Exceptional service to crew’s friends, but not GGL passengers, in Y
Feb 12, 2023, 7:30 am
#62
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: Varies
Posts: 1,298
Having taken a few UK economy domestic flights in recent months, most were rather uneventful. My travel companion and I (both GGL) managed always to pre-book window and aisle exit row seats. The flights were functional and did the job of getting us to our destination as expected.
But we noticed the final middle seat at the exit rows occasionally was given to someone that at least one of the crew knew (likely a friend or colleague, from what we could tell from the camaraderie). The flights were mostly full.
When this happened, we also noticed that each time, a member of crew would come and offer that person a drink and snack not normally served in economy, and completely ignored us who had sandwiched the friend (we just got the usual economy staple of a bag of crisp and a bottle of water). It’s not something that we’re bothered about - after all it’s a short domestic flight, and we’re given what we’d expect according to the class of service that we’d paid for.
But it got us wondering after it’s happened a few times - is it acceptable protocol to prioritise the giving of exceptional service for a crew’s “friend” onboard (over and above the provisions of the prescribed class) instead of high status paying customers?
But we noticed the final middle seat at the exit rows occasionally was given to someone that at least one of the crew knew (likely a friend or colleague, from what we could tell from the camaraderie). The flights were mostly full.
When this happened, we also noticed that each time, a member of crew would come and offer that person a drink and snack not normally served in economy, and completely ignored us who had sandwiched the friend (we just got the usual economy staple of a bag of crisp and a bottle of water). It’s not something that we’re bothered about - after all it’s a short domestic flight, and we’re given what we’d expect according to the class of service that we’d paid for.
But it got us wondering after it’s happened a few times - is it acceptable protocol to prioritise the giving of exceptional service for a crew’s “friend” onboard (over and above the provisions of the prescribed class) instead of high status paying customers?
It's about fairness. When we see others being given a much better experience than ourselves it rankles. If the crew's friends had been treated the same as the rest of the passengers, or EVERYONE had been treated like rockstars, it would have been fine. As it is, the crew made most of their passengers feel like lowly beings in comparison. That's not fair.
I remember queuing for check-in at LCY for the Babybus and a passenger behind us was spotted by a BA check-in agent. She opened a desk especially for him, brought him forward, and proceeded to flirt and make a big fuss of him, while those of us still queuing were made to feel like spare parts. Given that it was a special flight for us I felt deflated. So, yes, we got the normal service - nothing wrong with that technically - but we definitely FELT like second-class citizens.
Yet again I see people on FlyerTalk trying to put OPs down. That's not fair either. I understand totally why this event may have felt unfair. If the crew are going to make arbitrary decisions over who gets special treatment and who doesn't, they ARE going to piss off the remaining passengers. It's basic psychology.
Last edited by ttama; Feb 12, 2023 at 7:36 am
Feb 12, 2023, 7:43 am
#63
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Naples, FL
Posts: 166
I have witnessed this on a number of occasions. When a member of the crew fawns over people who have been unofficially upgraded it just gives a bad impression, particularly when that person gives you offhand service during the flight.
Feb 12, 2023, 7:50 am
#64
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Tenerife
Programs: BA Gold, BA AMEX PP, Amex Platinum
Posts: 434
On the flip side, of the last 4 sectors Mrs Geek and I have done in Y, the middle seat has been free, and on 3 of them the service for GCHs has been above expectations. 🔥🔥🔥
Feb 12, 2023, 9:19 am
#66
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: Varies
Posts: 1,298
Feb 12, 2023, 10:32 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,543
Feb 12, 2023, 11:27 am
#69
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 349
This reminds me of that capuchin monkey experiment with grapes and cucumber https://www.newyorker.com/science/ma...learn-fairness
It's about fairness. When we see others being given a much better experience than ourselves it rankles. If the crew's friends had been treated the same as the rest of the passengers, or EVERYONE had been treated like rockstars, it would have been fine. As it is, the crew made most of their passengers feel like lowly beings in comparison. That's not fair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xot4z1CKFMo
I remember queuing for check-in at LCY for the Babybus and a passenger behind us was spotted by a BA check-in agent. She opened a desk especially for him, brought him forward, and proceeded to flirt and make a big fuss of him, while those of us still queuing were made to feel like spare parts. Given that it was a special flight for us I felt deflated. So, yes, we got the normal service - nothing wrong with that technically - but we definitely FELT like second-class citizens.
Yet again I see people on FlyerTalk trying to put OPs down. That's not fair either. I understand totally why this event may have felt unfair. If the crew are going to make arbitrary decisions over who gets special treatment and who doesn't, they ARE going to piss off the remaining passengers. It's basic psychology.
It's about fairness. When we see others being given a much better experience than ourselves it rankles. If the crew's friends had been treated the same as the rest of the passengers, or EVERYONE had been treated like rockstars, it would have been fine. As it is, the crew made most of their passengers feel like lowly beings in comparison. That's not fair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xot4z1CKFMo
I remember queuing for check-in at LCY for the Babybus and a passenger behind us was spotted by a BA check-in agent. She opened a desk especially for him, brought him forward, and proceeded to flirt and make a big fuss of him, while those of us still queuing were made to feel like spare parts. Given that it was a special flight for us I felt deflated. So, yes, we got the normal service - nothing wrong with that technically - but we definitely FELT like second-class citizens.
Yet again I see people on FlyerTalk trying to put OPs down. That's not fair either. I understand totally why this event may have felt unfair. If the crew are going to make arbitrary decisions over who gets special treatment and who doesn't, they ARE going to piss off the remaining passengers. It's basic psychology.
To compare FTERS to monkeys and back this up with “basic psychology” is, quite frankly, insulting. We are not children or adolescents, which is the maximum brain age of most monkeys. Having said that, there is an element of society who come under the bracket of, @ WHERE’S MINE.
Before you ask, I have the necessary qualifications to support my stance.
Why can’t we just encourage the OP, and others who may feel so abused, to consider there may be circumstances surrounding this special treatment? Try speaking to the individual even the CC as they are delivering such service. You may learn something. And, then, if you don’t like what you’ve learned, please, please, come back and scream 😱 All I’m saying is, when we make assumptions without the facts, we just make idiots out of ourselves.
Done!
Feb 12, 2023, 2:09 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: BA (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 1,256
OP and their partner engaged in the somewhat tacky practice of keeping their window and aisle seats when someone showed up for the middle and was no doubt made to feel like a gooseberry in consequence. That may be one reason why sympathy here is muted.
Feb 12, 2023, 2:16 pm
#73
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Silver, VS Silver
Posts: 783
When I travel with Mr bd95 (blue), I book him to the window and me (silver) to the middle. Mostly the aisle stays blocked due to TS and then we spread out after the door has closed.