ABBA - anyone but BA
Jul 23, 2017, 5:21 am
#31
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: BA Bronze, Hilton Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 454
LH would also benefit, if AA's recent transformation is also copied.
Jul 23, 2017, 5:39 am
#33
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,459
Not quite what Sr Cruz said, is it?
This is again is old news, The Times article, from the snippets posted above, appears to be quoting Cruz from his speach on the #BAinvesing4U flight. Having sampled the new Club service, with a new seat on its way, major lounge refurbishments and brand new aircraft I think people will be pleasantly surprised at the Club and First offering.
This is again is old news, The Times article, from the snippets posted above, appears to be quoting Cruz from his speach on the #BAinvesing4U flight. Having sampled the new Club service, with a new seat on its way, major lounge refurbishments and brand new aircraft I think people will be pleasantly surprised at the Club and First offering.
Jul 23, 2017, 5:42 am
#34
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
Not sure how the public will perceive Mr Cruz's plan... BA will become both budget and quality at the same time and I believe this might just confuse everyone... no one will be able to categorise BA... especially if you fly economy one week and business the next. The experience will be confusing.
I am no businessman but I would prefer the brand to have brand values and stick to them across the board. If they want a budget airline the start a new airline and call it something else.
But then again... what do I know
I am no businessman but I would prefer the brand to have brand values and stick to them across the board. If they want a budget airline the start a new airline and call it something else.
But then again... what do I know
Jul 23, 2017, 5:49 am
#35
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Plymouth, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,159
If BA were to use the Waitrose model then they would have to bring the bulk of their product offering up to standard and also offer exceptional standards of service even for the economy product... that might be a challenge for them IMO.
Jul 23, 2017, 5:52 am
#36
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,930
AC is phasing in a new CW blanket by 2020. There's no sign of the new seats. The 20 year old CW seats have been installed in BA's brand new aircraft. With notable exceptions, there is now near universal recognition that BA has damaged its brand, and fallen significantly behind its competitors, with no improvement in sight.
Jul 23, 2017, 5:58 am
#37
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Except that Waitrose took care to maintain the quality brand ethos. Yes, they do sell "Essentials" but the "Waitrose" brand is still a quality one... the bulk of what they sell is still of accepted Waitrose quality... including the quality of service. They don't do "Essentials" quality of service.
If BA were to use the Waitrose model then they would have to bring the bulk of their product offering up to standard and also offer exceptional standards of service even for the economy product... that might be a challenge for them IMO.
If BA were to use the Waitrose model then they would have to bring the bulk of their product offering up to standard and also offer exceptional standards of service even for the economy product... that might be a challenge for them IMO.
Sadly, I fear we are a long, long way from that sort of scenario - or anything close.
Jul 23, 2017, 6:05 am
#39
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
The onboard service is the same for all Y passengers on AA regardless of the fare type.
Jul 23, 2017, 6:07 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
https://www.buzzfeed.com/floperry/se...nng#.xcAvNyvvp
My favourite by the way (not listed) is the Waitrose Essential Champagne Ultra Soft Bathroom Tissue.
Jul 23, 2017, 6:10 am
#41
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,930
Jul 23, 2017, 6:19 am
#42
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
The Waitrose example shows it is possible to introduce an economy range (not cheap or poor) quality, without undermining the service ethos or the premium preception of the brand.
If BA gets its service standards right, it could achieve the same.
If BA gets its service standards right, it could achieve the same.
Jul 23, 2017, 6:31 am
#43
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
I'm someone with an eye on the 'posh side' of the airline and it's sub-par and well below most of its competitors on my list. I don't live in London and BA is one of several airlines I could use.
Even as someone who acknowledges that the market has become very segmented and that purely price-driven demand is a reality in a big part of that market, I would simply say that AC is having a laugh if he talks about 10 out of 10. That's a guy who got his job by smooth talking people doing the same to a journo.
You don't get to be 10 out of 10 if your desire to innovate and improve is limited solely to improving margins and innovating new ways of creating revenue. The problem with execs like this is that they want to be 10 out of 10 for stock market analysts/business section editors and that's where they think their responsibility for the brand ends.
Even as someone who acknowledges that the market has become very segmented and that purely price-driven demand is a reality in a big part of that market, I would simply say that AC is having a laugh if he talks about 10 out of 10. That's a guy who got his job by smooth talking people doing the same to a journo.
You don't get to be 10 out of 10 if your desire to innovate and improve is limited solely to improving margins and innovating new ways of creating revenue. The problem with execs like this is that they want to be 10 out of 10 for stock market analysts/business section editors and that's where they think their responsibility for the brand ends.
Jul 23, 2017, 6:32 am
#44
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Forgive me, but how often do you spend time down the back of these carriers?
I seem to remember your trip in Y last year received much fanfare because it was your first ever longhaul Y?
Has this unfortunate experience become routine?
I seem to remember your trip in Y last year received much fanfare because it was your first ever longhaul Y?
Has this unfortunate experience become routine? Also very few EK planes that don't have Wi-Fi now (free to FFP members including Y).
Seriously I don't see there is any comparison to BA other than the plane takes off and lands. Nothing wrong with different positioning in the market but I don't see why people try to pretend BA is on a par.
Jul 23, 2017, 6:33 am
#45
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,263
Waitrose Essentials is neither cheap nor low quality.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/floperry/se...nng#.xcAvNyvvp
My favourite by the way (not listed) is the Waitrose Essential Champagne Ultra Soft Bathroom Tissue.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/floperry/se...nng#.xcAvNyvvp
My favourite by the way (not listed) is the Waitrose Essential Champagne Ultra Soft Bathroom Tissue.
. I always chuckle at the Essential Scottish smoked salmon, personallly.