Programs: Mucci: Order of the Flying Hairbrush (Diamond), BAEC (Gold), BMI DC (Gold), Hilton (Diamond)
Posts: 2,459
Quote:
Originally Posted by gazz189
The problem in this country is we are too quick to criticise things when not right the 1st time. Did anyone really expect it to be smooth from day 1?
Nobody expected that, but when things like check-in are being closed because, presumably, something can no longer cope one has to ask why BA did not have proper contingency plans in place.
Anyone who works in any sort of engineering or support or technical role knows full-well that you 'under promise and over deliver'.
BA seem to have done the exact opposite - and they surely knew the press would be waiting like scavengers for the slightest thing to go wrong, so why not have plans in place to stop it...
To be honest, listening to the news media --> they would have found SOMETHING to complain and moan and whinge about.
I must say, I have found the reporting / commentary all so terribly negative and quite depressing. T5 looks magnificient and I would rather focus on the positive as opposed to the negative.
I cannot wait to see it for myself mid April when HI and I get to fly in and out of it !!!!
In fairness, the media have nothing to gain from negativity as there is just as much interest from those involved with the terminal and its construction as from those who have to use it.
A colleague of mine flew into T5 from EDI today. She has spent the past few days raving about how great T5 looks and how good it was going to be. Her experience today went well beyond "teething trouble". Is she being negative?
It is very difficult to put a contingency plan in place for your entire baggage system collapsing. It is easier to put trained staff in place who are equipped to deal with the situation. Unfortunately neither seems to have been done.
All I can say is the Galleries First seems to be getting progressively quieter. Now the sun has gone down it is a wonderful place to spend time with some friends, but the fact that we have to be escorted out of the terminal means leaving is an unattractive prospect.
Amusingly there is a guy guarding the 'barrier' between the First Galleries' Terrace and the Concorde Room Terrace. He seems to be one of the few BAA people in T5 who's trained to do his job - "Stand there, and don't let anyone jump over this 2 foot glass door"
The saga continues
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Programs: AA 2MM EXP, UA 1P UGS, SQ Solitaire, BA Gold, LH SEN, CX DM, GP Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 2,544
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skimo
Why the rolley eyes?! According to the Telegraph article you actually planned to be on the first flight into T5 (why?!?) Surely you didn't honnestly expect there to be anything less than mild chaos on big bang day?! I, like many of my colleagues, put in our valuable leave to avoid the first few days of T5 ops. SO glad I had high enough points to get the leave
Well, I expected delays on the first day.. but from all that I have read and experienced so far, these are some pretty major problems they are having, and it will definitely have a roll on effect for the following days and weeks... Now I have to do some contigency planning, which is quite annoying, thus the rolleyes...
Programs: BAEC Silver; Muccis du Monde des Peluches
Posts: 3,633
Quote:
Originally Posted by BA97
Amusingly there is a guy guarding the 'barrier' between the First Galleries' Terrace and the Concorde Room Terrace. He seems to be one of the few BAA people in T5 who's trained to do his job - "Stand there, and don't let anyone jump over this 2 foot glass door"
Presumably one should be allowed to jump one way, but not the other.
Programs: BA Gold, FB Plat., HH Diamond, SPG Plat. PC Gold
Posts: 15
Just got an email from the Exec Club praising Terminal 5 opening success!!
Either they are arogant or not fully aware of this thread!
In any case, not up to the task.
I am flying out tomorrow, and may want to rebook on another airline/terminal....
Programs: BAEC Silver; Muccis du Monde des Peluches
Posts: 3,633
Quote:
Originally Posted by pdsuk
Their reporting is terribly confusing however - some quotes
"Check-in closed at £4.3bn T5"
"... a temporary suspension in check-in ..."
"All luggage check-in is suspended at Heathrow's new T5 ..."
"LATEST: All check-in at the new BA Terminal 5 is suspended"
So BBC - which is it ?
I really think this is a tables-are-turned case of unfairly picking on the media. The four things you quote are not so very far apart, with the the only significant difference between them being whether all check-in or merely check-in with baggage has been suspended. To many travellers there is no difference, and reading the report makes it clear it is the latter but it is a bit long-winded to repeat that caveat every time.
In other words, although I am no fan of the BBC, I think this criticism of them is pure pedantry (not that I am not guilty of that sometimes); whereas the media's negative reports today about T5 can certainly not be classed as that: they are substantive and very serious.
Programs: Mucci des Lois Constitutionnelles, BAEC Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, HH Diamond, Arsenal Platinum
Posts: 671
I'm proud to have been here on the first day even if it is a bit chaotic!
I'm currently in a cabana in the Concorde lounge, waiting to see if my flight is ever going to leave... the staff are being brilliant, but clearly they've not been trained sufficiently on the systems or even given a proper tour of the facilities.
I must say, everyone "on the ground" from BA has been totally brilliant. This is by no means their fault. Thumbs up to every, especially the lounge manager Adrian (is this our Adrian??) who is making himself available to all pax and taking it on the chin rather than passing the buck. What a bunch of professionals... BA at its best...
Cheers
/MHL
p.s. the cabanas need temperature controlls... I'm roasting!!!
Programs: BAEC Silver; Muccis du Monde des Peluches
Posts: 3,633
BA have clearly been so overwhelmed that they have, at the time of writing, got nothing at all on their website about the problems, at least not on the home page or under "Latest Flight News".
