Africanflyer1955

For those of you not invited or did not come - tough luck. This was BA at its best at the best hotel in London. The evening deserves a longer report than this - perhaps another FT scribe would like to contribute but let me say:-

1. Great reception with a genuine attempt to help people mingle; and
2. Fantastic wines with the buyers on hand to explain why they bought this wine for BA.

I have not even mentioned the food prepared and delivered over four courses by one of the top three chefs in the world.

The only negative was an intervention by a guest who tried to disparage the contribution by another BA guest giving the vote of thanks but otherwise a 5 star evening. If the critic is a FT member perhaps he could explain his point or otherwise shut up.

More to follow.

KARFA

What? I was across the road this afternoon at the RSC on Piccadilly. I could have come as your plus one Africanflyer1955

AdBoy

What was the guest's vote of thanks for those lucky enough to hear it?

Extolling the virtues of BA? Or somewhat of a diatribe against his polite hosts?

Africanflyer1955

KARFA - you let me down. My wife was at LGW en route to Seville and texting me to say having boarded they faced a four hour delay for take off due to the ATC issues in France. My guest for the evening had cancelled on short notice ( his grandees funeral). How could I not have considered you were the freeloader I needed, be more proactive in future.

Africanflyer1955

As far as I recall the guest was recalling an anecdote about how BA had helped him in foreign climes when he was interrupted by another guest who said he should get to the issue of why BA was useless. He was ignored and the evening progressed.

AdBoy

All's well that ends well.

And it's good to hear BA are inviting FT-ers to speak at these events!

Filthy Monkey

Dodged a bullet there, Africanflyer1955

Sounds like a great night. Glad you enjoyed it ^

Schwann

Is this for real? I wasn't sure if I entered some parallel FT universe where BA actually got their wallet out for once. Seems I actually have!

sxc

It’s a shame that BA at its best is on the ground at a special event and nothing to do with their core operations.

Worcester

It's usually more useful to listen to your critics than to your fans. Given BAs recent numbers there is urgent need for this.

pablol

Agreed, it was without question the best BA event I have been to. I will try and post a more fulsome description later today.

ratechaser

Nah. And a message for all us 'tough luck' plebs that couldn't get in to Versailles The Ritz

"Let them buy cake"

subject2load

It is indeed a great shame !

And perhaps also a wonder that the senior executive team who choose to arrange such events are the very same managers whose corporate culture encourages & condones the often dreadful responses to aggrieved customers of the airline, as regularly recounted here on FT.

Kgmm77

If you were being cynical you could argue it’s a lot cheaper to identify a selection of high value customers & influencers, fill them full of booze and nice food and offer platitudes every once in a while about things getting better, than it is to actually improve service issues in a cost cutting environment.

subject2load

You could be right.

Plus ..... who knows .... maybe a good proportion of BA's HVC's and 'influencers' are so wedded to the airline as to feel that things are actually fine & dandy in BA world, under the current regime.