Dispatches TV show on BA

As I'm in the States I have to download (Ahuummm don't ask) all the U.K. TV shows. Last night a program called Dispatches (Investigative News Show) I've seen from time to time, had a program on British Airways. OHHHH Did they let them have it!
I flew BA Once from the States to the UK back in the early 90's. I remember looking forward to my trip for months and was so let down. I couldn't understand. Hey this was BA! Well, the name did not live up to the performance. I vowed NEVER to fly it again.
After flying TWA, Delta, US, CO, I'm so glad I found Virgin. Not that I haven't had trouble from time to time with VA, but I've found if I can't fly VA I'll do Delta and that's it!
Even in the 90's I found BA to be pompous not giving a Rats-Arse and that translated to everyone I came in contact with. I do have to say I've been lucky to never have had lost baggage only with US Air. I do worry with all the Issues I've read about staffing at VA that everyone will become like BA. Once you see PAX as a commodity to be moved back and forth it's over. I guess what I'm ranting about is 'If you work for VA' Keep up the good work! Remember, to us Virgin is special and a part of who we are. Sort of like our favorite Sports team! Please don't ever let us down!
I just felt like giving a pat-on-the-back after watching BA with it's thump up it's............[y]

[Scrooge]

As this has more to do with BA than VS I have moved this over to the BA forum.

I have not seen the program, so am replying from second hand knowledge, but from what I heard it is pretty much a hatchet job, but as I said I have not seen the program so cannot really comment on it fully.

I missed it which I am dissapointed about. I love it when people stick the knife into BA!

Hi Erii,

Dispatches is actually quite a good show, glad you enjoyed it. I missed that one, but I wish I'd seen it, as I too am soooo not a BA fan.
I flew with them a numbers of times in the late 90's, appalling service and the staff, jeez, clearly they don't get paid and have to work as penance or something.[n]

I remember one flight out to JFK, the former Mr Kittymins managed to throw a G&T all down himself and was soaked, well he was non too pleased and asked for assistance. It was like he had asked one of the CC to strip him naked and feed him grapes! They were very rude and looked at him like he was some binge drinker who couldn't hold his drink! That was just the start of a horrid flight, food awful, attitude awful, everything just awful.
Anyway I also vowed never to take a BA flight again, they are just not up to scratch and seem to think that can live on their reputation of 20 odd years ago. Erm no, requires constant attention.

[mitchja]

I did watch the program, but it could have been about any airline really.

All airlines will and do try their hardest to wriggle out of the EC 261-2004 passenger compensation guidelines. Until these guidelines are re-worded and enforced, nothing is going to change.

All airlines cancel flights, often at quite short notice.

All airlines loose and damage bags. OK though some more than others (I was however quite surprised when the program claimed BA loose 1 in 40 bags [:0])

All airlines send out initial boiler plate responses to complaints which often needs throwing back at the airline. VS are certainly no better than BA for this.

I deemed never to fly BA long-haul again after a crappy Y flight back from SIN many years ago. I do use them for domestic flights from time to time but BMI are usually cheaper than BA on the MAN>LHR route anyway.

I once had a 3 hour delay on BMI domestic flight once which meant I nearly missed a VS flight departing LHR. After that I made the decision that if I'm on a flight deprting LHR before midday, I now fly down from MAN the day before.

Pax simply have to vote with their feet but also have to try and minimise any potential problems themselves that could occur when flying multiple airlines due to delayed/cancelled flight legs. Dont risk short connection times.

Regards

Originally posted by mitchja
I did watch the program, but it could have been about any airline really.

All airlines will and do try their hardest to wriggle out of the EC 261-2004 passenger compensation guidelines. Until these guidelines are re-worded and enforced, nothing is going to change.

All airlines cancel flights, often at quite short notice.

All airlines loose and damage bags. OK though some more than others (I was however quite surprised when the program claimed BA loose 1 in 40 bags [:0])

All airlines send out initial boiler plate responses to complaints which often needs throwing back at the airline. VS are certainly no better than BA for this.



Regards

Very true Mitchja raised a good point, it could have been any airline the programme was about, it did seem a bit harsh putting the knife in about every last thing, but would VS have managed to open T5 any better if they were as big as BA (perhaps not i think).

BA have got some things wrong everyone would agree on that, but there are still many happy customers out there like me who have never had a problem with the service.

For me, one thing which always rates BA very highly is the more mature CC which i always find very proffesional and encouraging, but in the instance of VS only yesterday reported on this site, CC on a flight back from JFK showed up once again that CC service for this flight to be shocking, congregating and ignoring PAX in UC at the bar to be ever common a problem, which ruined again the experience of a lifetime for the newlyweds in the thread.
The onboard experience is one of being a little less stuffy with virgin, but it seems to go too far too often.

cheers
alex

[Pete]

I saw the programme and did get the impression one of the producers had had a crap flight on BA and decided to put the boot in. With T5, their baggage performance and the sheer number of cancelled flights this year, BA weren't exactly light on giving them ammo - but some of the additional dressing - as it's been said - could have applied to any airline.