British Crap -ways!

Written by Spy from the blog BRITISH CRAP-WAYS on 06 Dec 2007
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I am really and truly disturbed by a recent personal bad experience that I had whilst flying on BA 6221 yesterday [04/12/2007] on business. I checked in my luggage at the check in point and carried with me, hand luggage which was my laptop bag with my valuables which I did not want to go through the check in point.

I board the shuttle which takes us to the plane that we were boarding. As we disembark this shuttle, there is BA staff at the foot of the steps of the plane taking our laptop bags and giving us what they call LOFO red tags with serial numbers to enable you to claim your hand luggage at the foot of the stairs again upon arrival at your destination. When I asked as to why they were doing this, they said the over head compartments were full. Now I complied and they took my hand luggage, the plane was late so everything was happening so fast that it did not click at that time that I need to be extra cautious, not that they gave me an option.

Upon arrival, I realise much later in the evening that my cellphone,cash in my wallet and 30GB iPod [not belonging to me :-(] was stolen from my laptop bag. I call the lost baggage claims dept the next day as they were already closed and I speak to the Supervisor on duty Ms Angela May and she very candidly tells me that I must refer to the terms and conditions on their website. She goes on in a sarcastic voice to say "don't you have personal insurance" as if that was not enough, go and open a case but there is nothing we can do, this is an on going problem.

Now for an organisation to assume this stance of not taking responsibility and accountability is rather concerning. Surely at some point British Airways along with the other airlines need to exercise stronger and stringent measures of ENSURING that firstly their passengers are SAFE and their items are SAFE from theft! It is not acceptable for an organisation to just have an attitude of "sorry for you, its not our baby, better luck next time"

When I was flying back to Jhb, the same thing was being done and boy did they get it from me this time around cause I gave them their line "sorry you are not taking my luggage cause when its lost you will refer me to the terms and conditions on the website" The nerve!

So basically guys I am advising you to try and travel light or just enough to carry your luggage into the cabin. DON'T allow any staff to take you luggage from you cause they will not take any accountability for anything. Yes the overhead compartments now are generally full due to the trend of people not being at ease with the safety of their luggage and the amount of time you spend waiting for your luggage when you have landed.

British Airways being a global airline is rather shocking, so my friends please do warn your loved ones and be more vigilant! If things could go my way, I would ground them permanently! I am feeling rather defeated at the moment as it seems as though as this stage the consumer/customer/passenger has absolutely no right or leg to stand on! We are just being done unfairly by British Airways and I am going to do my level best to try and get to someone who will listen to my case and do something!

The war has begun! I have sent them a letter of complaint on line, hellopeter.com has received my letter, Morning Live is next, the newspapers are next and the list goes on...until somebody listens...forward this note to your network of people!

14 Comments

Spy
06 Dec 2007 01:13

Morning bloggers,
If anyone has experienced such revolting service from this vultures - kindly speak up! We want to hear your story! And please advise on what can be done from here onwards.

Floh
06 Dec 2007 04:19

Sorry Spy for the bad experience you had encountered, and you also did the good thing for reporting them.

My experience with them is the opposite from yours cause I was treated fairly and with care they are even in my number one list together with Emirates.

Spy
06 Dec 2007 05:38

Well i thought they were the best airline as well. But nothing has been done about this. My spirit is broken. Thank you kindly for your response...

sweetie my baby
06 Dec 2007 07:46

hey, i feel your pain man... virgin nigeria did this to me and my friend, with R3000 worth of beautiful artwork. they insisted on checking it into business class compartments (we were in economy) and told us we'd get it when we got off the plane in jozi...well, that was the last we heard of that. they were kind, but basically were like 'sorry - ish happens'.... the irritation! everytime i look at my bare walls, i curse virgin nigeria...

J-Girl
06 Dec 2007 07:57

virgin nigeria - the name does sound rather dodgy i wouldnt have used them to start of with, phofu anything ene nigeria phakathi is suspect to me, uxolo kwama nige nabajola nama nige but ah ah!
haddey for the bad experiences guys kodwa nhe!

Bra Bizza
06 Dec 2007 13:38

this happens all the time and if you dont give them that attitude that you'r not gonna take their *bleep!* the more likely they'll listen to you....and i'm booked on BA this coming sunday and i thought they were better than SAA... the big problem is that the people handling the luggage are a separate company and all airlines use this company but what i fail to understand is after all this theft that is reported daily i'm sure by now they should have cameras installed and taking to account that airport taxes have increased where are they spending their money?? flying was supposed to be a pleasant experience but mina this days i have attitude with them from the moment i check in right up to when i disembark cause you pay *bleep!* loads of money and all you get is SORRY.

Sdakamiswa
06 Dec 2007 14:03

ive never flown BA, i thought they'd be better than the rest or is it a case of they are potrayed to b, sounds like ziyafana zonke these airlines, zinamasela qha.... abasisi bazenza betere bazi air hostess, babizwa ntoni khona ngoku cabin whatever..... bandivimba i Johnnie Walker the other time ndiku economy ndibuyela back apha egoli ndabe ndandiyinikiwe ku business class ngokuya ndandisehla, benza ingathi ayikho..... priks

Bra Bizza
06 Dec 2007 14:23

and these cabin crew....especially the chics...you could swear that its their farthers in the cockpit by the way they behave...i have lost my utmost respect for all these people from the ntshingilanes when you go through those gates to everyone with fake smiles...

Nanana
06 Dec 2007 15:28

British Airways is getting over their heards,SPY,now that there is so much hype about the air industry,get a private jet ,its always on time.I use mine all the time and there are no hiccups (Jokes,ooh how I wish)

I think you should complain to the Civil Association (not sure this is the name,but its the people investigating the Nationwide saga).I think now they are on radar,your complaints will be met with prompt response.The thing is about the Morning Live and some other shows,they will probably incorporate it into something else and it wont receive the undivided attention you seek.I can just imagine some presenter laughing it off like one of those airport dramas.I feel your pain yazi,Sorry ne.Next time,be firm and no negotiations with some wanna be bimbos.I just hate it when these security people behave as if the world starts and ends in their fat asses.Xhnxhh

Nanana
06 Dec 2007 15:29

British Airways is getting over their heads (oops grammar Nanana)

sweetie my baby
06 Dec 2007 22:39

J-girl, you're so wrong - LOL! Virgin Nigeria is actually one of the best continentally - it's Richard Bransons partnership with Nigeria, and usually it's quite good - phela Nigeria doesn't have a national airline, so they all use private carriers...but on this one, they really dropped the ball. thanx for the condolences....

please can i hitch a ride on your private fly machine sometime???

WhiteSockGirl
07 Dec 2007 05:53

Bra Bizza: 'flying was supposed to be a pleasant experience'
Pleasant experience? Not for this bitch. I HATE FLYING. I am one of those people that believe if God wanted me to fly, He would have supplied me with the necessary equipment,.. the wings.
Unfortunately, my job requires frequent travel… And I am the kinda of bitch that does not shy away from a challenge,.. facing my fears.

'from the moment i check in right up to when i disembark cause you pay *bleep!* loads of money and all you get is SORRY'
I frequently fly Air Namibia, SAA and BA… and the service stinks on each and every one of them. From the moment, you check-in (and not even get a hallo… and well, just to piss them off I go all chirpy on them. Nothing irritates a lemon more than a happy person) and during the flight… the waitresses with the I-am-so-much-better-than-you-because-I-have-a-nametag attitude just have the ability to… I play the difficult customer all the way… very demanding. Yeah,… I don’t like them.
The only thing I like about flying is that 99,95% of my flights transit through JHB airport and I LOVE THAT AIRPORT.

My flying checklist: (traveling in Africa can be interesting and not in a nice way)
- Never, ever, book luggage all the way through to destination. Pick them up at every transit point
- Take as hand luggage : one pair of underwear, a set of clothes, tooth brush, face cloth, tooth paste and soap
- Never store hand luggage and laptop out of side – should be in my eyesight during the flight. If the overhead compartment is full, then store it at my feet
- NOTE TO MYSELF: I PAID FOR THE TICKET AND AS SUCH I AM ENTITLED TO SERVICE!

Integrity30
19 Mar 2012 17:57

Integrity30
19 Mar 2012 18:02

They are a National Embarrassment but they do have a good safety record and as long as they can trade on that they will probably survive. I'm sure they have some good points but problem is first impressions count. Someone ought to tell that to those training the staff.

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