itsmeitisss

So you don't need the card for the lounge now, but do for check in. Can BA PLEASE have one hymn sheet rather than several! The Ground handling lets BA down rather badly sometimes. I wasn't asked for it the other day when I used First checkin. My card is out of date although I'm GGL, but since BA haven't sent my renewal pack, even after reordering it, my card is a year out of date. I'm not necessarily on my own here. Does that mean that yet another Gold benefit isn't going to be allowed?

bealine

No itsmeitisss, showing the card is definitely not a "requirement". Having the card on view, or a document ready (print yer own boarding pass or intinerary) with the card number was merely my suggestion for those who want a smooth, uninterrupted entry into the First check in area.

I obviously can't speak for all the staff, but if I was on duty outside Zone J and I welcomed you as you approached with the "Good morning, Travelling First today?" and you told me you were a GCH, I would accept your word for it.

However, when the zone fills up with passengers who do not have the right status (and that can be checked when they are at the desk, but by then it's too late) and I get a "carpetting" for it - what am I supposed to say?

dspalton

Ah so it was you who I saw!

Tell my, how did security take the sign

LOL

BA6501

Can two passengers, one travelling F and one travelling Y technically together both check-in at the F counter?

Strangely Brown

Fnarr! Fnarr!

Genius1

Yes.

Teefaf

Tremendous thread. Does everything the BAEC forum does well - off-topic, innuendo, alcoholism, class snobbery, minor tiffs... I could go on!

I've always had positive experiences with BA check-in. And I can understand why some staff can be a bit rude sometimes - not excusable, but understandable if you stand and watch some of the stuff they have to put up with from passengers. We're all human at the end of the day and sometimes we get a bit wound up by the stupidity of others. Not an excuse to take it out on other people though.

I definitely don't look like an elite/premium customer and so I expect to be challenged, rightly or wrongly. So I always keep my card handy, though not necessarily on show. And if required, I'll deferentially ask if as a Silver I'm allowed access to the queue/whatever, even if I know the answer. Better to be thought a fool than proved one.

I was checking in at T5 Zone C during the recent thunderstorms and a lot of the BA flights were disrupted. I had no idea about this until the check-in agent told me that my flight was cancelled. By this time she knew I was Silver and had chosen not trek all the way up to the club desks. I'm not sure if my status helped, but rather than sending me to the massive Zone E customer services queue to get rebooked, she decided to sort me out there and then. Even looked into all my suggestions and answered all my queries about stand-by/alternative flights etc. Truly outstanding - she took very good care of us when she could have chosen a much easier option for herself. (Incidentally, the BA app proved itself more accurate on potential flight delays than the agent's own check-in computer!)

Next to us was a family of unnamed ethnic origin packing and repacking and unpacking again their bags on the check-in conveyor to get them a slither under the weight limit. I thought that agent, too, had the patience of a saint with them. I'd have lost it.

BA6501

So that means the Y passenger gets:
- F check-in (and priority tags too?)
- CCR access
- buddy seat

LTN Phobia

I'd have sent them away from the desk to do it so that they don't hold up other passengers if there is a queue and they are taking more than a few minutes. I don't have much patience for people who bring overweight bags (my bigger irritation is people who bring oversize bags on board and take up two wheelie bags worth of space in the locker, though).

bealine

That is exactly what we're supposed to do. In Terminal 5, there is a repacking area with its own scales by Zone A alongside Cafe Nero where thoe with overweight bags can fiddle and fanny around with 'em as much as they like!

sunrisegirl

Sweetheart, this is a daily event for certain flights - both at LHR and LGW.

And yes, we sometimes do need the patience of a saint, and also a back stronger than a camel to deal with the abuse we get for asking them to repack. To do this job, one of your main strengths needs to be emotional resilience.

A couple of good friends of mine wanted to do the job for a day and donate some money to Flying Start in return for that "honour"! Although it couldn't be done they later admitted they don't think they would have lasted 10 minutes before telling a passenger where to go (and I don't mean their destination)! And both these friends are GCH's - one is GGL!!!

Genius1

Buddy seat only at the discretion of the F crew, and only for a drink (no food).