V-Flyer

Well I now know why I avoid British Airways when flying long haul.

Having twisted my ankle and on crutches I arrived at T5 where I was due to have some special assistance waiting for me to help me get my bags to check in and help me through to the club lounge. Safe to say after phoning to confirm times, the said person was no where to be found and no help around to get things underway. Was this a sign of things to come?.... well yes.

Entering to the Club World zone and clearly struggling I was eventually helped by a BA greeter - who told me off for not asking for assitance. When correcting him, I was told I must have clearly got out of my car in the wrong area.... ermmm no.

Check in was brief, and the pleasant lady checking me in told me not to bother with the scissor lift and just to get on the first coach - I looked at her rather surprised that we werent using a fully operational gate - and got the I am too look back followed by we don't have anyone to help you to the lounge for another hour - will you be ok? Not really much choice there eh?

Then into the terraces, where yet more unhelpful staff did their very best to ignore you and see you as an inconvenience - a complete contrast from the VA lounge and I was longing to be in the clubhouse.

Arrived at the gate ready for pre-boarding which was supposed to be a separate bus but ended up being rammed with a whole mix of PAX and chaos ensued.

I was in the bubble so more stairs and then relaxed into my seat which was comfortable and lots of storage space - however the whole interior looked tired and in need of a complete refurbishment. A couple of glass of fizz offered (and accepted) and then push back on time and a very quick taxi and take off which seemed to surprise the crew!

An efficient drinks service, with the character and warmth of a polar bear, followed by a meal service, that despite my special meal being ordered was forgotten and therefore ended up with a side salad and a sandwich from the pantry. The CSD was very unhelpful, not being allowed to offer me anything from the first class menu, but would see what could be rustled up from Economy if I liked. I nearly took his i-pad from him and put it somewhere that could be more useful! Breakfast was equally forgotten about in terms of special meal and again the alternative was quite frankly inedible.

I was completely shocked by the BA attitude which was one of be grateful we are here to serve you and take what your given. There was a lot of public bemoaning about further redundancies of senior crew and cost cutting - something I really did not want to hear.

The approach into BLR was delayed for 45 minutes due to fog, and then we were then diverted to Chennai where we endured a 2hr wait on the ground on the plane to hear if the fog lifted - without access to any drinks or snacks, which I thought odd.

I really could not believe how shocking the BA service was in the airport, lounge and in the air and it really saddened me that this once "world's favourite airline" had really let things go. The New Club World has really been superseded by many other airlines - and it really feels tired and tattered.

I for one won't (if I can help it) be travelling with BA for a long time.

Thanks for the TR. Sorry about your ankle, I am currently in an aircast boot for a similar injury and know how difficult it is to move around. The whole experience sounds grim, and as you went to the trouble of requesting special assistance and ordered the meals there is no excuse. Hope you make a full recovery very soon.

That's awful - I was looking forward to a TR to BLR, one of my frequent haunts but note never on BA ... service from beginning to end sounds dire esp. with a temporary disability. Sadly fog is a problem in the winter at BLR although I had thought that the new airport had CATIII landing capability ... if you flew to the old one you'll know how much fun that was.

Thanks to both of you - and I can confirm its bloody hard work when you are not fully operational - just very sad that BA didn't seem to care - which even went through to customer services when I called on my return to give feedback.

Slinky sadly even with CATI visibility was too poor and ATC wouldn't let anyone land it was down to 50 metres which is below BA's tolerance.

Interestingly when I got to the offices in Bangalore everyone laughed that I had flown BA - with a chorus of you should have flown Emirates... which conincidentally was cheaper!! I wish the VA connections were more convenient from Mumbai or Delhi but was warned off both airports due to the nightmare of internal connections and flights!

One for the learning!

Thanks for a great TR - just sorry it wasn't a great trip!

Hope the ankle is now better -I'm surprised they allowed you upstairs given your request for ( non- materialising) special assistance and being on crutches
DL

robbiechops wrote:
Interestingly when I got to the offices in Bangalore everyone laughed that I had flown BA - with a chorus of you should have

I think it's the luck of the draw in this corporate world in which we now live. I flew Emirates form the first time recently due to no VS availability to DBX in a first class suite and the service / crew were appalling. It didn't get any better on the way back starting with the Emirates wing at the airport through to a substituted old 777. It was so bad I will never fly with them again.

robbiechops wrote:Interestingly when I got to the offices in Bangalore everyone laughed that I had flown BA - with a chorus of you should have flown Emirates... which conincidentally was cheaper!! I wish the VA connections were more convenient from Mumbai or Delhi but was warned off both airports due to the nightmare of internal connections and flights!

One for the learning!

Oh that's funny ... yes indeed I would never ever connect through BOM or DEL, they're airports for final destinations only and EK does offer the best route network from the UK to India, albeit that you have a connection in DXB where BA does not of course.

Another tip for your next trip - if you have a bundle of Skywards miles try to upgrade to First, you can even do that once you have boarded if there are seats free.

robbiechops wrote:
Interestingly when I got to the offices in Bangalore everyone laughed that I had flown BA - with a chorus of you should have

I think it's the luck of the draw in this corporate world in which we now live. I flew Emirates form the first time recently due to no VS availability to DBX in a first class suite and the service / crew were appalling. It didn't get any better on the way back starting with the Emirates wing at the airport through to a substituted old 777. It was so bad I will never fly with them again.