Appalling state of Ex-BMI fleet
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 259
Appalling state of Ex-BMI fleet
Flew on an ex-BMI A320 to Gibraltar this week and the seats were falling apart. Many were broken and couldn't stay upright.
Commenting on this to crew when they requested the seats be put back upright for takeoff and landing (many being unaware they had inadvertently reclined them) to simply be told these are 'old birds'...
Losing faith in BA's complaints process with submissions from a month ago receiving no reply.
Commenting on this to crew when they requested the seats be put back upright for takeoff and landing (many being unaware they had inadvertently reclined them) to simply be told these are 'old birds'...
Losing faith in BA's complaints process with submissions from a month ago receiving no reply.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: BA SIL, WN A, UA SIL, Marriott TIT (LT), Hilton DIA
Posts: 1,969
#4
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,034
Which aircraft was this ? One of the ex-BMI A320s has just been sent for scrap. Are some of these frames on a minimum maintenance regime pending imminent retirement ?
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,266
I get that, some seats could be out of service. OP said “seats falling apart” OK not comp, but OP mentioned complaints process
#6
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,985
I've had a couple of ex BMI 319's on a couple of T3 flights (not sure if they rotate through T5 as well) and they did look a bit tired, and I noticed a couple of pax struggling with the seats. In one case it seemed that the seat would not go fully upright, and the other pax was trying to explain to the person behind. I also heard the in flight lead making some comment about it being ex BMI and a "rogue" plane- though I did not hear the comment that prompted it. On the plus side there are still middle seat consoles for placing drinks, which I find to be a considerable advantage.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,570
(Although I guess part of the reason it's not that common on here is because very few of us expect any positive change right now )
Last edited by ratechaser; Jul 4, 2023 at 8:51 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Exec Club Gold, *G, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 1,020
the issue with these aircraft has also been spares. Different seats to the rest of the fleet, different curtain dividers, tray tables etc. always had the feeling that the interiors are very much nursed along.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,640
I had one of these permanently reclined seats a couple of months ago. Meant to complain but never got around to it.
Surely when they are in the B, C, D or F seats they are impeding evacuation from other seats? Am
always surprised this isn’t seen as more of issue, given the lengths cabin crew go to to secure the cabin. Maybe it’s ok on these aircraft because the pitch is still a bit above the bare minimum.
Surely when they are in the B, C, D or F seats they are impeding evacuation from other seats? Am
always surprised this isn’t seen as more of issue, given the lengths cabin crew go to to secure the cabin. Maybe it’s ok on these aircraft because the pitch is still a bit above the bare minimum.
Last edited by lcylocal; Jul 4, 2023 at 12:22 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 259
Either BA isn't aware...or they are aware and hoping nobody notices. Either way, BA needs telling.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 4,029
I was on G-VIIE in Jan this year, panels fell off 1A within minutes of me taking my seat like I was sat in a clown car. Crew were absolutely aghast it had been allowed to stay in service - so yeah, I can very much relate to seats falling apart
#13
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: London (née Melbourne)
Programs: Qantas Platinum (Oneworld Emerald)
Posts: 988
I was on one of these recently, inner window pane slightly dislodged from the frame, seat pockets broken and safety card falling out when brushed past, coat hooks broken off...
A lot of large company's complaints processes these days seem more interested in offering you compensation to quickly "resolve" the complaint, instead of properly investigating it.
I had a frustrating experience with a bank recently, I made a complaint because I wanted to advise them of a broken process. At first they even tried to dismiss my complaint entirely with some scripted nonsense like "I'm unable to agree to your complaint" but when I said that's not acceptable she quickly offered a £200 "goodwill gesture" if I could confirm I accept that resolves my complaint. Foolishly I took the money, I should have rejected it and said I just want my complaint investigated.
I had a frustrating experience with a bank recently, I made a complaint because I wanted to advise them of a broken process. At first they even tried to dismiss my complaint entirely with some scripted nonsense like "I'm unable to agree to your complaint" but when I said that's not acceptable she quickly offered a £200 "goodwill gesture" if I could confirm I accept that resolves my complaint. Foolishly I took the money, I should have rejected it and said I just want my complaint investigated.
#14
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,034
MIDO was one of the 3 mid-haul configured planes (the so-called ‘Moscow’ configuration) which had 5 rows of 2+2 armchair seats at the front of the cabin. These were removed in the Lufthansa-ownership era (2011ish ?) and replaced with Lufthansa-style shorthaul seats.
Rather ironic that BA’s failing seats are the doings of a major competitor. German engineering, eh ?
Rather ironic that BA’s failing seats are the doings of a major competitor. German engineering, eh ?
#15
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: A3*G,BA Silver
Posts: 2,012
MIDO was one of the 3 mid-haul configured planes (the so-called ‘Moscow’ configuration) which had 5 rows of 2+2 armchair seats at the front of the cabin. These were removed in the Lufthansa-ownership era (2011ish ?) and replaced with Lufthansa-style shorthaul seats.
Rather ironic that BA’s failing seats are the doings of a major competitor. German engineering, eh ?
Rather ironic that BA’s failing seats are the doings of a major competitor. German engineering, eh ?