Ask the BA Staffer and Heathrow ATC
Nov 20, 2011, 4:38 am
#31
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,774
Nov 20, 2011, 4:38 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Berkshire, UK
Programs: BA Silver, Club Carlson Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 186
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.3.3; en-gb; GT-I9100 Build/GINGERBREAD) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)
Now I know why you didn't call 
Originally Posted by BingBongBoy
Twice...
Once was business card, which turned out to be someone actually wanting me for a job, but I did not want to move to PRG...
Other was a phone number for other purposes, but that was swiftly popped into the bin...
Once was business card, which turned out to be someone actually wanting me for a job, but I did not want to move to PRG...
Other was a phone number for other purposes, but that was swiftly popped into the bin...
Nov 20, 2011, 4:38 am
#33
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Quite close to NQY
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Posts: 9,488
Ok one for the cabin crew and flight deck, whats the best and worse crew meals ?
cs
cs
Nov 20, 2011, 4:39 am
#34
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: London, England
Programs: MUCCI -- What else matters?
Posts: 1,089
I've been that passenger - on a BA flight back from Oslo, after a snowstorm, where all of the other passengers got rebooked onto an SAS flight because the BA flight was many hours late in. I had been stuck in a taxi that crashed on the way to the airport, finally got to the airport expecting to spend the night there, and I was told the plane and its crew had waited just for me ;-). Was the most pleasant flying experience of my life!
-simon
-simon
Nov 20, 2011, 4:43 am
#35
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Worst one... Um... "Roast Chicken"... I think they certainly find the lesser bits of chicken to roast for us...
Nov 20, 2011, 4:44 am
#36
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Programs: M&M SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 462
NEVER ask!!! Bring the agent chocolates, wine and flowers and look like George Clooney
Seems like that explains your bad luck in that area.
Seriously though if cabins at the rear of the aircraft are overbooked, we have a note in the page for that flight which asks us to comment passengers who are SFU.
Those who get the comment tend to be dressed nicely, (ie. nice trousers/smart jeans and top/jacket. Trainers and trackies, or a Rooney shirt don't qualify!), sociable and friendly on check in, if you ask to pay for an upgrade, no special meal requested, etc. It tends to be a bit of a gut instinct and we all approach it slightly differently. Most colleagues get annoyed when asked for a free upgrade and won't put SFU but a few don't mind at all and will put the comment in
Seems like that explains your bad luck in that area.
Seriously though if cabins at the rear of the aircraft are overbooked, we have a note in the page for that flight which asks us to comment passengers who are SFU.
Those who get the comment tend to be dressed nicely, (ie. nice trousers/smart jeans and top/jacket. Trainers and trackies, or a Rooney shirt don't qualify!), sociable and friendly on check in, if you ask to pay for an upgrade, no special meal requested, etc. It tends to be a bit of a gut instinct and we all approach it slightly differently. Most colleagues get annoyed when asked for a free upgrade and won't put SFU but a few don't mind at all and will put the comment in
Nov 20, 2011, 4:44 am
#37
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: By the sea...
Programs: BA/EC Silver
Posts: 564
Just a couple of questions:
What's the most difficult route to operate on? I don't mean necessarily the busiest but is there one that that the flight/cabin crew really hate for demanding passengers, lots to get done in 30 minute flight time, difficult approach, nasty approach controllers, etc, etc.?
Also, how many of the cabin crew hold PPL or CPL? I can imagine this being a route to the flight deck but maybe it doesn't work like that? (I recal a great story of an Air Canada FA taking over the FO duties when he became ill, she had a CPL and did a good job I remember).
Cheers!
p.s. awesome thread idea! ^
What's the most difficult route to operate on? I don't mean necessarily the busiest but is there one that that the flight/cabin crew really hate for demanding passengers, lots to get done in 30 minute flight time, difficult approach, nasty approach controllers, etc, etc.?
Also, how many of the cabin crew hold PPL or CPL? I can imagine this being a route to the flight deck but maybe it doesn't work like that? (I recal a great story of an Air Canada FA taking over the FO duties when he became ill, she had a CPL and did a good job I remember).
Cheers!
p.s. awesome thread idea! ^
Nov 20, 2011, 4:46 am
#38
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I've been that passenger - on a BA flight back from Oslo, after a snowstorm, where all of the other passengers got rebooked onto an SAS flight because the BA flight was many hours late in. I had been stuck in a taxi that crashed on the way to the airport, finally got to the airport expecting to spend the night there, and I was told the plane and its crew had waited just for me ;-). Was the most pleasant flying experience of my life!
-simon
-simon
Nov 20, 2011, 4:49 am
#39
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Nov 20, 2011, 4:50 am
#40
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Also, how many of the cabin crew hold PPL or CPL? I can imagine this being a route to the flight deck but maybe it doesn't work like that? (I recal a great story of an Air Canada FA taking over the FO duties when he became ill, she had a CPL and did a good job I remember).
There are a few that I know of, and indeed one Short Haul chap who is a PPL instructor... So, they are about.
In the case of Pilot Incapacitation, we have VERY strict rules at BA/in the UK, about how much we would be allowed to do in the flight deck in such situations, I suppose even with a PPL/CPL.
As for "demanding routes", I may refrain from that one as I don't want it to be misconstrued into some sort of anti this or that country or people, as it has been before...
Nov 20, 2011, 4:52 am
#41
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Unfortunately we get a lot of people late for flights due to issues with the trains. Sadly a lot of people throw themselves under trains (far more than you'd ever think) and the lines get closed as a result. Terribly, terribly sad for all concerned.
Whenever there are issues with the trains, or big crashes on motorways (in our immediate area or not so near) we are advised by the airport so that we're on alert for late passengers.
Hmm, upgrades - lots of different excuses (wedding, honeymoon, anniversary, birthday, etc tend to be the most common) and hard to remember some of the best/worst.
But just a few weeks ago I had a passenger demand he be upgraded as he was a gold card holder and Willie Walsh had arranged an upgrade on every one of his flights with BA, of which he'd taken 20 this month alone. If I didn't do it I wouldn't have a job by the end of the day after he'd spoken to Willie.
The passenger was a blue card holder, had no other flights booked with BA (nor any flights taken in the previous few months) and flew in the cabin he'd paid for, ie. economy. I still have my job I'm pleased to say.
Nov 20, 2011, 4:55 am
#42
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: By the sea...
Programs: BA/EC Silver
Posts: 564
Very interesting, thanks BingBongBoy!
I guess BA/CAA don't want to risk someone not be rated on that particular type making things inadvertently worse even if they have all the general handling skills etc... and perhaps single pilot operation is statistically better in those situations.
I guess BA/CAA don't want to risk someone not be rated on that particular type making things inadvertently worse even if they have all the general handling skills etc... and perhaps single pilot operation is statistically better in those situations.
Nov 20, 2011, 4:55 am
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,513
I find it very difficult coming to terms with turbulence, so much so that even with a flat bed I am reluctant to lie down, as I feel I would feel disorientated if turbulence struck.
Have you any tips on dealing with / understanding turbulence and which, if any routes, are more likely to be subject to this phenomenon?
Have you any tips on dealing with / understanding turbulence and which, if any routes, are more likely to be subject to this phenomenon?
Nov 20, 2011, 4:58 am
#44
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However, sometimes there are no status passengers on a flight - this happens more at LGW than LHR as our routes tend to be more leisure ones. Sometimes the amount of people needing to be moved doesn't correspond with the status passengers travelling, ie. we need to move 3 single travellers and the only status passengers are in groups.
Remember if upgrades are done due to oversales they are often at the last minute, ie. less than 5 minutes before flight closure, and it's easier to move single passengers than a family which will then require seats to be moved to get them together.
Nov 20, 2011, 4:59 am
#45
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