Ask the staffer
Jan 5, 2019, 2:41 am
#1
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,210
Ask the staffer
This thread is a continuation of the ever popular Ask the staffer thread.
We are incredibly fortunate on the BA Board to have a number of staff members among us who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise. We have pilots and cabin crew, ground crew, lounge staff, check in staff, air traffic controllers and even an ex-military ATC with a bear fixation!
Remember: No question is stupid here, and nothing is too geeky! So please ask anything you like, with one exception. No questions about security please.
Happy new year all
Jan 5, 2019, 4:11 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AA EXP, PriorityClub Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold fivestar
Posts: 486
Shown to seat in first?
When do you get shown to your seat in first vs having to find it yourself? On my past few flights I’ve had a personal welcome at the door and either been escorted from the door to the seat or had an appology and been given directions. Today I was just told to turn left. No issue just interested.
Jan 5, 2019, 4:15 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 587
When do you get shown to your seat in first vs having to find it yourself? On my past few flights I’ve had a personal welcome at the door and either been escorted from the door to the seat or had an appology and been given directions. Today I was just told to turn left. No issue just interested.
Jan 5, 2019, 4:22 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AA EXP, PriorityClub Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold fivestar
Posts: 486
If there's a crew member available to do so then you'll be shown to your seat. There should be an F crew member at the boarding door for this purpose, but if they're otherwise engaged then it will fall to one of the other crew boarding (CSM/D and a WT crew member). It might be that one of these is off already or assisting PRMs etc so it's not always possible. If there's someone around to show you then you will be; but an open passenger door can never be left unattended so you may need to find your own way at times.
What is a PRM?
Jan 5, 2019, 4:30 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,072
PRM, Passenger with Reduced Mobilty.
As MFCC says if there are two crew at the door one of them will escort customers in First to their seats, if there is not you will just be directed.
As MFCC says if there are two crew at the door one of them will escort customers in First to their seats, if there is not you will just be directed.
Jan 5, 2019, 4:32 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 284
From a passenger perspective, it feels like some crews are friendlier than others. I’m wondering from a cabin crew perspective if a) they feel that’s true, and b) whether they similarly find some passenger groups (as in, averaged over the whole plane) better sometimes than others?
If so, do you have any theories as to why?
If so, do you have any theories as to why?
Jan 5, 2019, 4:37 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 284
Also, I’m terrible about complaining on board without sounding like an entitled ****. Some people seem to have a knack.
Wondering again from crew perspective what makes a complaint reasonable and most likely to result in a resolution without upsetting anyone? What gets your back up, and on the flip side, what makes you more inclined to help? Of course I’m assuming there’s a difference in cabins (e.g. I wouldn’t complain the sparkling wine was not up to scratch in economy, where I usually travel).
Wondering again from crew perspective what makes a complaint reasonable and most likely to result in a resolution without upsetting anyone? What gets your back up, and on the flip side, what makes you more inclined to help? Of course I’m assuming there’s a difference in cabins (e.g. I wouldn’t complain the sparkling wine was not up to scratch in economy, where I usually travel).
Jan 5, 2019, 4:50 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,072
Well like any feedback it should be polite, timely and unemotional, I am more likely to think positively if demands are not made and the customer knows what I can and cannot do.
If I cannot rectify the issue I will get CR to contact the customer as I will not waste my energy on people that make outrageous demands, I will let CR know exactly what had been said and offered and if I believe the customer is entitled to more than I can offer or is taking the P.
If I cannot rectify the issue I will get CR to contact the customer as I will not waste my energy on people that make outrageous demands, I will let CR know exactly what had been said and offered and if I believe the customer is entitled to more than I can offer or is taking the P.
Jan 5, 2019, 6:07 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,060
Well like any feedback it should be polite, timely and unemotional, I am more likely to think positively if demands are not made and the customer knows what I can and cannot do.
If I cannot rectify the issue I will get CR to contact the customer as I will not waste my energy on people that make outrageous demands, I will let CR know exactly what had been said and offered and if I believe the customer is entitled to more than I can offer or is taking the P.
If I cannot rectify the issue I will get CR to contact the customer as I will not waste my energy on people that make outrageous demands, I will let CR know exactly what had been said and offered and if I believe the customer is entitled to more than I can offer or is taking the P.
Jan 5, 2019, 7:18 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AA EXP, PriorityClub Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold fivestar
Posts: 486
I have a family member traveling next month in CW on BA from LHR to the USA. She is vegetarian and has also been diagnosed as having a gluten intolerance which does make food somewhat tricky. BA have a gluten free option, a vegetarian option but not a gluten free vegetarian option. So there isn't really a simple solution other than taking her own food.
I expect some of the vegetarian meal may happen to be gluten free and some of the gluten free meal may happen to be vegetarian. Does BA have the ingredients/allergen list for their meals (eg could we look at the VLML ingredients list to see whether there are any gluten containing ingredients)? Is this information available in advance?
Are there any other suggestions anyone has for dealing with this situation? I was wondering whether she should take a lunch box and fill it up in the lounge (if the food there is well labelled).
I expect some of the vegetarian meal may happen to be gluten free and some of the gluten free meal may happen to be vegetarian. Does BA have the ingredients/allergen list for their meals (eg could we look at the VLML ingredients list to see whether there are any gluten containing ingredients)? Is this information available in advance?
Are there any other suggestions anyone has for dealing with this situation? I was wondering whether she should take a lunch box and fill it up in the lounge (if the food there is well labelled).
Jan 9, 2019, 10:07 am
#14
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,129
When planes get flown to Manila/Cardiff/elsewhere etc for maintenance are there specific crews for that on a rota or is it just part of being say an A380/A32X pilot etc and all pilots will at some point go there and back?
Also on the longer hauls is there a member of CC too?
Curious as always, thanks!
Pete
Also on the longer hauls is there a member of CC too?
Curious as always, thanks!
Pete