steve_w

Kate Bevan, a journalist and commentator who writes for the Guardian wrote a blog piece that makes interesting reading - there are issues that have come up here before about BA's failure to get it right when things go wrong

BicesterTerrier

Sorry steve_w but you must have got the link wrong, you used the term journalist in the subject and then linked to a blog.

BizFlyin

Weather delays is really all I saw there. And anger twitter isn't manned 24x7.

sunrisegirl

Much as it would be lovely for BA to carry everyone everywhere sometimes passengers are best suited to other operators.

By the sounds of things this blogger prefers Easy Jet every time to BA.

And since when has a blogger become a journalist? Two entirely different things.

steve_w

A journalist can't have a blog as well? - http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/katebevan

And the point about why weather delays affect LHR and not EZY from LGW to the same destination is still valid - and why, if you use a 24/7 global communications channel in a 24/7 global business, you should man it.

GodAtum

Anyone tried telling the cabin crew they are a journalist for Flytalk and received better service?

sammyh25

I can guarantee most would reply, Flyer What??? Scary thought but the vast majority of crew have never heard of this little World...

BahrainLad

Kate Bevan is a freelance journalist who writes for the Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/katebevan

A large number of journalists, both freelance and non, blog and tweet.

GodAtum

On my last flight I did tell the cabin crew I will be taking photos of the food etc for my review for an online frequent flyer website and showind them the FT luggage tags lol.

steve_w

When they write for the Guardian?

sunrisegirl

There have been numerous times when flights operate fine out of LGW but not from LHR due to weather, and vice versa. They're sufficiently far apart for weather to make a difference.

It depends whether you believe everything a blogger writes. Many do it just to gain something for themselves or to be deliberately vindictive.

I notice at the end she's offering her services to BA .... for a fee. Kinda says it all really!!

So if she's such a great journalist why doesn't she know things like flow control during bad weather, the true record of delays at LGW, etc.

According to the blog she says she's a "former employee" of the Guardian. I note from their web page that she specialises in technology and social media. Hence her lack of understanding about how the travel industry works, and her obsession with 24 hour Twitter.

dark_horse

Now be fair, SRG. She worked for The Grauniad and yet still managed to correctly spell 'BA'...


Edit: I just spotted my own typo...

sunrisegirl

Sam Bee

I have a lot of sympathy with those who suffer poor customer service. And I actually stopped flying BA for about 12 years due to poor customer service and reliability.

But in this case I think BA have been poorly portrayed. I see:

- A weather related delay (exacerbated by a belief that delays should be dealt with better at Heathrow than Gatwick as it has 'two runways' - a comment in it's own right shows a fundamental lack of knowledge and research).
- A demand for an upgrade ('I'm flying to Toulouse frequently') - backed up with a 'Don't you know who she is' from a friend.
- A demand for lounge access (yes, let's stick everyone in economy from every delayed flight in the lounge, then everybody will be happy, erm).
- A belief that because the interweb is on 24/7, UK Customer Services should be as well (if they used an overseas call centre, i'm sure there would be a complaint about it being overseas, if BA weren't on Twitter, there would be a complaint about BA not being on twitter).

What happens when one of her frequent flights to Toulouse on Easyjet are delayed (as in her words "Easyjet is not exactly known for its glittering on-time record".)? I look forward to the complaints that Easyjet didn't upgrade her or her friends. Or give them lounge access....

steve_w

So, someone raises some possibly valid criticisms (that tally with my own experience) and instead of some reasoned answers everyone points and laughs because hey, the silly girlie writes freelance for a paper that's not blue in flavour, has a blog and uses twitter?

Good grief.

And she's not my friend - just one of the many tech journos I follow for work. I thought there were some valid points for discussion, but instead got this rude ad-hominem response.