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Posts: 861
Oneworld global support email
This just in from BA:
Quote:
Dear Dr Dubbin,
Catching your connecting flight should be stress-free—but sometimes things just don't go as planned.
So together with our partners, American Airlines and Iberia, we are working at select airports around the world to assist you in the event that you're at risk of missing your connection.
Our dedicated oneworld Global Support teams will make every effort to:
• Meet you upon arrival to help fast-track you through customs, immigration, and security
• Take special care that your baggage is transferred
• Give you up-to-date travel information, new boarding passes, and if necessary, assistance with overnight accommodations
It's just one of the many enhancements that British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia are proud to offer in order to serve you better. Find out what else is on the horizon for 2013.
oneworld Global Support is available in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, London Heathrow,
Los Angeles, Madrid Barajas, Miami, Tokyo Narita, New York JFK and Sydney. Coming soon to Hong Kong.
Warm regards,
James Hillier
from the Executive Club
Sounds good, but how much of it is new? And how do I make sure I actually get the services promised? The "discover more" link takes me to a page with very little information.
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I do not speak on behalf of British Airways, which is unsurprising as I don't work for them.
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Posts: 7,561
Had the same email
Wonder what it will actually give in reality
cs
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Doesn't really seem to fit in on BA flyertalk anymore, hey ho, times change, I'm still around and might post from time to time, still read forum and PMs
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dubbin
Sounds good, but how much of it is new?
Not much really, it is the people who stand at the end of the jetbridge who have done for some time now.
What would be good if "Global Support" met you at the aircraft door and whisked anyone with a tight connection by car across the airfield to their next aircraft - now that is what I call support.
It could help, especially Y pax without status, who can't access fast track.
I nearly missed a connection in HEL, the CC moved 6 of us into CE from ET, so we were first off, and despite it being a bus, we made out connection, which was delayed. No help on the ground though, so there may be some new changes to help pax more on the ground.
After you leave the plane, there is a board with flight numbers with short connections.
If you names on the list, you get a fast track pass to get through immigration.
Programs: BA Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, Aer Lingus Gold Circle Club
Posts: 671
I was about to post regarding this.
I hope they implement this correctly as it will help for people without status to make sure they catch their connections when they have a chance to miss it.
I presume that this is available to all BAEC members not with purely one world status.
I know it would have helped when I nearly missed my BA7311 connection earlier this year but thankfully it went tech too.
Today's BA email - the difference between low-cost airlines and the networked ones...
From today's BA email to EC members:
Quote:
Dear Mr o999,
Catching your connecting flight should be stress-free—but sometimes things just don't go as planned.
So together with our partners, American Airlines and Iberia, we are working at select airports around the world to assist you in the event that you're at risk of missing your connection.
Our dedicated oneworld Global Support teams will make every effort to:
• Meet you upon arrival to help fast-track you through customs, immigration, and security
• Take special care that your baggage is transferred
• Give you up-to-date travel information, new boarding passes, and if necessary, assistance with overnight accommodations
It's just one of the many enhancements that British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia are proud to offer in order to serve you better.
On a flight from OSL through LHR T5, on CW via DFW to a domestic first class US (AA) flight recently I was quite impressed to see how OW takes serious care of transferring passengers.
I was booked on the domestic flight out of DFW about 1,5 hours after landing from the trans-atlantic flight. Had serious doubts as to wether it was possible (although within the MCT) and even more so after landing 35 mins late. Not too stressed out, as later flights were available should I miss the booked one.
Though happy to say One World express transfer worked a charm! I was met at gate (but missed them as I was one of the first of the flight, only learned about this fact later). Did a fast-paced walk to the baggage reclaim hall, and was paged there to be given the bright orange express transfer pass that I would have been handed at gate had I not passed staff there at such a rush
After picking up bag, was escorted through to front of queue at US customs, and pointed in the direction of baggage recheck only 20 meters walk from customs (my bags had been tagged all through to my domestic destination back in Europe, so really only a handing-over). Given a very American cheery goodbye, and told to move through to security as soon as bags were rechecked.
Bags delivered, I made my way to US border control, again to be met by another member of AA staff with bright orange sign, handing me a photocopied, filled-in priority tag and pushing me (with a happy grin) to the front of the (200+ long) queue.
US border control does take a bit of time (say at least 5 mins per passing passenger or small group travelling together), but afterwards I was met by a (third) member of AA "express transfer staff" - to be lead in front of queue again at domestic security.
In all, the express transfer treatment saved me at least 40 minutes (maybe even more) - and ensured I catched my onward connection.
The e-mail was "padded" with a BA Gold header so I suspect this is only for status pax. Maybe a Blue can confirm if they got this?
Its been in place for some time. I have this service at least a year ago at Denver when the inbound was delayed (before I was gold). Marketing bullshot I'm afraid - you can tell by the signature at the bottom.
Programs: BA Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, Aer Lingus Gold Circle Club
Posts: 671
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lobengula
Well, I don't know.....
The e-mail was "padded" with a BA Gold header so I suspect this is only for status pax. Maybe a Blue can confirm if they got this?
I am a lowly blue and got the email but it might be one of those mass emails but with terms and conditions where they specify the tier they will support!
Programs: BA Gold, MUCCI des Soins Medicaux, Le médecin personnel à PUCCI GALORE
Posts: 1,109
I got this as a Silver but as people have said, this is really something that should be happening anyway. I have never seen a BA presence at LHR however I have frequently seen this at HKG with CX. I hope they emulate this as it has always looked very professional.
Programs: BA Gold, MUCCI des Soins Medicaux, Le médecin personnel à PUCCI GALORE
Posts: 1,109
That is really good to know as I always allow significantly longer than MCT in US transfer points for this very reason. I like the idea of this prospect but not sure I'd place blind faith in it just yet
