Save BA Scotland
Oct 31, 2008, 6:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Edinburgh UK
Programs: BA Silver, HHonours Gold, Mucci of Pucci, Oyster Card, Nectar Card, Father's Day Card
Posts: 9,372
Save BA Scotland
On the flight up from LHR to EDI this morning the crew were talking to card holders about the plans to close the Glasgow crew base (and scrap the first Shuttle from GLA and possible EDI).
They have set up a website which is worth a look.
www.savebascotland.co.uk
They have set up a website which is worth a look.
www.savebascotland.co.uk
Oct 31, 2008, 9:47 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 57
Jim Sheridan MP for Paisley had a go at WW about this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/7699756.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/7699756.stm
Oct 31, 2008, 3:25 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Lewes
Programs: HiltonH. Gold Starwood Gold BA BLUES! Mucci.
Posts: 4,833
Very short sighted of BA to do this. With the sale of BMI to LH, I would suggest that LH use BMI's slots to service other star partners and the BMI regional routes take a hammering... If BA remove the first morning shuttles, they will lose those (generally full fare) passengers to squeezy jet or similar.
Come on BA, Get another financial analyst on this.....
Come on BA, Get another financial analyst on this.....
Oct 31, 2008, 3:48 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London and Glasgow, UK
Programs: BA (Silver), UA, Virgin FC Silver, Microsoft Word, blah blah
Posts: 159
They seem to be trying to get round it (the abandonment of the early morning shuttles, which IME are nearly always crammed) by adding an additional LCY service (from GLA at least). Good for City commuters, not so good for long haul connectors.
It just seems unbelievably shortsighted to run down BA's presence in Scotland. I'm sure the bean counters will have run all their models but there's a commercial and cultural value to having staff from all the nations and regions of the UK, and maintaining a strong presence in Scotland is part of that. PLus just leaving the rest of the UK's avaiation market open to even more competition from the likes of EZY, KLM, etc etc. Such a shame because the Scottish crews are decent people and deserve a decent deal. More Londoncentric arrogance (and I speak as a Londoner who's relocated to Scotland!). There is serious brand damage being done here, even if it makes commercial sense from one point of view. I know all the airlines are fighting for their lives but to put all the eggs in the heathrow basket just seems really daft to me.
It just seems unbelievably shortsighted to run down BA's presence in Scotland. I'm sure the bean counters will have run all their models but there's a commercial and cultural value to having staff from all the nations and regions of the UK, and maintaining a strong presence in Scotland is part of that. PLus just leaving the rest of the UK's avaiation market open to even more competition from the likes of EZY, KLM, etc etc. Such a shame because the Scottish crews are decent people and deserve a decent deal. More Londoncentric arrogance (and I speak as a Londoner who's relocated to Scotland!). There is serious brand damage being done here, even if it makes commercial sense from one point of view. I know all the airlines are fighting for their lives but to put all the eggs in the heathrow basket just seems really daft to me.
Oct 31, 2008, 3:55 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London and Glasgow, UK
Programs: BA (Silver), UA, Virgin FC Silver, Microsoft Word, blah blah
Posts: 159
The savebascotland site is well worth a look. Nice to see all those familiar faces! The more I think about this the angrier I become. It was bad enough to see all the ground staff get chopped last year but this is just horrible. Another nail in the coffin of the Scottish economy.
I signed the petition online and would urge any other FTers who feel like me to do the same. As a (minnow) shareholder I'll also be writing to WW. I'm not convinced it'll make any difference but the worst of it is that a lot of the Glasgow based staff, mainly it seems women with families, will be required to relocate to London if they're not to lose their jobs. That just seems unreasonable. And they're going to do it by January...
I signed the petition online and would urge any other FTers who feel like me to do the same. As a (minnow) shareholder I'll also be writing to WW. I'm not convinced it'll make any difference but the worst of it is that a lot of the Glasgow based staff, mainly it seems women with families, will be required to relocate to London if they're not to lose their jobs. That just seems unreasonable. And they're going to do it by January...
Oct 31, 2008, 9:17 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
Sadly you are of course right.
BA can do what they want basically and as it concerns cuts in the regions, unions aren't all that interested either.
Just another example of how much the regions have to rely on foreign airlines to provide decent routes/schedules.
KLM must be rubbing their hands with this news.......again.
Nov 1, 2008, 3:26 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 182
I agree, its scandalous. With the removal of the 0605 flight from GLA to LHR, its now extremely difficult to get to central London for an 0815/0830 meeting with any certainty.
I'll just use the sleeper from now on.
I don't understand how this move can save them money when the 0600 GLA-LGW and the 0605 GLA-LHR were packed every morning
I'll just use the sleeper from now on.
I don't understand how this move can save them money when the 0600 GLA-LGW and the 0605 GLA-LHR were packed every morning
Nov 1, 2008, 4:10 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Glasgow-ish, UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 297
Going a little OT how does British Airways fit in with The First Minister's (pictured on the savebascotland website) vision of an independent Scotland that does not want anything to do with the South East of England? Why bother with flights to it?
FWIW - I have also signed the petition. I use the BRS - GLA route regularly, and stuck with the Easy option only since BA Connect's demise.
FWIW - I have also signed the petition. I use the BRS - GLA route regularly, and stuck with the Easy option only since BA Connect's demise.
Nov 1, 2008, 5:06 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
SaveBAScotland.co.uk website overload.
Due to the overwhelming response from supporters signing the online petition we experienced a technical issue from 20.00 GMT to 0855 today 1st November which may have caused the loss of some of the signatures submitted during this time.
If you accessed the petition during these hours we would be very grateful if you would resubmit your signature.
For the sake of accuracy we will delete any duplicate signatures.
Thnak you for your patience and support.
If you accessed the petition during these hours we would be very grateful if you would resubmit your signature.
For the sake of accuracy we will delete any duplicate signatures.
Thnak you for your patience and support.
Nov 1, 2008, 10:50 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser
Posts: 7,950
Is that the fragrant Mrs Tommy Sheridan (one from right) I see standing in that picture next to the First Minister? I think we should be told.
Without reopening 301 years of discussion, I think the First Minister would say that not wanting to be governed by south-east England is not the same as not wanting to do business with it 