Bad experience or the norm in BA F?
Nov 27, 2018, 8:45 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
So true, and I guess I've been lucky on my LHR-SFO-LHR flights this month in F: fantastic crew, good food, and new plane (A380). Well, the A380 was by choice!
Nov 27, 2018, 10:09 am
#32
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,198
To answer the OP. Been years since I flew BA F however even back then it was possible to have a poor experience. Mine was on a SYD-SIN flight....although strangely enough my wife thought it was fine. That tells me peoples opinions of the same product can vary widely.
Nov 27, 2018, 12:15 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,064
Crew are not rostered on abilty or performance and no route is considered special so you never know what you are going to get, as a SCCM the skill identifying poor performers and managing them proactively.
Nov 27, 2018, 12:35 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold(twice), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 679
I think my recent NRT to LHR 789 would have been Mixed Fleet, and it could not have been better, all of the crew from CSD down were fantastic for the whole 13 hours. On the other hand the only one awful F crew I have had were WW 4 years ago, BLR to LHR, unbelievably amateur and offhand.
Nov 27, 2018, 2:08 pm
#36
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: NYC/LAX/ATL
Programs: JAL Diamond, BAEC Gold, AS 75K, VS Gold, AC 50K, WoH Globalist, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 237
Nov 27, 2018, 3:35 pm
#38
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
[QUOTE=cubedweller;30470857I've only ever had one decent F crew and that was 4 years ago. The frustrating things is I can't figure out WHY they're so bad. Is it culture? Training? Resentment towards their employer?[/QUOTE]
It's the culture: arrogance, complacency, lack of a culture of service, which is (ought to be) what they're there for. And as we know, it's not limited to F crews. The stand-offish, we-know-better-than-you attitude of BA cabin staff in general never fails to displease.....
It's the culture: arrogance, complacency, lack of a culture of service, which is (ought to be) what they're there for. And as we know, it's not limited to F crews. The stand-offish, we-know-better-than-you attitude of BA cabin staff in general never fails to displease.....
Nov 27, 2018, 3:58 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 175
I’m sorry, but this statement simply goes too far. There are undoubtedly bad crews (or crew members who are having a bad day), but I have not found this to be the norm. In fact, I fully expect to be greeted by a smiling, friendly face when boarding a BA flight, and for that to continue through the flight. It doesn’t always happen, but I consider that the exception.
Nov 27, 2018, 4:07 pm
#40
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,198
Nov 27, 2018, 4:17 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
BA F is notorious for loading insufficient meal choices so you'll finish up with that woeful meal no-one else wanted. Especially when the cabin isn't full it seems the scrooges at BA only load one or two of each choice. So the workaround ia/was to book your meal in advance.
Except it seems that's not necessarily working either?
Except it seems that's not necessarily working either?
Nov 27, 2018, 5:14 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,226
Some crew are just disinterested / having a bad day and the same can apply to customers! I like BA’s ‘service style’ / tone and really value the way experienced / talented crew can judge the mood of each person - ie do they want to chat or be left alone; do they need help with that or will they feel patronised if I offer? A lot of BA cabin and ground staff have been doing the job for a very long time & will deviate from the script / craze of the moment to ‘deliver’ a good, personalised, service. Some call that inconsistent. I also like QR but I do find many of their crews to be a bit more robotic in their approach or when handling non-standard requests.
I’ve had many great F flights but the less good ones always seemed to be prefaced by a CSD who was terse / appeared stressed & this trickled down into the team. Best flight in F ever also had a really excellent CSD. You can normally tell within 10 seconds of boarding how it’s going to be.
I’ve had many great F flights but the less good ones always seemed to be prefaced by a CSD who was terse / appeared stressed & this trickled down into the team. Best flight in F ever also had a really excellent CSD. You can normally tell within 10 seconds of boarding how it’s going to be.
Nov 27, 2018, 5:20 pm
#43
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,981
Whilst there are a lot of things that need to improve at BA, the crew are still the best thing about the airline. I fly many sectors every year, in various classes and aircraft, and on different routes, and over many years, and I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of crew that stood out as poor. 99% are ok or above. Many are excellent.
Nov 27, 2018, 10:01 pm
#45
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,368
I'm constantly surprised by the number of posters who have negative BA experiences yet still continue to fly with the airline. I certainly wouldn't.
To answer the OP. Been years since I flew BA F however even back then it was possible to have a poor experience. Mine was on a SYD-SIN flight....although strangely enough my wife thought it was fine. That tells me peoples opinions of the same product can vary widely.
To answer the OP. Been years since I flew BA F however even back then it was possible to have a poor experience. Mine was on a SYD-SIN flight....although strangely enough my wife thought it was fine. That tells me peoples opinions of the same product can vary widely.
I suspect that people here stay with BA because status is relatively easy to achieve and has good benefits (lounges primarily, but also seat reservations without fees and theoretical seating) compared to other FF programs and also because they can get relatively good premium cabin fares, including all of the exEU deals. It also helps that BA has a good worldwide network and some good partners, including CX, JL, QF and QR.
