BA: A fully idiot proof airline.
Feb 10, 2012, 2:54 pm
#1
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BA: A fully idiot proof airline.
It was one of those 'corporate events' which despite (or maybe because) of a comedy of errors was a huge success. The real fun started when the bus driver who was supposed to take us to the Apollo Theatre dropped us off at Piccadilly Circus... Luckily we are a happy bunch of people so 10 minutes after someone had figured out we were not going to a show any more the bottles of wine, champagne and beer were on the tables at Jewels. That may have been were it all started...
Slightly worse for wear we continued the workshop today and at 4PM we made our way back to LHR. 18 people in total of which 17 were attractive females. That may have been where it continued...
Knowing that even my BA GC was not adequate to make the lounge entry of a lifetime I selected my FLounge guest and carefully separated her from the pack. Changing from the Circle Line to the Hammersmith Line and then to the HEX helped me with that.
At LHR I could play knight in Golden Armour and swiftly escorted my guest through the fast track and played the savvy traveler. The FLounge did not fail to impress and the champagne made for an entertaining 90 minutes until it was time to board the plane.
At the gate I escorted her to the fast track lane and then it all went south pretty fast. No matter how many times I felt my pocket there was no passport holder there. Even though I was pretty sure that 'if it wasn't in my pocket it was nowhere' I started a rather embarrassing panicky search through my bags but nothing. I knew I had it at security but the flight was about to close so I more or less gave up, said my goodbyes and went back to the lounge to consider my options in relative comfort and possibly with more champagne. Almost in passing I asked the lounge angel if someone had found a passport and she sprang into action. She was amazing! Within 1 minute she was on the phone, told me to get back to the gate and wait for news. 2 minutes before the gate closed (luckily it was A15 so close to the lounge) I went back to the lounge because I could simply not imagine that I had a chance of retrieving it in time. In a very friendly way she told me 'haven't I told you to wait at the gate? we have found it and someone is now bringing it there! Get back!'. I thanked her profusely, felt bad for doubting her. She explained that a note was already in the system. BA IT does work!
Back at the gate I was handed my passport and managed to board well before the flight closed. I was so in awe of the efficiency with which this was all handled. Kudos to BA! The lounge angel (never calling them dragons again!) was an absolutely wonderful person. A well done is underway I can assure you.
I settled in 5A (first row of ET) and decided to put my passport in my bag, just to be sure. I reached in my pocket and... nothing! It was gone again. Just as panic struck a crew member (MF) came up to me and handed me my passport. Saved by BA again. It turned out the lining of my pocket was torn and the passport fell right through. They had found it at the bottom of the escalator.
By now none of the 17 women were impressed with me at all but I was impressed with the way BA prevented a financial and logistical nightmare weekend for me. Another well done under way.
I am glad that BA manages to save this idiots day. I am somehow convinced that being a GCH helped in that I could talk to the lounge angel and she took immediate and effective action. I am also sure that many other airlines at many other airports could not have communicated and acted as efficiently as BA could at T5. I believe the passport was found at security but I did not get all the information yet.
You might wonder if there is any proof that I am really an idiot and if we can therefore say BA is idiot proof. For the one or two people who doubt it I can say that I cleaned out the fireplace in my white dress shirt just now.
Now I need a beer!
Slightly worse for wear we continued the workshop today and at 4PM we made our way back to LHR. 18 people in total of which 17 were attractive females. That may have been where it continued...
Knowing that even my BA GC was not adequate to make the lounge entry of a lifetime I selected my FLounge guest and carefully separated her from the pack. Changing from the Circle Line to the Hammersmith Line and then to the HEX helped me with that.
At LHR I could play knight in Golden Armour and swiftly escorted my guest through the fast track and played the savvy traveler. The FLounge did not fail to impress and the champagne made for an entertaining 90 minutes until it was time to board the plane.
At the gate I escorted her to the fast track lane and then it all went south pretty fast. No matter how many times I felt my pocket there was no passport holder there. Even though I was pretty sure that 'if it wasn't in my pocket it was nowhere' I started a rather embarrassing panicky search through my bags but nothing. I knew I had it at security but the flight was about to close so I more or less gave up, said my goodbyes and went back to the lounge to consider my options in relative comfort and possibly with more champagne. Almost in passing I asked the lounge angel if someone had found a passport and she sprang into action. She was amazing! Within 1 minute she was on the phone, told me to get back to the gate and wait for news. 2 minutes before the gate closed (luckily it was A15 so close to the lounge) I went back to the lounge because I could simply not imagine that I had a chance of retrieving it in time. In a very friendly way she told me 'haven't I told you to wait at the gate? we have found it and someone is now bringing it there! Get back!'. I thanked her profusely, felt bad for doubting her. She explained that a note was already in the system. BA IT does work!
Back at the gate I was handed my passport and managed to board well before the flight closed. I was so in awe of the efficiency with which this was all handled. Kudos to BA! The lounge angel (never calling them dragons again!) was an absolutely wonderful person. A well done is underway I can assure you.
I settled in 5A (first row of ET) and decided to put my passport in my bag, just to be sure. I reached in my pocket and... nothing! It was gone again. Just as panic struck a crew member (MF) came up to me and handed me my passport. Saved by BA again. It turned out the lining of my pocket was torn and the passport fell right through. They had found it at the bottom of the escalator.
By now none of the 17 women were impressed with me at all but I was impressed with the way BA prevented a financial and logistical nightmare weekend for me. Another well done under way.
I am glad that BA manages to save this idiots day. I am somehow convinced that being a GCH helped in that I could talk to the lounge angel and she took immediate and effective action. I am also sure that many other airlines at many other airports could not have communicated and acted as efficiently as BA could at T5. I believe the passport was found at security but I did not get all the information yet.
You might wonder if there is any proof that I am really an idiot and if we can therefore say BA is idiot proof. For the one or two people who doubt it I can say that I cleaned out the fireplace in my white dress shirt just now.
Now I need a beer!
Last edited by henkybaby; Feb 11, 2012 at 3:54 am
Feb 10, 2012, 2:59 pm
#2
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Rather you than me!
I should think so too. 
Hope it was a good flight after all that.
Originally Posted by henkybaby
A well done is underway I can assure you.
Hope it was a good flight after all that.
Feb 10, 2012, 3:19 pm
#8
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No, there was no inebriation in play. Couple of glasses of champagne are not even enough to get me tipsy. This was pure bad luck and me not paying enough attention to my travel documents because I was paying attention to more interesting things.
Feb 10, 2012, 3:25 pm
#10
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Feb 10, 2012, 3:28 pm
#11
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What a story, well done to all concerned.
Apollo, eh? The one at 31 Shaftesbury Avenue just a short walk from Piccadilly Circus? 'The Madness of George III'? A sellout show with 20 empty seats? Or was it the Apollo Victoria showing 'Wicked'? Sounds like there was some confusion between the organiser and the coach driver.
Gosh! You'll have to come back, and it would make a great story better if you could bring the chosen one to share.
Apollo, eh? The one at 31 Shaftesbury Avenue just a short walk from Piccadilly Circus? 'The Madness of George III'? A sellout show with 20 empty seats? Or was it the Apollo Victoria showing 'Wicked'? Sounds like there was some confusion between the organiser and the coach driver.
Gosh! You'll have to come back, and it would make a great story better if you could bring the chosen one to share.
Feb 10, 2012, 7:37 pm
#14
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