Club Europe - unusual text message : Removal of middle seat block
Jul 26, 2019, 9:24 am
#31
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,020
They have done just that to MAD tonight. A 787-9 is on the BA464/465. (In addition to the 777 flight earlier.) They also had 2 777 rotations yesterday too.
Jul 26, 2019, 9:26 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA LTGold; LH Senator; HHGold; Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 1,370
Yes they could have chosen to fashion a widebody out of used napkins to pop to all the other destinations affected too.
Jul 26, 2019, 9:28 am
#34
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And this is where I hope passengers would be reasonable. If BA thought they'd get a huge bill for downgrade compensation, then they are likely to leave people behind safe in the knowledge there would be no compensation payable. Logically that would be the CE people, then they could open the whole flight as ET.
It could be cheaper to pay downgrade compensation than duty of care.
Jul 26, 2019, 9:30 am
#35
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And this is where I hope passengers would be reasonable. If BA thought they'd get a huge bill for downgrade compensation, then they are likely to leave people behind safe in the knowledge there would be no compensation payable. Logically that would be the CE people, then they could open the whole flight as ET.
Upthread, I did say that I think BA are right to do this as the priority should be to fly people asap, but it goes without saying that even though I do not think it is the reason they do it, the choice of 6 across will save BA a lot of money between densified aircrafts and saved duty of care. It would only be logical that they use this to provide a modicum of compensation to the passengers flying significantly less comfortably than normal.
Jul 26, 2019, 9:36 am
#38
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
I think BA have done absolutely the right thing here - such bizarre weather and with a 10 row CE cabin on certain routes why not take an extra 20 pax.
Personally think the compensation and remuneration is irrelevant. The airline have severely restricted capacity and are doing whatever they can to help stranded people. Good for them.
Personally think the compensation and remuneration is irrelevant. The airline have severely restricted capacity and are doing whatever they can to help stranded people. Good for them.
Jul 26, 2019, 9:36 am
#39
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
BA is doing the right move but should proactively offer compensation.
the club Europe seat is the same seat as economy anyway, might as well get used to economy plus (as in economy class with food or how economy used to be 10 years ago in BA)
the club Europe seat is the same seat as economy anyway, might as well get used to economy plus (as in economy class with food or how economy used to be 10 years ago in BA)
Jul 26, 2019, 9:46 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Nail on the head !
In my view, no criticism warranted for what is clearly a pragmatic decision, taken amidst rare circumstances.
It will be interesting to learn how things were handled onboard, in terms of catering and general service standards.
But more importantly - and this is where proper judgement of BA should, and will, be made - the real issue is what exactly management choose to do (if indeed anything ..... and how promptly) to bring some tangible substance to their words “we appreciate this is not what you expect when you travel with us”.
Jul 26, 2019, 9:50 am
#43
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
No compensation for a downgrade, but EC 261/2004 does provide for a refund of 30-75% of the base fare depending on Type 1-3 of the flight (connections may affect this). The two key features of CE are blocked middle seat and the soft product (food). If either or both of those go, I suspect that this is a downgrade.
That said, it all makes eminent sense. It is the best for the most. Whether it is "good" or "bad" for you depends on where you sit. In a nice aisle seat in CE, this is bad. In a plastic seat at some gate wishing you could see your children for supper, this is good.
That said, it all makes eminent sense. It is the best for the most. Whether it is "good" or "bad" for you depends on where you sit. In a nice aisle seat in CE, this is bad. In a plastic seat at some gate wishing you could see your children for supper, this is good.
Jul 26, 2019, 10:01 am
#44
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 108
Lets work some numbers; lets say 10 rows of CE, so 20 extra seats used. If they are all "delayed" CE passengers, that's around £3,000 of "revenue" (roughly) plus whatever they are saving on less "duty of care".
So they could use the £3K and share it around the original 40 CE pax, so £75 each to ease their extra confinement.
Revenue neutral, but BA would never even consider that....
So they could use the £3K and share it around the original 40 CE pax, so £75 each to ease their extra confinement.
Revenue neutral, but BA would never even consider that....
Jul 26, 2019, 10:11 am
#45
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Sixt Gold
Posts: 418
I think the decision is the right one, what's not right is the lack of proactive compensation. I am sure they could please a lot of travellers shelling off a few avios which come at a very low cost for BA...