ABBA - anyone but BA
Jul 31, 2017, 9:59 am
#436
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Sussex
Programs: QF BAEC [Gold]
Posts: 536
No doubt others have noticed, but Virgin have picked up on the "ABBA - Anyone but BA" theme and used it in advertising as recently as yesterday's Sunday paper I happened to pick up.
And I know it is a different company, but I was amused to see that both the LGW and EDI BA lounge Wi-Fi services appear to be provided by none other than Virgin Media.
And I know it is a different company, but I was amused to see that both the LGW and EDI BA lounge Wi-Fi services appear to be provided by none other than Virgin Media.
Last edited by PWOZUK; Jul 31, 2017 at 10:00 am Reason: change to "apppear"
Jul 31, 2017, 11:28 am
#437
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DFW or GOT or...
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott GFL
Posts: 819
No doubt others have noticed, but Virgin have picked up on the "ABBA - Anyone but BA" theme and used it in advertising as recently as yesterday's Sunday paper I happened to pick up.
And I know it is a different company, but I was amused to see that both the LGW and EDI BA lounge Wi-Fi services appear to be provided by none other than Virgin Media.
And I know it is a different company, but I was amused to see that both the LGW and EDI BA lounge Wi-Fi services appear to be provided by none other than Virgin Media.
No worries, this one has gotten long as these discussions tend to...
Aug 1, 2017, 3:34 am
#438
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: BAEC GCH, Virgin Flying Club SCH
Posts: 142
What this has done, is I now consider them the same they have treated me - a component of a transactional arrangement, whereas before I had a bit of brand loyalty and affection.
And VA is one of the carriers that have now picked up my west-bound travel, and BA need to take a close look - the service and hard product were a couple of levels above BA on all classes.
Aug 1, 2017, 4:25 am
#439
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Executive Club: Gold - Flying Blue: Gold
Posts: 1,382
Thats exactly my experience for our family holiday this summer (booked last year), was offered 1000 avios as 'service recovery' which is meant to be used to replace meals and drinks for 5 people for outbound and inbound. Its a derisory amount, and as far as 'service recovery' goes did nothing to recover service at all.
What this has done, is I now consider them the same they have treated me - a component of a transactional arrangement, whereas before I had a bit of brand loyalty and affection.
Thats exactly how I view it, but the further negative impact for my BA travel is that I now also have changed my international bookings.....
And VA is one of the carriers that have now picked up my west-bound travel, and BA need to take a close look - the service and hard product were a couple of levels above BA on all classes.
What this has done, is I now consider them the same they have treated me - a component of a transactional arrangement, whereas before I had a bit of brand loyalty and affection.
Thats exactly how I view it, but the further negative impact for my BA travel is that I now also have changed my international bookings.....
And VA is one of the carriers that have now picked up my west-bound travel, and BA need to take a close look - the service and hard product were a couple of levels above BA on all classes.
Aug 1, 2017, 6:09 am
#441
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
This is exactly the point. BA has turned into a transactional provider. I will look at them for travel in the same way as I look at others. The brand affinity and a perceived loyalty has been eroded by their cutbacks and policy changes. Everybody says that aircraft are full and BA don't care but I do know they are doing less business from me and my company. That will be far harder to win back than it would have been to retain since I like AA, QR and VS now.
Aug 1, 2017, 6:46 am
#442
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
With AF/KL Virging Atlantic tie up, I am now considering flying VS to the US or South Africa. It seems they have a better service on short US flights (second meal is not a fund sized mars bar). And I hear that the Clubhouse is great. I have never thought I could use them based on my loyalty to BA, AF and KL but now I am quite excited to be suing Virgin.
Good luck with suing Virgin btw!
Aug 1, 2017, 8:48 am
#443
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Executive Club: Gold - Flying Blue: Gold
Posts: 1,382
Try to look at my posts until mid last year and you'll notice I was loyal to BA. My user name "BA6948" is another one. But as many here, I have just had enough of the cuts and the disregard BA has to its loyal and big spend customers that DO NOT fly premium cabins.
Aug 1, 2017, 10:07 am
#444
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
Aug 1, 2017, 12:48 pm
#445
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 410
Indeed 130 flights a week to 22 destinations. And that's from Frankfurt not Hahn, before we get deflected onto that old chestnut.
Hard to see how anyone in Glasgow or Manchester travelling to Frankfurt could find BA more convenient really. On the other hand if you collect TPs, Avios, enjoy lurking around lounges or a good old CE "meal" maybe BA is still the right gig.
Each to their own I guess.
Hard to see how anyone in Glasgow or Manchester travelling to Frankfurt could find BA more convenient really. On the other hand if you collect TPs, Avios, enjoy lurking around lounges or a good old CE "meal" maybe BA is still the right gig.
Each to their own I guess.
Aug 1, 2017, 2:10 pm
#446
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
A little more from Mr Cruz....
“We are falling behind. We have work to do,” he told me. 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.”
“We are falling behind. We have work to do,” he told me. 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.”
Wow! Didn't see that coming. Thought they were planning on a BA Lite kinda product, but a separate one from the mainline.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.
To the point about Emirates and Singapore, while I don't agree that they are a budget carrier in the back of the bus, but even if they are, they do not market themselves as such. If they did, the general public would perceive them that way. Unless I am not reading it correctly, Mr. Cruz's statement implies that BA hopes to gain market share by marketing themselves purely to the price conscious.
Aug 1, 2017, 2:16 pm
#447
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,146
There are many different markets out there. What damage that could do to the Brand Image is the big question, and it would certainly have to be handled significantly better than most of BA's recent marketing.
Aug 1, 2017, 2:24 pm
#448
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: New York, New York
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP; Free Agent Super Duper Diamond Treasure Chest ;)
Posts: 4,682
I wonder if WT+ is considered the back of the bus.
Aug 2, 2017, 12:40 pm
#450
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
Seat swaps are a hazard of air travel alas. I think it is unlikely you'll influence future policy.