It pays to ask different people…

Flew LHR to MAN on the first shuttle of the morning a few weeks ago. Landed circa 7.30am and was due to return around 4pm. Text message when I landed told me my meeting was cancelled.

Asked the first BA person I met at the end of the ramp if I could go straight to the gate, and get back on board. “No, you need to go to the ticket desk landside”.

Ran to the ticket desk – two people sitting around doing nothing. Asked the same question… “No, the earliest flight we can put you on in your fare bracket is circa 1pm.” (I was on a ‘lowest tier point earning fare). Pleaded nicely with them, but they weren’t budging, so I explained I’d simply eat them out of house and home in the lounge for the next 8 hours instead…

Ran to the lounge, asked the lady on the desk the same question, and she realised it was silly to wait in the lounge 8 hours, called the gate, checked they would accept a late hand-baggage only passenger, they said yes, and off I ran to the gate with a new boarding card.

Landed just before 9.30am back at LHR, and was in the office by 10.15am.

Now, that didn’t hurt anybody, did it? And if anything, that nice gesture by BA made me think nice things about them... Just a shame it took asking three people to get them to assist!