Yet another late-night T5 meltdown
Jul 6, 2018, 10:46 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Lemonia. Best Greek ever.
Posts: 2,274
Icylocal is correct. BA have had a "go" at both NATS and CAA for some time now. I can't remember when it started - about 2001?
Some beancounter had a bee in their bonnet, and a bonus was at stake............
Some beancounter had a bee in their bonnet, and a bonus was at stake............
Jul 6, 2018, 10:59 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 118
Something to do with the fact that the rail operators are required to do it by their regulator? I can't imagine it's by choice or out of consideration for passengers.
Jul 6, 2018, 11:55 am
#33
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
I wonder what the OP was given? Or maybe BA thinks it is above all that?
Jul 7, 2018, 3:05 pm
#34
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I had such an experience a couple of days ago, at LCY.
The aircraft arrived late, due to a late departure from TXL, and then boarding was delayed very significantly because (according to the gate agents) of problems in deplaning a disabled passenger after the requested assistance failed to materialise. By the time we had boarded we had long missed our slot, had a 45-minute wait for a new one and eventually departed 90 minutes late.
The captain made four announcements - two on the ground and two en route - and in every case made a point of blaming the delay on "air traffic restrictions". It was almost as if he had been instructed to say that to discourage potential EC261 claims.
The aircraft arrived late, due to a late departure from TXL, and then boarding was delayed very significantly because (according to the gate agents) of problems in deplaning a disabled passenger after the requested assistance failed to materialise. By the time we had boarded we had long missed our slot, had a 45-minute wait for a new one and eventually departed 90 minutes late.
The captain made four announcements - two on the ground and two en route - and in every case made a point of blaming the delay on "air traffic restrictions". It was almost as if he had been instructed to say that to discourage potential EC261 claims.
Jul 7, 2018, 3:55 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,237
Knowing full how well how quixotic it is, I'd like to debunk the misconception, which I'm reading in this thread, that BA is trying to give all its delays, or most of the delays, to ATC.
I cannot show actual numbers for obvious reasons, but - having just checked the data for the period 1/1/18 to 6/7/18 - I'd like to say that the % of delays attributed to ATC (category ZZ) is minimal. If you were to compare it to some parties' results in the last general election, I'd say it's below the Lib Dem but above the SNP's % of total votes.
This is my own view and not my employer's.
I cannot show actual numbers for obvious reasons, but - having just checked the data for the period 1/1/18 to 6/7/18 - I'd like to say that the % of delays attributed to ATC (category ZZ) is minimal. If you were to compare it to some parties' results in the last general election, I'd say it's below the Lib Dem but above the SNP's % of total votes.
This is my own view and not my employer's.
Jul 7, 2018, 8:52 pm
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Knowing full how well how quixotic it is, I'd like to debunk the misconception, which I'm reading in this thread, that BA is trying to give all its delays, or most of the delays, to ATC.
I cannot show actual numbers for obvious reasons, but - having just checked the data for the period 1/1/18 to 6/7/18 - I'd like to say that the % of delays attributed to ATC (category ZZ) is minimal. If you were to compare it to some parties' results in the last general election, I'd say it's below the Lib Dem but above the SNP's % of total votes.
This is my own view and not my employer's.
I cannot show actual numbers for obvious reasons, but - having just checked the data for the period 1/1/18 to 6/7/18 - I'd like to say that the % of delays attributed to ATC (category ZZ) is minimal. If you were to compare it to some parties' results in the last general election, I'd say it's below the Lib Dem but above the SNP's % of total votes.
This is my own view and not my employer's.
Jul 7, 2018, 8:55 pm
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
Well EC261 requires that "an operating air carrier denying boarding or cancelling a flight shall provide each passenger affected with a written notice setting out the rules for compensation and assistance in line with this Regulation. It shall also provide each passenger affected by a delay of at least two hours with an equivalent notice. The contact details of the national designated body referred to in Article 16 shall also be given to the passenger in written form".
I wonder what the OP was given? Or maybe BA thinks it is above all that?
I wonder what the OP was given? Or maybe BA thinks it is above all that?
Jul 7, 2018, 9:11 pm
#39
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,089
Knowing full how well how quixotic it is, I'd like to debunk the misconception, which I'm reading in this thread, that BA is trying to give all its delays, or most of the delays, to ATC.
I cannot show actual numbers for obvious reasons, but - having just checked the data for the period 1/1/18 to 6/7/18 - I'd like to say that the % of delays attributed to ATC (category ZZ) is minimal. If you were to compare it to some parties' results in the last general election, I'd say it's below the Lib Dem but above the SNP's % of total votes.
This is my own view and not my employer's.
I cannot show actual numbers for obvious reasons, but - having just checked the data for the period 1/1/18 to 6/7/18 - I'd like to say that the % of delays attributed to ATC (category ZZ) is minimal. If you were to compare it to some parties' results in the last general election, I'd say it's below the Lib Dem but above the SNP's % of total votes.
This is my own view and not my employer's.
Jul 7, 2018, 11:15 pm
#40
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
For instance, wanting to protect cabin crew members from possible nasty attitude from passengers when the delay is the "airline's fault".
I have seen some seriously horrible attitudes towards them when the delay was the "airline's fault".
Jul 8, 2018, 1:13 am
#41
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Jul 8, 2018, 1:21 am
#42
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
If so, could there be a good reason for it?
For instance, wanting to protect cabin crew members from possible nasty attitude from passengers when the delay is the "airline's fault".
I have seen some seriously horrible attitudes towards them when the delay was the "airline's fault".
For instance, wanting to protect cabin crew members from possible nasty attitude from passengers when the delay is the "airline's fault".
I have seen some seriously horrible attitudes towards them when the delay was the "airline's fault".
I chuckled when reading this article about how BA lied about an ATC delay when it was actually their supplier who had failed to deliver a special meal....caught out by an off duty member of ATC.
Inside the Heathrow Airport control tower in a picture exclusive | Daily Mail Online
Jul 8, 2018, 3:49 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Absolutely. While people might get annoyed by delays, I think the nastiness referred to comes about when delays are badly handled, unexplained or explained with guile.
However...
.....they were waiting for a gluten-free meal to arrive for somebody, but the cabin services director said they didn’t like to admit that because that embarrasses the person waiting for the gluten-free meal
Is I think, reasonable motivation for a white lie.
Jul 8, 2018, 4:10 am
#44
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Manchester but from Yorkshire better known as Gods country
Programs: BA Gold, , Sandals plat
Posts: 839
Just out of interest what is the the general consensus amongst our legal eagles of allowing UK citizens to pass without “let or hindrance” when entering the UK, because forcing citizens to queue for over one hour seems to severely breach this request. Could it be bordering on unlawful detention.
Jul 8, 2018, 4:12 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,639
Surely they could have said they were waiting for some extra meals or even some missing special meals - and therefore avoid singling out the person who needed the specific meal, but also be honest about the source of the delay?
