Civil War at British Airways
So I flew back into Heathrow Airport last night, on a flight which was somewhat delayed in taking off by the late inbound aircraft and bad weather. Due to limited restrictions on the way in, the actual landing time was only around fifteen minutes later than scheduled, which was an unexpected bonus.
But then at the stand we waited and then waited some more. Eventually, the pilot announced (and I quote as directly as I can):
"We're very sorry for the delay ladies and gentlemen, but unfortunately we're having to deal with what we're incrasingly coming to expect when flying into Heathrow, which is that we do our very best to get you here on time and safe, and then we're let down by our own British Airways colleagues on the ground. Unfortunately your flight and cabin crews, who have worked our ten hours with the specific aim of getting you to where you want to go on time, have no control over the impression of BA that you're left with, caused by the ground staff."
I was horrified. Okay, so you might think it. You might even say it, either to your fellow flying crew or even to the managers of the ground staff, but you never, ever try to pin the blame for a problem on your colleagues when talking to your customers. It's just not done. And once upon a time at BA it absolutely wouldn't have been.
Not the kind of person I'd like to work with.
December 13th, 2006 - 21:07
But then BA does suck…..