BA Masterclass in Mis-managing IRROPS (LGW-JFK)
Apr 29, 2017, 4:27 am
#106
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 561
Oh you'll get a hotel voucher, for the destination city of your next booking in another continent!
Apr 29, 2017, 7:44 am
#107
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Lemonia. Best Greek ever.
Posts: 2,274
warakorn,
I have no idea how security got us out of airside. They were concerned, though, that Ezy had left a plane load airside without telling them.
I imagine that they wanted rid of us as soon as possible.
I have no idea how security got us out of airside. They were concerned, though, that Ezy had left a plane load airside without telling them.
I imagine that they wanted rid of us as soon as possible.
Apr 29, 2017, 9:34 am
#108
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AMS (SEA, JNB)
Programs: Mucci Reperateur des Coeurs Brises
Posts: 4,107
The race to the bottom continues unabated.
And in other news, entirely justifiable rioting ensues in the Concorde Room because first choice of champagne is not available. Shock horror.
I also recently had a similar (albeit not quite as dramatic) experience at LGW. Fortunately, the whole experience was made bearable (and everything de-escalated before it even had a chance to escalate) due to the fact the staff did their utmost best to get my on my way, going so far as to escort me every step of the way (the next step to improve the experience would have involved hand holding). How staff react to irregular ops and how the airline empowers front line staff to deal with such situations makes such a difference in perceptions and thus how people get on. Answers such as that quoted above along the lines of "s*** happens, just deal with it, now f*** off" only deepen the perception of airlines as being utterly atrocious at dealing with their fare paying customers. And then one cannot blame passengers for the commensurate rise in instances of rage or flared tempers IMHO.
May 1, 2017, 2:52 pm
#109
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: TUS, SEA, OTP, OMR
Posts: 868
This thread has unfortunately shown up some of the absolute worst of flyertalk, <snip>
I tend to use the 'how would my grandparents fare in this situation' test against which the level of care of the company concerned can be assessed. Expecting everyone on a plane, many of whom don't speak the language, don't have huge financial resources, to be fully armed, prepared and informed for any eventuality, for something they might do a couple of times in their lives is really quite ridiculous. <snip>
I tend to use the 'how would my grandparents fare in this situation' test against which the level of care of the company concerned can be assessed. Expecting everyone on a plane, many of whom don't speak the language, don't have huge financial resources, to be fully armed, prepared and informed for any eventuality, for something they might do a couple of times in their lives is really quite ridiculous. <snip>
As for the young and old travelers, the generosity of the British (and other assorted) public still exists and they were sorted out by fellow travelers.
As for my connecting flights, AA eventually took care of them for me. I know that in AA is the core of a giant soulless corporation, but at least in my recent experience, they've been doing a very good job with customer service.
I decided not to respond to this thread for a couple of days, least I say something ill advised. I will say that while BA still have some excellent inflight staff, and some excellent ground staff, their customer service experience on this trip has really put me off of flying them.
Also, more centrally to me, as an AA EXP, should I ask for some other compensation for this? Will they award miles / vouchers? Or should I just ask for EU261 and count myself lucky if I get it?
May 1, 2017, 2:58 pm
#110
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: TUS, SEA, OTP, OMR
Posts: 868
Yes even in 'the know' people struggle. I have the Three UK simcard so that means I have no roaming charges in most of Europe, US, etc., but even so it is throttled 3G abroad which is ridiculously slow.
I had a last minute Airbnb cancellation in SF and I went ballistic trying to book last minute on my phone another place to stay. The internet was pretty much hopeless, far too throttled, and unfortunately many airports have that as well on their free WiFi. So it was stressful to say the least, even without having to worry about roaming charges etc.
If you go to a country a lot, its best to get a local simcard, but in this case I doubt many passengers had that if they are not based in the UK.
I had a last minute Airbnb cancellation in SF and I went ballistic trying to book last minute on my phone another place to stay. The internet was pretty much hopeless, far too throttled, and unfortunately many airports have that as well on their free WiFi. So it was stressful to say the least, even without having to worry about roaming charges etc.
If you go to a country a lot, its best to get a local simcard, but in this case I doubt many passengers had that if they are not based in the UK.
May 1, 2017, 3:02 pm
#111
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Entirely agreed. I'm a pretty seasoned traveler (at this point pushing 500k miles per year), and I have the great good fortune that dropping nearly 500 pound on an unexpected overnight (dinner, drinks, hotel, taxis, etc), is not financially ruinous for me. For a lot of people, that's not always easy. When I was first getting into traveling a lot and younger (and tight in my budget), I got stuck in Shanghai one time due to a cancellation. Had I not had a local friend I would have probably ended up spending the night on a bench at the airport.
As for the young and old travelers, the generosity of the British (and other assorted) public still exists and they were sorted out by fellow travelers.
As for my connecting flights, AA eventually took care of them for me. I know that in AA is the core of a giant soulless corporation, but at least in my recent experience, they've been doing a very good job with customer service.
I decided not to respond to this thread for a couple of days, least I say something ill advised. I will say that while BA still have some excellent inflight staff, and some excellent ground staff, their customer service experience on this trip has really put me off of flying them.
Also, more centrally to me, as an AA EXP, should I ask for some other compensation for this? Will they award miles / vouchers? Or should I just ask for EU261 and count myself lucky if I get it?
As for the young and old travelers, the generosity of the British (and other assorted) public still exists and they were sorted out by fellow travelers.
As for my connecting flights, AA eventually took care of them for me. I know that in AA is the core of a giant soulless corporation, but at least in my recent experience, they've been doing a very good job with customer service.
I decided not to respond to this thread for a couple of days, least I say something ill advised. I will say that while BA still have some excellent inflight staff, and some excellent ground staff, their customer service experience on this trip has really put me off of flying them.
Also, more centrally to me, as an AA EXP, should I ask for some other compensation for this? Will they award miles / vouchers? Or should I just ask for EU261 and count myself lucky if I get it?
So BA should pay for:
1. hotel
2. transport to and for the airports and hotel during the disruption
3. food expenses
4. drinks? I doubt you can get away with it unless it's 'water' = )
5. if you bought a toothbrush etc. then charge that as well!
and also give you
EU261 the full meal deal 600 EUR.
So you are talking about BA giving you everything you spent on during the disruption + compensation for Eu261.
Make sure you have all the receipts and get claiming!
Last edited by ahmetdouas; May 1, 2017 at 3:18 pm
May 1, 2017, 3:04 pm
#112
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Admittedly, not cheap option (since it requires one of a few expensive phones and a US billing address), but the Google Fi sim card is amazing. Full rate 4g in 140+ countries, just $10/GB. I cannot say how amazing it is as a travel phone to just be able to land and have full speed 4g almost everywhere.
May 1, 2017, 4:37 pm
#113
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: AMEX PP;BAEC Bronze;Tesco CC Preferred;
Posts: 219
Indeed- a thoughtful, lucid, balanced, and beautifully crafted, persuasive post by nallison ( at #80 ) that puts those who rant, judge, posture, and smugly self-congratulate in their own little privileged bubble to shame, and well and truly in their place.