yossi

Thanks for the BA staffers for providing such useful feedback! I usually fly BA on CW, and I remember that a couple of years ago, crew members would politely refer to me by Mr. Last Name. I was still rather new to BA, and I was so impressed by that gesture. In the last 4-5 years, I can't recall any crew member ever approaching me by name during service. Honestly, it does not distract from the high level of service I am used to on BA, but I am just curious of there was a change in protocol.

Another question concerns the pajamas on F. I am very excited about my first flight on F next month (transatlantic), and wonder if it's OK to ask for a second pair for my partner (who is a different size), not traveling with me. Would it be too much of a chutzpah? Is it OK even to ask?

golfmad

I am not a BA staffer but I think it's ok to ask. If they have spares I suspect they will oblige. Having said that the PJs are really not worth having which is crazy for me to say as I have a large collection of them myself. I never wear them but hoard them for absolutely no reason whatsoever. If you really want a pair and can't get one let me know the size you want and I'll donate it to you If you're going to ask for anything ask for another wash bag for your partner as it's probably more use.

On boarding at JFK this morning the gate agent said "Have a nice flight <firstname>" which I thought was a little unusual but I quite liked it.

Can I help you

I would only ask for a extra sleeper suit on flight into the UK, I would be prepared for a no but no problem in asking.

yossi

Thanks! My husband really loves sleeping in them (he has a nice collection from Qantas and Singapore, which he absolutely loves), but neither of us never tried to the BA one... but soon!

yossi

Yes, it will indeed be on a flight to the UK

golfmad

I don't mean to be too negative but I think you should lower your expectations in order avoid disappointment.

yossi

Gotcha :-)

TedToToe

On a recent flight back from MRU (without a First cabin) I counted at least 5 passengers in CW wearing their BA PJs. I kind of wished I’d packed my own!

let_BAegones_be

Does anybody know if the BEY early morning inbound flights catered from BEY or from LHR by DoCo?

I saw the inbound CW menu for my flight and nothing appeals to me. I am thinking of preordering a vegetarian SPML, but I had bad luck with SPML that were catered from abroad.

RoyalSwazi

After reading the thread on BA crew eating: what sort of agreements do cabin crew have on duty times, rest and meals on shorthaul?

MFCC

On MF shorthaul, as a rule of thumb re meals:
- Local departure time of 0800 or earlier gets a hot breakfast, regardless of duty length.
- Any duty of over six hours gets a hot crew meal, unless that duty provides a planned time at T5 to obtain refreshment in the terminal. E.g. a 2 sector there and back LHR-HEL-LHR will have a meal loaded, however a 4 sector day LHR-DUB-LHR-MAN-LHR will not have a meal loaded as there is time planned between arriving from DUB and going to MAN to purchase your own meal in T5.
- Any duty under six hours that departs after 0800 gets only water/tea/coffee.
- All Band 4 sectors get a hot meal, even if the crew nightstops downroute. If the crew returns same day (e.g. LHR-LCA-LHR) then a meal + sandwiches will be loaded.
- Flight Crew meal agreements are totally different to this so can’t advise on these. Not sure about EF, they may or may not be different.
Regarding rest and breaks, these are in line with EASA rest requirements which I’m sure are available online somewhere. It can get rather complicated as minimum rest/maximum duty periods change depending on report time, number of sectors that day and whether the crew are acclimatised. Rest in Europe away from LHR is usually a minimum of 10 hours or the length of the preceding duty, whichever is greater. As an absolute minimum, rest is 10 hours ensuring that 9 hours is achieved in the hotel.

OxfordBlue

On my last long haul some time ago, I had brought some chocolates for the crew. About an hour after wheels-up, when things had settled, I asked for whoever was looking after my section (WT+).

After a bit, the CSM arrived. I gave her the goodies and asked that the CC in my section received them.

She was utterly charming and very grateful, and I was very well looked after for the rest of that flight (and on the return for that matter - same crew due to the thanksgiving holiday in the US).

I was was glad a simple gesture on my part was well-received. I didn't do it to get special treatment- far from it - but just to give the crew something I hope they liked.

So, can the CC tell me their favourite goodies so I can bring them next trip?

Reetmafreen

I bring my AA PJs when traveling in CW from LAX to LHR. It just feels nice to walk off the plane in clothes that I hadn’t slept in all night. Clean undies and socks help too.

Sam Swps

A friend of mine was travelling to KUL, and had checked in with luggage, when he realised he left his important medication at home on the kitchen table.

He advised BA staff 1 hour before departure that he could not travel, as he needed his medication, otherwise would have complications.

The agent offloaded him, and when pressed what happens now, she simply handed him a blue customer relations card, and told me to call them. I said ok.

She then told him to wait for 30 mins so an agent could escort him back to baggage. He waited for 40 minutes and no agent came, then approached another BA staff member and told them an agent was meant to escort him back to the baggage hall. Had he not approached the agent he would have been waiting a long time.

He called BA reservations the next day and they said he had no showed for the flight, which is not possible as he was checked in, with a boarding pass in hand, at airside, and asked to be removed from the flight.

The PNR should show he was checked in, and offloaded. I told him, only the airport staff is the only department at BA that can offload a customer, so clearly the no show is incorrect. The agent did not add any of the remarks in respect to why he came off the flight, which I thought they would, as they usually notate for things like this, and would verify what he is saying.

From my knowledge, and correct me if I am wrong, but the booking is still live for 2 weeks, before it is dealt with customer relations. He has been told he can just have his tax refunded which amounts to £128.00.

In circumstances like this, did the agent follow the correct process by marking him down as a no show?

In which case his only option is to claim the tax back, or is it possible BA would consider his case, upon proof of medical evidence, and possibly allow him to rebook for another day, paying any costs of course?

JAXBA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Swps

In circumstances like this, did the agent follow the correct process by marking him down as a no show?

He chose not to travel and so was offloaded. The computer automatically marks noshows when pax don't travel, and don't change the reservation prior to departure to another flight.

It would have been helpful if the agent who offloaded him had advised him to go to the ticket desk or to call to change the reservation, but depending on ticket type there may not have been anything possible.

Referring the customer to Customer Relations wasn't useful; they handle complaints, and nothing had gone wrong at that point.

Choosing to offload was a personal decision; although understandably to get medication, that wouldn't require BA to extend anything, whereas someone having a medical episode at the airport that prevented them from travelling would probably be worked with.

From the information given, it sounds like they decided not to go, didn't rebook while they were still there, and so a tax only refund is likely the extent of all that they're entitled to.

The offloading agent could definitely have been more helpful.