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.
-I'm surprised they allowed you upstairs given your request for ( non- materialising) special assistance and being on crutches 
