BA114 last night 'Boarding First Last' and jump seat passengers...
I flew on the BA114 (JFK-LHR) last night in CW. Overall a good experience, with a very swept up crew in the CW cabin – for example, we were a little late to push back, but they used the time to take drink orders and also confirm meal requirements. Similarly in the morning, when I woke up to go the toilet at the 40 minute mark, the CC noticed I was up and not only sorted coffee quickly without my asking, but also folded and put my bedding away while I was in the loo – a small but nice touch.
Two points of mild interest. Firstly as we were boarding, I heard a panicked message came up from the ramp saying ‘BOARD FIRST LAST!’ as apparently we were boarding via the front door -unfortunately the gate staff had already sent Group 1 down, but it was good thinking of the CSD to minimise impact on F passengers, and also allow smooth boarding. I did hear some passengers filing down to economy going ‘is BA doing this to taunt us’ as they walked through the F and CW cabin though! Also one young man (teenager) didn’t have a seat and had to sit in the jump seat for take off and landing and hang around in the galley area. We heard the crew talking about this, and it seemed that he wasn’t a staff member on staff travel – I didn’t think you could overbook these flights as a passenger? Overall a very impressive experience, and in marked contrast to our outbound on AA where a technically better seat was let down by inedible gnocchi, and a cabin crew that simply didn’t care less about us as passengers, and shouted at me once when I asked if customs forms were going to be handed out (WATCH THE VIDEO SIR) – never flown AA long haul before, and not going to in future. No matter how good the seat may be, I want a human experience too and I thought the AA crew were just surly and rude. Good job BA! |
Originally Posted by jimlad48
(Post 31028520)
Also one young man (teenager) didn’t have a seat and had to sit in the jump seat for take off and landing and hang around in the galley area. We heard the crew talking about this, and it seemed that he wasn’t a staff member on staff travel – I didn’t think you could overbook these flights as a passenger?
[Actually one exception would be if he or someone in his party was boarded, and it turned out a seat was unusable or dangerous after pushing back from the gate]. |
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
(Post 31028536)
That would have to be either staff or a staff relation / staff ticketing. Since 9/11, and despite knowing a lot of BA captains, I've only once been able to cadge a standby jump seat, and that was in a set of odd circumstances from just NCL-LHR. Jump seats don't get allocated to general passengers, let alone Transatlantic.
[Actually one exception would be if he or someone in his party was boarded, and it turned out a seat was unusable or dangerous after pushing back from the gate]. (I've only jumpseated once and that was in an RAF Hercules in Afghanistan under very different circumstances :-) ) |
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
(Post 31028536)
That would have to be either staff or a staff relation / staff ticketing. Since 9/11, and despite knowing a lot of BA captains, I've only once been able to cadge a standby jump seat, and that was in a set of odd circumstances from just NCL-LHR. Jump seats don't get allocated to general passengers, let alone Transatlantic.
[Actually one exception would be if he or someone in his party was boarded, and it turned out a seat was unusable or dangerous after pushing back from the gate].
Originally Posted by jimlad48
(Post 31028547)
Thanks CWS - thats really helpful to know - we were sat close to the galley so could hear the crew talking about it, hence our curiosity. A great crew - I made sure I passed thanks onto both the person that looked after us and the CSD for a job well done!
(I've only jumpseated once and that was in an RAF Hercules in Afghanistan under very different circumstances :-) ) |
... never flown AA long haul before, and not going to in future. ... passengers filing down to economy going ‘is BA doing this to taunt us’ as they walked through the F and CW cabin though! I've only jumpseated once and that was in an RAF Hercules in Afghanistan under very different circumstances :) |
In the days when Muscat had a stopover in Abu Dhabi, the passengers leaving and arriving in Abu Dhabi walked through the F cabin to door 1L. Sat in 1A I heard many comments such as "One Day" and "How the other half live" and "Money cannot buy you happiness", which I liked. As Uncle T says: makes flying First a pleasure having the Y passengers drool.
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HarryHolden68 ... our only F, UVF-LGW, had the pleasure of a separate set of steps to Door 1L and the F cabin, leaving everyone else going to 2L. I resisted the temptation to stop at the top and wave, Presidentially, to the other pax walking to their steps. :)
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Originally Posted by T8191
(Post 31028632)
Off-topic, but that surprised me. Luck of the draw, I guess, but We have never had ‘bad’ crew with AA on either long-haul or Domestic (in J of course!).
Transcon on the other hand is a completely different kettle of fish. Every segment I have been on (JFK-LAX-JFK) has been a joy. The cabin crew demonstrate they love their jobs and are proud to serve paying passengers. I've never understood why there is such a vast difference in attitude. I assume it's something to do with pay and rations, but I might be wrong. |
Originally Posted by billinghamn
(Post 31028782)
I've never understood why there is such a vast difference in attitude. I assume it's something to do with pay and rations, but I might be wrong.
|
In my little experience, the chances to have an "uncaring" crew on AA are far more higher than on BA. That said, I only had a couple of "bad ones" on AA... but I still prefer to choose AA J instead of BA on TATL flights. I am really looking forward to the new BA seating, though.
|
hmmm ... interesting AA diversion!
Our l/h AA experiences have mainly been ex-DUB, to PHL or CLT. We’ve had wonderful FAs. A lady FA shaking everyone’s hands on departure, another with hugs and kiss on cheek, and an incredibly engaging and witty male. Domestic F ... still OK, and a couple VERY good. Perhaps we interact more effectively, as Leisure Elders? Do we have an aura? |
Originally Posted by billinghamn
(Post 31028782)
In my experience of flying AA transatlantic (LHR-JFK-LHR), I have never enjoyed a half decent crew. My experience is similar to the OP, where AA transatlantic cabin crew gave me the distinct impression they really couldn't give a stuff about passengers. It was almost that passengers were an annoyance that cabin crew needed to tolerate whilst the flight took the cabin crew back to the US. I have also heard crew raise their voices when passengers dare to ask them a question. Clearly there are going to be some good AA cabin crew on transatlantic routes, but so far I haven't come across any... :)
Transcon on the other hand is a completely different kettle of fish. Every segment I have been on (JFK-LAX-JFK) has been a joy. The cabin crew demonstrate they love their jobs and are proud to serve paying passengers. I've never understood why there is such a vast difference in attitude. I assume it's something to do with pay and rations, but I might be wrong. I think the reason I like BA is the crew - its the people who make the flight - if I fly these days I'm usually treating myself going to/from a nice holiday, and a great crew who pull out all the stops to make you feel human are a great way to start the holiday or finish it off. So, I'll happily put up with the CW seat for now as long as the crew remain awesome. :-) |
Originally Posted by T8191
(Post 31029201)
hmmm ... interesting AA diversion!
Our l/h AA experiences have mainly been ex-DUB, to PHL or CLT. We’ve had wonderful FAs. A lady FA shaking everyone’s hands on departure, another with hugs and kiss on cheek, and an incredibly engaging and witty male. Domestic F ... still OK, and a couple VERY good. Perhaps we interact more effectively, as Leisure Elders? Do we have an aura? |
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
(Post 31028536)
That would have to be either staff or a staff relation / staff ticketing. Since 9/11, and despite knowing a lot of BA captains, I've only once been able to cadge a standby jump seat, and that was in a set of odd circumstances from just NCL-LHR. Jump seats don't get allocated to general passengers, let alone Transatlantic.
[Actually one exception would be if he or someone in his party was boarded, and it turned out a seat was unusable or dangerous after pushing back from the gate]. |
I once sat in a jump seat in a BA cockpit for landing at Heathrow, ‘‘twas very exciting at the time. I was a 6 year old girl and the year was 1976. I’d been taken to the cockpit and was ‘forgotten’ about! |
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