, I wanted to book Florence from their Cities and Short Breaks brochure for my daughter. They advertise a 24 hour booking service. For 3 days there was no answer (not even an answerphone) 7am-7.30am. The number for Cities on the BA website is "no longer in use" and gave the first number I had tried. Ringing it again I had to listen to music for 35 minutes around midday before giving up, ringing the customer service line, being given another number and to my surprise being answered "Welcome to Thomas Cook Travel".
As a concerned BA shareholder I rang the website Customer Service Number and guess what, 10 minutes of Music before I gave up. Rod should try contacting BA as an anonymous punter to see how it is all going downhill rather than relying on the sycophantic assurances of his managers.
As a concerned BA shareholder I rang the website Customer Service Number and guess what, 10 minutes of Music before I gave up. Rod should try contacting BA as an anonymous punter to see how it is all going downhill rather than relying on the sycophantic assurances of his managers.
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About two years ago I flew up to Edinburgh and on the return leg I was at the airport about 4.5 hours early due to a free lift.
I asked BA if I could take the earlier flight to save me waiting but BA flatly refused, even after confirming both flights were almost empty. They said that my economy ticket wouldn't allow any changes.
I tried 'as a good will gesture' and argued logic but they said I would have to sit and wait for 4.5 hours and watch the almost empty earlier flight leave without me.
Thanks BA, you were so helpful
I asked BA if I could take the earlier flight to save me waiting but BA flatly refused, even after confirming both flights were almost empty. They said that my economy ticket wouldn't allow any changes.
I tried 'as a good will gesture' and argued logic but they said I would have to sit and wait for 4.5 hours and watch the almost empty earlier flight leave without me.
Thanks BA, you were so helpful
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Oh the joys of booking a ticket with BA... my mother in law regularly travels to visit us (MAN-LGW rtn). She's in her 60's and not sure how to use the Internet, so I do it for her. The BA website won't let me book a ticket for her on my credit card - it 'reserves' it for you so you can call up and book it over the phone. For the privilege of an extra £10 charge. There is no extra security over the phone than on the Internet (that's why so many other companies have succesful online booking systems). Oh, and they only take credit cards - not debit cards.
For BA as the flag carrier for the UK they certainly don't carry the flag when it comes to their technology. Not v good.
Come on BA - it's so simple, you could fix it - or would that make you lose lots of lovely £10 fees!
Does anyone know anyone else who flies MAN-LGW?
For BA as the flag carrier for the UK they certainly don't carry the flag when it comes to their technology. Not v good.
Come on BA - it's so simple, you could fix it - or would that make you lose lots of lovely £10 fees!
Does anyone know anyone else who flies MAN-LGW?
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It's becoming increasingly difficult to keep on apologising all the time for the company who, until recently, were the undisputed market leaders of the airline industry and Britains most desireable employer......However.....
1. Answering telephones, letters, faxes or e-mails has never been a strong point of BA - despite possessing every technological gadget known to mankind..............sorry!
2. British Airways Holidays and Thomas Cook Holidays joined forces a few years ago, (whether BA Holidays bought Thomasd Cook Holidays or vice versa I'm not certain, but I did read something about it a few years ago) but haven't really publicised the fact.........sorry!
3. Changing flights on a non-flexible ticket is a definite no-no - otherwise everyone would buy low cost non-flexible tickets and change flights. Unfortunately, the "one-off goodwill gesture" doesn't work - after all, the Railways will not let you use a peak hour train with an off-peak ticket regardless of whether or not the train was empty - why should BA?
4. To the unknown passengers the other day who wanted to pay £5000 at the gate to upgrade and Reservations refused to do the transaction 'cos they couldn't see the Credit Card - (Even when you suggested paying cash in US Dollars, reservations refused saying there wasn't enough time before pushback to process the booking change!!! - You knew, and I knew, how ridiculous that was - we could easily change your seat on the aircraft and process the computer entries later) - sorry!
To the shareholders (for turning away £5000 extra revenue) - sorry!
That having been said, the shareholders must also take some responsibility for allowing the BA Board of Comedians to continue in office - AGM after AGM, the same jokers are returned!
ROD EDDINGTON + ANSETT = CATASTROPHE
ROD EDDINGTON + BRITISH AIRWAYS = DISASTER
1. Answering telephones, letters, faxes or e-mails has never been a strong point of BA - despite possessing every technological gadget known to mankind..............sorry!
2. British Airways Holidays and Thomas Cook Holidays joined forces a few years ago, (whether BA Holidays bought Thomasd Cook Holidays or vice versa I'm not certain, but I did read something about it a few years ago) but haven't really publicised the fact.........sorry!
3. Changing flights on a non-flexible ticket is a definite no-no - otherwise everyone would buy low cost non-flexible tickets and change flights. Unfortunately, the "one-off goodwill gesture" doesn't work - after all, the Railways will not let you use a peak hour train with an off-peak ticket regardless of whether or not the train was empty - why should BA?
4. To the unknown passengers the other day who wanted to pay £5000 at the gate to upgrade and Reservations refused to do the transaction 'cos they couldn't see the Credit Card - (Even when you suggested paying cash in US Dollars, reservations refused saying there wasn't enough time before pushback to process the booking change!!! - You knew, and I knew, how ridiculous that was - we could easily change your seat on the aircraft and process the computer entries later) - sorry!
To the shareholders (for turning away £5000 extra revenue) - sorry!
That having been said, the shareholders must also take some responsibility for allowing the BA Board of Comedians to continue in office - AGM after AGM, the same jokers are returned!
ROD EDDINGTON + ANSETT = CATASTROPHE
ROD EDDINGTON + BRITISH AIRWAYS = DISASTER
Last edited by bealine; 23rd Jul 2002 at 12:11.
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Boss Raptor:
SNAP. Never give them any business if I can possibly help it.
Bealine:
Gawd you must be frustrated. Catch22 to some extent. Lots of us out here would like BA to be the brill national flag carrier that it could be. But we won't use BA because of the appalling systems in place and the dreadful attitude of a small but significant number of people who work there. Even if things do improve, we're not going to know about it at first hand. Vicious circle methinks. Sorry.
Question to all: The low cost guys have all got great online booking systems so why can the 'real' airlines not do the same?
As an aside, why oh why will an airline not allow someone to travel on an earlier flight, even if they are on a cheapie ticket? Just seems plain daft. Takes a few seconds admin on the PC and would have GREAT PR value! Judging by this thread, BA could do with some of that!
SNAP. Never give them any business if I can possibly help it.
Bealine:
Gawd you must be frustrated. Catch22 to some extent. Lots of us out here would like BA to be the brill national flag carrier that it could be. But we won't use BA because of the appalling systems in place and the dreadful attitude of a small but significant number of people who work there. Even if things do improve, we're not going to know about it at first hand. Vicious circle methinks. Sorry.
Question to all: The low cost guys have all got great online booking systems so why can the 'real' airlines not do the same?
As an aside, why oh why will an airline not allow someone to travel on an earlier flight, even if they are on a cheapie ticket? Just seems plain daft. Takes a few seconds admin on the PC and would have GREAT PR value! Judging by this thread, BA could do with some of that!
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Cargosales, you're dead right! I AM frustrated because I know that BA has good people, a modern aircraft fleet and the most up to date gadgetry and wizardry available to it! We have the ability to be the world's Number One, but are being let down by a handful of Senior Management who, in Biblical terms, are squandering their birthright!
I have never worked with better colleagues than those I work with at LGW, and I have to say, we all share the same frustrations and empathise with our customers!
I have never worked with better colleagues than those I work with at LGW, and I have to say, we all share the same frustrations and empathise with our customers!
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Is there any way we can e-mail this to Rod ( the whole thread and the one above it) these guy's are fiddling while Rome burns.
Quite honestly it looks to me like the board don't want BA as a shorthaul operator to succeed and seem to be doing a good job of achieving that goal. Then they can turn round in a couple of years time and say it can't work any more and cut it all and concentrate on longhaul.
I'm also getting sick of read the continued aren't we marvellous sicophants (spelling) who keep sending letters to BA news telling us it's all starting to get better and how good things look. I didn't realise we employed so many ostriches in our company.
Quite honestly it looks to me like the board don't want BA as a shorthaul operator to succeed and seem to be doing a good job of achieving that goal. Then they can turn round in a couple of years time and say it can't work any more and cut it all and concentrate on longhaul.
I'm also getting sick of read the continued aren't we marvellous sicophants (spelling) who keep sending letters to BA news telling us it's all starting to get better and how good things look. I didn't realise we employed so many ostriches in our company.
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I'm not sure, Distant Rumble, but it is a distinct possibility.
Equally, it could be the fear of lost/stolen/cloned cards being used- at least on Home Ground, there is a certain swiftness in the circulation of dodgy card numbers!
Thanks for your comments mainfrog2 - Unfortunately, I think if Rod got hold of these threads, Bealine might be in the aviation job market again soon (possibly even mainfrog2 too!) - accoriding to my M.P., Rod Eddington is a very "tough cookie"!
Equally, it could be the fear of lost/stolen/cloned cards being used- at least on Home Ground, there is a certain swiftness in the circulation of dodgy card numbers!
Thanks for your comments mainfrog2 - Unfortunately, I think if Rod got hold of these threads, Bealine might be in the aviation job market again soon (possibly even mainfrog2 too!) - accoriding to my M.P., Rod Eddington is a very "tough cookie"!
Last edited by bealine; 23rd Jul 2002 at 18:57.
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Skybird, I've had no trouble using my debit card for booking BA tickets on the web....In fact in spite of the trouble in my post above I have recently booked to Pisa and Helsinki for travel in August and BA were the cheapest by far on the dates I wanted. (NOT the case to AGP where they were the most expensive by far)So it's not all bad news.
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If I may make an observation as a passenger. Mainfrog, your thoughts on BA shorthaul would seem to fit in with what I found recently. In November last year I flew out to Oz by my preferred route Manchester - Frankfurt-etc. The Manchester to Frankfurt sector was flown by BA using a 757 (I read my safety card so I know that's what it was) as it had been on several previous occasions. The aircraft was pretty full, only three or four empty seats. In April this year I set off again, same route, same operator. I got to the gate and waited for the 757 to arrive. It didn't. When I asked where the 757 was I was told "Oh we always use the Embraear 145" I wondered how long that had been going on but didn't ask. The Embraear, I was told, took 38 passengers and it was not full, there were several empty seats. BA would appear to have lost in the region of 60 - 70 passengers (sorry, I can't remember how many fit on a 757) on that flight alone. If they are losing passengers at this rate it is quite alarming.
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On the positive side:
2 hours early for my 19:30 flight to LHR, waiting for check-in at Milan (LIN) with a '£25 to change' economy ticket. BA staff ask for anyone with a Club ticket and hand baggage onlywanting to change to earlier (17:30) flight (I guess the 19:30 was full/overbooked). Nothing ventured - show them my ticket.
Result - I get home 2 hrs early with an upgrade to Club and no charge for changing flight. BA get an extra seat on the later flight. Everybody happy.
2 hours early for my 19:30 flight to LHR, waiting for check-in at Milan (LIN) with a '£25 to change' economy ticket. BA staff ask for anyone with a Club ticket and hand baggage onlywanting to change to earlier (17:30) flight (I guess the 19:30 was full/overbooked). Nothing ventured - show them my ticket.
Result - I get home 2 hrs early with an upgrade to Club and no charge for changing flight. BA get an extra seat on the later flight. Everybody happy.
Shining Example, apparently...
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The websites of some airlines (e.g. SWA) have a separate booking form for foreign credit cards, so I doubt there's a legal barrier to booking with overseas plastic. Organisational barriers may be harder to tackle...
I'm amazed at BA turning down cash for an upgrade. Suspect they've lost a lot more than the five grand in question. However, I still think they're better than a certain Dutch airline. A colleague recently checked in at AMS to the following welcome:
"No sir, you didn't book business class. You booked 'business economy'. It's like an economy class seat at a business class price."
I wonder if Basil Fawlty considered a spell in aviation...
I'm amazed at BA turning down cash for an upgrade. Suspect they've lost a lot more than the five grand in question. However, I still think they're better than a certain Dutch airline. A colleague recently checked in at AMS to the following welcome:
"No sir, you didn't book business class. You booked 'business economy'. It's like an economy class seat at a business class price."
I wonder if Basil Fawlty considered a spell in aviation...