Our disgraceful National Airline
Discussion
pushthebutton said:
so called said:
OK, I had been flying short hall regularly with BA on economy. after years of flights, I was still 'Blue'.
When the €373,- excess charge hit me, I was just starting the job I do now which involves copious amounts of Business class travel to North America and India.
So at that time I " stuff BA" and started using Lufthansa and Air France/KLM. I very quickly got Gold with both and so it was better for any of my private flights to my status airlines.
Several years later I had to use BA again to make a connection and got hit with the exact same charge of €373,-
It just reminded me that my earlier decision was the right one.
BA's change from £/kg to a flat fee occurred on 13th February 2007 as far as I can tell. Your "several years later" must have been before this date so I guess we're talking early 2000s when you started the job you do now and sometime before 2007 when you last checked. When the €373,- excess charge hit me, I was just starting the job I do now which involves copious amounts of Business class travel to North America and India.
So at that time I " stuff BA" and started using Lufthansa and Air France/KLM. I very quickly got Gold with both and so it was better for any of my private flights to my status airlines.
Several years later I had to use BA again to make a connection and got hit with the exact same charge of €373,-
It just reminded me that my earlier decision was the right one.
To make Bronze now you'd need 300 tier points or 25 BA flight per year: a quick Google suggest about 40 tier points for a SH return to Paris or Amsterdam in World Traveler (Economy). On that basis you'd Bronze after 8 SH return flights in a year. I accept that I could be wrong on those figures as I know there have been changes to the Executive Club recently.
You'll note that I have some time on my hands today so apologies for my persistence, but I think that the situation has moved on quite a bit since you last checked. That said, I totally respect your decision to stay with Star Alliance.
The original was 2004 and the second must have been around 2007. (how time flies).
I'll bear this in mind in future instead of writing them off.
Yes, I noticed your depth of detail, appreciated.
iphonedyou said:
//j17 said:
The b
ds! How dare they take the time to make sure the aircraft was safe for you to fly in, rather than just getting you to your destination on time, just maybe dead due to a blow-out on touchdown.
And yet, in the very next sentence you failed to quote, I said it wasn't their fault. Then, in the following sentence, I stated the issue was their lackadaisical apology for a litany of flight issues we had with them.ds! How dare they take the time to make sure the aircraft was safe for you to fly in, rather than just getting you to your destination on time, just maybe dead due to a blow-out on touchdown.But that's less fun than having a go. Probably.
NailedOn said:
Welshbeef said:
GT03ROB said:
Obviously if you fly BA LH Club gives you 3 bags at 32kg, plus with your frequency you would be Gold getting you an extra bag so 4 @ 32kg or 128kg free baggage allowance. Think this is superior to Lufthansa & United and the ME3.... but then again BA are a disgrace....
Even Euro club you get 2x 23kg and even then go above that within reason they don't bat an eyelid. How do you get 50kg of luggage into a vehicle?
GT03ROB said:
NailedOn said:
Welshbeef said:
GT03ROB said:
Obviously if you fly BA LH Club gives you 3 bags at 32kg, plus with your frequency you would be Gold getting you an extra bag so 4 @ 32kg or 128kg free baggage allowance. Think this is superior to Lufthansa & United and the ME3.... but then again BA are a disgrace....
Even Euro club you get 2x 23kg and even then go above that within reason they don't bat an eyelid. How do you get 50kg of luggage into a vehicle?
Hence the question what do you have to take it? VW caravelle?
Welshbeef said:
Sorry this is what I meant - if your solo then sure 50kg is easy in a car but take a family and max out the luggage just how does It fit? Last summer the 4 of us went club Europe in a Honda estate. We took 6 cases and then hand luggage - the boot was very well packed and it was to the rafters we could have in theory had 2x more large suitcases but how on earth in a car do you transport it? Heck a 4x4 doesn't have enough extra space to take that.
Hence the question what do you have to take it? VW caravelle?
Fortunately I pack light so compensate for her shoes!Hence the question what do you have to take it? VW caravelle?
swerni said:
I do have one gripe, but and I'm sure this is generic , however....
I ended up missing a number of flights every year for various reasons, usually meetings being canceled at the last minute.
Seeing as I've paid for the flight, why don't I still get my airmails and tier points anyway?
Who's paid for the flight? I ended up missing a number of flights every year for various reasons, usually meetings being canceled at the last minute.
Seeing as I've paid for the flight, why don't I still get my airmails and tier points anyway?
I use BA to fly to Houston with work: Aberdeen - Heathrow - Houston return, with what is usually a 2 and a half hour (or so) stop over in Terminal 5 which is enough time for an early morning beer and breakfast so it all works for me, tis' very convenient.
I've flown most of the trips using their business class which is good, but nothing special. I've never flown business with any other airline though (can't afford to pay for business/first on our personal flights, frankly) so I can't compare it to other carriers but I wouldn't pay for BAs business class with my own money.
Air New Zealand have a premium economy service called "space seat" on their 777s and that was waaaaay better than BAs business class imo.
BAs economy long haul is awful, my employer sent me to Houston on it twice and I refused to go via economy again. I'm no snob but the 747s they use on that route are nearly as old as me and the space you get is garbage compared to some other airlines long haul economy that I have used, or it seemed that way to me anyway. I could have used another carrier but I decided to chance my hand and stamp my feet in hopes they'd cave and let me upgrade, and they did
I've flown most of the trips using their business class which is good, but nothing special. I've never flown business with any other airline though (can't afford to pay for business/first on our personal flights, frankly) so I can't compare it to other carriers but I wouldn't pay for BAs business class with my own money.
Air New Zealand have a premium economy service called "space seat" on their 777s and that was waaaaay better than BAs business class imo.
BAs economy long haul is awful, my employer sent me to Houston on it twice and I refused to go via economy again. I'm no snob but the 747s they use on that route are nearly as old as me and the space you get is garbage compared to some other airlines long haul economy that I have used, or it seemed that way to me anyway. I could have used another carrier but I decided to chance my hand and stamp my feet in hopes they'd cave and let me upgrade, and they did
Edited by Axionknight on Wednesday 10th February 19:42
swerni said:
I do have one gripe, but and I'm sure this is generic , however....
I ended up missing a number of flights every year for various reasons, usually meetings being canceled at the last minute.
Seeing as I've paid for the flight, why don't I still get my airmails and tier points anyway?
Isn't this question better aimed at our disgraceful national post provider?I ended up missing a number of flights every year for various reasons, usually meetings being canceled at the last minute.
Seeing as I've paid for the flight, why don't I still get my airmails and tier points anyway?
Issi said:
surveyor said:
Issi said:
What was wrong with the complimentary meal that they served you?
They sell food upgrades now. Guess that guarantee's the free stuff will be ste.te, as in not prepared at your seat by a Michelin starred chef, or perfectly adequate food that you'd expect from a galley the size of a cupboard.https://youtu.be/qxh5G2MmTwQ
Remember most Chefs/cooks work in extremely cramped places.
On the plus side, I was able to enjoy a couple of cans of Tribute on-board yesterday - even more of a bonus considering it wasn't meant to start until tomorrow but I asked on the off-chance:
http://mediacentre.britishairways.com/pressrelease...
Whether this replaces London Pride - due to space limitations - is unclear.
http://mediacentre.britishairways.com/pressrelease...
Whether this replaces London Pride - due to space limitations - is unclear.
GT03ROB said:
jamoor said:
I can't see how anyone can take more than 20kgs of check in.
I emptied my wardrobe into my suitcase and it weighed 19kg. I physically have no more stuff to put in the suitcase.
You are not married are you? 20kgs is just the shoes!I emptied my wardrobe into my suitcase and it weighed 19kg. I physically have no more stuff to put in the suitcase.
Apparently she had about 10 pairs of shoes and a dress for every evening - They spent the vast majority of the week lounging by the pool in their villa, so most of it came back unused!
We went to Malta last summer (same daughter, now 23, son, 18, wife and I) and we had one suitcase smaller than that friends and one small holdall for the 4 of us!
On topic - BA were very good when we had to fly back with them unexpectedly from our skiing holiday.
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Monday 29th February 16:56
I have used BA (Business Class) a few times recently and think it is quite good, my problem with BA is the cost.
As I fly from Aberdeen I have to go through Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt or Amsterdam to get to Luanda, BA are by far the most expensive (twice KLM price), Air France next and KLM usually slightly cheaper than Lufthansa, with regard to seat comfort/service there is little to choose between all except KLM which have by far the worst seats, at least on that route, though a recent flight to Bangkok had great seats.
However the cost saving (I buy my own tickets)and flight times mean I usually use KLM, if BA pricing was better I would use them every time.
As I fly from Aberdeen I have to go through Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt or Amsterdam to get to Luanda, BA are by far the most expensive (twice KLM price), Air France next and KLM usually slightly cheaper than Lufthansa, with regard to seat comfort/service there is little to choose between all except KLM which have by far the worst seats, at least on that route, though a recent flight to Bangkok had great seats.
However the cost saving (I buy my own tickets)and flight times mean I usually use KLM, if BA pricing was better I would use them every time.
Quick question - Mts Cyclone and myself are emigrating to HK from the UK on BA in April (one way ticket, which is quite an odd thing to buy!) and I was wondering if anyone knew if BA have an increased baggage allowance policy at all for this sort of thing?
I'm only a blue member (had reached Silver a few years ago but alas no more) so nothing to be gained from that route.
I'm only a blue member (had reached Silver a few years ago but alas no more) so nothing to be gained from that route.
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