RE: BA new seats

Mongu

I’m not sure where you have got your information from but the new World Traveller plus seats are available on many more destinations than you suggest. They are slowly being added to all long haul aircraft operating to destinations where there is a demand for seats in this cabin. Also, the cabin/seats were diffinately not created for upgrade purposes. BA were responding to a demand from mainly business travellers, those paying the full economy fare, who wanted a separate area with more space to work and relax. The fare for these seats is also quite differnet from our Club World fares. You need to look at the whole picture and compare like for like. The fare sectructure is such that we have discounted J class (club world) fares that are only slightly more than the full W (traveller plus) fare. Then we have discount W fares that are slightly more than the full fare in the M (economy) cabin. Those discounted fares though do carry heavy penalties, advance purchase, no changes, refunds etc. Normally, the aircraft I operate on have all four cabins, First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller. I have to be honest and say that I think our economy passengers are packed in like sardines. I think the economy seat pitch on Virgin is better than ours and I know American Airlines have added an extra inch to all economy seats, maybe it’s time we did the same.

I know we (BA) don’t always get it right but I believe we have an excellant premium class product, on the whole I only get complaints on board from economy passengers, most of which are trying to get an upgrade. The excuses they give are brilliant, I could write a book with some of the things I have come across with passengers. In fact when I retire maybe I will, there’s nothing like the travelling public, but then nobody would really believe some of the stupid things passengers do and say!!!!!

RE: Abuse in the cabin

I think you’re right Dave, I agree. I’m cabin crew, a Purser with a large UK airline and I have had to deal with several incidents of air rage in many different forms. The most common is as a result of a passenger having had too much to drink. However, that is by no means the major cause. You’re right when you say the whole experience of air travel can be stressful. For some it is the greatest thrill, for others it is as you say a means of getting from A to B but for a few it can be a dreaded and possibly fearful experience. I am often quite surprised at the people I encounter that are frightened of flying. Normally they are businessmen that have to fly regularly as part of their job. These are the ones that you need to watch. The vast majority of flights are totally event free but every now and then when things have gone wrong for them. For example, they’re late at the airport and didn’t get the seat they want, there’s a huge line at check-in, the flight’s delayed etc etc. By the time we get them on board they have been through a process that they find stressful in itself. We then sit on stand for another hour while we wait for a slot, he’s worried about his next meeting then he has to contend with a flight that he really doesn’t want to take. I have seen this type many times, generally you can get around them and there’s no problem but sometimes they kick off. I don’t get as much trouble as the female crew as I am older (early 40’s) 6ft 2in and I don’t scare easily but having somebody shouting and screaming at you, threatening you, all at 39,000 feet in the confines of an aircraft cabin is quite alarming!!!!

I have a lot of patience and understanding with frightened passengers, some want a lot of attention, others just want to be left alone. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have to face something you are frightened of, regularly. I hate snakes but luckily don’t come face to face with them often! Fear is not the only reason for air rage though and often the cause is not obvious at the time. We never know what is happening in somebodies life, a delayed flight could be the last straw for them.

Having said all of that, these events are rare and by far the vast majority of flights are ok.

Happy and safe flying.

RE: I Give Up !!!

I fully agree with you wisywig, I’ve seen the re-construction video of the Saudia Tristar several times during recurrent SEP training and any kind of on board fire scares the hell out of me. That fire I believe started in the rear hold and spread very very quickly into the cabin, not caused by anybody smoking though. I have had to deal with idiotic pax that smoke in the toilets and then put the still lit cigarette end in the waste paper bin!!!! I’ve even heard of pax putting
cling-film, tape and plastic glasses over the smoke detecters in the toilets so the alarm doesn’t sound when they smoke. To most people it all sounds quite funny and harmless stuff but it is serious and a toilet/cabin fire can spread so quickly and soon get out of hand.

I’m not a smoker and I can’t appreciate what it must be like to want something so bad (except a good nights sleep during a transatlantic night flight!!!!) so I can understand to a point why people want to smoke on board but I think most people now are aware of the dangers, they are told several times during PA’s and safety cards/briefs. When we had smoking sections on our aircraft I used to notice several smokers sitting in the non smoking section and then going the smoking section to smoke during the flight. It appeared that even smokers themselves didn’t want to sit in the smoking section and sit for several hours and breath in the horrible air.

A bit of a tricky one, I know a lot of people do feel very strongly about it from both sides of the argument.

RE: ‘Swiss’ could leave OneWorld alliance

You’re right Greekdude, Swiss (or previously Swissair) are not part of Oneworld. I think Swissair was a founder member of the Qualifier Group along with Air France.

Like the new Swiss livery, very smart.

RE: JAL best by far

I didn’t have such a good experience with JAL last year. Flew with them NRT/LHR and wasn’t too impressed. The crew were good, the food wasn’t bad but the aircraft cabin needed a facelift and the IFE kept breaking down. Maybe they just had an off day!

RE: Any good African airlines?

The predecessor to Zambian Airways, Zambia Airways (now unfortunately bankrupt I believe) were great to fly with. I flew with them on many occassions as a child. At the time (25 years ago) they had very old BAC 1.11 400’s, a DC-8 and later a B707. I think when the 707 wasn’t acceptable at European airports due to noise, they had a DC10to operate the long haul routes. All brilliant aircraft and a really eye catching livery. It’s a shame they and other African airlines are no longer around, the skies are much duller without them. I also remember flying with Air Malawi (VC-10)and East African Airways (VC-10 again). Anybody else remember these airlines?

RE: Pah, who needs Low Cost carriers anyway?!?!?

Couldn’t agree with you more V1, I do work for one of the carriers you mention and it’s about time we offered some realistic fares to these destinations to compete with the low cost carriers. The low cost carriers do a good job and obviously offer the travelling public what they want, cheap air travel. We have to compete or lose out and I’m sure my company has no intention of doing that. At the moment it seems everyone and his dog is having a go at BA, it’s like open season! Perhaps for good reason though. I can see all sides of the argument. However I am convinced that when all this crap is over BA will be better than ever. I believe there’s room for BA and the low cost carriers, each offering different products to different types of passenger.

I took an Easyjet flight to BCN last year with a group of friends from LTN and I was very impressed. I only paid £90.00 return for a firm seat, really good value. Mind you two things made me laugh about the British, (like myself) two women sat behind me were moaning that they had to pay for soft drinks and there was no meal, checkin at BCN was very very slow as only one checkin agent for two flights, LTN and LPL. It took well over an hour to check us all in. Across the terminal, 50 yards away at the BA desk, 6 checkin staff and just a few passenger waiting for no more than 10 – 15 minutes. Again several passengers were moaning, somebody should tell them, erm…that’s why it’s cheap, you get what you pay for, Easyjet probably only pay for one checkin agent but it gets the job done, it just takes longer. Some passengers, they want it cheap but still all the frills!!! My experience with them was very good. Can’t say the same for FR though but that’s anther story!!!