AC Chief jumps the line at LHR T5
Oct 22, 2014, 4:34 am
#1
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AC Chief jumps the line at LHR T5
Picture this (as Sophia of the Golden Girls would say, for those who still remember):
Last night, LHR, T5, Gate A10 (BA flight 95 to YUL).
Boarding was just about to begin with all pax seated awaiting the call. Several eligible pax, myself included, stand at the entrance for priority boarding. Out of the blue, Mr. Rovinescu, followed by two underlings, appears and marches right through only to be stopped by the gate agent and asked to wait.
Question #1: Why does Mr. R not fly the "best airline in North America"?
Question #2: Should this be posted under DYKWIA or Celebrity Sighting threads?
P.S. BA95 was a superb flight, and it feels great to be BA Silver for a change.
Last night, LHR, T5, Gate A10 (BA flight 95 to YUL).
Boarding was just about to begin with all pax seated awaiting the call. Several eligible pax, myself included, stand at the entrance for priority boarding. Out of the blue, Mr. Rovinescu, followed by two underlings, appears and marches right through only to be stopped by the gate agent and asked to wait.
Question #1: Why does Mr. R not fly the "best airline in North America"?
Question #2: Should this be posted under DYKWIA or Celebrity Sighting threads?
P.S. BA95 was a superb flight, and it feels great to be BA Silver for a change.
Oct 22, 2014, 4:58 am
#2
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There have been many posts suggesting AC execs fly other carriers to see how much better they are than AC. Maybe the answer is as simple as that. It's important to know both your own product and that of the competition.
Oct 22, 2014, 6:16 am
#3
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Oct 22, 2014, 7:40 am
#5
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Oct 22, 2014, 7:47 am
#6
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Departure Times are quiet different too
BA - 1825hrs
AC - 1300hrs
Hard to have a full day in London and have to leave for Heathrow around 1100
BA - 1825hrs
AC - 1300hrs
Hard to have a full day in London and have to leave for Heathrow around 1100
Oct 22, 2014, 7:48 am
#7
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Oct 22, 2014, 8:49 am
#9
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Oct 22, 2014, 8:50 am
#10
Join Date: May 2002
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AC, like most airlines, has reciprocal employee travel agreements with many (probably most) other airlines in the world. This usually would have provisions for both duty and leisure travel, with onload priorities being distributed according to seniority. So he likely travelled in J, given that BA doesn't operate F to YUL, since he was travelling for business purposes.
Oct 22, 2014, 8:52 am
#12
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Oct 22, 2014, 10:18 am
#13
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I could see tons of reasons for the guy not to fly AC...
Among the most innocuous ones:
Perhaps he does not like the wines, or service in general?
But trying to bypass the queue on his own, now isn't that low class? Can't he get an escort that will take him through without looking bad? (Like AC VIP service.)
Among the most innocuous ones:
Perhaps he does not like the wines, or service in general?
But trying to bypass the queue on his own, now isn't that low class? Can't he get an escort that will take him through without looking bad? (Like AC VIP service.)
Oct 22, 2014, 2:44 pm
#14
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Bypassing the queue and other preferential perks sort of negates the experience of seeing how other airlines compare in terms of how normal flyers experience it. He may fly more than most on FT 
but apparently when he does he doesn't do it like us plebs.
but apparently when he does he doesn't do it like us plebs.
Oct 22, 2014, 3:02 pm
#15
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Keep in mind that Calin Rovinescu is also the chairman of the Star Alliance board, and so depending on the purpose of his trip, and who is paying for his trip, it is completely conceivable they booked him on something other than AC.
And before I get flamed, yes I full well know BA is oneworld, but my key point is we don't know the purpose of his trip or who was footing the bill with his duel hat position.
And before I get flamed, yes I full well know BA is oneworld, but my key point is we don't know the purpose of his trip or who was footing the bill with his duel hat position.