BA Trial - Crew paid £10 to give aircraft 'light clean', save on cleaners
#46
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Join Date: Jun 2013
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It probably is a non-story. What is interesting is that the sun, and other papers, are sensing, and deciding to propagate, a narrative. The sun has generally been BA management friendly, especially with planted stories during industrial action. If BA has either made someone at the sun angry, or the paper simply sees a juicy developing narrative and wants to join in the fun, that's got to be a concern. Bad PR can tend to spiral once the media gets the scent of blood...
While media pettiness is certainly a reasonable assumption for the ascendancy of the "BA is a shambles" narrative, I think Mr. Cruz's interview is also a proximate cause. Despite the mealy mouthed denials, that interview clearly showed that Mr. Cruz is inextricably attached to low cost carrier operating procedures and is determined to cast BA in that image...while maintaining a fare structure based on the flying public's notion, nostalgic notion, of British Airways.
Any other interpretation of his remarks is whistling past the graveyard IMO.
I believe the press has picked up on this and is essentially writing a narrative of a man falling down the stairs. Any story that advances that narrative is highlighted. Any story that contradicts it is ignored.
This is how journalism works. It's wise to also consider this dynamic as you read political news.
#49
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It probably is a non-story. What is interesting is that the sun, and other papers, are sensing, and deciding to propagate, a narrative. The sun has generally been BA management friendly, especially with planted stories during industrial action. If BA has either made someone at the sun angry, or the paper simply sees a juicy developing narrative and wants to join in the fun, that's got to be a concern. Bad PR can tend to spiral once the media gets the scent of blood...
I believe the press has picked up on this and is essentially writing a narrative of a man falling down the stairs. Any story that advances that narrative is highlighted. Any story that contradicts it is ignored.
This is how journalism works. It's wise to also consider this dynamic as you read political news.
This is how journalism works. It's wise to also consider this dynamic as you read political news.
#51
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Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
#52
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
As others have said, having the cabin crew doing a lite clean has been a core LCC feature. The upside is that in the case of B6 and WN the cabin crew were incented by stock options and bonuses, etc.
In terms of the relationship between cleaners and cabin crew, my experience with AA is the PIC had to sign-off on accepting the plane and if not happy with the condition, could refuse accepting the plane and request cleaners return. I know this first hand from speaking to a PIC after he rejected the aircraft during the day AArpey days where AA tried to save money on cleaning. He came to the podium at the gate area to apologize for the delay and explain why.
His explanation for the poor cleaning was (from what the crew chief had told him) they had been told by AA to retain the contract they would have to clean the plane in the same amount of time for something like 30% less. The result was that the 3rd party company accepted the new terns and simply cut the cleaning crew by 40% - so 40% fewer cleaners trying to clean a plane in the same amount of time.
I suspect BA is trying the same approach.
In terms of the relationship between cleaners and cabin crew, my experience with AA is the PIC had to sign-off on accepting the plane and if not happy with the condition, could refuse accepting the plane and request cleaners return. I know this first hand from speaking to a PIC after he rejected the aircraft during the day AArpey days where AA tried to save money on cleaning. He came to the podium at the gate area to apologize for the delay and explain why.
His explanation for the poor cleaning was (from what the crew chief had told him) they had been told by AA to retain the contract they would have to clean the plane in the same amount of time for something like 30% less. The result was that the 3rd party company accepted the new terns and simply cut the cleaning crew by 40% - so 40% fewer cleaners trying to clean a plane in the same amount of time.
I suspect BA is trying the same approach.
#53
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Syracuse, Boston, Athens
Posts: 995
Naturalia non sunt turpia
PYOK is reporting that a recent memo by the Unite union says that BA "have begun a trial whereby there will be no cleaning completed in the cabin during turnarounds". “The company has confirmed that this trial is being carried out in response to improving turnaround performance for customers and will focus particularly on reducing delays during times of disruption.”
PYOK says that "it’s believed that the trial will be running for just over a week and only on some of BA’s shortest domestic and European services. Cabin crew are being encouraged to collect as much trash as possible prior to landing to get the aircraft turned around as quickly as possible."
PYOK says that "it’s believed that the trial will be running for just over a week and only on some of BA’s shortest domestic and European services. Cabin crew are being encouraged to collect as much trash as possible prior to landing to get the aircraft turned around as quickly as possible."
#54
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#55
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#57
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Dont think that would work, half the pax can't even show signs of common courtesy never mind cleaning, but would sure no doubt take the money. Interestingly I had observed more mess and clutter around premuim seats than down the back on certain flights when gone for a stroll.
#58
Join Date: Sep 2013
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Would the deal include supplies of rubber gloves, wet wipes ........ and access to a Henry Hoover ?
EDIT - nivsy is probably right, on balance
#59
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Dont think that would work, half the pax can't even show signs of common courtesy never mind cleaning, but would sure no doubt take the money. Interestingly I had observed more mess and clutter around premuim seats than down the back on certain flights when gone for a stroll.
#60
Join Date: Sep 2013
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But still no excuse for the scale of mess which often results.