VA not as bad as BA

[Ex-bugman]

Reading the recent post re missing meals on a VA flight reminded me of a disgusting experience from British Airways a few years ago. Because of delays, our flight from Spain into Heathrow meant BA had the concourse closed so no-one could make their connecting flights, some 40 odd passengers, many like us were supposed to be on a Qantas flight connection "home". So long story cut short, we were bused at 1am to Gatwick Airport to sleep at the Novatel armed with letters saying all our food and accommodation was to be paid for by BA. It wasn't!!! Novatel told us to take it up with BA, BA staff at the Heathrow said you'll need to email CS to get a refund (I thought they were in CS if they were at the CS counter!!!) Wrong again! So after several emails and a phone, British Airways official response was, in simple english, we are not paying!! Never flown BA again and never will. Qantas said their hands were tied because it wasn't a direct Qantas flight but rather a one-world partner flight the problem occurred on.

Bottom line, customer service from BA tops the list as the worst I've encountered after traveling to 5 continents and living on 2 and on most Airlines is non-existent, so if you don't except anything and you end up getting something, you'll be happy!!!

 

[Sdtravel]

After 3 recent flights on BA i have to say i wasn't impressed.

Who runs out of coke in the 3rd row of economy. Or the economy seat with the middle blocked out and labeled business. Let along 12 rows of "business" on a 24 row plane.
I haven't been on VA in a while but i image they probably do it better.

 

[Ex-bugman]

Nah..... recently flew Brissy to Melb via VA, business reward and got same as general and had no drinks other than water as they hadn't re-stocked utter BS...... just a screw the customer at all options.... and it will get worse given their recent return statements

 

[Moopere]

... armed with letters saying all our food and accommodation was to be paid for by BA. It wasn't!!! Novatel told us to take it up with BA, BA staff at the Heathrow said you'll need to email CS to get a refund (I thought they were in CS if they were at the CS counter!!!) Wrong again! So after several emails and a phone, British Airways official response was, in simple english, we are not paying!!

Not the point of your post I know, but I would have thought that having a letter from BA saying BA would pay would be an open and shut legal case against them.

 

[Ex-bugman]

Not the point of your post I know, but I would have thought that having a letter from BA saying BA would pay would be an open and shut legal case against them.

YES. as would I, but that was of no value, completely lost on them, so it came down to do I want to prove a point over a few hundred pounds which would cost me at least quadruple or do I simply walk away? As there was little chance of exposing them to the general community, I walked away. Much more important things to focus on. That said, a group action, say 1000 or 10,000 x's the value of our claim would make a difference. And of course, the pommy "children of un-married parents" know the same. At least in this venue we can vent the odd spleen value!

 

[Moopere]

YES. as would I, but that was of no value, completely lost on them, so it came down to do I want to prove a point over a few hundred pounds which would cost me at least quadruple or do I simply walk away? As there was little chance of exposing them to the general community, I walked away. Much more important things to focus on. That said, a group action, say 1000 or 10,000 x's the value of our claim would make a difference. And of course, the pommy "children of un-married parents" know the same. At least in this venue we can vent the odd spleen value!

Oh yes sure. No use spending $10,000 to pursue $1000, understand. Hope that BA enjoyed the savings made and the loss of revenue since. You can't be the only one from that group of 40ish people to feel severely let down and to walk away with their wallets.