Goodbye to all our remaining USA based ground staff
Jul 15, 2017, 9:38 am
#76
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,260
Maybe I'm in a minority - I've never seen anything above and beyond from JFK BA staff.
On one occasion they were clueless about BA On Business/ Business Extraa saying you can have only one FF#(BAEC). Even when my flights were delayed, they would not accommodate on earlier flight without change fee - contrast this with Virgin and AA at JFK where I've never had issues during IRROPS. What is so special about the JFK staff?
Now I hope the BA staff in India(BOM) are not axed as they are genuinely the most amazing of any airline I have ever seen. I go out of my way to book BA out of BOM!
On one occasion they were clueless about BA On Business/ Business Extraa saying you can have only one FF#(BAEC). Even when my flights were delayed, they would not accommodate on earlier flight without change fee - contrast this with Virgin and AA at JFK where I've never had issues during IRROPS. What is so special about the JFK staff?
Now I hope the BA staff in India(BOM) are not axed as they are genuinely the most amazing of any airline I have ever seen. I go out of my way to book BA out of BOM!
Jul 15, 2017, 9:49 am
#77
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, BD Blue (RIP)
Posts: 1,980
The staff at EDI and particularly GLA are still fairly nice. What's gone is their ability to be flexible and do things not entirely by the book to help customers.
Jul 15, 2017, 10:02 am
#78
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,764
In the USA, it sounds like there may be very little protection for existing staff which means many could be let go with cheaper, less experienced staff brought in to replace them.
Jul 15, 2017, 10:04 am
#79
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters (+BA Bronze)
Posts: 15,124
I will be very sad to see any changes at BOS I've grown up with some of them being there every time I've been flying in or out. Sandy from Special Services has been there as long as I can remember and is immensely knowledgeable and helpful. What a kick in the teeth for passengers let alone the staff especially given the shiny new lounge. I wish everyone affected by this the best of luck. Yet more BA stupidity.
Jul 15, 2017, 10:26 am
#80
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: East Anglia, England
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,056
Sad, I know at PHX nearly all of the former staff are now gone (some stayed for a bit with the outsourcing company), other than a couple in the lounge.
Does this also mean things like Special Services agents will also be outsourced? Especially for JFK with so many flights I have no idea how this can actually save costs.
Does this also mean things like Special Services agents will also be outsourced? Especially for JFK with so many flights I have no idea how this can actually save costs.
H
Jul 15, 2017, 11:25 am
#81
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,975
Seems insane to outsource a significant operation like JFK. That said, I have found the BA staff at AUS (whoever they are) to be a cut above most of the local AA staff.
Jul 15, 2017, 11:31 am
#82
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Jul 15, 2017, 11:31 am
#83
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
Maybe I'm in a minority - I've never seen anything above and beyond from JFK BA staff.
On one occasion they were clueless about BA On Business/ Business Extraa saying you can have only one FF#(BAEC). Even when my flights were delayed, they would not accommodate on earlier flight without change fee - contrast this with Virgin and AA at JFK where I've never had issues during IRROPS. What is so special about the JFK staff?
Now I hope the BA staff in India(BOM) are not axed as they are genuinely the most amazing of any airline I have ever seen. I go out of my way to book BA out of BOM!
On one occasion they were clueless about BA On Business/ Business Extraa saying you can have only one FF#(BAEC). Even when my flights were delayed, they would not accommodate on earlier flight without change fee - contrast this with Virgin and AA at JFK where I've never had issues during IRROPS. What is so special about the JFK staff?
Now I hope the BA staff in India(BOM) are not axed as they are genuinely the most amazing of any airline I have ever seen. I go out of my way to book BA out of BOM!
Jul 15, 2017, 11:58 am
#84
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,578
Which is probably a plus as far as the airline is concerned. If the contract agency staff break the rules, it can take action against the agency
Jul 15, 2017, 8:32 pm
#85
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Bronze, Amex Plat (UK)
Posts: 32
I'm not aware of anything like TUPE in the States, so there is no guarantee that staff will be able to retain their wages and benefits. In my experience, airlines outsource their ground-handling specifically so they can reduce wages to the legal minimum and no longer have to pay for "benefits" like paid sick leave, holiday time, or staff travel. Quality will plummet, since they won't be able to attract any real talented people to work under these conditions.
As others have said, this has been the trend for nearly all US-based front-line ground handling staff for a few years now, so I'm surprised it's taken BA this long to catch up.
As others have said, this has been the trend for nearly all US-based front-line ground handling staff for a few years now, so I'm surprised it's taken BA this long to catch up.
Jul 15, 2017, 9:48 pm
#86
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 609
Shame to see people lose their jobs but not unexpected in todays competitive airline industry.
Contracted in staff won't necessarily mean a drop in standards. The majority of the general public would rather have affordable fares rather than subsidise services they'll rarely if ever need.
Contracted in staff won't necessarily mean a drop in standards. The majority of the general public would rather have affordable fares rather than subsidise services they'll rarely if ever need.
Jul 16, 2017, 12:20 am
#87
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Jul 16, 2017, 1:25 am
#88
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Jul 16, 2017, 3:45 am
#90
Join Date: Feb 2014
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Posts: 6,428
Does this mean that all the check-in staff at JFK is going to be rebranded/fired and new company will take over the operations of checkin and ground handling?
It seems like a very stupid thing to do.
It seems like a very stupid thing to do.