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Be careful with departure times on the BA App!
Unfortunately I've just missed the BA828 to Dublin
The flight was scheduled to depart at 1800 .. delayed to 1820 on the App and no boarding gate was indicated on the screen
Went to the BA lounge at around 1745 to await hte flight ... I asked the lounge agent at around 6pm if it was still departing around 6.20 .. he looked up in the BA computer system and showed it was estimating 1850 departure .. this was subsequently reflected in the android app too and still was at 6.25 as well (I've got a screenshot )
Then at just before 6.30 I noticed the terminal screens said flight closing so headed down to Gate 77 (which is quite a long walk) - I wasn't too alarmed as frequently "Flight Closing" is on the screen almost as soon as boarding starts, if not before! ... getting there just after 6.35, and the door was closed and the flight gone .. Gate agents were still there and explained that the flight crew got over from T5 faster than expected so they were able to go sooner and the screens should have been updated to say that.
I know flight calls aren't normally made in the lounges and there's a sign to say so ... but in this case where it seems the flight magically and suddenly undelayed itself so a call to that effect would have been very useful indeed.
I don't know when the Airport Screens updated to "Flight Closing", but certainly the App didn't update and was still saying ETD of 1850 when the flight must have been almost boarded .. I accept it was my responsibility to keep an eye on the screens and can't blame others too much , but it's irritating for sure
I was rebooked FoC onto the 2115 departure .. so can't complain too much but it is pretty irritating ... I could easily have not missed that flight with just a little bit more joined up information
Rant over I'll get a G&T from the bar ... for all the complaints about this lounge its far from the worst spot to hang out for 2 hours (provided you're not hungry!)
I nearly missed my flight in a very similar circumstance. I wasn't impressed because it made me run (along with a gentleman nearby from the lounge and others). I just made it but the information not being reliable is a little alarming.
This is my worst fear... Just Tuesday I was in the lounge and checking out the screens... that went from gate allocated to final call in about 10 minutes flat! Fortunately it was right near the lounge (A18 I think it was). WHY ON EARTH can BA not post the info earlier...!!!!! and yes, they do know don't give me that...
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They really should be more on the ball with green mile departures and announcements - gate 8 is not so bad, but having to run down to 77 etc is not exactly premium experience. I've made good use of the app when it comes to flight delays so warning is appreciated
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I think in T1 the problem is that the Flight information screens in the Lounge are run by BAA and may show different things to the system that BA uses that powers the in lounge screens in T3 and T5 as well as their mobile apps/website ... I guess T1 is more at risk of disconnects here
Anyway looks like the BA824 is on time and it's only going from Gate 8a next door so really no excuse to miss that !
I made use of the 2 hrs lounge time to email customer relations anyway .. I think it's a legitimate gripe here and missing the flight wasn't entirely my fault at all
Keeps me out of the pubs in Dublin tonight anyway which is perhaps no bad thing ! :P
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But - aren't many displays like that? 0>Closing in 2 minutes?
I have no faith in what electro-things tell me - at airports they are only generating what human-things tell them. I go to the gate at the time on my BP, as instructed. Then it's someone else's fault.
Especially those Captains who say "Oh, we can get away early …" and just poke off into the sunset/sunrise because they can, and it's been a long day. Bad call, Skipper.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stifle
Could be worse, you could be waiting for the 829 in DUB where the lounge dragon dumped everyone out at 2000 because it was the end of her shift...
Yup .. annoyingly it seems that despite "missing" the BA828 at around 1835 it didn't actually push back until 1930 so I guess you're hanging around until at least 2130 before that gets out of Dublin .. bad form chucking you out of the lounge alright.
I think in T1 the problem is that the Flight information screens in the Lounge are run by BAA and may show different things to the system that BA uses that powers the in lounge screens in T3 and T5 as well as their mobile apps/website ... I guess T1 is more at risk of disconnects here
BA Customer Relations said (wrote) that T5 lounge screens were managed by BAA too, when I commented on the dodgy information there.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LTN Phobia
BA Customer Relations said (wrote) that T5 lounge screens were managed by BAA too, when I commented on the dodgy information there.
Interesting, I'd always assumed they were different and guessed they were BA's own as they look totally different to the ones in the main terminal (and they show different info too don't they like expected delays to the nearest minute while the main T5 screens don't normally show such precise info on delays do they.)... In the T1 UK&Ireland lounge they are the exact same screens as in the main terminal
When I'm waiting for my flight in the lounge, I usually monitor the flight on flightstats.com. It tends to have more up to date information than the screens have, or even the agents if you ask them.
When I was in GF waiting for my flight to LAS at the end of November the departure boards said nothing about the gates.
I had been shopping in the general terminal area and those departure boards said " will leave from B34" about 2 hours prior to the flight time so I headed across to the B gates with about 70mins to go ( the GF boards still did not show the gates)
Regards
TBS
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The app system is linked to BAs actual departure control system.
The trouble with this sytem is that it shows any kind of delay on it and it is often delays or information about gates that are liable to change and are not announced in advance.
An example of that is an 1825 departure will show delayed until 1855 on the app if the pilot has requested de-icing to take place.
The flight would board on time and would be completed by 1825 but the actual departure time would be 1855 and not 1825 (if it was cold and the app will not show why or what the delay was....) but the staff would be able to access why
Do not 100% rely on information on the app as it the information comes direct from operations centre and it is liable to change but can show a delay when there is not a delay to the actual boarding at the gate process.
It could be linked to a revenue delay (where they hold the plane to wait for large groups say over 30 transfer passengers) or maybe even baggage and loading situations and cargo delay
It could also apply to ATC holds and many other situations.
Either get to the gate at the correct time or ask a staff member what the reason for the delay is and / or to confirm the gate number
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