BA Is Shite

Well Done Lads!

2012-01-17T09:54:00.000Z

The Telegraph reports that BA passengers flying over the Atlantic reacted in horror when a recorded message told them on two occasions that their plane could be about to crash.

Cabin staff quickly reassured passengers that the message had been played by accident.

The British Airways flight was halfway between Miami and Heathrow when the message was played by accident at about 3am.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline.

Hug A Pilot

2011-12-05T10:05:00.001Z

Under the "Hug A Pilot" edict, BA managment had ordered cabin crew to socialise more with pilots in an effort to boost morale.

I wonder if this is what they meant though?

A teenage British Airways stewardess has become pregnant after having an affair with a married captain

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline.

Executive Club Becomes Avios

2011-09-03T09:56:00.001+01:00

Kudos to BA for its proposed change to the Executive Club Scheme, whereby as from 16th November it will be part of Avios.

According to a report on Citywire, if you are a BA Executive Scheme member the change is a massive thumbs up.

Well done BA!!

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline.

Strike Finally Over

2011-06-27T10:47:00.002+01:00

The seemingly intractable 18 months dispute between Unite and BA finally ended last week.

Needless to say, both sides claim victory.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

Rebuilding The Brand

2011-06-06T10:33:00.003+01:00

Keith Williams, the new CEO of BA, has admitted that the BA brand has taken something of a hit as a result of the seemingly never ending dispute between BA and Unite.

He is quoted by the Guardian:

"One of the things we need to do is rebuild the brand image which inevitably suffers during a protracted dispute."

He is of the view that customer service did not suffer during the dispute, citing the fact that customers have not deserted BA.

Perhaps one reason why the customers have not deserted is not due to BA's punctuality record, its lost baggage record or its customer service but possibly due to the fact that on many international routes there is little choice but BA for travellers wanting to fly direct to/from London.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - Deal Reached

2011-05-14T10:44:00.002+01:00

It seems that Unite and BA management have come up with a solution to the seemingly never ending cabin crew dispute that has caused travel disruption and untold damage to BA's brand over the last two years.

The FT reports that the agreement will be put to Unite's 10,000 cabin crew members in a ballot, with a recommendation to accept.

The ballot will start next week with the result due by the end of June.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - BA Hires Psychologist

2011-04-11T12:00:00.002+01:00

British Airways has brought in a psychologist to try to help to resolve the seemingly never ending dispute with its cabin crew.

Clinical psychologist Mark Hamlin has met with senior management from BA and Unite.

Hamlin is a specialist in dealing with situations where there is a "fragility of trust".

Whatever his fee is, I am sure he will earn every penny of it!

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - Check Your Insurance

2011-03-29T10:30:00.002+01:00

Unsurprisingly those who sell travel insurance have been advising the hapless customers of BA (who are fearful of being caught up in strike action) to buy travel insurance.

All very well, if you are on commission for selling such products. However, the hapless customers of BA would do well to check any policy very thoroughly first in order to ensure that it actually does cover flight delays/cancellations brought about by industrial action.

The customers of BA would also do well to remember that those whose flights are cancelled altogether should be entitled to a full refund/reroute under EU law.

Good luck!

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - Another Strike

2011-03-28T14:44:00.003+01:00

Unite have announced the result of the strike ballot of British Airways cabin crew. As expected they have voted for yet another strike (8 to 1 majority, apparently).

This means that there is the prospect of strikes over the Easter holidays.

As ever, it is the long suffering customers of BA who will suffer in the short term. In the long term, the cabin crew will find themselves out of a job as the BA brand is irreparably damaged.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - Ballot Result Day

2011-03-28T10:36:00.001+01:00

The results of the Unite ballot on further BA strike action will be announced today.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - Strike Ballot Underway

2011-03-03T10:40:00.002Z

The fourth strike ballot in the now farcical dispute between BA and Untie is currently underway.

Balloting began on 1 March and will end on 28 March, with the decision to be announced soon afterwards.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - Turkeys Voting For Easter

2011-02-23T11:11:00.002Z

Unite intends to drag the seemingly never ending dispute between it and BA on for ever. It has announced that it will hold its 4th ballot of members in 2 years, the results of which will be announced on March 28.

In the event that they don't screw this up (as they did the last one), a yes vote will mean that they could go on strike over Easter and the Royal Wedding weekend.

Doubtless the union is happily allowing the media to speculate on these dates, as a means of "scaring the monkey".

However, the reality is somewhat different:

1 BA have sufficient cover in place to take up the under capacity incurred by any strike.

2 The members who strike will simply be damaging their long term employment prospects, as the brand of BA will be damaged and the customers will book other airlines.

3 The government will eventually tire of the damage being done to the British economy, and enact legislation to ensure that Unite cannot call its members out on strike as readily as it is now doing.

The customers of BA are the ones who are currently suffering from this nonsense. However, in the long term, it will be the cabin crew who end up the real losers.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - The Farce Continues

2011-02-09T10:59:00.002Z

The ongoing intractable dispute between BA and Unite continues, and has degenerated into an immature argument between Unite and BA akin to an argument in a divorce court between a husband and wife in a failed marriage.

Unite, following a barrage of legal objections from BA, have been forced to call another strike ballot; as last month's vote (which garnered 43% support from its members) appears to be invalid.

Seemingly the Electoral Reform Society, were concerned that the number of ballot papers issued may have contravened "Section 226a of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act".

Unite and BA are now engaging in some remarkably juvenile public name calling, which of course will do nothing to resolve the dispute.

As ever it is the long suffering passenger ("customer"? LOL!) who will suffer.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Increases Fuel Surcharge

2011-02-05T10:32:00.003Z

The Telegraph reports that British Airways has increased its fuel surcharge for the second time in two months, meaning that a family of four have to pay a £704 on a return long-haul economy flight.

"..BA's fuel surcharge on mid-haul flights is now just £3 less than it was in June 2008, when the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil peaked at $147 a barrel. The price this week rose to $103.."

BA are quoted:

"The move reflects the continuing substantial increase in the price of oil and a 14 per cent rise in the spot price of jet fuel since our last fuel surcharge increase in December 2010."

However, in October 2008 the Telegraph reported the following:

"The cost of fuelling a British Airways’ transatlantic flight can be covered almost entirely by the surcharges paid by its passengers, it has emerged.

Since May, BA has charged passengers between £78 and £98 in fuel surcharges for long-haul flights of less than nine hours. This earns the airline nearly £19,140 from surcharges on a 224-seat Boeing 777 flight from London to New York. The surcharges charged by Virgin are the same.

Airlines have long complained of the high cost of fuelling their planes. But tests by the manufacturer Boeing show that a Boeing 777 carrying 305 passengers – some 80 more than a full BA flight – requires 44 tons of fuel for a London-to-New York flight. This includes luggage and cargo. At today’s current oil prices ($800 a ton) this would cost the airline £20,173 – an amount that is almost covered by the extra fees levied on passengers..."

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

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2011-01-31T10:48:00.001Z

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www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

Turkeys Voting For Christmas

2011-01-22T10:40:00.002Z

BA cabin crew have voted in favour of further strike action, 75% voted and of those who voted 78.5% voted in favour of ongoing strike action.

The outcome of this nonsense is rather predictable:

- Customers will be reluctant to book flights with BA
- BA will use the extra capacity from their new partner Iberia to cover any flight disruption in the UK
- The government will press ahead with anti strike legislation
- The BA brand will suffer
- BA cabin crew and their colleagues will end up losing their jobs

Turkeys really do vote for Christmas!

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

Farewell

2011-01-21T12:29:00.002Z

At the end of trading today British Airways will have its name removed from the FTSE.

From Monday the shares will trade as International Airlines Group (the new name for the company that now also includes Spain's Iberia).

Today will also see the result of the BA cabin crew strike ballot (widely expected to be in favour of more strike action).

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Criticised Over Cancellations

2010-12-19T11:36:00.001Z

BA's decision to stop flights because of the snow has been criticised by aviation experts.

See The Telegraph.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

Delays IV

2010-12-10T10:29:00.002Z

My much delayed flight to Stockholm finally took off at 18:00 (almost 4 hours late).

I finally got to the bottom of the reason for the delay. It seems that a combination of heavy snowfall and a lack of de-icing equipment in Frankfurt caused the delay.

Whilst BA cannot be held responsible for the weather or probably the lack of de-icing equipment, BA should have communicated the reasons for the delay to their customers.

On board, despite that fact that it was well past "teatime", afternoon tea was served.

The reason?

Catering is now provided by DHL who, so I am advised, aren't very good at "customer care".

The two finger sandwiches were an inadequate repast, and were of poor quality (total lack of taste and frozen bread).

That is what you get when you hire a logistics company to provide the catering!

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

Delays III

2010-12-09T15:04:00.001Z

A further delay in the departure of my flight to Stockholm has just been announced, it will now depart (unless this estimate is wrong as well) at 17:02 (almost 3 hours late).

BA staff still have no explanation for the delay.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

Delays II

2010-12-09T13:55:00.002Z

It seems that today is going to be a tedious travel day, courtesy of BA.

My flight to Stockholm, originally scheduled to depart at 14:15, is now scheduled to depart at 16:15 (a further delay of 30 mins from the earlier delay notice posted by BA).

I have asked BA staff here as to why there is a delay, they do not know.

Well done BA!

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

Delays

2010-12-09T12:12:00.002Z

BA has the pleasure of my custom today on a flight to Stockholm

In keeping with tradition, the flight is delayed by 1.5 hours.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - Another Ballot

2010-11-29T14:49:00.002Z

British Airways cabin crew are to be balloted again, in 7 days time, over possible new strike action.

In the event that they vote for further strike action, the strike cannot take place until 2011.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

BA Strike Update - Don't Go On Holiday

2010-11-26T11:59:00.003Z

The new leader of Unite (voted in by 7% of the members), Len McCluskey, has told BA customers:

"Watch this space. Don't go on holiday."

Pathetic, it's the customers who pay BA's wages!

Alienate those and ther won't be an airline for Unite's memebrs to work for.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.

Strike Update - Democracy The Unite Way

2010-11-23T12:32:00.002Z

Unite has elected a new leader, to replace the duo of Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson.

The new leader, Len McCluskey (a hardliner), was elected by a "staggering" 7% of the membership.

"Democracy" in action the Unite way!

Those members of staff, and long suffering customers, of BA who hope that a change in leadership may bring about peace will be sorely disappointed.

McCluskey has been running the strike since day one, and on his assumption of power has announced his messianic "vision":

"My first task now will be to bring our union together and unite it in a campaign against the devastation the Government is unleashing against working people and their communities throughout the land."

I suspect that the 93% of Unite members who didn't vote for this person may well regret the day that he was elected.

www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.