Interesting check-in experience at terminal 5
Jul 19, 2011, 4:53 pm
#91
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Jul 19, 2011, 4:57 pm
#92
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You wrote:
If you have never been barked at, you are merely making an assumption - something you appear to be objecting to.
You also made an assumption that if you barked back at the customer service agent, it would be judged as a personal affront to the customer service agent. Perhaps, they do not judge it to be a personal affront to them. Some might not even care such is the frequency of being on the receiving end of barking from customers - I have seen enough people bark at CS agents while they are being perfectly polite.
If you have never been barked at, you are merely making an assumption - something you appear to be objecting to.
You also made an assumption that if you barked back at the customer service agent, it would be judged as a personal affront to the customer service agent. Perhaps, they do not judge it to be a personal affront to them. Some might not even care such is the frequency of being on the receiving end of barking from customers - I have seen enough people bark at CS agents while they are being perfectly polite.
I have observed the behavior. I have observed the situations and conditions it tends to occur in. I don't have to personally experience it to be aware of it or understand it.
Jul 19, 2011, 4:59 pm
#93
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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.
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.
Jul 19, 2011, 5:07 pm
#94
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.....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.
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.
Yeah I find on trains that there are more people nowadays who are prepared to just sit in 1st and wait to be caught by the Train Manager. I usually see at least 5 in the small first carriage beyond the buffet that I normally sit in.
Jul 19, 2011, 5:08 pm
#95
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Jul 19, 2011, 5:30 pm
#96
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Iv got to be honest here, most of these problems come down to age and appearance.
Over the last 12 months iv flown from T5 twice, once in CE and once in CW, both on paid cash tickets, and both before gaining silver. Im not old and On both occasions I was travelling for pleasure so casually dressed.
However, I was met on the first occasion at the club checkin area with, "I think you will find your desks further to the left" and the second time with "what cabin do you think your travelling in today sir?"
Is that really acceptable ? It's actually very embarrassing as the customer, as I know I'm right, but I then have to explain, and iv found that the members of staff involved say their piece deliberately loud enough to be heard by others, why ??
On a positive, travelling through LGW as a silver I had no problem using the club desk when travelling in Y, in fact there was a passenger already being dealt with infront of me so I was ushered over to the F desk along with a friendly apology for keeping me waiting !!!!
makes you wonder why the attitude difference between the two airports
cs
Over the last 12 months iv flown from T5 twice, once in CE and once in CW, both on paid cash tickets, and both before gaining silver. Im not old and On both occasions I was travelling for pleasure so casually dressed.
However, I was met on the first occasion at the club checkin area with, "I think you will find your desks further to the left" and the second time with "what cabin do you think your travelling in today sir?"
Is that really acceptable ? It's actually very embarrassing as the customer, as I know I'm right, but I then have to explain, and iv found that the members of staff involved say their piece deliberately loud enough to be heard by others, why ??
On a positive, travelling through LGW as a silver I had no problem using the club desk when travelling in Y, in fact there was a passenger already being dealt with infront of me so I was ushered over to the F desk along with a friendly apology for keeping me waiting !!!!
makes you wonder why the attitude difference between the two airports
cs
Jul 19, 2011, 5:35 pm
#97
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That sounds rather downright rude, not just curt or unfriendly.
Jul 19, 2011, 7:42 pm
#99
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Jul 19, 2011, 7:56 pm
#100
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Our only T5 F check-in experience was adequate however I have to say and I've said it before that last year the BA staff we dealt with at T5 check-in were absolutely marvellous. One Irish fellow in particular went out of his way to help us check the weight of our cases before we checked in as I had rightly suspected my wife of slipping stuff in when I wasn't looking. It really made us feel good to meet such helpful people.
Wonder if the public scales are still absent from the check-in area?
Wonder if the public scales are still absent from the check-in area?
Last edited by HIDDY; Jul 19, 2011 at 8:23 pm
Jul 20, 2011, 12:28 am
#101
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Jul 20, 2011, 12:34 am
#102
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A pretty duff one at that.
Having said that, I once played a game at Glasgow called "guess who gets rejected from the lounge".
In the 30 minutes I sat outside the BA lounge, 25 people went in, 5 were rejected.
I got 100%.
At this point, my dad arrived and guested me in
Jul 20, 2011, 12:48 am
#103
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Honestly, why would anyone say something like that unless they were actively looking for confrontation?
It is true, however, that most passengers don't hear the actual words we use! We had a delightful lady at Gatwick that used to patrol the queues and naughtily shout out "Nipples and Hangover, Nipples and Hangover" (Naples, Hannover). Another chappie used to keep telling passengers "Far queue, yes sir - you heard - far queue!" (I'll leave you to work that one out............)
Oftimes, if you listen closely as you disembark the aircraft, you will hear the cabin crew "Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, cod-pie, goodbye, goodbye, fish-pie".
One cheekie chappie (haven't seen him for years) uesd to usher the lady passengers to their seat with a greeting "Tickle your arrse with a feather, madam?" If the response was "I beg your pardon?" he would swiftly respond "I merely remarked on the particularly nice weather we're 'aving!"
Hopefully, I may have raised a smile this morning! Mind you, it does mean you Flyertalkers will be listening to what we say very closely!
Jul 20, 2011, 12:54 am
#105
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Many an eccentric English lord wears old, shabby clothes when they travel!