cant tell you how many times in the last 6 months we have had to wait on the plane for BA ground staff. Frustrating when the pilots do their utmost to get us there on time and then the militant unionised BA ground staff messes it all up by not being there to meet aircraft, not having the piers in place, etc etc. IAD to LHR last month, about 50 people standing on the tarmac at the bottom of the steps on a very remote stand for 20 minutes waiting for the bus to arrive. As if they dont know these aircraft are arriving ! At the moment the baggage handlers and ground staff are the weak link at BA and ruining it as an airline. Ontime arrival means nothing if you then spend another hour due to the incompetence or work slow policies of baggage handlers and ground staff.