Lack lustre UC flights

I don't post trip reports as fly fairly regularly however have noticed a decline in the experience in UC of late particularly on LGW flights.

Twice now in the last two months the FSM has approached me to ask if I'm travelling alone. First is on LGW to BGI on a 330 asking if I'd move from 1K to a middle seat near the back of the cabin and this week HAV to LGW the FSM asked the same and if I'd move from 9A to 12K on a 747. It might sound trivial but I selected the seats I had for a reason. On the 330 I don't want to be in the middle and on the 747 I don't want to be by the galley/bar near the washrooms. Declining to move on the 747 got me nasty looks from the person wanting to move

Recognition as AU is nice and I know not a mandatory thing however I can count on one hand the number of LGW flights it's happened compared to LHR. It's not like the crew are not aware as I've seen the list in the galley for meal choice and status. One AU (me) and a UNIQ on the HAV.

Not that it's a huge loss but no hot towels were offered on the HAV. I had filled out the breakfast card then at time of serving was told by the FSM that the fruit salad was never available on a London turnaround flight. Yes, it is as I had it on my BGI return a few weeks earlier. She offered some banana , apple and orange which was good however my yoghurt and granola was delivered in the plastic pot which has always been in a china bowl before.

It might sound like I'm moaning for no good reason but when paying for UC I'd like a consistent UC service

Why is the service so inconsistent more so on LGW flights? It's not specific to crew as I know from speaking with the FSMs on the LGW flights they alternate between LGW and LHR

Moan over!

Having not flown LGW in a number of years I can't pass comment on the differences. However having flown a lot this year I feel the service is constant whereas compared to last year it's more of a decline.

Putting the cuts aside, I've found specially on A330 routes such as ATL and DTW there is quite often items on the menu that are not on the flight. For instance the flight I took Monday had a squash soup of sorts listed but the FSM was saying they don't serve it on that flight.

I agree recognition would be nice, personally as Au I have only been recognised twice this year. But to make you laugh - I have had an Ag next to me before who complained to the FSM that he couldn't get 1k as I was positioned comfortably in it. It was quite funny hearing the passenger protesting their Ag - but I stayed still and let cabin crew resolve

Re being asked to move seats to accommodate someone else: the CC are between a rock and a hard place. They've got someone asking - or even demanding quite aggressively - to ask you to move so doing so is the easiest way to resolve a difficult situation, particularly if you agree.

You can always say no though, and I bet there are many occasions where the CC secretly hope you do. But for all they know, you're also in a seat you don't particularly want. They have no way of knowing you booked it months ago because it's your favourite.

So I think it's perfectly acceptable for them to ask as long as it's understood that if you say no, that's the end of the matter.

(There's an interesting thread about this on the BA Flyertalk forum, incidentally, with lots of good anecdotes.)

Re recognition: I'm of the view that it's a nice bonus when it happens, not something to be expected as standard. FSMs are busier than ever since the changes in April and on many flights they just don't have time to give personal welcomes.

Re hot towels: they do seem to be hit or miss - but I found the same in BA First if it's any consolation, and that's supposed to be perfect! Might be a night flight/return flight issue: I assume they're only loaded in the UK, like the booze, so if they're all used up on the outbound there's not much they can do. Not good, but it happens.

I know it's not a big deal being asked to move what I don't like is the dirty looks from the other passenger if you don't want to move!

I know it's not a big deal being asked to move what I don't like is the dirty looks from the other passenger if you don't want to move!

I know. But, frankly, it's their problem not yours. You were organised enough to choose a seat in advance. It's not your fault they weren't.

As my granny used to say - you'll never see them again in your life. (Hopefully!)

My flight back from Montego Bay in May was well documented in my trip report at the time.
I received what I deemed at the time was an acceptable apology from VS customer services and a reasonable amount of compensation of miles.
However I stated at the time that I would continue to book my biannual trips to Jamaica with VS in upper but I haven't, I've booked via a different tour operator and am prepared to let my miles and status go.

The FSM on my flight didn't request I move seats, she demanded.

In that situation, unfortunately, you're pretty much at the FSM's mercy as what they say goes and if they order you to move, you have to move or risk being deemed disruptive and thrown off the flight.

At that point it's obviously a customer service issue and you were absolutely right to escalate it afterwards. Seat requests, as we know, are never guaranteed for operational reasons but I read that as meaning because a seat is broken for instance, not because someone else wants it.

In that situation, unfortunately, you're pretty much at the FSM's mercy as what they say goes and if they order you to move, you have to move or risk being deemed disruptive and thrown off the flight.

I'll quote from the email I received from customer services.
"In an effort to assist our passengers with their seating arrangements, the crew will sometimes ask passengers if they would be happy to swap. However, they shouldn’t put pressure on anyone to move from their allocate seat."
So customer services contradict your opinion!

Oh, I quite agree, they shouldn't put pressure on anyone to move and are clearly told not to.

However if you get a jobsworth FSM (and there are some, sadly) who insists that you move, technically you don't have a leg to stand on. Disobeying the orders of the crew is a serious issue and can land you in very hot water. Of course it shouldn't ever come to that but it can - and clearly does - happen.

Oh, I quite agree, they shouldn't put pressure on anyone to move and are clearly told not to.

However if you get a jobsworth FSM (and there are some, sadly) who insists that you move, technically you don't have a leg to stand on. Disobeying the orders of the crew is a serious issue and can land you in very hot water. Of course it shouldn't ever come to that but it can - and clearly does - happen.

Any seating issue should have been sorted at check in.
Once you have your boarding ticket & allocated seat, then FSM cant make you move to accommodate someone else & in turn put you out. Unless of course its for an obvious reason to like a parent to sit next to an infant.

Airlines sell reserved seating for a reason. If people are so insistent to having to sit next to their travelling companion, then they should pay for the seating.
I bet they selectively choose to approach so their victim cant play the race card as well.

I would find it unreasonable to be thrown off a flight for such a thing - especially as UC is hardly sitting next to each other anyway.