Part of the problem in my view is ‘broken windows theory’. If you have a broken window one day, you’ll have two the next & before you know it everything will be down the pan. Or ‘give an inch; take a mile’.

Once upon a time, the BA I knew:-

* would not board if the cleaners had not done a good job - the CSD (I think) would insist they were called back if necessary
* catering would be checked & if needed, top ups could fairly swiftly be obtained. Again, it seems now ‘on time’ performance favoured over a pride in cabin service and ‘doing things properly or not at all’.
* would not start ‘boarding’ until cabin actually ready. The SCCM would be by the door welcoming customers on board - too often now they seem to have their back to the door fiddling about with ovens / catering. You’re kept waiting on the jetbridge just like a LCC. Don’t call the flight if you’re not ready. The world will wait.

Part of the problem is, little by little, as predicted, things have been squeezed and shaved and the consequence is even with business as usual things aren’t as they should be. Any disruption anywhere results in a really poor show.

BA of the 90s and 00s is gone. Part and parcel of that was of course inflexible, expensive, tickets, and very poor on time performance. But service & experience levels was high.

As CWS said, this isn’t just BA specific.