Errr… yesterday I arrived on BA1417 from Belfast. We left ahead of schedule and looked forward to an early / on time arrival in Heathrow.

On arrival, we left runway 27R and paused on the approach to T5. After a while, and as we pulled up to a stand the captain advised that our stand was changed due to snow in Athens as the aircraft “to our left” was occupying our original stand and we had been moved to a non-domestic stand. We would therefore be bussed.

The stand to our left was 508, as we ended up on 507. Regulars will note that either of these can be domestic arrivals depending on what’s happening elsewhere, but if 507 isn’t domestic 508 definitely isn’t either.

The flight was disembarked by rear steps into busses, on what could usually be a domestic stand. At least one Lord in the front seats was unhappy!

I can understand, just about, how this might happen on the “swing gates” at the NE corner of T5 where they can change from domestic to international. I don’t understand why the flight deck would give inaccurate reasons why this should be so. It’s not the worst complaint against BA but just looks shoddy at their home base when they had the unusual event of an on-time arrival (clinching defeat from the jaws of victory!)

Some of us like to hear the ins and outs of the reasons for delays and problems but please don’t give us mistruths. I far prefer EI’s straight-talking captains who tell us where we’re going and that we will get there (they don’t really hide behind the excuse of “it’s Heathrow”). I’m sure business decisions will follow this.