Comments on: British Airways http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Celine http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-50094 Celine Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:36:36 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-50094 I just wanted to say that so far so good...great company, no complaints. I flew with BA from Canada to Europe this summer and had a wonderful experience. I normally fly KLM which is also a reliable airline but I have to admit the food with BA is a lot better! The only thing I'm wondering is if BA will refund if there is a snow storm and the flight gets cancelled or do I need to purchase their special insurance. Thanks, I just wanted to say that so far so good…great company, no complaints. I flew with BA from Canada to Europe this summer and had a wonderful experience. I normally fly KLM which is also a reliable airline but I have to admit the food with BA is a lot better!
The only thing I’m wondering is if BA will refund if there is a snow storm and the flight gets cancelled or do I need to purchase their special insurance.
Thanks,

]]> By: Maria http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-38185 Maria Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:19:30 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-38185 Has anyone filed a complaint with issues related to the volcano? I was stranded in the UK for over a week and I understand that BA isn't entirely at fault, but...I couldnt get any information on the status of my flights online and then couldnt get through to anyone on the phone and when I did get thorugh on the phone I got disconnected multiple times and then..when I finally did get someone on the phone my reservation was changed 4 times and then..when I finally got to leave I had just got on the plane and they have a mechanical issue and they made us sit on the plane for 3 hours while they "found" mechanics to work on it?. Mind you it was nice and warm in the UK that day and because they would use fuel they refused to run the engines and we all baked. I had over $200 worth of chocolates that I got going to belgium and the trip to Belgium cost me $1,200 This has been the most miserable experience in my life and I was wondering if anyone has a good complaint letter and a good contact number, fax # or email address for this type of complaint..I'm with all of you, never will fly BA again!!!! Has anyone filed a complaint with issues related to the volcano? I was stranded in the UK for over a week and I understand that BA isn’t entirely at fault, but…I couldnt get any information on the status of my flights online and then couldnt get through to anyone on the phone and when I did get thorugh on the phone I got disconnected multiple times and then..when I finally did get someone on the phone my reservation was changed 4 times and then..when I finally got to leave I had just got on the plane and they have a mechanical issue and they made us sit on the plane for 3 hours while they “found” mechanics to work on it?. Mind you it was nice and warm in the UK that day and because they would use fuel they refused to run the engines and we all baked. I had over $200 worth of chocolates that I got going to belgium and the trip to Belgium cost me $1,200 This has been the most miserable experience in my life and I was wondering if anyone has a good complaint letter and a good contact number, fax # or email address for this type of complaint..I’m with all of you, never will fly BA again!!!!

]]> By: Lisa Williams http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-37259 Lisa Williams Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:50:08 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-37259 I have been trying to locate a bag (on behalf of my father) since Jan.26,2010. It appears that the BA refuse to assist me in this matter. The only information that I receive about the status of this bag from the BA is "we are still waiting for the other airlines to reply back" and they have not given any updated information at this time. In Feb. I actually spoke with a supervisor "Ramone" over the baggage department and he was very rude to me and in fact refused to give me his last name, or even a name of his supervisor, but encouraged me to file a complaint about his behavior. Since April 1, 2010, I discovered that the BA had closed my file without me giving permission, but after several phone calls and demands I have been able to re-open this claim. As of April 8,2010, I called the BA over in Lyon and it appears that the "bag/content" information was not written in the correct place for the worldwide tracer to be sent overseas, but it was correctly written for the same tracer to be sent in the USA. I am very upset with the way the BA have handled my situation, and I suppose that other individuals have been treated just like myself. It is past time that the BA start to handle every situation to the best of their abilities. Maybe some employees need to be fired and hire new employees that can read,see and talk, which are all qualifications needed to locate lost bags as well as handle customer related issues. I can understand if this bag had content that most individuals carry on trips, but in my case it is 48inches long, 40lbs and inside is 3 runners/11boards all made from black plastic. Now if the staff working with the BA baggage department at either the London Heathrow or Lyon France Airports went to search for this bag, then my only comment is that they are blind or need glasses in order to see better. Talking with the BA is so difficult because when it comes to asking for telephone numbers, names or other related informaton, nobody can assist me, because they either do not have this information, cannot give it out or the number is on speed dial. I simply say that most of the BA employees that I have spoken with are all ignorant when it comes to job performance. I have been trying to locate a bag (on behalf of my father) since Jan.26,2010. It appears that the BA refuse to assist me in this matter. The only information that I receive about the status of this bag from the BA is “we are still waiting for the other airlines to reply back” and they have not given any updated information at this time. In Feb. I actually spoke with a supervisor “Ramone” over the baggage department and he was very rude to me and in fact refused to give me his last name, or even a name of his supervisor, but encouraged me to file a complaint about his behavior. Since April 1, 2010, I discovered that the BA had closed my file without me giving permission, but after several phone calls and demands I have been able to re-open this claim. As of April 8,2010, I called the BA over in Lyon and it appears that the “bag/content” information was not written in the correct place for the worldwide tracer to be sent overseas, but it was correctly written for the same tracer to be sent in the USA. I am very upset with the way the BA have handled my situation, and I suppose that other individuals have been treated just like myself. It is past time that the BA start to handle every situation to the best of their abilities. Maybe some employees need to be fired and hire new employees that can read,see and talk, which are all qualifications needed to locate lost bags as well as handle customer related issues. I can understand if this bag had content that most individuals carry on trips, but in my case it is 48inches long, 40lbs and inside is 3 runners/11boards all made from black plastic. Now if the staff working with the BA baggage department at either the London Heathrow or Lyon France Airports went to search for this bag, then my only comment is that they are blind or need glasses in order to see better. Talking with the BA is so difficult because when it comes to asking for telephone numbers, names or other related informaton, nobody can assist me, because they either do not have this information, cannot give it out or the number is on speed dial. I simply say that most of the BA employees that I have spoken with are all ignorant when it comes to job performance.

]]> By: Linda Smith http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-35987 Linda Smith Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:33:34 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-35987 British Airways has no compassion for the recently bereaved. My mother just died of cancer, I had to return to my work by myself in Doha. I had checked in and needed to spend more time with my children who had lost their grandmother. So, I didn't go to the departure gate straightaway. Based on my recollection of the last time I made that trip, I went to the gate before you start security. There I was turned away and told to go back to BA, not given any reason. When I went to the BA desk nearby, they told me I had been taken off the flight and put on standby. They then told me to go to the ticket desk and warned me that I would not get my flight. I went to the ticket desk. They told me that if you don't enter security by a certain time, I think this is 35minutes, you are automatically taken off the flight. This is well before the time that is on your boarding card for gate closing. I had literally missed this by seconds. First of all, I had no idea they had such a harsh system, secondly because of me and my kids bereavement, I'm not sure even if I read something I would have known what the implications were. Fact is I was a bereaved passenger, I was entitled to some compassion. All I was given was "according to our terms and conditions.... blah blah, we are not at fault... blah blah" Since they were not willing to find a way to fast-track me to the flight, I thought that at least they would rebook for me another flight, without additional charges. In all this conversation about the SYSTEM and the POLICY with the manager, who apparently did acknowledge that a bereaved person, may not be fully aware of their rules, I asked if she had the discretion to waive the additional charges. She told me that she did indeed have this authority, but she would not exercise it. I then complained to the so-called customer care team, where instead of trying to look at the situation from my point of view, I got the same story. This was made worse when the customer care person, tried to make out that the information, was on my boarding card, when I read out to her that this wasn't there, only the gate closing time, she referred me to the small print on the card, i.e.the standard get out clause "terms and conditions apply". Another standard rejoinder was the "travel agent should have told you", a bit much to expect from EXPEDIA I thought. Fact is that they knew I had checked in, I had paid for my ticket, the airport at that time seemed to have more staff than passengers. There was cut-off step in their process, I'm sure my circumstances were unusual (i.e. 1 out of 300 passengers for that flight), why they didn't think they should make a tiny bit of effort to find me? What the manager said to me, was this is how they train passengers! Next time you won't make the same mistake again! Well, I certainly won't. I am telling you all, I have started telling my colleagues at work, my family. I do authorise travel, I will neither use BA again, nor will I authorise anyone else to use them. Good bye BA, for life. British Airways has no compassion for the recently bereaved.
My mother just died of cancer, I had to return to my work by myself in Doha. I had checked in and needed to spend more time with my children who had lost their grandmother. So, I didn’t go to the departure gate straightaway. Based on my recollection of the last time I made that trip, I went to the gate before you start security. There I was turned away and told to go back to BA, not given any reason. When I went to the BA desk nearby, they told me I had been taken off the flight and put on standby. They then told me to go to the ticket desk and warned me that I would not get my flight.
I went to the ticket desk. They told me that if you don’t enter security by a certain time, I think this is 35minutes, you are automatically taken off the flight. This is well before the time that is on your boarding card for gate closing. I had literally missed this by seconds. First of all, I had no idea they had such a harsh system, secondly because of me and my kids bereavement, I’m not sure even if I read something I would have known what the implications were. Fact is I was a bereaved passenger, I was entitled to some compassion. All I was given was “according to our terms and conditions…. blah blah, we are not at fault… blah blah” Since they were not willing to find a way to fast-track me to the flight, I thought that at least they would rebook for me another flight, without additional charges. In all this conversation about the SYSTEM and the POLICY with the manager, who apparently did acknowledge that a bereaved person, may not be fully aware of their rules, I asked if she had the discretion to waive the additional charges. She told me that she did indeed have this authority, but she would not exercise it.
I then complained to the so-called customer care team, where instead of trying to look at the situation from my point of view, I got the same story. This was made worse when the customer care person, tried to make out that the information, was on my boarding card, when I read out to her that this wasn’t there, only the gate closing time, she referred me to the small print on the card, i.e.the standard get out clause “terms and conditions apply”. Another standard rejoinder was the “travel agent should have told you”, a bit much to expect from EXPEDIA I thought. Fact is that they knew I had checked in, I had paid for my ticket, the airport at that time seemed to have more staff than passengers. There was cut-off step in their process, I’m sure my circumstances were unusual (i.e. 1 out of 300 passengers for that flight), why they didn’t think they should make a tiny bit of effort to find me? What the manager said to me, was this is how they train passengers! Next time you won’t make the same mistake again!
Well, I certainly won’t. I am telling you all, I have started telling my colleagues at work, my family. I do authorise travel, I will neither use BA again, nor will I authorise anyone else to use them. Good bye BA, for life.

]]> By: Gerardine D'Sa http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-35435 Gerardine D'Sa Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:09:01 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-35435 I completely agree with you - never fly British Airways again. I only travelled to run out my miles because I have had enough with BA but this was worse than I expected. I have been an exec club member for 16 years, but no more. They ripped open a month old samsonite bag, then Helen Holtz(rep at O'Hare) refused to file a baggage damage claim at Ohare saying I had to go online. I did get her to weigh the bag and write on the complaint sheet so at least I have that. I have lost more than $2000 - sent them bills for $1778 and they have after 2 months agreed to pay $600 saying I should have reported it at the airport. This is a scam - they refuse to put in the report citing new rules and then use that to refuse compensation. On the flight was worse. From Bangalore to London the flight attendant dropped coffee on me while leaning over to give the coffee to the middle seat passenger. I had to go to the washroom to get paper towels and they forced me back to my seat because of the seatbelt sign. On landing they told me that ground staff would help. I had to walk in the cold with a wet coat and jeans to the bus to the terminal. No help from ground staff and then another flight. This time I got Harpreet Atwal who threatened me and said that his daddy was the customer service manager so my complaints would be useless. Apparently BA is ruled by the Atwals. He laughed at the brown patches(dried coffee) on my clothes - it was disgusting. And they are still deciding whether to pay for the one year old coat. What happened to basic British courtesy and do they follow their liability rules? I completely agree with you – never fly British Airways again. I only travelled to run out my miles because I have had enough with BA but this was worse than I expected. I have been an exec club member for 16 years, but no more. They ripped open a month old samsonite bag, then Helen Holtz(rep at O’Hare) refused to file a baggage damage claim at Ohare saying I had to go online. I did get her to weigh the bag and write on the complaint sheet so at least I have that. I have lost more than $2000 – sent them bills for $1778 and they have after 2 months agreed to pay $600 saying I should have reported it at the airport. This is a scam – they refuse to put in the report citing new rules and then use that to refuse compensation.
On the flight was worse. From Bangalore to London the flight attendant dropped coffee on me while leaning over to give the coffee to the middle seat passenger. I had to go to the washroom to get paper towels and they forced me back to my seat because of the seatbelt sign. On landing they told me that ground staff would help. I had to walk in the cold with a wet coat and jeans to the bus to the terminal. No help from ground staff and then another flight. This time I got Harpreet Atwal who threatened me and said that his daddy was the customer service manager so my complaints would be useless. Apparently BA is ruled by the Atwals. He laughed at the brown patches(dried coffee) on my clothes – it was disgusting. And they are still deciding whether to pay for the one year old coat.
What happened to basic British courtesy and do they follow their liability rules?

]]> By: Nathan F. http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-34284 Nathan F. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:09:33 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-34284 Sent an email to Silla Maizey a few days ago, no bounceback but nothing in response yet either. These people are absolutely horrendous to deal with. It's as if they just don't want to talk to customers. We were told in a written communique that we could receive a refund minus a change fee for a ticket on a trip that we had to cancel, however they reneged on the offer and are now saying that the ticket is non refundable and we are eligible only for a tax refund. We've been trying to have this resolved for over two months, and the incredible delay in their responses has pushed us to the brink of the flight date. Sent an email to Silla Maizey a few days ago, no bounceback but nothing in response yet either. These people are absolutely horrendous to deal with. It’s as if they just don’t want to talk to customers. We were told in a written communique that we could receive a refund minus a change fee for a ticket on a trip that we had to cancel, however they reneged on the offer and are now saying that the ticket is non refundable and we are eligible only for a tax refund. We’ve been trying to have this resolved for over two months, and the incredible delay in their responses has pushed us to the brink of the flight date.

]]> By: Ronnie Miller http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-27399 Ronnie Miller Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:17:12 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-27399 Hi, I am a Travel Manager in Texas who has been heading a large agency for about 6 years now. Wow, am I having the worst issues with BA right now. I have a 7 segment flight roundtrip from Lubbock to Heathrow and then on to Prague and home from Vienna. It is plated on BA except for the LBB-IAH flights. Yesterday I went in to check my itinerary and query about seats on BA.com and noticed that the CO flights weren't there anymore. I looked in SABRE and sure enough everything was still there. I didnt' pay attention to the booking class because they were ticketed and paid for by a VISA card back in August. Today I received a notice in Sabre from BA saying that I needed to update my record because my itinerary didn't match my E-Ticket. I immediately called BA and they told me that I had cancelled and rebooked my entire itinerary yesterday and that I would need to pay the upgrade difference (around $2000.00 total). I have spent all day today on the phone with them trying to put it back the way that I ticketed it and paid for. I have called the BA TA help desk three times and now they won't even speak to me. They told me I would have to wait 5 days and then they would check and see what the fare difference would be that I need to pay. You talk about a dirty airline! I don't know how we let these companies get away with this?? I want to just cancel the whole trip and lose my money rather than give them another $2000.00. I would do that but I am afraid they would just send me a debit memo and try to collect the difference in fare even after I cancel. I have received the rudest, most unhelpful responses today. My guess is because I am a TA. We always get punished for trying to sell the airlines products! Help!!! Hi,

I am a Travel Manager in Texas who has been heading a large agency for about 6 years now. Wow, am I having the worst issues with BA right now. I have a 7 segment flight roundtrip from Lubbock to Heathrow and then on to Prague and home from Vienna. It is plated on BA except for the LBB-IAH flights. Yesterday I went in to check my itinerary and query about seats on BA.com and noticed that the CO flights weren’t there anymore. I looked in SABRE and sure enough everything was still there. I didnt’ pay attention to the booking class because they were ticketed and paid for by a VISA card back in August. Today I received a notice in Sabre from BA saying that I needed to update my record because my itinerary didn’t match my E-Ticket. I immediately called BA and they told me that I had cancelled and rebooked my entire itinerary yesterday and that I would need to pay the upgrade difference (around $2000.00 total). I have spent all day today on the phone with them trying to put it back the way that I ticketed it and paid for. I have called the BA TA help desk three times and now they won’t even speak to me. They told me I would have to wait 5 days and then they would check and see what the fare difference would be that I need to pay. You talk about a dirty airline! I don’t know how we let these companies get away with this?? I want to just cancel the whole trip and lose my money rather than give them another $2000.00. I would do that but I am afraid they would just send me a debit memo and try to collect the difference in fare even after I cancel. I have received the rudest, most unhelpful responses today. My guess is because I am a TA. We always get punished for trying to sell the airlines products! Help!!!

]]> By: pontus http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-25827 pontus Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:23:05 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-25827 Due to a traffic accident blocking the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, I could not get to the airport in time. In fact, I even called BA one hour before the flight departed, telling them that I was stuck on the bridge, moving nowhere. I was on my way to Scotland to be the best man of a dear friend's wedding. British Airways would charge me $3000 to put me on their next flight to London (the following day), or otherwise I could just forget about the whole thing. They were incredibly rude and couldn't care less about my situation. Accepting the situation I found a reasonable cheap one-way ticket with Air NZ. So I called BA back to make sure they wouldn't cancel my return trip. To my great surprise, they refused!!! They simply said that my ticket was useless now that I missed my first flight, and there was no way I was getting on that return flight (unless, they said, I'd pay the $3000). This is nuts! I can't believe the absolute disregard BA has for their passengers. Instead of helping a really unfortunate passenger out, they try to make a profit on his desperation. Shameful. In the end, I booked a return flight with Air NZ for $1700. Due to a traffic accident blocking the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, I could not get to the airport in time. In fact, I even called BA one hour before the flight departed, telling them that I was stuck on the bridge, moving nowhere. I was on my way to Scotland to be the best man of a dear friend’s wedding. British Airways would charge me $3000 to put me on their next flight to London (the following day), or otherwise I could just forget about the whole thing. They were incredibly rude and couldn’t care less about my situation.

Accepting the situation I found a reasonable cheap one-way ticket with Air NZ. So I called BA back to make sure they wouldn’t cancel my return trip. To my great surprise, they refused!!! They simply said that my ticket was useless now that I missed my first flight, and there was no way I was getting on that return flight (unless, they said, I’d pay the $3000). This is nuts! I can’t believe the absolute disregard BA has for their passengers. Instead of helping a really unfortunate passenger out, they try to make a profit on his desperation. Shameful.

In the end, I booked a return flight with Air NZ for $1700.

]]> By: Huzefa Chithiwala http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-25241 Huzefa Chithiwala Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:57:32 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-25241 All of you please go to the www.flyersrights.org and sign a petition. Next file a complaint with FAA online. http://airconsumer.dot.gov/problems.htm These are the only proper channels that are voices will be heard. Everything else is useless. They are currently helping me. This is easy to do. Take 5 minutes out of your time and please follow through. Thanks All of you please go to the http://www.flyersrights.org and sign a petition. Next file a complaint with FAA online. http://airconsumer.dot.gov/problems.htm

These are the only proper channels that are voices will be heard. Everything else is useless. They are currently helping me. This is easy to do. Take 5 minutes out of your time and please follow through.

Thanks

]]> By: Jo http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-25107 Jo Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:37:59 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-25107 Look at this page too http://www.britishairways.com/travel/disabilityassistanceinfo/public/en_gb Look at this page too http://www.britishairways.com/travel/disabilityassistanceinfo/public/en_gb

]]> By: Jo http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-25106 Jo Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:35:55 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-25106 Rajanbabu, BA has a service for unaccompanied minors and i am thinking that something similar may apply in your case. Check the info at http://www.britishairways.com/travel/childinfo/public/en_gb?gsLink=searchResults Morever, i would just call BA and ask them about your situation, i am sure they face it very often. I would guess the one thing that your parents need the most, is for someone to explain what will happen during their trip so that they know what to expect (flight-lenght, meals, entertainment, immigration if any, etc) and for a BA representative to escort them from the gate of their first flight to the gate of their connecting flight. BA has various services, so again, just call them up and inquire about the best way to assure your parents make it to their next flight on time and without a problem. :) Rajanbabu, BA has a service for unaccompanied minors and i am thinking that something similar may apply in your case. Check the info at http://www.britishairways.com/travel/childinfo/public/en_gb?gsLink=searchResults

Morever, i would just call BA and ask them about your situation, i am sure they face it very often. I would guess the one thing that your parents need the most, is for someone to explain what will happen during their trip so that they know what to expect (flight-lenght, meals, entertainment, immigration if any, etc) and for a BA representative to escort them from the gate of their first flight to the gate of their connecting flight. BA has various services, so again, just call them up and inquire about the best way to assure your parents make it to their next flight on time and without a problem. :)

]]> By: Rajaraman http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-25077 Rajaraman Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:05:40 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-25077 My Parents are leaving back on 22nd October to Chennai from Seattle through British airlines. This is first time for them and they can understand very little English. They both are elementary school teachers. Do you have any suggestion to arrange with British airways to help for my parents? If any leaves the same day that can help, please email me at rajbab2002@yahoo.com or call me at 425-591-6842 Thanks, Rajanbabu My Parents are leaving back on 22nd October to Chennai from Seattle through British airlines. This is first time for them and they can understand very little English. They both are elementary school teachers.

Do you have any suggestion to arrange with British airways to help for my parents?

If any leaves the same day that can help, please email me at rajbab2002@yahoo.com or call me at 425-591-6842

Thanks,

Rajanbabu

]]> By: Hans Rorby http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-22807 Hans Rorby Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:36:29 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-22807 Just flew Club LHR-DFW R/T. A smooth professional flight, excellent service, a personable, charming crew, excellent lounge in LHR. Just as a counterbalance to all the other stuff. Just flew Club LHR-DFW R/T. A smooth professional flight, excellent service, a personable, charming crew, excellent lounge in LHR.

Just as a counterbalance to all the other stuff.

]]> By: Don Crawford http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-17070 Don Crawford Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:14:28 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-17070 On Monday Feb 2 there was a big Snow Storm in the UK and the London area was hit hard. There are 3 main Airports in the area with Heathrow being the biggest ( City and Gatwick the other 2) there is reliable news reports that Heathrow is reeling from the delays and canceled flights. BA almost never answers the phone Sometimes because they are "closed" Most of the time - because their call volume is too high. NO - they do not place you on hold YES - the automated line HANGS UP ON YOU. When you do get through, it is almost a certainty that you will be put through to a different department.... it is brutal in its lack of effectiveness. Now imagine a company like this getting hit with 36 hours worth of cancelled flights out of such a busy airport like Heathrow I have been living in London for over a year now and what someone emailed here already is completely true, this is THE MOST unorganized country I have ever experienced. Their banking system is similar to the US in the 1970's (prior to computers) The culture is one of unbelievable fear of self responsibility. Although there are some of the best individuals in the world here, they themselves endure a life surrounded by some of the lamest people you could never want to meet. But it is worse, there is a systematic ingrained culture of deviant acts, The government is the worst culprit. It is always someone elses job and that person is not available, The notion of taking your name and contacting you to follow up is not happening, You must call back to chase another person down, the list is a mile long of this lack of help that goes on from the coffee shops to the police to the government, to the banks, to every corner of life here. I bring this up here, because the tricks are the same, switching email addresses, publicly posting fax numbers that are 1 digit off. no way to establish proper communication with a department or representative to resolve a problem or complete a task... It is almost like a strange movie, there may be a website, but it does not function, and the prevailing conclusion is simple: YOU THE CONSUMER ARE THE ONE AT FAULT YOU ARE THE ONE THAT IS MISTAKEN YOU ARE THE ONE THAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY Sincerely Don Crawford "On March 14th, 2008 at 8:11 am Mariele Beckert said:" …But then, United Kingdon is the most unorganized country/Kingdom I’ve ever been to. Everything you do here, you need to send on paper, by post or courier, and also need a proof that it was delivered; and you still got to go to court sometimes to solve the matter. Thanks for letting me vent! Mariele On Monday Feb 2 there was a big Snow Storm in the UK and the London area was hit hard. There are 3 main Airports in the area with Heathrow being the biggest ( City and Gatwick the other 2) there is reliable news reports that Heathrow is reeling from the delays and canceled flights.

BA almost never answers the phone
Sometimes because they are “closed”
Most of the time – because their call volume is too high.
NO – they do not place you on hold
YES – the automated line HANGS UP ON YOU.

When you do get through, it is almost a certainty that you will be
put through to a different department…. it is brutal in its lack of
effectiveness.

Now imagine a company like this getting hit with 36 hours worth of cancelled flights out of such a busy airport like Heathrow

I have been living in London for over a year now and what someone emailed here already is completely true, this is THE MOST unorganized country I have ever experienced. Their banking system is similar to the US in the 1970′s (prior to computers) The culture is one of unbelievable fear of self responsibility. Although there are some of the best individuals in the world here, they themselves endure a life surrounded by some of the lamest people you could never want to meet.

But it is worse, there is a systematic ingrained culture of deviant acts, The government is the worst culprit. It is always someone elses job and that person is not available, The notion of taking your name and contacting you to follow up is not happening, You must call back to chase another person down, the list is a mile long of this lack of help that goes on from the coffee shops to the police to the government, to the banks, to every corner of life here.

I bring this up here, because the tricks are the same, switching email addresses, publicly posting fax numbers that are 1 digit off. no way to establish proper communication with a department or representative to resolve a problem or complete a task… It is almost like a strange movie, there may be a website, but it does not function, and the prevailing conclusion is simple:
YOU THE CONSUMER ARE THE ONE AT FAULT
YOU ARE THE ONE THAT IS MISTAKEN
YOU ARE THE ONE THAT IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY

Sincerely
Don Crawford

“On March 14th, 2008 at 8:11 am Mariele Beckert said:”
…But then, United Kingdon is the most unorganized country/Kingdom I’ve ever been to. Everything you do here, you need to send on paper, by post or courier, and also need a proof that it was delivered; and you still got to go to court sometimes to solve the matter.
Thanks for letting me vent!
Mariele

]]> By: Clive Jones http://www.elliott.org/help/british-airways/comment-page-1/#comment-15321 Clive Jones Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:45:52 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/british-airways/#comment-15321 I live in the USA, am British, and rarely travel BA. Why? Because after 35 yrs of traveling the world, the occasions when I fly BA still go into the realms of one's worst travel fantasies. All the above and others? Been there, done that? My first flight in over 2 yrs with them has just gone nuts, all to do with seat allocation and arrogant helpers [other than those who are honest, wish it would change and say they have no route to the MBA riven management]. C'est la vie, just don't travel BA unless one has to. Clive H Jones I live in the USA, am British, and rarely travel BA.
Why? Because after 35 yrs of traveling the world, the occasions when I fly BA still go into the realms of one’s worst travel fantasies.

All the above and others? Been there, done that? My first flight in over 2 yrs with them has just gone nuts, all to do with seat allocation and arrogant helpers [other than those who are honest, wish it would change and say they have no route to the MBA riven management].

C’est la vie, just don’t travel BA unless one has to.

Clive H Jones

]]>