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BA can just be so lame...
I rarely read or post here anymore, just too much on, but after LHR-MEX on Monday I just feel I have to.
The flight was very, very lightly-loaded. Two of us in the back 787 J cabin and perhaps four in the front cabin. I saw two or three people in first. WT+ was basically empty and half the seats were open in Y. You would have thought this would have resulted in excellent service. On many similar BA flights it has, but not this week. The two working our side - the only side - of the CW cabin were totally disengaged. I have never had to ring the call bell so often on any flight I can remember. Not only to get drinks top-ups but also to get my plates cleared away etc. Just pathetic. The CSD was pleasant enough and even brought me the new headphones from F, which was a nice touch. I had already tried them in F to LAX the week before but as I had lost the adaptor cable for my Bose Bluetooth headset I appreciated this over the shockingly bad CW headsets. Before we landed I expressed my honest assessment of the flight to the CSD and she was mortified. Sorry, but the comparison with airlines such as QR on flights such as these was just shocking. This, by the way, is fairly typical. When the cabin is very busy I feel for the crew, or if I just want to sleep I don't really care that much about the service. But on this long day flight the sheer laziness was so obvious that I felt compelled to post about it here. |
Yeah that’s not on. Particularly for that load of pax. Definitely did the right thing to feed it back. Crew can make a massive difference to sugar coat a pretty mediocre business class product. When it’s as poor as it was for you, it really goes to highlight it’s shortcomings in my opinion |
@ HighLife - obviously far from ideal, and not remotely the sort of service level one would hope to experience in return for a J class fare. Just imagine if this had been intended by some pax as ‘a first time travelling in business class’ treat. However, I sense (?) from your underlying tone (and also your comparative reference to QR) that it did not really come as much of a surprise to you. I guess the reality is that, for as long as (certain) crew members can continue to get away with just doing the very basics, then this sort of thing will continue to be a feature from time to time. |
You are correct. It wasn't a surprise... sadly.
I had to fly to Noumea recently and because I really couldn't face BA to Sydney I chose an LH / SQ itinerary in J via Munich and Singapore, returning via Vancouver. The service and cabins were so good. It was refreshing. I still fly BA J over AF J for the flat bed, but I now choose AF First over BA F. |
The CSM/CSD sets the tone. Clearly, they had set the wrong tone.
Some crew, and it is difficult to assign percentages, want to do a brilliant job every time. The job excites them. Others just want to do the minimum. |
I notice that crew seem to become very complacent and take their eye off the ball when the loads are light. Certainly not an excuse and definitely not acceptable but it just seems to happen for some reason. Glad you fed back to the CSD sorry that your experience was poor. |
Originally Posted by HighLife
(Post 31010544)
You are correct.
.............. I still fly BA J over AF J for the flat bed, but I now choose AF First over BA F. You are fortunate to use AF F regularly. I have yet to experience it myself (though it’s firmly on my radar !). I get the impression it’s very much ‘The Gold Standard’ in terms of both ground + inflight product. |
Originally Posted by Ancient Observer
(Post 31010565)
The CSM/CSD sets the tone. Clearly, they had set the wrong tone.
Some crew, and it is difficult to assign percentages, want to do a brilliant job every time. The job excites them. Others just want to do the minimum. I can tell because they don't even stop by to say hello for 30 seconds of a 10 hour flight, and I know for a fact that as a frequent flyer etc I figure in the 'notable passenger' list in the pre-flight briefing - or perhaps not all CSDs even bother with this? Would be interesting to hear from CIHY on this one. But more often than not it's down to individual crew members who are just not up to the job. Simple as that. I get the impression that no amount of motivational 'team talk' would get through to them, and instead I can imagine them rolling their eyes from beginning to end. This is the feeling I got from this week's sector I reviewed above, because the CSD on my flight was a good one. |
Originally Posted by subject2load
(Post 31010580)
I get the impression it’s very much ‘The Gold Standard’ in terms of both ground + inflight product. and perhaps this is the reason why. |
@ HighLife - true, on the specific issue of comparative F prices. Although .... the basic failings highlighted in your J flight report have of course little - if anything - to do with costs. |
Well my view is that it is completely unacceptable and I am really sorry you had to suffer this poor service. I am surprised that the CSD didn’t notice this as they are in charge of the CW cabin, I certainly would have and I am glad that you feed this back. |
Agree with CIHY ... a sad performance from an un-stressed crew.
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Originally Posted by Can I help you
(Post 31010729)
Well my view is that it is completely unacceptable and I am really sorry you had to suffer this poor service. I am surprised that the CSD didn’t notice this as they are in charge of the CW cabin, I certainly would have and I am glad that you feed this back. |
And another thing, our Mexico City based cabin crew in my opinion are some of the best crew that we have, very disappointing! |
Originally Posted by Can I help you
(Post 31010814)
And another thing, our Mexico City based cabin crew in my opinion are some of the best crew that we have, very disappointing! |
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