1 person serving F
Aug 14, 2017, 11:52 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,635
I had a slightly different variation going to Mumbai last week.
CSD comes over to introduce and mentions they have no F trained crew on board and so she'd be serving the cabin herself. She did have another crew member who was helping but presumably he normally would be there.
Both were perfectly fine and I wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't said anything, but then we were only 3/8 and I don't have high expectations on BA in the first place!
CSD comes over to introduce and mentions they have no F trained crew on board and so she'd be serving the cabin herself. She did have another crew member who was helping but presumably he normally would be there.
Both were perfectly fine and I wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't said anything, but then we were only 3/8 and I don't have high expectations on BA in the first place!
Aug 14, 2017, 12:05 pm
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,072
How appalling. You come into work when you could be on strike and instead of at least supporting you by managing customer expectations in advance (remember no duty free, cold meals and restricted bar in Traveller during previous IA), BA throw you in at the deep end! Customers may not know why service is so slow, which just generates complaints, stress and not a great working environment. All so easily avoided.
I don't know if they still have the performance dashboard or whatever it's called which rates Crew based on customer (and possibly sccm / peer) feedback but I'd hope too few crew is factored in. If people miss out on a bonus or promotion because of complaints in this kind of situation then that would just be the icing on the cake!
I don't know if they still have the performance dashboard or whatever it's called which rates Crew based on customer (and possibly sccm / peer) feedback but I'd hope too few crew is factored in. If people miss out on a bonus or promotion because of complaints in this kind of situation then that would just be the icing on the cake!
Aug 14, 2017, 12:27 pm
#48
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,914
Aug 14, 2017, 12:31 pm
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
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Posts: 17,899
Generally not before hand but we were advised after boarding our flights that there was a reduced crew complement on board.
I'm not sure if it was posted on BA.com ( the 2 current announcements on ba.com make no mention of this)
Regards
TBS
Aug 14, 2017, 12:51 pm
#50
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,233
Aug 14, 2017, 1:20 pm
#51
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,500
Aug 14, 2017, 2:37 pm
#52
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,914
Aug 14, 2017, 2:40 pm
#53
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,914
I share this view:
It's very difficult to make a call on this given the lack of detail. For example, if you had to wait a few minutes longer for your meal, or for the bed to be made up, then it's not much of a devaluation on the First concept in my view. If there were huge waits between service, it took a long time between drink refills, you had to make up the bed yourself, then that plainly isn't the First service you would have expected. I guess the acid test is would you have paid or redeemed into First had you known you would have got that level of service, or not?
The point I often make about this situation is that there are two sides that decide what is appropriate to fixing customer service issues: BA and the customer. If BA doesn't offer the appropriate remedy - sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't - you, as the customer remain free to set you own remedy and then use the several channels open to you to pursue it.
The point I often make about this situation is that there are two sides that decide what is appropriate to fixing customer service issues: BA and the customer. If BA doesn't offer the appropriate remedy - sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't - you, as the customer remain free to set you own remedy and then use the several channels open to you to pursue it.
Aug 14, 2017, 3:31 pm
#54
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Ex Club Gold, IHG Spire Elite, Hilton Diamond, Avis Presidents Circle
Posts: 256
We had something similar on the BA275 on 2nd Aug to LAS. The F cabin was full (14). There were 2 crew members dealing with the cabin. One preparing and one serving. Took just under 3 hours from takeoff to finish the lunch service. The crew were good in that they were really trying to perform but it was certainly not as good as I would have expected. I had a chat with one of them about 6.5 hrs in in the galley about the whole strike / way BA is going etc and you could see that she was really affected moral wise by the whole situation. She said that she had just done a SJC return, again short crewed and was looking forward to their one night rest stop in Las Vegas to catch up with sleep! I actually at the end of the flight gave her my Golden ticket because she was really trying to do a good job. She kept apologising saying sorry that the service was taking so long etc.
Aug 14, 2017, 4:06 pm
#55
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
From what I can see here from reports,some flights are going out fully crewed,some not.It is not possible to ascertain the ratio of "normal crew" to "less crew"
BA is selling all flights for the same price,even though they know some will be better served than others.
On flights with "less crew"BA is saving the salary of 1 crew member,and presumably the cost of a hotel room,plus meal allowances.Where is this financial saving going.Perhaps into AC's bonus.
Perhaps this is why BA has no interest in resolving the dispute.As long as the customers keep paying for lesser service BA is laughing all the way to the bank.
BA is selling all flights for the same price,even though they know some will be better served than others.
On flights with "less crew"BA is saving the salary of 1 crew member,and presumably the cost of a hotel room,plus meal allowances.Where is this financial saving going.Perhaps into AC's bonus.
Perhaps this is why BA has no interest in resolving the dispute.As long as the customers keep paying for lesser service BA is laughing all the way to the bank.
Aug 14, 2017, 4:14 pm
#56
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Ex Club Gold, IHG Spire Elite, Hilton Diamond, Avis Presidents Circle
Posts: 256
From what I can see here from reports,some flights are going out fully crewed,some not.It is not possible to ascertain the ratio of "normal crew" to "less crew"
BA is selling all flights for the same price,even though they know some will be better served than others.
On flights with "less crew"BA is saving the salary of 1 crew member,and presumably the cost of a hotel room,plus meal allowances.Where is this financial saving going.Perhaps into AC's bonus.
Perhaps this is why BA has no interest in resolving the dispute.As long as the customers keep paying for lesser service BA is laughing all the way to the bank.
BA is selling all flights for the same price,even though they know some will be better served than others.
On flights with "less crew"BA is saving the salary of 1 crew member,and presumably the cost of a hotel room,plus meal allowances.Where is this financial saving going.Perhaps into AC's bonus.
Perhaps this is why BA has no interest in resolving the dispute.As long as the customers keep paying for lesser service BA is laughing all the way to the bank.
I did comment to the crew that whilst they were going out of their way to try and provide a good service with less crew, I thought that actually they were setting themselves up for a potential permanent reduction in crew on board when it comes to the next round of cost cuttings. Sadly, she agreed that yes, the Snr mgt would probably see that as an opportunity
Aug 14, 2017, 9:13 pm
#57
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 174
I had somewhat of a different experience several years ago on a BA 747.
I was the *only* passenger in first class and 1 flight attendant served me during the entire 12-hour flight. (well, not sure if another flight attendant watched over me when I slept about 6 hours during the flight)
It was truly the best flight experience I've ever had in my life. When I boarded, she said "You are the only passenger today!" and I wasn't sure what she meant because I saw lots of other passengers in the gate area.
Then I realized what she meant and I was truly surprised. It was kind of awkward at first because she basically stood behind me and watched my every move. My glass was never empty and she ask me "how was it?" after every few bites. It was like having a nice mother-in-law watching me taste her food.
I was the *only* passenger in first class and 1 flight attendant served me during the entire 12-hour flight. (well, not sure if another flight attendant watched over me when I slept about 6 hours during the flight)
It was truly the best flight experience I've ever had in my life. When I boarded, she said "You are the only passenger today!" and I wasn't sure what she meant because I saw lots of other passengers in the gate area.
Then I realized what she meant and I was truly surprised. It was kind of awkward at first because she basically stood behind me and watched my every move. My glass was never empty and she ask me "how was it?" after every few bites. It was like having a nice mother-in-law watching me taste her food.
Aug 14, 2017, 10:21 pm
#58
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Having said that I could have fun popping into the F galley with my plate and demand some snags (making sure it's not pink!) and/or surf & turf, and whine that the beer isn't cold enough or something.
PS. In case of any confusion, the line above contains Australian words. Snags = sausages, surf & turf = steak and prawns
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Aug 15, 2017 at 12:54 am
Aug 15, 2017, 7:47 am
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 928
Apologies if there was not enough info...I'm on holiday so trying to have a www break!
There were no major major issues, just all very slow, a stressed FA, long waits for everything and just very sub par. As this was a cash booking, just wanted to know if it is worth asking for a few Avios, however unlikely it is!
Food was very good though, and FA lovely.....even though it took nearly 4 hours to do lunch ! Very good for BA that is..
Any way, email sent, breath not held!!!!
Thanks all for comments
There were no major major issues, just all very slow, a stressed FA, long waits for everything and just very sub par. As this was a cash booking, just wanted to know if it is worth asking for a few Avios, however unlikely it is!
Food was very good though, and FA lovely.....even though it took nearly 4 hours to do lunch ! Very good for BA that is..
Any way, email sent, breath not held!!!!
Thanks all for comments