Mar 18, 2019, 10:00 am
Advice: Parent kicked out of seat by "celebrity"
Mar 18, 2019, 1:12 am
#76
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,172
This is is a most extraordinary story. It has all the components going to get the whole Forum into righteous indignation. A seemingly harmless individual in his correct seat is hit on by DYKWIA in its quintessential form, although we are not told by whom. The crew is supine, and the CSD/M is indifferent. This, of course, happened in that battleground of Elitism, First Class.
You may all take the story at face value, but what I would need would be to know which flight and who this self-important arrogant individual might be. If it is who I think it is, then As I have flown with them several times then this person has never behaved like that to the best of my knowledge and belief. Under circumstances such as these, any approach is usually via the crew. Once we establish some facts, rather than hearsay, then I will reserve opinion.
Mar 18, 2019, 1:15 am
#77
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 969
It's one of those times to be appear confused while standing firm.
"What do you mean I can't have this seat? It's the seat I'm booked on and is on my booking pass. Why am I being kicked out of my seat? I don't understand why my seat is not longer available although I'm sitting in it. Why am I being refused my seat? Are you telling me I can't fly in my seat? I have luggage on this plane. You told me I can't sit here in my seat, what happens to my luggage? You keep talking about another seat but this is my seat. See my boarding pass."
Repeat, rinse, repeat. "I just don't understand... waaaaah." Be the bigger, but politer, nuisance. And film everything.
"What do you mean I can't have this seat? It's the seat I'm booked on and is on my booking pass. Why am I being kicked out of my seat? I don't understand why my seat is not longer available although I'm sitting in it. Why am I being refused my seat? Are you telling me I can't fly in my seat? I have luggage on this plane. You told me I can't sit here in my seat, what happens to my luggage? You keep talking about another seat but this is my seat. See my boarding pass."
Repeat, rinse, repeat. "I just don't understand... waaaaah." Be the bigger, but politer, nuisance. And film everything.
Mar 18, 2019, 1:26 am
#78
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 99
Just waiting now for a beaming, jubilant review of First, with just enough quirk to garner a few pages of responses at regular intervals to bump this post...
Mar 18, 2019, 1:26 am
#79
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
There are similarities to when it was previously reported on FT that a political celebrity asked someone to move from his favourite seat 1A on a different airline.
Mar 18, 2019, 1:28 am
#80
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,090
I tend to think there are valid human reasons for delays in replies before troll's ones
That said I don't see the reason to not name the "public" person involved.
Mar 18, 2019, 1:36 am
#81
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
People, give the OP a break for a bit! Not posting for 12 hours should be seen as normal, not abnormal!
The OP might have a social life (followed by sleep, maybe, or may still be partying...) or god forbid, flying! Remember not all BA aircraft is wifi-equipped.
Life does not revolve around posting on FlyerTalk for most people.
Besides, regarding the call for disclosure of the celeb's name, which the OP may be genuinely be worried about should the DYKWIA be sue-happy and may not feel too comfortable about disclosing for whatever reason and we need to respect that. We don't want to end up in a weird situation of posters feeling interrogated. That's not a forum environment we want, is it?
The OP might have a social life (followed by sleep, maybe, or may still be partying...) or god forbid, flying! Remember not all BA aircraft is wifi-equipped.
Life does not revolve around posting on FlyerTalk for most people.
Besides, regarding the call for disclosure of the celeb's name, which the OP may be genuinely be worried about should the DYKWIA be sue-happy and may not feel too comfortable about disclosing for whatever reason and we need to respect that. We don't want to end up in a weird situation of posters feeling interrogated. That's not a forum environment we want, is it?
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Mar 18, 2019 at 4:39 pm Reason: typo
Mar 18, 2019, 1:50 am
#82
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,129
Mar 18, 2019, 1:59 am
#83
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,606
Mar 18, 2019, 2:16 am
#84
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,693
This thread shows one more time how the BA board at FT can be an unwelcoming and despicable environment: accusation of trolling, of lying, digging and posting links to old threads, simply because there are no answers in 12 hours. OP might have a life *gasp*.
Mar 18, 2019, 2:31 am
#85
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
You seem to be including me in your holier-than-thou admonishment. I completely respect the OP's limits on this, and posted a link to a previous story with uncanny similarities. The OP has every right to withhold the name, and we have every right to speculate. We are humans, we find mysteries irresistible. Go easy on the OP, yes, but go easy on ourselves too.
Mar 18, 2019, 2:42 am
#86
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
I can see the FT private investigators and community police have started their incredibly useful work for which we’re all grateful.
When does the trial start? Oh wait, we don’t need a trial, just a sentence!
When does the trial start? Oh wait, we don’t need a trial, just a sentence!
Last edited by ringingup; Mar 18, 2019 at 6:37 am
Mar 18, 2019, 3:56 am
#88
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: BA Gold; Surrey CCC
Posts: 97
UPDATE.
I have contacted BA to complain, haven't received a response yet. I have also requested legal opinion (in the absence of which I shall not name the individual).
Wow. I log back in after returning from work and see many responses to my original post. And of course, as I haven't responded immediately, people think I'm either making stuff up, or hiding under a bridge somewhere. Strange.
Let's not get angry here and throw accusations at each other, this is a forum to share experiences!
In response to the fabrication point, which I find completely unprofessional and insulting, I only come on this site to detail my negative or controversial experiences with BA, in order to get people's views and stimulate discussion. There may be similarities, but seriously, who cares? I once experienced a rude pilot who was aggressive to another passenger. You may not have experienced that in 1,000 flights, but I did! Does that mean I'm BS'ing? Honestly, come on.
Although I have a Gold card, I am by no means an experienced flyer and like to get the opinions of others to things I have experienced. To say that everything I post is BS or a lie, doesn't really give a good impression. For every negative flight, I have had many, many great BA flights but I simply don't write about them.
Lesson learnt, not worth it posting things here. All I asked is whether a complaint, given the unusiual nature of the event, would be heard by BA. That's it. I don't know how this thread has moved from that to where it is now.
Anyhow, to address some of the points above, the cabin crew DID NOT turf dad out of his seat, they merely gently guided him to the other seat. Dad did make the point (as I mentioned above) that they were courteous throughout the whole flight. The CSM was indifferent, but maybe they were rushed off their feet - entirely plausible and reasonable with a full jumbo. But, I wasn't there, I don't know. My only issue was maybe they should have been a bit firmer with the other person, but again, I wasn't there and don't know what the dynamics were.
And no, this is not the first time in the history of the world that this has happened. There have been cases I have read about in the papers of people coming and taking specific seats because of their "right" or something. Forced turfing out is very common on the Indian / Far Eastern carriers with politicians and celebrities!
I have contacted BA to complain, haven't received a response yet. I have also requested legal opinion (in the absence of which I shall not name the individual).
Wow. I log back in after returning from work and see many responses to my original post. And of course, as I haven't responded immediately, people think I'm either making stuff up, or hiding under a bridge somewhere. Strange.
Let's not get angry here and throw accusations at each other, this is a forum to share experiences!
In response to the fabrication point, which I find completely unprofessional and insulting, I only come on this site to detail my negative or controversial experiences with BA, in order to get people's views and stimulate discussion. There may be similarities, but seriously, who cares? I once experienced a rude pilot who was aggressive to another passenger. You may not have experienced that in 1,000 flights, but I did! Does that mean I'm BS'ing? Honestly, come on.
Although I have a Gold card, I am by no means an experienced flyer and like to get the opinions of others to things I have experienced. To say that everything I post is BS or a lie, doesn't really give a good impression. For every negative flight, I have had many, many great BA flights but I simply don't write about them.
Lesson learnt, not worth it posting things here. All I asked is whether a complaint, given the unusiual nature of the event, would be heard by BA. That's it. I don't know how this thread has moved from that to where it is now.
Anyhow, to address some of the points above, the cabin crew DID NOT turf dad out of his seat, they merely gently guided him to the other seat. Dad did make the point (as I mentioned above) that they were courteous throughout the whole flight. The CSM was indifferent, but maybe they were rushed off their feet - entirely plausible and reasonable with a full jumbo. But, I wasn't there, I don't know. My only issue was maybe they should have been a bit firmer with the other person, but again, I wasn't there and don't know what the dynamics were.
And no, this is not the first time in the history of the world that this has happened. There have been cases I have read about in the papers of people coming and taking specific seats because of their "right" or something. Forced turfing out is very common on the Indian / Far Eastern carriers with politicians and celebrities!
Mar 18, 2019, 4:09 am
#89
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,690
Lesson learnt, not worth it posting things here. All I asked is whether a complaint, given the unusiual nature of the event, would be heard by BA. That's it. I don't know how this thread has moved from that to where it is now.
Anyhow, to address some of the points above, the cabin crew DID NOT turf dad out of his seat, they merely gently guided him to the other seat. Dad did make the point (as I mentioned above) that they were courteous throughout the whole flight. The CSM was indifferent, but maybe they were rushed off their feet - entirely plausible and reasonable with a full jumbo. But, I wasn't there, I don't know. My only issue was maybe they should have been a bit firmer with the other person, but again, I wasn't there and don't know what the dynamics were.
You're saying that the CSM was indifferent. As far as I understand your father approached them after he took the new seat? What was the nature of the complaint? I am just not sure what you wanted for them to do if you're saying that the cabin crew did not do anything wrong.
Mar 18, 2019, 4:11 am
#90
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
My view, the behaviour of the other pax would on the face of it appear at fault here. No evidence that CC or CSM did anything wrong here. I wouldn’t complain to BA, whilst you may well get a handful of Avios out of such a complaint, the fault doesn’t appear to be BA and I would only ever (and even then rarely) complain when a company has IMHO had been at fault. If another pax was rude, discourteous or otherwise annoyed me, I would raise this with the pax at the time or through the CC but having apparently voluntarily moved (whether subsequently admitting to the CC this was under duress or not), I would accept my own failings and not let it ruin my flight.