bealine

No, indeed he hasn't, and I am sorry he was treated in such a brusque manner.

If I had refused access and he had reminded me of the GC privilege, I would have backed down instantly and apologised for forgetting.

It's like sitting outside the Concorde Room door - you get so used to turning away those who aren't entitled that you don't always spot the "F" class boarding card stub from an inbound service sticking out of the person's top pocket!

FWIW - at BA, no one is permanently on F/J class duty. We switch around during the course of our shifts and could end up working anywhere.

sunrisegirl

Actually it happens dozens of times every day. Hence the scepticism.

As for badgering people, could I ask if you would like to arrive at the F/Gold check in area to find you can't use it because everybody already there has no status? Asking people a question regarding their status is not badgering, it's checking their entitlement to use an area. Remember we as agents don't know a person's status without checking first. And we're protecting the area for those who are entitled to use it. Is that so wrong?

What happened to the OP does indeed seem wrong though and he should have produced his gold card and politely reminded the agent that he was entitled to use the F desks.

LTN Phobia

On the very rare occasions when I use the F check-in (only when the queues are long at CW/CE check-in), I always have my card too.

It's not difficult even when I have to dive around in my "I carry a kitchen sink with me" handbag and get it out of my purse while juggling a wheelie bag, so it can't be so difficult for chaps who carry their card in their wallet in their back (or front) pocket.

Cap'n Benj

Exactly. These areas should be well marshalled, I can see no reason whatsoever why you should not have to prove you are a Gold, to enter the F/Gold check in area.

What would/ does happen, if you can not prove your status pre checking it on the system at the desk? 'Dog ate my card miss!'

Also SRG, what do you do with the chancers who turn up at the F desks? Do you simply send them packing to the appropriate J or Y desk?

sunrisegirl

Some of us (including me) politely refer them to the regular bag drop area, but some colleagues check them in and have, occasionally, left status passengers waiting as a result.

If it's very quiet, ie. evening at LGW, and they've already checked in and just dropping a bag, I may take them but remind them they must use the other desks in future.

Unfortunately, some colleagues see no problem in non status passengers using the premium desks. It aggravates the heck out of me.

Cap'n Benj

If they're are no queues then its definitely fair enough, if its busy, they should be told to join the appropriate queue! What's the point in Classes/ Status otherwise

Phil the Flyer

You should see what she does with the chancers who turn up at her hot tub!

sunrisegirl

What? Like you, you mean xx

LTN Phobia

Thank you for sticking to the 'proper way of doing things', sunrisegirl.

It must be frustrating for you at times. You are trying to do the right thing for premium/status passengers and your colleagues are letting 'chancers' get away with it.

I find that LGW is pretty good at guarding the premium desks (those guardians are pretty good, friendly, polite but firm - I've seen them turn people away), but I think LHR CW/CE desks get even more chancers all the time, being a lot more open and not guarded.

I really like the premium check-in desks guarded properly so that premium/status passengers can use their benefits properly.
Sometimes, it can be annoying when they let a bunch of non-premium passengers check in at desks when the non-premium queues are long and premium one is empty - and the premium one ends up with a queue of non-premium/status passengers.

Even if I had not been entitled to use those desks, I would say the same, because that would tempt me to fly that airline more because I can see their looking after their valued passengers.

malkie

Last time I entered T5 I was met by two BA staff who asked where I was going today (very politely and with smiles). I replied "Toronto", and she very very politely asked which cabin saying "are we in business today, or, em, economy?". When I stated I was in First she escorted me across to the First check in area and wished me a happy flight.

Amusingly during the walk across she asked "is it your first time?", to which I said "yes, but I've flown in business many times before". She looked at me somewhat confused and continued; "um, I mean Toronto", to which I said "yes, I've been before."

Oops for me.

Anyway, the point was that I don't hold a Gold card, and had not printed my BP, so she was essentially taking my word for it. (Although I could have shown her my booking on the iPhone App).

HIDDY

Indeed.

bealine

.....which is what happens most of the time because the First class experience is something rather special to most folks and we want our customers to enjoy it. In short, we don't want to put too many obstacles in your way.

Having said that, when I was a child and we travelled regularly on the railway and ferries, my mother usually bought First Class tickets to ensure porters were on hand to help. People in those days (we're talking early 1960's) expected to produce their tickets at regular intervals throughout their journeys. As one queued to cross the bridge to transfer from train to ferry at Heysham, everyone would have their paper tickets in their hands in readiness.

I do find it rather incredible nowadays that people expect to barge into an exclusive area without producing their credentials for doing so!

HIDDY

I always have my credentials on show.

LTN Phobia

Same still happens in many countries.

I noticed that there are ticket holders on the seat back on some Japanese trains so that passengers can put it up there and the conductor does not need to ask them to see it.

On Eurostar boarding, they check that you are boarding the right carriage, too (not sure if they do this for Standard class).

I think the fact that lots of people completely ignore the priority boarding queues on many carriers and barge into the priority lane without being entitled to do so shows the current "entitlement" mentality of many people.

WhitePlains

Bravo and well said! ^

Now only if this dawns on certain people who insist that BA is always right and pax always wrong.