Our disgraceful National Airline
Discussion
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 s
te.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.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.
JuniorD said:
How much were the tickets out of interest?
This is the key. I suspect they were HBO which can be very cheap, but don;t allow you to seat select at any point. BA are not a national carrier anymore than American Airlines are the US flag carrier. They are a reasonably successful independent business in an industry rife with state subsidies. Are they perfect? Far from it, but they fly where I want to fly non-stop, with a decent level of service.
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.AdeTuono said:
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.GT03ROB said:
This is the key. I suspect they were HBO which can be very cheap, but don;t allow you to seat select at any point.
I think GT03ROB is correct on this one: HBO fares don't allow free seat selection for anyone (including gold and silver EC members). You pays your money, you takes your choice. BA are a mediocre airline in a quite literal sense. Sure, the ME3 are way better (although how this is achieved is considered questionable by some) but they are far from terrible and there are plenty of airlines that are much, much worse. At least they are consistent in their mediocrity and they are quite clear and upfront about what you do and don't get - especially with HBO fares.
Without wanting to sound too critical, I think people need to adjust their expectations, especially when flying short haul in economy. It is basically a commodity service that is being offered - we aren't in the golden era of the jet age anymore. It's a numbers game, pure and simple.
Odhran said:
A friend returning home for Christmas from Doha travelled to London with BA. He tells me that there was one meal serving on this 8.5 hour flight. I've flown DUB to JFK with American carriers and always had at least two meals.
,.....and.... BA sometimes cannot win due to nonsense like this. I did this route regularly. They serve a meal and a snack. Both of which are frankly a pain as all you really want to do is sleep. The flight routes thru Bahrain leaving there around 1:30am landing LHR around 6am. Who the hell want 2 meals at these hours.
GoneAnon said:
BA have been my least favourite airline for years now and I actively aim to avoid them.
It isn't actually that hard to avoid them, given that the only place I can get a "British" Airways plane to is London.
If I can also avoid Heathrow, that's just a bonus!
My sentiments exactly!It isn't actually that hard to avoid them, given that the only place I can get a "British" Airways plane to is London.
If I can also avoid Heathrow, that's just a bonus!
Somewhat ironically the only time we've flown BA via LHR in the last 20 years or so we got a free upgrade to World Traveller Plus - we were only booked onto the flights by Lufthansa two days before flying as their pilots were on strike.
To recap, checked in, they wanted £15 to choose seats so stayed with allocated seats. Printed boarding passes. Went back to manage my booking as suggested and can't change seats.
Of course seats are important, we want to be as far forward as we can and sit together and I like a window seat.
Food on Miami flight was yuk, the cardboard box that breakfast came in looked more appetising than the food.
Will try and change seats when we get to Heathrow and see if there is a charge.
Of course seats are important, we want to be as far forward as we can and sit together and I like a window seat.
Food on Miami flight was yuk, the cardboard box that breakfast came in looked more appetising than the food.
Will try and change seats when we get to Heathrow and see if there is a charge.
Kenty said:
To recap, checked in, they wanted £15 to choose seats so stayed with allocated seats. Printed boarding passes. Went back to manage my booking as suggested and can't change seats.
Of course seats are important, we want to be as far forward as we can and sit together and I like a window seat.
Food on Miami flight was yuk, the cardboard box that breakfast came in looked more appetising than the food.
Will try and change seats when we get to Heathrow and see if there is a charge.
To clarify are you HBO? This reads like you are. Of course seats are important, we want to be as far forward as we can and sit together and I like a window seat.
Food on Miami flight was yuk, the cardboard box that breakfast came in looked more appetising than the food.
Will try and change seats when we get to Heathrow and see if there is a charge.
Edited by GT03ROB on Saturday 16th January 12:22
It'd be helpful if you could answer this:
GT03ROB said:
To clarify are you HBO? This reads like you are.
because it makes this very relevant:Tallow said:
I think GT03ROB is correct on this one: HBO fares don't allow free seat selection for anyone (including gold and silver EC members). You pays your money, you takes your choice.
Why did you choose BA on this route? I'd assume that some of the other airlines were cheaper, but that you were happy to pay a bit more to secure something extra?Issi said:
AdeTuono said:
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.swerni said:
Stephanie Plum said:
You can't change seats after you've checked in? Only at the point of checking in or for 7 days up to that point, unless you have status.
I do agree they have lost the plot though.
Not anymore,I do agree they have lost the plot though.
if you book the lowest cost of travel, you have to pay to change seats at any time
They are competing with the budget airlines.
swerni said:
CoolHands said:
What is hbo?
Hand baggage only I spend a fair amount with BA each year, lets say enough to buy a new 5 series each year; are they perfect, no. If you are travelling economy there isn't much to choose between any of the carriers to be honest, it's just a bus to get you from A to B. However, if you are flying out of the SE long haul, they are the best option in my opinion. I do not want to mess around with connecting flights, I want to get on 1 plane & get off at my destination. If you are in the north of the country fair do's, you will have to change planes so this opens up other options. Overall the service is good, it's attentive, it's on a par with what I've experienced with Cathay, Qatar, & Singapore all of whom I've flown recently.
I appreciate a crew that does a little extra for you without asking, this happens not infrequently with BA. I appreciate a crew that if I make a request for something extra they do it with a smile, I get that with BA, like champagne in economy or food/drinks sent back from Club to economy when I'm separated from travelling companions. Most importantly when the s
t hits the fan as it will from time to time, I appreciate an airline that sorts it out. So when I got stuck in Kuwait on Christmas Eve, flying home for Christmas Day only, due to a plane going tech, the fact they got me home at all albeit 9hrs late was appreciated. Perfect... no. Disgraceful....you need to try a few other carriers!
We've used them a lot in the last 10 years. But we have also tried alternatives. There really isn't much difference IMO.
They certainly aren't disgraceful. Occasionally you come across a Battleaxe long serving steward/stewardess who needs retraining or sacking, but the good ones far outweigh the few that let the side down.
Direct long haul flights from Scotland can be limited, especially to Canada over the winter. We find Terminal 5 at Heathrow really very good for connections in these circumstances. A month ago we were on a brand new Dreamliner to Calgary as well which was a bonus.
We've tried Emirates to HKG from Glasgow via Dubai, but prefer a short flight followed by a long haul.
The carrier that had consistently been shocking for us is Air Canada. Avoid. Along with KLM.....
They certainly aren't disgraceful. Occasionally you come across a Battleaxe long serving steward/stewardess who needs retraining or sacking, but the good ones far outweigh the few that let the side down.
Direct long haul flights from Scotland can be limited, especially to Canada over the winter. We find Terminal 5 at Heathrow really very good for connections in these circumstances. A month ago we were on a brand new Dreamliner to Calgary as well which was a bonus.
We've tried Emirates to HKG from Glasgow via Dubai, but prefer a short flight followed by a long haul.
The carrier that had consistently been shocking for us is Air Canada. Avoid. Along with KLM.....
Last time we flew with BA was 4 years ago; trip to Australasia. 11 flights in a month, all except the last one with Qantas and its subsidiaries. Each flight was near enough on time and fully functional until the end.
Last flight home from Hong Kong was BA. 3 hour delay to fly home on an aging 747 with no personal lighting or entertainment system.
We were given the chance to complain by completing forms on board and handing them in before we landed. It was made clear that no complaints other than those made this way would be entertained. We did fill in the form but heard nothing.
Last resort for me these days. Many better long haul airlines with newer fleets and short haul they're no better than the other cut price airlines IMO.
Last flight home from Hong Kong was BA. 3 hour delay to fly home on an aging 747 with no personal lighting or entertainment system.
We were given the chance to complain by completing forms on board and handing them in before we landed. It was made clear that no complaints other than those made this way would be entertained. We did fill in the form but heard nothing.
Last resort for me these days. Many better long haul airlines with newer fleets and short haul they're no better than the other cut price airlines IMO.
Same with most airlines I've flown with in the past year; mind due I've never been charged anything for changing seats on a domestic BA flight - must but an international thing. Flew American (BA code share, but it was a AA plane) in November and they charge anything up to £100 to change your seat to something more desirable like an exit row; plus whilst you do get ICE on the domestic flights, you have to pay for it (like the food).
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