and still they don't get the message!
Join Date: May 2002
Location: LGW - Hub of the Universe!
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Point Taken, Final 3 Greens - I misinterpreted your post!
I agree that BA is perceived as arrogant and, whilst 99% of my colleagues are a joy to work with and possess excellent customer facing skills, there will always be the odd one who comes to work with the proverbial "chip on the shoulder"!
Over the years, our management haven't helped..........
Who remembers the rigidly enforced Cabin Baggage policy? (On my training day, the manager in charge announced that the objective was to "teach those passengers a lesson!" ("£5000 for a First Class ticket and you're going to teach me a lesson!!!")
Equally, how about the "Close Gate on Time" policy? Tragically, BA lost a good number of high-yield corporates to that one, dreamed up by an outside Consultancy firm! (Apparently, this was just what the customers wanted!...............Hmm!)
The "All Day Deli", (or Sick Bag, as it's known in Gold Card circles), is another issue dreamed up by an outside Marketing Firm that, apparently is the dog's doo-dahs in the eyes of our clients! Unfortunately, the very term "Sick Bag" tells me just what our customers think of it and our cabin crew are almost apologetic when they hand it out!
That having been said, the UK is almost the only country I have observed where there is any interaction between check-in and the customer! (Although I did have a positive experience in Canada).
In Madrid, the check-in staff chat to each other without even looking at you! In any German airport, you feel as though you're about to be interrogated!
In Newark, I saw a suited and booted business traveller pulled roughly out of the gate queue by a gate agent.................
"Now look here, buddy boy, you're not in Business First! Did we ask ya to join this line? You jest wait your turn, ya hear?"
Security then approached the traveller and pulled him away for the "third-degree".
I don not know any colleague who would use security just as a means to "get back" at someone they didn't like, but equally, none of us will take any chances! The trouble is, people's memories are very short and they've already forgotten the United and American Airlines' crews who lost their lives on 09/11!
I agree that BA is perceived as arrogant and, whilst 99% of my colleagues are a joy to work with and possess excellent customer facing skills, there will always be the odd one who comes to work with the proverbial "chip on the shoulder"!
Over the years, our management haven't helped..........
Who remembers the rigidly enforced Cabin Baggage policy? (On my training day, the manager in charge announced that the objective was to "teach those passengers a lesson!" ("£5000 for a First Class ticket and you're going to teach me a lesson!!!")
Equally, how about the "Close Gate on Time" policy? Tragically, BA lost a good number of high-yield corporates to that one, dreamed up by an outside Consultancy firm! (Apparently, this was just what the customers wanted!...............Hmm!)
The "All Day Deli", (or Sick Bag, as it's known in Gold Card circles), is another issue dreamed up by an outside Marketing Firm that, apparently is the dog's doo-dahs in the eyes of our clients! Unfortunately, the very term "Sick Bag" tells me just what our customers think of it and our cabin crew are almost apologetic when they hand it out!
That having been said, the UK is almost the only country I have observed where there is any interaction between check-in and the customer! (Although I did have a positive experience in Canada).
In Madrid, the check-in staff chat to each other without even looking at you! In any German airport, you feel as though you're about to be interrogated!
In Newark, I saw a suited and booted business traveller pulled roughly out of the gate queue by a gate agent.................
"Now look here, buddy boy, you're not in Business First! Did we ask ya to join this line? You jest wait your turn, ya hear?"
Security then approached the traveller and pulled him away for the "third-degree".
I don not know any colleague who would use security just as a means to "get back" at someone they didn't like, but equally, none of us will take any chances! The trouble is, people's memories are very short and they've already forgotten the United and American Airlines' crews who lost their lives on 09/11!
Join Date: Dec 1998
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bealine
Quote
"IMHO there is only one thing worse that the 16 year old could have done and that is steal a life-jacket! (Possibly depriving a passenger at a future date of the means to survive a ditching!) "
Is that really the worst thing you can imagine him doing? From all you’ve written so far I thought you had a very vivid imagination. You’ve expounded on the subjects of mugging, rape, stabbing and terrorism but now it seems the worst offence of all is theft of lifejackets. Stealing lifejackets is reprehensible but it’s not in quite the same league as terrorism.
Quote
"I would disagree that 16 years of age is a "minor"."
Eighteen is the age of majority. And if you think a sixteen-year-old is old enough to be humiliated by you or the police for making a foolish remark, how young would he have to be for you to spare him the humiliation? Fourteen perhaps? Or maybe twelve?
Quote
"However, mugging, stabbing and raping of individuals is also not acceptable in our society either and these "unchecked minors" are the very ones doing it!"
While there are some very unpleasant “unchecked minors” in our society it is wrong to assume that every cheeky sixteen-year-old boy is one of them. There were unruly boys in society even when you were picking up stray litter around the bus shelter. Most of them went on to become normal adults. It should be noted that the present generation of terrorists is coming not from western society, undisciplined and loutish as it often seems, but from rather more strict and repressive societies where adults have more control over youth.
Quote
"Only 0.000000001% would ever fall into the "offloadable" category!"
That’s one passenger in a hundred billion (I think) so what are you complaining about?
Quote
"IMHO there is only one thing worse that the 16 year old could have done and that is steal a life-jacket! (Possibly depriving a passenger at a future date of the means to survive a ditching!) "
Is that really the worst thing you can imagine him doing? From all you’ve written so far I thought you had a very vivid imagination. You’ve expounded on the subjects of mugging, rape, stabbing and terrorism but now it seems the worst offence of all is theft of lifejackets. Stealing lifejackets is reprehensible but it’s not in quite the same league as terrorism.
Quote
"I would disagree that 16 years of age is a "minor"."
Eighteen is the age of majority. And if you think a sixteen-year-old is old enough to be humiliated by you or the police for making a foolish remark, how young would he have to be for you to spare him the humiliation? Fourteen perhaps? Or maybe twelve?
Quote
"However, mugging, stabbing and raping of individuals is also not acceptable in our society either and these "unchecked minors" are the very ones doing it!"
While there are some very unpleasant “unchecked minors” in our society it is wrong to assume that every cheeky sixteen-year-old boy is one of them. There were unruly boys in society even when you were picking up stray litter around the bus shelter. Most of them went on to become normal adults. It should be noted that the present generation of terrorists is coming not from western society, undisciplined and loutish as it often seems, but from rather more strict and repressive societies where adults have more control over youth.
Quote
"Only 0.000000001% would ever fall into the "offloadable" category!"
That’s one passenger in a hundred billion (I think) so what are you complaining about?
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"It should be noted that the present generation of terrorists is coming not from western society, undisciplined and loutish as it often seems, but from rather more strict and repressive societies where adults have more control over youth. "
remind me where the "shoe bomber" came from
remind me where the "shoe bomber" came from
Join Date: Dec 1998
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GwynM
Good point. I should have been clearer. I was of course referring to the Islamic terrorists who are the main threat now. We have certainly produced our share of terrorists over time.
It's difficult to categorise the Shoe Bomber. He doesn't quite fit in any society. His parents were from different cultures and he was on the margins of our society before he got sucked in by militant Islam.
My point still remains that our home grown louts, troublesome though they might be, provide a less likely breeding ground for terrorism than for example Pakistan.
I don't approve of loutish behaviour but I won't confuse it with terrorism. And I don't think we will steer youth away from terrorism by giving wayward youths a "clip round the earhole".
Good point. I should have been clearer. I was of course referring to the Islamic terrorists who are the main threat now. We have certainly produced our share of terrorists over time.
It's difficult to categorise the Shoe Bomber. He doesn't quite fit in any society. His parents were from different cultures and he was on the margins of our society before he got sucked in by militant Islam.
My point still remains that our home grown louts, troublesome though they might be, provide a less likely breeding ground for terrorism than for example Pakistan.
I don't approve of loutish behaviour but I won't confuse it with terrorism. And I don't think we will steer youth away from terrorism by giving wayward youths a "clip round the earhole".
Guest
Posts: n/a
Bealine
I know what you mean about deli bags - most pax don't like them, but strangely enough I quite like them as I prefer a sandwich to a light meal! Maybe it's a consultant thing?? (I am one, although not for deli bags or the other things you mention!)
Using the GVA run from your place from time to time (Swiss client won't pay for Club) I find that a sandwich and glass of wine is very pleasant on such a short sector.
All the best. Finals
I know what you mean about deli bags - most pax don't like them, but strangely enough I quite like them as I prefer a sandwich to a light meal! Maybe it's a consultant thing?? (I am one, although not for deli bags or the other things you mention!)
Using the GVA run from your place from time to time (Swiss client won't pay for Club) I find that a sandwich and glass of wine is very pleasant on such a short sector.
All the best. Finals
