Why BA still wins me despite my recent run of bad luck
As some of you might have seen, I have had a very bad run of disruptions lately.
But there is a reason why BA still wins me despite that, and some other not-so-great experiences. Let me explain.
My last long haul flights were substantially disrupted in both directions. I was not very happy with BA, and I still am not very happy about the disruptions and how they were handled. It was very inconvenient in both directions - I missed two meetings as a result.
On top of that, I had a very stressful trip where I survived on 2-3 hours a night of sleep and engaged in a terribly frustrating situation where I felt I was getting nowhere. There was nothing terrible as such - no-one around me died or was maimed - but at the end of the trip, after I found out about the 5-hour delay I really felt that I could cry. I was a tired, no, exhausted, grumpy and upset ball of stress.
However, once on board and talking to the crew, I quickly started to feel better. It was their warmth and genuine care that really helped me. They didn't know about my bad week because I didn't tell them (I told them about the cancelled flight on the way there, and of course they knew about the delay, but that's all, because I didn't want to burden them with my troubles).
They were just so lovely - not nice because they had to be nice to passengers, but they were nice because they were really nice people and cared about the passengers. The sort of real warmth that makes you feel like taking a sigh of relief and curl up by the fire contented like a cat. The sense of relief was so enormous that I could have hugged them in gratefulness.
They also had a sense of humour. They were a very good bunch and really lightened my mood. I got on the flight in a terrible mood and in a bad state. I got off happier and refreshed, and almost feeling like the weight has lifted off me, even though none of the situation has actually changed.
They didn't do anything 'special' as such. It was just the normal stuff they did, but with exceptional warmth.
This is why I still fly BA regardless of the silly disruptions that they have been throwing my way.
I don't really care about my miles or status I hold with BA as such - I can earn it with any carrier I like. But I haven't come across the kind of warmth exhibited by this crew very often on other carriers, although pretty often on BA. It's not about the service as such (service was good, but nothing extraordinary as such). This is why I like flying BA...
It was about the crew members being exceptionally nice, caring, warm human beings.
I must thank BA for hiring them, and I look forward to stepping on another BA flight... tomorrow (and keeping my fingers crossed that I will finally be on an on-time flight )
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Dec 17, 12 at 6:54 am..
This sums up really well why I fly 3 hours to London to connect to a BA long haul flight every time. I agree with everything you've said, its why I choose BA over other carriers that would be easier and slightly quicker for me
Listen to Uncle HIDDY......You need to relax your schedule and slow down a bit LTN Phobia.
Every time I read one of your posts I feel knackered so goodness knows how you must feel. Allocate more free time for yourself then disruptions won't have such an adverse effect on the quality of your life.
You're not getting any younger you know.....
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Don't let the Walter Mitty's get you down....
Nice to hear.... May I ask what class you were traveling because when I was traveling at Y, I never felt any 'special' treatment lol But saying that, they are pretty efficient at what they did. My guess is that you were traveling CW as that will mean that there is less passengers that they need to speak to
Nice to hear.... May I ask what class you were traveling because when I was traveling at Y, I never felt any 'special' treatment lol But saying that, they are pretty efficient at what they did. My guess is that you were traveling CW as that will mean that there is less passengers that they need to speak to
I was in F. But I regularly fly F on other airlines so I believe it's comparing apples with apples.
Don't get me wrong, you don't always get great crew on BA F. I had encountered rather lacklustre ones as well, including a lacklustre CSD. But when you have the good BA crew, which thankfully is more often than not, their warmth is outstanding.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HIDDY
Listen to Uncle HIDDY......You need to relax your schedule and slow down a bit LTN Phobia.
Every time I read one of your posts I feel knackered so goodness knows how you must feel. Allocate more free time for yourself then disruptions won't have such an adverse effect on the quality of your life.
You're not getting any younger you know.....
I am indeed getting older. I am probably shortening my life with this.
I can cope with 2 disruptions per 5 flights. When it becomes more often (in the end it was 4 out of 5 latest flights, and there was no immediate weather issues) it starts to affect me. But the more important issue was the stressful week at the destination.
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Dec 17, 12 at 9:13 am..
Wow... F is but a dream for me... Perhaps I need to work for another 10 years before I ever can afford it... CW on the other hand is almost within reach But for now, it will need to be slumming in the WTP and CW with avios 1 way ;-)
Was speaking to my mate the other day - talking about the LHR to HKG route... Told him to get some DVT socks because it will be 'intense' flight... then he said we are quite young so no need! Fair play... Then he said there is no need to even travel in WTP... Fair enough... But I think long haul, economy is absolute torcher! WTP is bearable... CW and first on the other hand.... ;-)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AceCobra1
Was speaking to my mate the other day - talking about the LHR to HKG route... Told him to get some DVT socks because it will be 'intense' flight... then he said we are quite young so no need! Fair play... Then he said there is no need to even travel in WTP... Fair enough... But I think long haul, economy is absolute torcher! WTP is bearable... CW and first on the other hand.... ;-)
A know a very fit 20 year old lad (non smoker, light drinker) who got DVT, and it was nearly fatal in his case. And of course we are told that it can strike in any cabin. So do those HighLife exercises! But you are probably right AceCobra1, once you start turning left, turning right thereafter gets very difficult.
A know a very fit 20 year old lad (non smoker, light drinker) who got DVT, and it was nearly fatal in his case.
Sorry, my mate actually doesn't have DVT... Being a dentist and not a doctor, I don't really know the exact science of DVT but I always thought it was just the case of the vein not circulating the blood efficiently because of the lack of movement and this can result in some areas receiving less blood than it would normally! Not sure.. Anyway, I was told that DVT socks work well and can say from experience... makes a 12 hour Y more bearable And makes me sleep well in WTP
Wow... F is but a dream for me... Perhaps I need to work for another 10 years before I ever can afford it... CW on the other hand is almost within reach But for now, it will need to be slumming in the WTP and CW with avios 1 way ;-)
Ah. I almost invariably book CW and upgrade to F using Avios! You need to learn to maximise your Avios usage. You could even fairly quickly earn enough Avios to do a straight redemption in F. Hang around here more and you will soon learn.
)
But for now, it will need to be slumming in the WTP and CW with avios 1 way ;-)
And makes me sleep well in WTP 
