ABBA - anyone but BA
Jul 23, 2017, 11:19 am
#91
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Programs: Tufty Club (Gold), BAGA Gymnastics level 4, 440yds swimming certificate
Posts: 2,533
The new service. Pick your starter from the trolley. (Meaning it's now first come first served so premium card holders no longer benefit from cardholder prioritisation) and also now only three main courses instead of 4.
Maximise your sleep time onboard (I.e. Reduced service onboard)
Ah yes, the new seat, which is only going on new aircraft, which is almost two years away.
Jul 23, 2017, 11:26 am
#92
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
I will likely have eaten in the city beforehand, or grabbed something at the school dinners - sorry, "Pre-Flight Supper". As for breakfast, it is a BA breakfast so not really something that I want to eat.
Jul 23, 2017, 11:30 am
#93
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,746
Considering the fall in oil prices in that period and how much of the BA fleet is fuel guzzling 747's, they'd have to be completely incompetent to not have their profits rise when such a substantial expenditure as fuel falls so much in price. In 2011 jet fuel was $3.23/US gallon ( I could only find US prices, but BA does buy a lot of fuel in the US) and in in 2016 it had dropped to $0.93/gallon. A 3.5X drop in fuel prices nicely correlates with a 3X rise in profits at BA.
Last edited by Jagboi; Jul 23, 2017 at 11:35 am
Jul 23, 2017, 12:08 pm
#94
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
Nothing to be 'sad' about (what a strange description !). In truth it's all about just what sort of criteria different people set for 'premium brands'.
It's not the first time that criticism/ negative comment towards BA on this forum has been dismissed as being characterised by an agenda borne out of "alternative facts" - or allegedly unrepresentative of how the general public, outside the narrow prism of Flyertalk, might feel. And certainly it won't be the last.
But perhaps I've been "hoodwinked" by widespread reports of BA's incompetent early handling of the recent IT meltdown ...... hoodwinked too by their lack of innovation in terms of new J class seating & hard product development........ by the wholly unsatisfactory nature of cut & paste, and/or sometimes meaningless, responses to legitimate, often serious, written complaints .......by the ongoing problems surrounding BoB, well over six months after its introduction ......by the airline's low position on Skytrax ratings .......by constant criticism of BA's approach to customer service in the wider print media. And so on, and so on.
It must be said that BA has lots of happy supporters and loyalists. But then lots of people are happy to shop at Lidl and Aldi (as I sometimes am), to fly EasyJet (as I sometimes am), or to buy Ford motor cars. They all offer enough to satisfy many, many people. But very rarely do you hear them being referred to as 'premium brands'.
As stated earlier : the day I can be assured of boarding and flying on a BA aircraft with a similar level of efficiency, product quality, and service standards as experienced when patronising Waitrose or John Lewis, then I can confidently regard them as a premium carrier.
The loads are very good - but let's see if they really can make the improvements that - according to Sr. Cruz himself - are overdue. Time will tell.
It's not the first time that criticism/ negative comment towards BA on this forum has been dismissed as being characterised by an agenda borne out of "alternative facts" - or allegedly unrepresentative of how the general public, outside the narrow prism of Flyertalk, might feel. And certainly it won't be the last.
But perhaps I've been "hoodwinked" by widespread reports of BA's incompetent early handling of the recent IT meltdown ...... hoodwinked too by their lack of innovation in terms of new J class seating & hard product development........ by the wholly unsatisfactory nature of cut & paste, and/or sometimes meaningless, responses to legitimate, often serious, written complaints .......by the ongoing problems surrounding BoB, well over six months after its introduction ......by the airline's low position on Skytrax ratings .......by constant criticism of BA's approach to customer service in the wider print media. And so on, and so on.
It must be said that BA has lots of happy supporters and loyalists. But then lots of people are happy to shop at Lidl and Aldi (as I sometimes am), to fly EasyJet (as I sometimes am), or to buy Ford motor cars. They all offer enough to satisfy many, many people. But very rarely do you hear them being referred to as 'premium brands'.
As stated earlier : the day I can be assured of boarding and flying on a BA aircraft with a similar level of efficiency, product quality, and service standards as experienced when patronising Waitrose or John Lewis, then I can confidently regard them as a premium carrier.
The loads are very good - but let's see if they really can make the improvements that - according to Sr. Cruz himself - are overdue. Time will tell.
If you would like to experience a Waitrose or John Lewis store, I can help.
Last edited by FrancisA; Jul 23, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Jul 23, 2017, 12:10 pm
#95
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,246
Sounds like QR's Q suite http://www.qatarairways.com/us/en/qsuite.page
Jul 23, 2017, 12:10 pm
#96
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
Then I would suggest that rather then spouting views that you have read elsewhere and are unlikely to have experienced yourself, you should take your business elsewhere. I doubt BA will be concerned, as I suspect it was non-existent!
I can also give you directions to Waitrose and John Lewis stores, if you would like to experince them.
I can also give you directions to Waitrose and John Lewis stores, if you would like to experince them.
Jul 23, 2017, 12:13 pm
#97
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,978
A little more from Mr Cruz....
He outlined a radical plan to split the airline into two — a budget airline and a posh one — which he said would make BA a “fantastic, unbelievable, 10 out of 10” carrier again. “The best airline in Britain, and the best airline in Europe.”
He outlined a radical plan to split the airline into two — a budget airline and a posh one — which he said would make BA a “fantastic, unbelievable, 10 out of 10” carrier again. “The best airline in Britain, and the best airline in Europe.”
This. Tweaking the onboard product would be more forgivable if these other areas weren't weak, even in comparison to many LCCs. This is why BA is perceived to be in such a slide. With every rollout of "enhanced" service or product juxtaposed with some failure in basic airline ops it certainly makes you think management has its priorities backwards. I wonder how things would be different if BA had not had its IT breakdown and instead took the money lost in that incident and invested in its product and employees.
Jul 23, 2017, 12:14 pm
#98
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,950
Jul 23, 2017, 12:17 pm
#99
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
He sounds like Donald Trump, and about as believable. Then again, Donald Trump would probably overspend on the onboard product.
This. Tweaking the onboard product would be more forgivable if these other areas weren't weak, even in comparison to many LCCs. This is why BA is perceived to be in such a slide. With every rollout of "enhanced" service or product juxtaposed with some failure in basic airline ops it certainly makes you think management has its priorities backwards. I wonder how things would be different if BA had not had its IT breakdown and instead took the money lost in that incident and invested in its product and employees.
This. Tweaking the onboard product would be more forgivable if these other areas weren't weak, even in comparison to many LCCs. This is why BA is perceived to be in such a slide. With every rollout of "enhanced" service or product juxtaposed with some failure in basic airline ops it certainly makes you think management has its priorities backwards. I wonder how things would be different if BA had not had its IT breakdown and instead took the money lost in that incident and invested in its product and employees.
Jul 23, 2017, 12:19 pm
#100
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
For anyone who cares to answer, if you were taking a family of 5 say to NYC and back, how much extra would you pay for better food, specifically a better second meal?
I think I may go at £5pp.
The fact that the likes of Norwegian are offering fares without food, show there's an appetite there (gag slightly intended!) for people to save money here. Therefore will people really pick alternative, less convenient services because they would only get a chocolate bar on BA?. Sadly I think not
Jul 23, 2017, 12:35 pm
#101
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Oh dear, oh dear, Francis A.
I'm genuinely at a loss to understand why you choose to make your posts so aggressive in tone - rather than simply expressing your own thoughts, and debating without resort to personal attack. Perhaps your annoyance stemmed from the fact that several contributors to the thread have been strongly critical of BA service standards.
Defend BA at all costs if you wish - but please do try to accept also that many others may at times have good cause to adopt a very different stance & perspective. This is a Forum for those who travel on BA and other airlines. It's not a fan club.
You have already talked about me being "hoodwinked", and now you refer rather unkindly to me "spouting" views that you erroneously assume I have only "read elsewhere". You go even further by claiming - without absolutely zero foundation (and totally incorrectly, I might add) - that I lack current-day first-hand experience of BA. Why would you want to make such random assumptions ? Is it just because I don't share your opinion ?
A little more courtesy to fellow-posters please, along with an appreciation that BA's passengers come in many guises.
I'm genuinely at a loss to understand why you choose to make your posts so aggressive in tone - rather than simply expressing your own thoughts, and debating without resort to personal attack. Perhaps your annoyance stemmed from the fact that several contributors to the thread have been strongly critical of BA service standards.
Defend BA at all costs if you wish - but please do try to accept also that many others may at times have good cause to adopt a very different stance & perspective. This is a Forum for those who travel on BA and other airlines. It's not a fan club.
You have already talked about me being "hoodwinked", and now you refer rather unkindly to me "spouting" views that you erroneously assume I have only "read elsewhere". You go even further by claiming - without absolutely zero foundation (and totally incorrectly, I might add) - that I lack current-day first-hand experience of BA. Why would you want to make such random assumptions ? Is it just because I don't share your opinion ?
A little more courtesy to fellow-posters please, along with an appreciation that BA's passengers come in many guises.
Jul 23, 2017, 12:40 pm
#102
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chelsea
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,227
I agree that BA has over leveraged it's brand which has led to it taking a substantial beating on multiple fronts but it has been in areas other than CW where the brand is greater exposed:
- IRROPs management
- short haul product
- customer services
I realise bashing BA has become a national pastime, much of it deserved but if you read the other forums on FT, BA's competitors are getting tongue lashed too.
- IRROPs management
- short haul product
- customer services
I realise bashing BA has become a national pastime, much of it deserved but if you read the other forums on FT, BA's competitors are getting tongue lashed too.
Jul 23, 2017, 12:48 pm
#103
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Life Miles, Miles and more
Posts: 518
Many thanks to seat 13a for the summary, very helpful.
I guess that is the risk, but arguably that is exactly what Emirates and Singapore do now: their reputation among the general public is very high, but going down the back of either airline isn't going to give many clues as to why that would be.
I guess that is the risk, but arguably that is exactly what Emirates and Singapore do now: their reputation among the general public is very high, but going down the back of either airline isn't going to give many clues as to why that would be.
You've named possibly the two best carriers in the world for Y. SQ in particular is incredible, and the difference between them and BA is beyond night and day. More food than anyone could ever need, and of very high quality, cocktails (yes, cocktails in Y!), exceptional service, a very good seat and better legroom, great IFE etc. etc.
I booked SQ for their reputation to try it once, and went back another time; no there aren't 'clues', the reason for their reputation is screaming you in the face.
Jul 23, 2017, 12:50 pm
#104
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Jul 23, 2017, 12:59 pm
#105
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,246