Air Travel

Question:

>Can anyone tell me if there’s a British Airways home page that can be >accessed through LYNX ? (or a database containg Airline data, such as the >number of flights each airline makes between B.C. and London. I’m currently >attending a travel college that requires me to do a class project. My >project is actually an assignment to convince tourist to visit London, >but I’d like to do a little more that a basic brochure.

Try http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/misc/uk/london.html for a lot of info on London. BA home page, will be up by end August – URL not clear yet, as Bell Atlantic got www.ba.com! If you want flight schedules – try one of the travel agency sites such as PCTravel ot Internet Travel Network (find them in Yahoo).

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Cook) writes: >Can anyone tell me if there’s a British Airways home page that can be >accessed through LYNX ? (or a database containg Airline data, such as the >number of flights each airline makes between B.C. and London. I’m currently >attending a travel college that requires me to do a class project. My >project is actually an assignment to convince tourist to visit London, >but I’d like to do a little more that a basic brochure. >Try http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/misc/uk/london.html for a lot of info on London. BA home page, >will be up by end August – URL not clear yet, as Bell Atlantic got www.ba.com! >If you want flight schedules – try one of the travel agency sites such as PCTravel >ot Internet Travel Network (find them in Yahoo).

Did you ever think about http://www.ba.co.uk?  (After all, they are in the UK :>)   (anxiously awaiting the world favourite airline online…) –Jake Allan

Response:

Can anyone tell me if there’s a British Airways home page that can be accessed through LYNX ? (or a database containg Airline data, such as the number of flights each airline makes between B.C. and London. I’m currently attending a travel college that requires me to do a class project. My project is actually an assignment to convince tourist to visit London, but I’d like to do a little more that a basic brochure.

Response:

As far as I am aware, BA will have a home page soon.  I imagine it will be accessible using any browser….but switch to Netscape, its the best. — Best Regards, Addison Schonland Phone (619) 637-4000 Fax (619) 637-4040

Response:

[This followup was posted to rec.travel.air and a copy was sent to the cited author.]  I had BA cancell my flight on the concorde and they didn’t bother to call me. Hmmm I was thrilled when I got to the airport.  "no you dont need to reconfirm" said the BA agents that I spoke to…..

Response:

That’s also what they say on their web site. Frank Matthews – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > [This followup was posted to rec.travel.air and a copy was sent to the > cited author.] >  I had BA cancell my flight on the concorde and they didn’t bother to > call me. Hmmm I was thrilled when I got to the airport. >  "no you dont need to reconfirm" said the BA agents that I spoke to…..

Response:

[This followup was posted to rec.travel.air and a copy was sent to the cited author.] @aol.com says… > Sorry to hear about your BA problems.  BTW, what city is ARN?

ARN is Stockholm – ARlaNda. /P-O — Per-Olof Litby Product Mgr, Microsoft Nordic, Box 27, 16493 Kista, Sweden Mobile +46 70 452-2885 As I have discovered by examining my past, I started out as a child.

Response:

Stockholm-Arlanda, Sweden. Also known as ESSA. -Preston – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > … > Sorry to hear about your BA problems.  BTW, what city is ARN?

Response:

> I just got back from my LAX-LHR-ARN flight on BA, and this time they didn’t > cancel any flights But, on the other hand, they lost my bags. > This is the third time in a row BA screws up. The previous times: > December 1998, LAX-LHR-ARN: They lost my bags, got them back after christmas… > January 1999, ARN-LHR-LAX: The first flight was cancelled because of technical problems, so I was rerouted ARN-LHR-JFK-LAX and was supposed to be able to > take the late flight from JFK so I would arrive at LAX _only_ 8 hours late. > Of course, the LHR-JFK flight was delayed (technical problems), so I had to > spend the night in NY. Arrived in LA approx. 20 hours later than I was > supposed to do. > Anyone else who has bad experiences from BA?

Sounds like par for the course to me. — Regards from Bill a.k.a.

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My Friends had the same expierience in January, flying to YVR – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I just got back from my LAX-LHR-ARN flight on BA, and this time they didn’t > cancel any flights But, on the other hand, they lost my bags. > This is the third time in a row BA screws up. The previous times: > December 1998, LAX-LHR-ARN: They lost my bags, got them back after christmas… > January 1999, ARN-LHR-LAX: The first flight was cancelled because of technical problems, so I was rerouted ARN-LHR-JFK-LAX and was supposed to be able to > take the late flight from JFK so I would arrive at LAX _only_ 8 hours late. > Of course, the LHR-JFK flight was delayed (technical problems), so I had to > spend the night in NY. Arrived in LA approx. 20 hours later than I was > supposed to do. > Anyone else who has bad experiences from BA?

Response:

I just got back from my LAX-LHR-ARN flight on BA, and this time they didn’t cancel any flights But, on the other hand, they lost my bags. This is the third time in a row BA screws up. The previous times: December 1998, LAX-LHR-ARN: They lost my bags, got them back after christmas… January 1999, ARN-LHR-LAX: The first flight was cancelled because of technical problems, so I was rerouted ARN-LHR-JFK-LAX and was supposed to be able to take the late flight from JFK so I would arrive at LAX _only_ 8 hours late. Of course, the LHR-JFK flight was delayed (technical problems), so I had to spend the night in NY. Arrived in LA approx. 20 hours later than I was supposed to do. Anyone else who has bad experiences from BA?

Response:

>I just got back from my LAX-LHR-ARN flight on BA, and this time they didn’t >cancel any flights But, on the other hand, they lost my bags. >This is the third time in a row BA screws up. The previous times:

<snip> Begs the question, why do ytou continue flying with them instead of SAS, or are you tied to them by miles or company policy? replace royaumeuni with the abbreviation of the U_nited K_ingdom of England, Scotland, Wales & N. Ireland  to reply

Response:

Fortunately I have had nothing but good experiences with BA.  I usually travel the EWR-LHR-LGW-VRN route. Even with the transfer from LHR to LGW I have never had any problems.  The flights to Verona are quick and easy and are never crowded. Sorry to hear about your BA problems.  BTW, what city is ARN?

Response:

I have flown on British Airways from the US to France, Germany and England in the past.  All of the British Airways legs were staffed by friendly people who did have the British style that BA is famous for. I fly US Airways often in the US and have usually good experiences there as well but sometimes get the F/A from hell or a gate agent who has had a rough year, etc.  But the bottom line has been that most people are concerned about making the customer happy. I just try to take whatever comes my way and roll with it.  I wouldn’t give up on British Airways if I were you because they are a great airline, IMHO, and can provide good service. John Gray – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I just returned from England and one of the legs on my trip (Manchester > to Heathrow) involved a BA flight.  The contrast with all my other > flights this trip (on United Airlines) was dramatic.  The agent on check > in was extremely rude to my wife; I asked a question of another agent > and was met with an annoyed stare and a terse remark; the reading of the > emergency procedures on the plane was bizarre in its’ lack of any > feeling; the "snack" was horrible; the general attitude of the > attendants ranged from bored to just plain rude. > The whole experience was in such contrast to the overall demeanor of the > British people and the United Airlines staff.  I had figured that > British Airways would reflect the efficiency, friendliness and courtesy > that I experienced throughout all of my stays in England. > I was wrong, and won’t make the mistake again. > Thanx > Stan

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I just returned from England and one of the legs on my trip > (Manchester > to Heathrow) involved a BA flight.  The contrast with all my other > flights this trip (on United Airlines) was dramatic.  The agent on > check > in was extremely rude to my wife; I asked a question of another agent > and was met with an annoyed stare and a terse remark; the reading of > the > emergency procedures on the plane was bizarre in its’ lack of any > feeling; the "snack" was horrible; the general attitude of the > attendants ranged from bored to just plain rude. > The whole experience was in such contrast to the overall demeanor of > the > British people and the United Airlines staff.  I had figured that > British Airways would reflect the efficiency, friendliness and > courtesy > that I experienced throughout all of my stays in England. > I was wrong, and won’t make the mistake again. > Thanx > Stan

Are there two British Airways??? The folks here in Houston and on flights to & from Gatwick have always been quite pleasant.  The flights are crowded in summer & the staff are sometimes harried but quite pleasant. Frank Matthews

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I just returned from England and one of the legs on my trip (Manchester to Heathrow) involved a BA flight.  The contrast with all my other flights this trip (on United Airlines) was dramatic.  The agent on check in was extremely rude to my wife; I asked a question of another agent and was met with an annoyed stare and a terse remark; the reading of the emergency procedures on the plane was bizarre in its’ lack of any feeling; the "snack" was horrible; the general attitude of the attendants ranged from bored to just plain rude.   The whole experience was in such contrast to the overall demeanor of the British people and the United Airlines staff.  I had figured that British Airways would reflect the efficiency, friendliness and courtesy that I experienced throughout all of my stays in England. I was wrong, and won’t make the mistake again. Thanx Stan

Response:

>you that probably a million others just like it have been written about >every airline. When you are traveling AD50/75 ID90 you are gonna get a >back seat at the end of the shift/the last flight whatever. You just >simply shouldn’t expect to get treated like a revenue passenger. Pay >Anyway, it’s been going that way for many years…and it’s probably not >gonna change.

Sad, but true. I don’t think it’s anything to do with what you pay, though. More of a culture thing. Us Brits just aren’t as good at customer service as Americans, not usually. Last trip I made on BA was a cut-rate fare, and my "window seat" going out was beside a blank wall, while the return trip was in "steerage" with the off-duty stewardesses etc. (Not that I minded – and the fare was right). But the contrast with free (frequent flyer) trips on NorthWest was considerable. —

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> Well certainly if you want your letter to receive any attention at all > you shouldn’t post it in some obscure corner of the net.  You should > bring it right out into the bright daylight where everyone can see it. > There, I’ve done you the favor.  I think your letter deserves it.

Truthfully there is really no point in such a letter because I assure you that probably a million others just like it have been written about every airline. When you are traveleing AD50/75 ID90 you are gonna get a back seat at the end of the shift/the last flight whatever. You just simply shouldn’t expect to get treated like a revenue passenger. Pay full price and you WILL get treated like one. They know that your dissatisfaction isn’t really gonna change how much business you do with them in the long run. If that was the case then agents here in the US would have put DL out of business years ago just out of spite. They have what you need and a lot of the time you can’t make your passengers use another carrier. Anyway, it’s been going that way for many years…and it’s probably not gonna change. Andrew Williams Global Link Travel Network

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>Oh No!  I just booked my flight to France on British Airways.   Oh well, I >guess I can survive 2 flights, but hope it’s better when I fly than what you >experienced

I flew with BA last week, and had nothing to complain about. In fact, I have trouble finding any real difference between any of the airlines. Perhaps I am too focussed on getting to my destination than worrying about adequate locker space. (…and I have certainly flown enough of them!) — — DFM – http://www.deepfriedmars.com — —

Response:

>I just feel he’s making a big fuss over nothing. So what if they let >everyone board at once? He had just as much time to find his way onto the >plane as everyone else. He’s the one who decided to wait until most of the >other passengers had boarded. No one was holding him back. >Richard

Considering what the stupid tw(vowel)t wrote, its patently obvious that he is not a very regular air traveller.

Response:

And I’ve seen *very few* rude FA’s on any airline.  But most seem to get a bit testy when someone gets loud & obnoxious. I flew last summer from Dammam, Saudi Arabia to Frankfurt on Lufthansa with my cat in business class.  The leg from Dammam to Dubai was fine, the flight attendents were very friendly.  At Dubai, the crew was changed, and at first they were also very friendly, that is, until they asked me if I would change from my window to another aisle seat.  Not wishing to further strain the cat, I declined.  After that, I was virtually ignored.  It had nothing to do with my behavior, it was just because I wouldn’t go along with their request.  I find some people in the airline industry unwilling to be helpful, and many down right obnoxious. Once when flying to Steamboat Springs from Denver on United Express, it was foggy in the morning and flights were delayed or canceled.  The staff made no effort at all (actually virtually refused to help) to get on another flight.  After making several inquiries over several hours and getting no response except just wait, I noticed flights departing again to Steamboat Springs.  Counting the number of passengers, I realized that they were only half full.  I went up and inquired again, and they sent me to another gate where I got a boarding pass immediately.  The person in front of me asked innocently about his luggage, and the woman at the counter exploded and virtually accused him of assaulting her, and said something about not allowing him on the plane because of his obnoxious behavior.  She was the only obnoxious one.  If she had been a man, and he didn’t slug her, I would have. Nobody deserves to be treated like that, and I was going to also ask the same question.  I can’t imagine letting anybody like that deal with the public.  And when I got to Steamboat Springs, there was my suitcase sitting in the middle of the floor, probably for hours, waiting for somebody to walk off with it. George

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That is odd, I have flown with BA, Luftansa, AA, Continental, and US Air, and BA was one of the best experiences other than Luftansa. My last transcontinental flight was in 1998. Has flying become such an ordeal in 7 years? Anyone else have the same experiences with BA?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> April 1, 2005 > Mr.Martin Broughton > Chairman > British Airways PLC > Waterside > PO Box 365 > Harmondsworth, West Drayton > Middlesex UB7 0GB > Dear Mr. Broughton: > Re: British Airways service > My wife and I went to Venice on March 7 for a few days to celebrate our > wedding anniversary.  We had a very good time and thoroughly enjoyed > ourselves.  Unfortunately we travelled on British Airways which was not > enjoyable. > Most airlines have worked out that it is more convenient for passengers to > be boarded by rows so that people who sit close to the front of the plane > don