Even CCR staff have given up on BA
Jul 1, 2022, 10:55 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MIA, VIE and DPS
Programs: DL Plat 1MM, AA EXP 3MM, SQ Krisflyer Gold, UA Silver, Marriott LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 1,132
Well done you for that act of kindness.
Old ladies leaving the CCR in tears and having to be looked after by fellow passengers is a million miles from those cheesy, self-congratulatory short stories on BA TV, but as you say, there are still individual staff members with enough personal pride to keep themselves going despite the leadership shambles.
Old ladies leaving the CCR in tears and having to be looked after by fellow passengers is a million miles from those cheesy, self-congratulatory short stories on BA TV, but as you say, there are still individual staff members with enough personal pride to keep themselves going despite the leadership shambles.
Jul 1, 2022, 10:59 am
#32
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL
Posts: 843
I recently volunteered to walk an elderly lady in tears from the CCR to A17 (and then all the way to the Sofitel) - CCR staff apologized that they couldn't organize hotel etc and that only A17 could do it and that they have no staff to get that lady a hotel and help her get out of the airport. And while talking about staff. I had dinner in the CCR that evening (like 9pm ish) and had the same waiter for breakfast there next morning... He did tell me he had volunteered for extra shifts after I asked. Still - it's a sad state of affairs there
Jul 1, 2022, 11:43 am
#33
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MIA, VIE and DPS
Programs: DL Plat 1MM, AA EXP 3MM, SQ Krisflyer Gold, UA Silver, Marriott LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 1,132
Jul 1, 2022, 1:27 pm
#34
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,955
I have a feeling a17 is only open when you have multiple cancellations- i.e. normally there is an hourly escorted service but you are better off using the transit if you want to leave at your own leisure.
Jul 1, 2022, 2:10 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,061
It’s not always A17, but yes they do open a specific channel when there’s disruption. Unless it’s changed recently they also usually scan you out, so they know who has left the terminal, and can tell you where best to go for rebooking/vouchers/hotels/etc.
Jul 1, 2022, 3:16 pm
#36
fomerly known as LandingGear (not Landing Gear)
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 833
Utter disaster last couple of days. I had been contemplating whether to do a mileage run as I need three flights to get to Gold for next year. Have enough TP. Now seriously wondering if it is even worth it, given where BA is headed. All I need is a Silver and perhaps BA will grant it as I have way more TP than needed.
Jul 1, 2022, 6:36 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,378
Utter disaster last couple of days. I had been contemplating whether to do a mileage run as I need three flights to get to Gold for next year. Have enough TP. Now seriously wondering if it is even worth it, given where BA is headed. All I need is a Silver and perhaps BA will grant it as I have way more TP than needed.
Don’t bank on it. Someone I know has newrly 1000 TP (most.y QR and AA) and one BA eligible flight and they won’t give them Silver.
despite having several cancelled BA flights.
Jul 1, 2022, 9:59 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 41
Only advice would be to get to SFO early (like 3hrs) in case of problems. Re the SFO F lounge annex, I have no idea if it was enhanced catering but it was perfectly OK. No other F passengers in there as not offered by BA uniformed entry person upstairs and the entrance obviously deliberately obstructed by a big floor-standing advert board - we were let in by a helpful (non-BA) catering person after enquiring whether standing room only was the F product.
The flight itself was fine & almost on time, despite recent long delays. Usual wait for stand guidance to be switched on at LHR and a clearly exasperated flight deck.
To cap it all, just received following in reply to my email complaint to YouFirst (which had absolutely nothing to do with spas):
"Thank you for contacting British Airways You First.
Due to these unprecedented circumstances, the Elemis Travel Spas at London Heathrow and JFK Terminal 7 have been closed.
We apologise most sincerely for any inconvenience this causes you."
......?
The flight itself was fine & almost on time, despite recent long delays. Usual wait for stand guidance to be switched on at LHR and a clearly exasperated flight deck.
To cap it all, just received following in reply to my email complaint to YouFirst (which had absolutely nothing to do with spas):
"Thank you for contacting British Airways You First.
Due to these unprecedented circumstances, the Elemis Travel Spas at London Heathrow and JFK Terminal 7 have been closed.
We apologise most sincerely for any inconvenience this causes you."
......?
Jul 1, 2022, 10:15 pm
#39
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MIA, VIE and DPS
Programs: DL Plat 1MM, AA EXP 3MM, SQ Krisflyer Gold, UA Silver, Marriott LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 1,132
Jul 2, 2022, 12:12 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Cheshire
Programs: BA, Accor, Hilton, ITA
Posts: 376
1.8m Avios is £9000 in Nectar points to spend!
Jul 2, 2022, 9:38 am
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: RTW
Posts: 677
Update
As reported here earlier, I was still a little concerned that my future itinerary remained live in MMB, so cancelled twice more (with two more acknowledgements) and finally, as advised by c-w-s, I gritted my teeth and called YouFirst this morning.
The YF lady couldn't find the quoted incident reference sent by YF on 30th, asked where I was and seemed surprised that I hadn't teleported to Switzerland (I wish) and upon reiteration of my cancellation request, advised that they couldn't confirm that I'll get anything back on a discounted but aptly named F/A fare if I wanted to cancel mid trip. I remarked several times upon the logical difficulty of continuing my journey from somewhere that I'd never arrived, but this point seemed to be lost. They said they'd investigate and could I call them again tomorrow as the lady at YF was finishing at 4.30. (No, madam - you will call me, please!)
It's gone 4.30 and I'm still waiting, but in the meantime I'm now amazed to see that my status in MMB for the canx'd BA718/30th now shows as "Flown" and I'm being encouraged to check-in at ZRH from tomorrow afternoon.
I'm not usually one to lose my cool in adversity but there comes a point.....
All documented & screen-shot but I'm nearing the end of my jet-lagged Aussie tether so advice welcome.
As reported here earlier, I was still a little concerned that my future itinerary remained live in MMB, so cancelled twice more (with two more acknowledgements) and finally, as advised by c-w-s, I gritted my teeth and called YouFirst this morning.
The YF lady couldn't find the quoted incident reference sent by YF on 30th, asked where I was and seemed surprised that I hadn't teleported to Switzerland (I wish) and upon reiteration of my cancellation request, advised that they couldn't confirm that I'll get anything back on a discounted but aptly named F/A fare if I wanted to cancel mid trip. I remarked several times upon the logical difficulty of continuing my journey from somewhere that I'd never arrived, but this point seemed to be lost. They said they'd investigate and could I call them again tomorrow as the lady at YF was finishing at 4.30. (No, madam - you will call me, please!)
It's gone 4.30 and I'm still waiting, but in the meantime I'm now amazed to see that my status in MMB for the canx'd BA718/30th now shows as "Flown" and I'm being encouraged to check-in at ZRH from tomorrow afternoon.
I'm not usually one to lose my cool in adversity but there comes a point.....
All documented & screen-shot but I'm nearing the end of my jet-lagged Aussie tether so advice welcome.
Last edited by Bullswood; Jul 2, 2022 at 11:34 am
Jul 2, 2022, 10:00 am
#42
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,281
Jul 2, 2022, 10:05 am
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: RTW
Posts: 677
Yes, I suppose so, though it seems we're currently on course to be classed as no shows ZRH/SFO on 4th so I'd rather remove that unnecessary complication before the bun fight over compensation.
Last edited by Bullswood; Jul 2, 2022 at 10:53 am
Jul 2, 2022, 11:00 am
#44
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK (currently)
Programs: BA Gold (and many other greater and lesser distinctions)
Posts: 7,208
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/members/ba-refund-helper.html
Jul 2, 2022, 11:01 am
#45
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,801
You sent it a clear instruction (I presume) and BA have registered it even if the YF lady couldn't find it. It's dated before your return to the USA. So if BA no-show it, then ultimately it's BA's problem not yours, other than you will presumably benefit from 40 TPs and a few Avios when the refund is calculated. I can see that needing the back office to do the calculation. It was clearly beyond the skills of the person you were dealing with, and I suspect the ticket was in a mess by now, hence someone else will need to look at it. But having made the declsion you are ok, BA's own conditions of carriage allow a refund after 5 hours of delay so it's not even controversial.