New F but terrible young crew on LHR-ATL
Jul 17, 2011, 5:52 pm
#62
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I have sat on flights with existing WW crew for example and been ashamed of how the crew have performed.
It shouldn't matter which fleet operated a flight, if the service wasn't up to standard, then it should be fed back and looked into. Similarly, where service has been outstanding, we should acknowledge that. We all work for the same company and reports of bad service reflects on all of us, whether we are mixed fleet, WW, EF, pilots, ground staff etc.
Jul 17, 2011, 6:15 pm
#63
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Jul 17, 2011, 6:49 pm
#64
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I don't travel in the same section as my kids, and it has nothing to do with liking or not liking them. Just don't believe that kids should sit in the front. And mine aren't kids.
Jul 17, 2011, 6:51 pm
#65
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Having had colleagues who have either flown with mixed fleet as volunteer crew or have actually been on flights operated by mixed fleet, many of the mixed fleet crew are indeed "being outstanding" just as many of the existing WW and EF crew are. There are some issues and not every flight goes smoothly, but the same can be said on the existing fleets.
I have sat on flights with existing WW crew for example and been ashamed of how the crew have performed.
It shouldn't matter which fleet operated a flight, if the service wasn't up to standard, then it should be fed back and looked into. Similarly, where service has been outstanding, we should acknowledge that. We all work for the same company and reports of bad service reflects on all of us, whether we are mixed fleet, WW, EF, pilots, ground staff etc.
I have sat on flights with existing WW crew for example and been ashamed of how the crew have performed.
It shouldn't matter which fleet operated a flight, if the service wasn't up to standard, then it should be fed back and looked into. Similarly, where service has been outstanding, we should acknowledge that. We all work for the same company and reports of bad service reflects on all of us, whether we are mixed fleet, WW, EF, pilots, ground staff etc.
Only time will tell if BA have succeeded or not, meanwhile customers appear to be suffering.
Jul 17, 2011, 7:18 pm
#66
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But it is crystal clear that a very new British Airways is in existence.
We know Mr Walsh to be both a workaholic and a great talker. For that matter, and in fairness, my professional criticisms are mitigated by my views of his personal character, but an unsentimental, objective viewpoint must be applied. I am not necessarily the person to apply such a vision. But for the true old school BA aficionado -- which we all once were -- I fear one's overladen nostalgia, alas, might need to be checked at the door going forward.
Still, BA do have jolly nice seats and onboard gin though, and when things go wrong they do look after their best customers as best they can do, and should do.
Hmm. I'd allocate a fraction of the differential between WorldWide and Mixed Fleet towards Mixed Fleet longhaul training and professional development, and would advocate promoting the brightest shorthaul bulbs towards longhaul service standards. The idea being BA's heritage and standards are meant to be maintained. (But some recent longhaul MF reports are very poor indeed.)
For BA diehards like me, I don't know if "it's not going to happen", or "it hasn't yet happened, in its initial incarnation", but I know what I'd prefer.
Jul 17, 2011, 11:45 pm
#67
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I am yet to read a positive mixed fleet trip report from the premium cabins and this is the second bad one this week (re the LAS) both in F also. Amen to moving the route back to Gatwick or Worldwide. I think the problem lies with the fact hardly any of them including CSMs have flown for BA before and that the fleet is growing too fast for them to find their feet and with no experienced crew to look to it's all falling apart.
Jul 18, 2011, 3:44 am
#68
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That's the same all over the place now, not just BA or even just the travel industry.
Jul 18, 2011, 3:58 am
#69
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I wasn't allowed to sit in the front until I started paying for my own flights, and I think it did me good. I got to see that flying in economy class doesn't kill me
But it also taught me that it's also not a nice way to travel and best to be avoided. It makes me appreciate the premium travel more though - having said that, I now tend to take it for granted a little too much.
P.S. I think Origin was talking about parents with children who are too young to be on their own travelling in a different section (and without a nanny or other adult supervisor accompanying them) - or at least that's what I thought.
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Jul 18, 2011 at 4:19 am
Jul 18, 2011, 4:03 am
#70
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I've absolutely no doubt there are some great staff among the MF team, but the level of complaints appear to be increasing, which is concerning. I think flyer16's comment I've quoted below sums it up well.
I think the problem lies with the fact hardly any of them including CSMs have flown for BA before and that the fleet is growing too fast for them to find their feet and with no experienced crew to look to it's all falling apart
Jul 18, 2011, 4:10 am
#71
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The OP claimed that they were in First and the children were in Club.
Wandering down the cabin with their toy says to me that they really should have been closer to their parents and if support was needed, given. BA and many airlines have a policy of not allowing under ten years old to travel alone. BA did have a option so that they could travel with a rep from BA to look after them. Having children in another cabin I feel breaks the rules.
Another person on here does have a few bears. One of these was damaged when it was blown up. Its owners at the time managed to get it back home and it was repaired. In my view save yourself when bombs are flying. But thats just me. An alledged incident of red wine isnt going to hurt the toy more than incendiay device.
I do agree that when people are paying there is no need to worry about which section they end up. Although we havent heard from your kids on that subject.
Jul 18, 2011, 4:12 am
#72
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Jul 18, 2011, 4:20 am
#73
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What does not kill me will not make me stronger - it might just make me cry.
I can't even claim child cruelty on my parents since they sat with me in economy class (they never travelled economy class when I wasn't with them). Boo!!
I can't even claim child cruelty on my parents since they sat with me in economy class (they never travelled economy class when I wasn't with them). Boo!!
Jul 18, 2011, 4:29 am
#75
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Well I've finally experienced New First and have to say that the cabin is really nice. The new video screens are a huge improvement, and there is a really nice modern feeling to everything. The only negative is the "spouse seat" which is more uncomfortable that the old one.
The huge negative to this flight was the crew. I do not think there was a single member over 25 including the Purser. Nobody knew what to do. I had to wait over an hour after a smooth takeoff to get a glass of champagne. The flight attendant then delivered a glass of red to me...
When I told her that I had ordered champagne, she promptly spilled the whole glass over the person in 2E. After another 20 minutes I was served a warm glass minus the nuts that everyone else received.
Then we had another emergency...My daughter back in 10J had a whole bottle of red spilled from head to toe. I do not know how this could possibly happen but she comes running up to us almost crying because they have ruined her dress and more importantly a very precious stuffed animal. We spend the next 30 minutes in the wash room trying to clean her up. The staff continue to serve with no offer of assistance other than some soda water. I then ask to speak to the CSD and he offers a voucher for dry cleaning...
I know accidents happen, but this flight was ludicrous. The poor service continued with my call button having to be depressed for just about everything. Another example of the poor service was Afternoon tea. When my wife and I ordered, we were told that the scones were not available until 1.5hrs prior to landing. I thought you could eat anything in F at anytime?
Anyway we made the most of it and tried to polish off as many bottles of Tattinger as possible. BA should give this F crew remedial training and I am totally baffled as to how the CSD was promoted to this position so young. Absolutely useless.
The huge negative to this flight was the crew. I do not think there was a single member over 25 including the Purser. Nobody knew what to do. I had to wait over an hour after a smooth takeoff to get a glass of champagne. The flight attendant then delivered a glass of red to me...
When I told her that I had ordered champagne, she promptly spilled the whole glass over the person in 2E. After another 20 minutes I was served a warm glass minus the nuts that everyone else received. Then we had another emergency...My daughter back in 10J had a whole bottle of red spilled from head to toe. I do not know how this could possibly happen but she comes running up to us almost crying because they have ruined her dress and more importantly a very precious stuffed animal. We spend the next 30 minutes in the wash room trying to clean her up. The staff continue to serve with no offer of assistance other than some soda water. I then ask to speak to the CSD and he offers a voucher for dry cleaning...
I know accidents happen, but this flight was ludicrous. The poor service continued with my call button having to be depressed for just about everything. Another example of the poor service was Afternoon tea. When my wife and I ordered, we were told that the scones were not available until 1.5hrs prior to landing. I thought you could eat anything in F at anytime?
Anyway we made the most of it and tried to polish off as many bottles of Tattinger as possible. BA should give this F crew remedial training and I am totally baffled as to how the CSD was promoted to this position so young. Absolutely useless.. At least you got the new cabin!I agree with everything you say about the crew. The service was not very professional at all, and generally seemed more of a leisure kind of service. Not once was I offered a top up of water or wine, and my call button was not answered a couple of times! The main course of beef was disgusting which would not even be acceptable in Y. The starter and desert were fine although it would have been nice to be offered another bread roll with my soup. Do they have Pursers in Mixed Fleet, as it was not apparent who was in charge of the cabin? The few times I have flown F before and been very good, but this experience was not good at all.
I returned to the UK from BOS in J, and the service/crew and food were very good........far superior to the service/crew in F on the way out.