Birthday on Board!
Mar 8, 2018, 6:32 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Honors Diamond,Amex Platinum
Posts: 179
Mar 8, 2018, 6:34 am
#17
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: BAEC - Gold, IHG - Spire Ambassador
Posts: 573
I flew on the babybus from LCY on my 50th. I had mentioned this to another passenger at the gate when he asked me the purpose of my trip. I imagine the ground staff overheard and told the crew. The first drink out of the galley on that flight was an unsolicited glass of pink fizz for me!
Mar 8, 2018, 6:40 am
#18
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,714
I'm routinely on one or more flights on my birthday (and I try to make sure they're not down the back) and have understandably never had any recognition, so I wouldn't rely on it. I like the idea of buying something on the ground and then asking the crew to deliver it to your child. They're not going to be any more impressed by a cake being free from BA than if you'd bought them one and had it delivered 
Mar 8, 2018, 7:09 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,402
Mar 8, 2018, 8:01 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,383
Probably not I'm afraid. The exact criteria for free upgrades are deliberately obscure. However, having a birthday is a good reason for people to pay extra for a bit of luxury, so BA would be damaging their own revenues if it became known that an upgrade was much more likely because of a birthday.
Mar 8, 2018, 8:04 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,844
Mar 8, 2018, 8:49 am
#25
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 289
I had a birthday on board once, in F (OpUp from J! I have to wonder if someone was being nice to me).
The staff did this amazing thing (which I'm sure I've talked about here before) of getting all the crew to sign a card, and gave me a little dessert cake and sang happy birthday to me (reeeeally quietly, it was after lights-out, and I was in 4K).
The card is very special to me and I still have it.
So my suggestion to you is: As well as doing the above suggestion of bringing a small cake on board, but also buy a nice card with lots of space to write on, and ask if they can get the staff to sign it?
This way your son will have a neat souvenir from the trip that you can point to afterwards.
The staff did this amazing thing (which I'm sure I've talked about here before) of getting all the crew to sign a card, and gave me a little dessert cake and sang happy birthday to me (reeeeally quietly, it was after lights-out, and I was in 4K).
The card is very special to me and I still have it.
So my suggestion to you is: As well as doing the above suggestion of bringing a small cake on board, but also buy a nice card with lots of space to write on, and ask if they can get the staff to sign it?
This way your son will have a neat souvenir from the trip that you can point to afterwards.
Mar 8, 2018, 11:27 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 215
Probably not I'm afraid. The exact criteria for free upgrades are deliberately obscure. However, having a birthday is a good reason for people to pay extra for a bit of luxury, so BA would be damaging their own revenues if it became known that an upgrade was much more likely because of a birthday.
Mar 8, 2018, 12:12 pm
#28
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA and UK
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Silver, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 1,351
Flew on my birthday and treated myself to an Avios upgrade from a J ticket to F, LHR-IAH on a 77W. The whole cabin was in quite a jovial mood! After takeoff, everyone in the cabin was walking around, making conversation! Was quite rare I believe. Consisted of 2 couples, myself and one gentleman travelling for business. My birthday came up in conversation (the reason I chose to fly F, as I was explaining to another passenger). Crew came (after overhearing I believe, or perhaps someone told them) and offered a bottle of LPGS (in a duty free bag) and never let my glass be empty! Presented this during afternoon tea for me as well. Was very nice and memorable!
Mar 8, 2018, 12:29 pm
#29
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, Diamond Status & on the Supreme Council des Conseillers, BA Ag, Bonvoy GFL/Plat, xVS Au
Posts: 832
On a similar note reference birthday cards, as a VS gold I used to get a lovely card through the post signed by the ladies in the VS gold office as well as an air miles gift. Do BA do anything similar?
Mar 8, 2018, 1:21 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK (currently)
Programs: BA Gold (and many other greater and lesser distinctions)
Posts: 7,202
Reminds of a flight on LH in F from FRA to DXB. The whole F cabin apart from me was a single family which celebrated a child's birthday during the flight. Quite some fuss made including a full size cake, of which I was generously offered a slice . As they had the LH Special Services equivalent fussing over them in the lounge, and had a lengthy receiving line waiting for them on the tarmac in DXB, perhaps their treatment does not represent the norm ....,
. As they had the LH Special Services equivalent fussing over them in the lounge, and had a lengthy receiving line waiting for them on the tarmac in DXB, perhaps their treatment does not represent the norm ....,