Cabinet Minister Lord Adonis (now that’s a cool name) is beseeching the British Airways flight attendants not to go through with their strike action, planned for this and the following weekend. You know it’s serious when a politician gets out of his comfy club lounge and opines on the state of the national airline.
On an average day in March, BA carries 80,000 passengers. That’s a lot of disgruntled people who could be looking to another airline for their future travels. Richard Branson must be readying his next deposit on some island in the Caribbean. Not to mention what Michael O’Leary must be planning with Ryan Air.
It’s funny and comment worthy when people like Richard or his equivalent (who?) dress up in attendant uniforms and serve passengers but is it a bit scary when so called specially trained attendants and cabin crew man your aircraft? A 1000 pilots and ground crew volunteers have been trained for the forthcoming strike period. Volunteers?
That’s okay if you are going to the Olympics and you need someone to direct you to the athletics stadium but I’m not sure about hoisting me over their shoulder and rescuing me in an emergency? Okay hoisting may be too much but there is an expectation attached to the amount of money I pay, that all will be okay and the level of service will be the highest attainable.
I guess as long as the discount for flying with the rookies and trainees is worthwhile, customers will stay. Is there a discount? BA has indicated that 45% of its flights will operate with restricted catering. How much did I pay for that ticket?
Weddings, holidays of a lifetime, jobs and well earned rest will all take a battering with the strikes because two sides couldn’t find a middle ground. Mind you, if the strikes continue, the trainees will turn into fully fletched flight attendants and then what is the union going to do?
Willy Walsh is taking a strong stand but I think the marriage needs to be dissolved and BA needs to fall in love with some new staff so that people give it a second chance to once again become “The World’s Favourite Airline”..
Where is Margaret Thatcher when you need her?
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