Originally Posted by
Shuttle-Bored
I'm sure plenty of people would argue that bankers, lawyers, engineers, accountants, salesmen, etc don't need to travel if F or J as it gives the wrong impression....
But frankly that's a completely different argument. Why shouldn't BA's staff involved in appropriate roles sample the product? To be honest, I'd far rather that someone making a decision about the First product had actually tried it - hell, they should have as part of their annual objectives to sample the First product on five of their competitor carriers, let alone BA.
Your perception of staff checking into 5* hotels as being costly is also an interesting one. Lets say BA has two flights a day to a particular destination, each with say 14 crew in total. Said crew stay two nights before returning. That's 56 rooms a night. 365 nights a year. You can pretty much guarantee that BA's negotiated rate for said hotel is way below anything that your or my employer is paying. From the hotel's perspective, there's a brand association value - they get their brand associated with BA, and they get a steady confirmed income stream.
Of course, employees that manage their F or J or WT+ etc brands or are involved in decisions about those should sample them, you are right.
And yes for certain other companies I think the same re perception. If I would see some of my suppliers traveling in F then surely that would impact my perception and it would also impact the next negotiation round. Some other firms, like the banks or lawfirms you mention, may think it helps them in their perception. Anyway, with all respect, I think most BA staff does not need to travel F for business. That's my view.
Re hotel, sure they have some good rates, but surely they could get better in other hotels. It just does not make me, a customer and potential investor, feel more amiable towards BA when they tell me their business does not go well or they need to cut cost.