If I were a BA shareholder I would be absolutely hopping mad. Even if this is fixed quickly, it is monumentally awful publicitly for BA. I appreciate it may be BAA's fault more than theirs, but the excuse that all new starts have "teething problems" really isn't good enough. It is likely to lose them hundreds of thousands of passengers, at least.
I personally think teething problems is a perfectly valid excuse. What is not excusable is how both the BA and BAA public relations machines raised expectations so high, that any problem or blip would be blown completely out of proportion. They turned a perfectly good and real project into an ivory tower without any good reason than that it made for good press (when the building was not even open). Even a small residential house has teething problems when first moved into; anybody who thinks a project the size and complexity of T5 will open without a problem is either blindly naïve, stupid or both.
Every major airport opening that I know of has had major problems. What did people honestly expect??????? I'm shocked people are shocked.
__________________ Zij die vliegen komen nooit tot rust. Zij die niet vliegen komen nergens.
The first day media reports for T5 are rapidly getting worse. BBC, CNN and Sky are all saying that it looks very nice, but there are loads of very mad passengers......................And I don't buy into the 'teething problems' argument, as BA and BAA have had numerous trial runs. Poor show, BA.
Looking at the increasing cancellations on BAA for T5
Cue the next question...
Does cancelling a flight after an opening-day baggage cock-up count as 'extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken'?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mad_rich
Cue the next question...
Does cancelling a flight after an opening-day baggage cock-up count as 'extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken'?
Answers on a postcard please...
Given that the baggage system has been running under a heavy load for several months, I think you'd be hard-pushed to say they hadn't taken reasonalbe measures to ensure that it would be working. Not that I'm defending what has happened, of course!
things can and do go wrong on this sort of occasion.
BUT - you would think BA/BAA would have had a contingency plan in place to cover the most obvious eventualities - of which the baggage system is clearly one of them.
If it's true they only have one manual loader available - it's a disgrace and heads should roll.
The door just closed and the captain came on the PA saying that he bags were being loaded right now.. so hopefully we're departing soon... Crossing my fingers...
I'm more dreading my flight back to LHR tomorrow now! I hope these delays wouldn't have a domino effect on flights the next few days...
Are you still here?
Hopefully you are on your way, bags and all!
Our 1605 to Newcastle has been cancelled. Currently in the Galleries First, a full report on that to follow.
Looks like a pleasant afternoon in Hounslow is on the cards.
Along with some others
13.10 716 to ZRH
14.00 954 to MUC
14.15 908 to FRA
14.15 1484 to GLA
BA1448 LHR T5 EDI 27 MAR 14:50 Cancelled -
BA0942 LHR T5 DUS 27 MAR 14:55 Cancelled -
BA0362 LHR T5 LYS 27 MAR 15:00 Cancelled -
BA0568 LHR T5 LIN 27 MAR 15:00 Cancelled -
BA1312 LHR T5 ABZ 27 MAR 15:00 Cancelled -
BA0734 LHR T5 GVA 27 MAR 15:05 Cancelled -
BA0966 LHR T5 HAM 27 MAR 15:05 Cancelled -
does seem to be a bit of an own goal. They've been testing for months and the thing breaks down in the first hour - and they didn't seem to have a fall back plan.
These things happen blah blah - but makes BA and their 'things will be fine when T5 opens' look a trifle silly.
Still, every cloud....I forsee a knock down sale to appease the masses...
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So much for the wonderful backup luggage system!
I agree though, they should not have built it up to be so perfect.
Remember Scotty on Star Trek, when he was asked by Kirk how long something would take to fix he'd say double the time so that when he fixed it quicker it made him look better!
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So that'll be your money back, a slug of miles for the inconvenience and a free afternoon on the lash with none of that pesky no drinks while the crew are stapped in lark to contend with.
To be honest, I think you're quids in (but I feel sorry for the raft of folk who have been shafted by this failure)...
