gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 8601 times:
British Airways, Milan - London
After a pleasant few days in Milan, it was time to head back to London. I had booked the outbound flight from London to Milan on BD/LH . The fares and times made booking two one ways better than a return with just one airline.
The map
I caught the airport bus back from Centrale Station to Malpensa. MXP is quite a distance from Milan, and the ride took around an hour.
Centrale Station
The bus
MXP exterior. A Jet Airways A330 is just landing
The walk from the bus drop off to the BA check in was long. The check in areas.
There was an extra security point where I was asked which airline and flight I was on before being let through. The BA check in area was with US airlines’. I had stopped at the BA ticket desk before checking in to see if they needed volunteers to take the later flight, but was told that the flight was full, bit not overbooked. There were three desks open, one for Club Europe, one for online check in, and one for Euro Traveller. I used the latter as there was no queue. The whole area was very empty.
My bag was tagged quickly with a ‘heavy’ label, although no priority tag. I’m not sure if this made a difference to how the bag was eventually handled.
From check in, I headed back to the main check in area, then down to the security area.
Views from the check in level
Security took around 15 minutes, after which, I headed for immigration (no queue), and then onto the BA lounge.
Non-Schengen area
FIDS
The BA and AZ lounges were at the top of a lounge escalator. The sign at the bottom indicated that the lounge had been upgraded to a Galleries Lounge (from the older Terraces style)
The reality at the top was that is was still the un-refurbished Terraces lounge. There was a bit of a queue to get in, but after my name was checked off a printed list, I was allowed in. the lounge was very busy, and didn’t have many empty seats. I can’t imagine what it would be like around lunchtime when AA and CX passengers are also using this lounge.
I helped myself to a G&T, and then a couple of very nice sandwiches.
The Independent
Wifi was free, but you needed to go to the reception desk, where you needed to give your passport info. Way too much hassle just to check your emails. Bizarrely, even the desktops in the lounge needed a wifi card.
Location
Overall, I felt that the lounge offerings were poor, and the lounge could definitely use a refit.
Half an hour before departure, I made my way down to the gate, where a crowd of people were handing around. I managed to time my arrival to the start of boarding.
Unfortunately, the crew weren’t ready for us, so we were kept waiting on the airbridge.
July 2011
Milan Malpensa (MXP) – London Heathrow (LHR)
British Airways BA567
Scheduled: 1900-2000 (2h00m)
Actual: 1913-1954 (1h43m)
A320 G-EUUK
This flight would be operated by G-EUUK, a nice reg for an integrated Europe I think! This was also the very first aircraft that I purposefully logged the reg of, enroute from LHR-EDI back in 2007, so it was nice to have another ride on her.
I had managed to snag the window seat behind Club, which has both business class legroom and width (no middle seat).
The plane gradually filled up – not a spare seat left. We pushed back at 1900, and taxied to the active.
Around fifteen minutes after departure, the onboard service started. Being sat in the front row, I was one of the first to be served – the usual G&T for me, and some water. My neighbour was offered a choice of snack, but I was given a bag of Doormen crackers without any other options.
I spent the flight sipping on my G&T, and listening to music.
With a year to go before the Olympics, BA had a special feature in High Life
Part of the European network. Looks like BA have dropped GVA!
Legroom
Moving map
As we started our descent into LHR, an arrivals video was played
Approach into LHR
Windsor Castle
The reservoirs around LHR. When I was a child, I used to think that the reservoirs were there especially to supply LHR with water for those little cuplets you used to get with meals!
Welcome to London, a few minutes early
We took a rather long tour around to the B Satellite of T5. The captain came on the blower to inform us that the ground crew hadn’t turned on the parking guidance system, so we had to wait five minutes before we could properly pull onto stand. Once that had been sorted, we were told that there weren’t any airbridge operators available, so it took a twenty minutes from arrival on stand to disembarkation, which really isn’t good enough for BA at T5, especially as we arrived on stand exactly on time.
From our stand at the far end of ‘B’, it was a five minute walk to the transit to the main terminal.
Some interesting facts
There was quite a queue for immigration, before I finally got to the baggage hall fifteen minutes after disembarkation.
Despite there being quite a few empty belts, our flight shared a belt with around five others. Bags kept coming out, mostly for other flights. I kept checking for a change in assigned belt, or for some bags from the Milan flight. After around ten minutes, bags from the BA567 started coming out. By this time I was rather fed up of the pointless waiting, and went over to the well staffed, but empty baggage enquiries desk. I said that I thought my bag might have gone AWOL, which was quickly confirmed. Great. The guy there said that it had been tagged in MXP, but never loaded. No explanation as to why. I wasn’t offered any assistance, just given a form to look through, and told that the bag would probably be on the next flight, and then couriered to my house.
With all the time taken to get off the plane, to the main terminal, and file my bag claim, I ended up leaving the terminal just as the penultimate bus of the night home happened to be leaving.
I consoled myself on the bus home with my angry birds, my snacks from the plane, and the knowledge that I didn’t have to look after my suitcase!
After a brief shopping trip to replace some essentials, I spent three days getting very little information out of BA. Their Worldtracer online system had no useful information. I called the baggage line, and was told that they were still looking for the bag. On the third day of loss, I got a text message from BA at 7am saying “Subject to conditions – forwarding to delivery airport on board BA567”. I wasn’t sure what to make of that. It didn’t really say anything. Why text me at 7am saying that the bag was being loading onto a 7pm flight, when there are 5/6 flights a day? Anyway, the next say, my bag was finally delivered around noon. Not impressed. I’ve submitted my claim for emergency shopping, but haven’t hear anything back from BA yet.
So, overall, the BA flight was a rather disappointing experience. The lounge in MXP is in desperate need to a make over. The arrival experience was awful. How can it take BA staff 20+ minutes to get staff to a gate for an on time scheduled flight? And if BA’s computers could tell that a bag had been tagged, but wasn’t loaded onto the flight, why was I left to wait for twenty minutes at the baggage belt before having to get them to check, instead of the compute not automatically informing them to tell me? Not impressed! I’ve got a few more BA flights booked over the next few months before my Silver status expires, including LHR-CPH, GOT-LHR at the end of the month, so hopefully my bag will be luckier then!
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 3, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 7871 times:
Hi Gab,
Nice pint-sized report on your return journey. Looks like a pretty standard BA intra-European flight, although I'm still quite buggered that they just provide some nuts or such on these under 2h flights. A small sandwich wouldn't cost that much, would it?
Sorry for your bag going missing, but these things happen. Luckily you got it back. Hopefully nothing was missing - my friend got his laptop stolen from his bag at FRA just a while ago!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): MXP is quite a distance from Milan, and the ride took around an hour.
Did you check fares from LIN? It's much closer but not a particularly nice airport, not that Malpensa is, either!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The reality at the top was that is was still the un-refurbished Terraces lounge.
Maybe they hoped nobody would notice?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter):
Wifi was free, but you needed to go to the reception desk, where you needed to give your passport info. Way too much hassle just to check your emails
That's curious! Maybe somebody had been using their wifi to send some hatemail or whatever and they now wanted a trace for all users. I actually had to submit my ID card when depositing my bag at the left luggage office at Verona train station last week... Kinda weird since if my bag would've had "a device" I think the cupboard where the agent put the paper copy of it would've been blown to kingdom come with it...
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): My neighbour was offered a choice of snack, but I was given a bag of Doormen crackers without any other options.
Weird. And a bit unacceptable, really. You should've filled a comment card in your usual style!
Some beautiful shots of the setting sun there, mate!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): When I was a child, I used to think that the reservoirs were there especially to supply LHR with water for those little cuplets you used to get with meals!
Oh, that's so cute! Is that the reason you stick to your G&Ts onboard nowadays?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I’ve submitted my claim for emergency shopping, but haven’t hear anything back from BA yet.
Usually they only pay for your shopping at your destination, not your home place. I guess the assumption is that you should have enough spare necessities at your house without whatever was in your lost bag.
In the event the back goes AWOL and doesn't come back they will then compensate you for the contents, but usually that's based only on a weight concept (i.e. a fixed monetary amount per kg)...
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 5, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 7725 times:
Quoting aerocabin (Reply 2): is it not BA policy to provide any vouchers or immediate compensation when a bag goes missing?
Maybe they do on the outbound leg. Not sure. my bag was lost a few years ago on a MAN-LHR-EDI-INV flight, and I wasn't given a voucher, even though I don't live anywhere near INV.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): Looks like a pretty standard BA intra-European flight, although I'm still quite buggered that they just provide some nuts or such on these under 2h flights. A small sandwich wouldn't cost that much, would it?
Yeah, just a bag of nuts isn't really a snack.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): Hopefully nothing was missing - my friend got his laptop stolen from his bag at FRA just a while ago!
No nothing missing, everything arrived intact. Lucky I used a hard case for this trip though - I was transporting quite a lot of liquid back with me! All that sparkling red wine and beer!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): Did you check fares from LIN? It's much closer but not a particularly nice airport, not that Malpensa is, either!
Yeah, MXP was cheaper. I managed to get the last cheap seat on the 1900 flight too, so was happy with that.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): Weird. And a bit unacceptable, really. You should've filled a comment card in your usual style!
Well, luckily, I was emailed a comment card after the flight - I had plenty of say, not much of it complimentary.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): Some beautiful shots of the setting sun there, mate!
Thanks!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3): Oh, that's so cute! Is that the reason you stick to your G&Ts onboard nowadays?
One of them!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 3):
Usually they only pay for your shopping at your destination, not your home place. I guess the assumption is that you should have enough spare necessities at your house without whatever was in your lost bag.
In the event the back goes AWOL and doesn't come back they will then compensate you for the contents, but usually that's based only on a weight concept (i.e. a fixed monetary amount per kg)...
Well, I did ask a lady on the phone who said I could buy emergency stuff to be refunded. No mention of outbound only. As it was, I bought a new toothrbush, shaver etc, which is just as well as the bag spent 72 hours in MXP for no reason. Also, no apology from BA. And I'm still pissed that they knew the bag hadn't been loaded in MXP, yet just made me wait at the belt in LHR. Grrrr
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 4):
bad to hear how BA reacted after the bag loading mishap. And I'm not impressed at all by the catering. BA could learn a lesson from LH.
BA could definately learn a few tricks from LH. Although having said that, on LH, there are no spirits in shorthual Y.
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1213 posts, RR: 29 Reply 6, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 7480 times:
Hello Gabriel,
Although a not-so-good experience, it was still and enjoyable story. You know every airline screws things up sometimes, I've had my bag lost on IB some 5 years ago on arrival into LIM. That was not too plesant either. But the situation was dealt with fast and efficiently and I had my bag the next day with the next flight.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I’m not sure if this made a difference to how the bag was eventually handled.
It would be mistreated anyhow
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I helped myself to a G&T, and then a couple of very nice sandwiches.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): With all the time taken to get off the plane, to the main terminal, and file my bag claim, I ended up leaving the terminal just as the penultimate bus of the night home happened to be leaving.
Yep, thes things consume a lot of time and even more frustration unfortunately...
717Flyer From Finland, joined Jun 2011, 303 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 7257 times:
Hi Gabriel!
Well, here it is, the continuation of your story! Yet another nice report, thanks!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The fares and times made booking two one ways better than a return with just one airline.
Well, isn't it the golden rule that 'never fly the same airline twice'?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): MXP is quite a distance from Milan, and the ride took around an hour.
When looking for flights to/from MIL I always prefer to look for LIN first, even though the flight options are more limited from there - mostly for it being closer to the town than MXP.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I had stopped at the BA ticket desk before checking in to see if they needed volunteers to take the later flight, but was told that the flight was full, bit not overbooked
Thumbs up, that's something I do every time I fly. Of course I do not enjoy getting those weird looks you get all too often when asking such a question - but who knows when an opportunity comes.
If you refer to those pictured on your photo, I really can't say they would be sandwiches. They're croissants. Even though the fillings make them more "sandwich-like". That's my opinion in the matter.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): This was also the very first aircraft that I purposefully logged the reg of, enroute from LHR-EDI back in 2007, so it was nice to have another ride on her.
That's a nice fact. However it seems your second flight on her was a bit more disappointing than the first time.
Personally, I would have preferred a new reg, you know.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): My neighbour was offered a choice of snack, but I was given a bag of Doormen crackers without any other options.
That's unacceptable! Even though it's a detail we're talking about it surely shouldn't be so. Or perhaps British Airways educates their cabin crew members so well that they could observe that "this gentleman surely needs a salty snack".
Well perhaps from the route map - but sure not from their real operations. It wasn't many hours since I was looking at those flights myself.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Not impressed! I’ve got a few more BA flights booked over the next few months before my Silver status expires, including LHR-CPH, GOT-LHR at the end of the month, so hopefully my bag will be luckier then!
I surely hope your next flights with BA are going to be far more positive experiences. Anyway it was nice to follow your journey, looking forward to your upcoming stories!
Palmjet From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1053 posts, RR: 16 Reply 8, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 7080 times:
Hi Gabriel - nice to see Part II of your report. Thanks for posting this. Have not been to Milan (yet) although it looks like a good place to visit. Sorry to read about your baggage hassle on the return. That must be some kind of record surely in terms of getting your bag back to you. It's not like you passed through any connecting points enroute - it was a point to point flight!! I thought SAS were bad when they managed to leave my bag behind at LCY a few years ago, and I spent the weekend in CPH sans clothes - but at least I got my bag back within 48 hours! Thanks again for your report - I have also thought of going to GOT - are you planning to do a report? Please !?
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 9, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 7003 times:
Quoting sultanils (Reply 6):
Although a not-so-good experience, it was still and enjoyable story.
Quoting sultanils (Reply 6):
I can't imagine that, have they really?
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 7): Well perhaps from the route map - but sure not from their real operations. It wasn't many hours since I was looking at those flights myself.
No, someone just missed it off the map - wonder how they managed that
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 7):
Well, here it is, the continuation of your story! Yet another nice report, thanks!
Thanks!
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 7):
Well, isn't it the golden rule that 'never fly the same airline twice'?
Welll I;ve flown both BA and LH many times before, so that rule doesn;t work here!
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 7): When looking for flights to/from MIL I always prefer to look for LIN first, even though the flight options are more limited from there - mostly for it being closer to the town than MXP.
I checked out LIN. Being a more convenient airport, it was more expensive
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 7):
If you refer to those pictured on your photo, I really can't say they would be sandwiches. They're croissants. Even though the fillings make them more "sandwich-like". That's my opinion in the matter.
Well, sandwich to me = bread-type carb filled with stuff. Easier than saying croissant filled with Parma ham!
Quoting 717Flyer (Reply 7):
That's a nice fact. However it seems your second flight on her was a bit more disappointing than the first time.
Personally, I would have preferred a new reg, you know.
Actually, something I'd forgotten about before, but the last time my bag was lost on BA was on this EXACT SAME AIRCRAFT! After getting off her in EDI, my bag spent 3 days waiting before flying up to INV! It's also gone AWOL before, once on AF (spend 5 days in CDG), and once in VIE with OS (but only stayed there for a couple of hours).
Quoting Palmjet (Reply 8): Have not been to Milan (yet) although it looks like a good place to visit.
Yeah, Milan is nice
Quoting Palmjet (Reply 8): I have also thought of going to GOT - are you planning to do a report? Please !?
Well, I'm travelling with a friend, so not sure if I want to look too geeky to him or not. Probably will do one though! I'm keen to see what the GOT lounge is like.
Palmjet From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1053 posts, RR: 16 Reply 10, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 6711 times:
Quote: Well, I'm travelling with a friend, so not sure if I want to look too geeky to him or not. Probably will do one though! I'm keen to see what the GOT lounge is like.
Oh go on...! Now's the time to reveal your inner avia geek to your friend! I am sure he/she won't mind!!
BAViscount From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 2338 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 6587 times:
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I said that I thought my bag might have gone AWOL, which was quickly confirmed. Great. The guy there said that it had been tagged in MXP, but never loaded. No explanation as to why. I wasn’t offered any assistance, just given a form to look through, and told that the bag would probably be on the next flight, and then couriered to my house.
The same thing happened to me last year when I was working in Amsterdam and was flying a lot between LHR and AMS. On this particular Friday evening I flew home on the penultimate BA flight, however my bag didn't. I was told that it would probably arrive on the next flight, although of course that didn't happen either. The next morning I eventually managed to find out (through calling BA myself, I was actually told that they are not set up to make outgoing phonecalls!) that my bag had been put on the first KLM flight of the day to LHR and would be couriered to me. However I then threw a spanner in the works by saying that as I only live a mile from T5 I wanted to go and collect the bag myself rather than sit around at home on a Saturday night waiting for a courier to arrive. For some reason I wasn't allowed to collect it from T4 (where it had arrived), but had to wait until it could be moved to T5, but anyway, to cut a long story short, later that evening I had to go through a security check to be let into the T5 baggage hall where I was able to identify my suitcase.
I have to say though, it did feel quite strange walking from the baggage hall, through customs and into Arrivals without actually having boarded an aircraft that day!
Ladies & gentlemen this is Captain Tobias Wilcock welcoming you aboard Coconut Airways flight 372 to Bridgetown Barb
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 6448 times:
Quoting Palmjet (Reply 10):
Oh go on...! Now's the time to reveal your inner avia geek to your friend! I am sure he/she won't mind!!
Well, we'll see!
Quoting BAViscount (Reply 11): The same thing happened to me last year when I was working in Amsterdam and was flying a lot between LHR and AMS. On this particular Friday evening I flew home on the penultimate BA flight, however my bag didn't. I was told that it would probably arrive on the next flight, although of course that didn't happen either. The next morning I eventually managed to find out (through calling BA myself, I was actually told that they are not set up to make outgoing phonecalls!) that my bag had been put on the first KLM flight of the day to LHR and would be couriered to me. However I then threw a spanner in the works by saying that as I only live a mile from T5 I wanted to go and collect the bag myself rather than sit around at home on a Saturday night waiting for a courier to arrive. For some reason I wasn't allowed to collect it from T4 (where it had arrived), but had to wait until it could be moved to T5, but anyway, to cut a long story short, later that evening I had to go through a security check to be let into the T5 baggage hall where I was able to identify my suitcase.
It's a mystery how the 'mishandled' baggage department works. Something us mortals will never understand I fear!
lhr380 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 6427 times:
Quoting BAViscount (Reply 11): I have to say though, it did feel quite strange walking from the baggage hall, through customs and into Arrivals without actually having boarded an aircraft that day!
Now you know how I feel every day when I go to work lol (Bit depressing every now and then haha)
airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 4068 posts, RR: 51 Reply 14, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 6404 times:
Hi Gabriel!
I'm quite shocked about this not so impressive performance by BA. I'm used to a better treatment on them, so quite surprised. Maybe the Italian staff are a major part of the deal here...
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): There was an extra security point where I was asked which airline and flight I was on before being let through.
What's up with that? Do we get additional checks at EU airports now?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): My bag was tagged quickly with a ‘heavy’ label, although no priority tag.
Was it really that heavy? Because this might be the cause of your missing baggage. Heavy-tags usually go to a special depot/belt in the sorting area (and will be forgotten to load probably). At least, in AMS they go to the special 'area', probably similar situation in MXP. Didn't you bother to ask for the priority label then?
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Wifi was free, but you needed to go to the reception desk, where you needed to give your passport info. Way too much hassle just to check your emails. Bizarrely, even the desktops in the lounge needed a wifi card.
Indeed, insane to ask for all these details. Too much to ask for. Not impressed by the lounge either, poor looking and busy won't make it to a relaxing stay.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Unfortunately, the crew weren’t ready for us, so we were kept waiting on the airbridge.
Really bad, communication failure between the check-in/gate agent and the onboard crew?!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): My neighbour was offered a choice of snack, but I was given a bag of Doormen crackers without any other options.
And this was the same flight attendant or his/her collegue offering choices to your seatmate? It's like you're a less important passenger for BA then your seatmate...
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): he guy there said that it had been tagged in MXP, but never loaded. No explanation as to why. I wasn’t offered any assistance, just given a form to look through, and told that the bag would probably be on the next flight, and then couriered to my house.
Not impressive by this service either...
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I got a text message from BA at 7am saying “Subject to conditions – forwarding to delivery airport on board BA567”. I wasn’t sure what to make of that. It didn’t really say anything. Why text me at 7am saying that the bag was being loading onto a 7pm flight, when there are 5/6 flights a day? Anyway, the next say, my bag was finally delivered around noon. Not impressed. I’ve submitted my claim for emergency shopping, but haven’t hear anything back from BA yet.
Ah well, sending out text messages at 7am (people might still be sleeping at that moment) isn't really professional indeed.
I've also had a missing baggage case on BA (transfer from AA flight at LHR, T3-T5 connex), but was assisted by Servisair groundhandling in AMS really kindly though.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I’ve got a few more BA flights booked over the next few months before my Silver status expires, including LHR-CPH,
It seems CPH gets some attention later this month,... an a.net meet might be possible?
Regards
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 15, posted (1 year 10 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 6156 times:
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 14):
What's up with that? Do we get additional checks at EU airports now?
Well, all they asked was what flight I was no, didn't ask to see any ID, so not exactly a thorough check.
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 14): Was it really that heavy? Because this might be the cause of your missing baggage. Heavy-tags usually go to a special depot/belt in the sorting area (and will be forgotten to load probably). At least, in AMS they go to the special 'area', probably similar situation in MXP. Didn't you bother to ask for the priority label then?
I think the bag was around 26kg, so above the standard, but not 32kg. Not really acceptable for bags to be 'forgotten' about. Forgot to ask for a priority label until the bag had dissapeared.
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 14):
And this was the same flight attendant or his/her collegue offering choices to your seatmate? It's like you're a less important passenger for BA then your seatmate...
Yup, same one. Clearly I didn't look as important!
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 14): It seems CPH gets some attention later this month,... an a.net meet might be possible?
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2336 posts, RR: 53 Reply 17, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 5575 times:
Hi Gabriel,
It has been two years since I flew with BA for the last time. Your report made me wonder how BA intra-EU flight would look like nowadays. I am shocked! I cannot believe how your lost luggage was handled. What could we expect if we have connecting flights with BA?
Despite the bad experience, I really enjoyed your writing. Lots of details and nice pictures!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): My bag was tagged quickly with a ‘heavy’ label, although no priority tag
They should not bother that ‘heavy’ label, but the ‘priority’ tag instead.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Wifi was free, but you needed to go to the reception desk, where you needed to give your passport info.
Could it be a security procedure, so that unauthorized persons cannot access the wifi?
Very generous. You were indeed lucky to be able to select it.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I used to think that the reservoirs were there especially to supply LHR with water for those little cuplets you used to get with meals
Could the recycled rain water be kept in the reservoirs?
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 18, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 5353 times:
Quoting akhmad (Reply 17): Your report made me wonder how BA intra-EU flight would look like nowadays. I am shocked! I cannot believe how your lost luggage was handled. What could we expect if we have connecting flights with BA?
Well, I'm flying CDG-LHR-SAN next month, so hopefully my bag will make the connection this time!
Quoting akhmad (Reply 17):
Despite the bad experience, I really enjoyed your writing. Lots of details and nice pictures!
Thanks!
Quoting akhmad (Reply 17): Could it be a security procedure, so that unauthorized persons cannot access the wifi?
Maybe
Quoting akhmad (Reply 17): But why the different treatment to you?
abrelosojos From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4919 posts, RR: 55 Reply 20, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 5156 times:
What a poor display by BA. I can't believe what the issues would be for your bag delivery - this is a p2p flight on a leg with multiple frequencies and they made such a poor issue out of it.
Thanks for writing about your poor experience - hope the next legs redeem BA?
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 21, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 4997 times:
Quoting airbuseric (Reply 19):
Hmm, it looks no meet since I'm around the 16th and 28th again...
Never mind! I'm in FRA for the day on the 30 Oct if anyone can do that!?
Quoting abrelosojos (Reply 20): What a poor display by BA. I can't believe what the issues would be for your bag delivery - this is a p2p flight on a leg with multiple frequencies and they made such a poor issue out of it.
There around roughly 8 BA flights a dau between Milan and LHR (although, mostly LIN-LHR), so definately not impressed that it had to wait 3 days to arrive.
Quoting abrelosojos (Reply 20):
Thanks for writing about your poor experience - hope the next legs redeem BA?
Well I hope so. I've recently gone on a BA booking frenzy, so have the following booked:
LHR-CPH, GOT-LHR, CDG-LHR Y
LHR-SAN, MEX-LHR WT+
LHR-ARN, HEL-LHR, FRA-LHR, LHR-HKG-LHR Y
Will rpboably have checked bags on all flights, but hopefully I won't be spending much time at the baggage office!
AJO From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 575 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 4792 times:
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Wifi was free, but you needed to go to the reception desk, where you needed to give your passport info. Way too much hassle just to check your emails. Bizarrely, even the desktops in the lounge needed a wifi card.
This actually has to do with Italian internet data retention laws, which require network operators not only to store internet data, but also (as much as possible) of the users behind the data traffic.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 23, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4588 times:
Quoting AJO (Reply 22):
This actually has to do with Italian internet data retention laws, which require network operators not only to store internet data, but also (as much as possible) of the users behind the data traffic.
infodesk From Switzerland, joined May 2006, 1256 posts, RR: 33 Reply 24, posted (1 year 10 months 1 week 21 hours ago) and read 4412 times:
Hi Gabriel,
Thanks for this, some nice shots on approach into LHR especially Windsor Castle.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Wifi was free, but you needed to go to the reception desk, where you needed to give your passport info. Way too much hassle just to check your emails. Bizarrely, even the desktops in the lounge needed a wifi car
Surely if you've been granted access to the lounge then you shouldn't be any issue with the wifi. What a complete waste of time.
interesting that you weren't offered a choice of snack. What was the otger option? My only guess is it was something sweet & they assumed you didn't want it with your G&T, but still no excuse.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): No explanation as to why. I wasn’t offered any assistance, just given a form to look through, and told that the bag would probably be on the next flight, and then couriered to my house.
That's pretty lame. Anyway, I thought you were obliged to fill a PIR out before you left the airport. I've been very lucky so far, never had any bags go missing, touch wood........
Happy flying
Infodesk
"Do nothing in haste, look well to each step and from the beginning think what may be the end" - Edward Whymper
25 Babybus: That's a really nice report. I think we sometimes forget that even the short journeys are still very interesting. It doesn't always have to be J class
26 gabrielchew: I was very happy to be able to get a shot of the castle - it's been a while since I've got of photo of it! I think the other choice was a micro bag o
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