Originally Posted by
Globaliser
I may be labelled an "apologist" for saying this, but I don't agree with this approach. I think that a frequent flyer's relationship with a regular airline should be like a good marriage: There will be good times and there will be bad times, but the former should far outweigh the latter.
But that also means that you accept that there will be times when things just get stuffed up, and you look beyond that to the other times when the airline looks after you in ways that it isn't strictly obliged to. There's no reason not to let the airline know when things aren't up to scratch; but if you start off by looking for constant perfection, the only thing that will happen is that you will be disappointed.
To me the problem is the times when BA (or any other airline for that matter) goes above and beyond to look after me in ways it isn't strictly obliged to, are few and far between. Even as a Gold, I find BA rarely goes out of their way to accomodate my specific circumstances. You've also got to consider that not everyone has a "relationship" with BA and I don't think their expectations are any less valid - their money is as good as anyone elses to BA.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with the sentiment that the lower your expectations, the more pleasantly surprised you will be...it's certainly a philosphy I try to adhere to and I have posted as such in other threads. In fact, it's probably why in 10 years on this forum I have only garnered 400 posts.
That said, I am fully sympathetic to those that have high expectations of BA and have attempted to hold them to those expectations. There are also times when factors outside my control result in high expectations of BA and I have to problem complaining and expecting them to fix things. I don't see how it would ever be my place to pipe up and analyze the situation in a way that justified BA's actions (probably another reason for my low post count) and I am genuinely surprised at the number on this board who do see that as their responsibility.