I was very lucky to squeeze in at the time. Like that I think I just got someone nice who let me through.
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He’s now the face of Emirates!I worked for BA at their customer service call centre.
I know of one 'celeb' who put in a written complaint re the quality of the toilet roll in first class
(it was Andi Peters)
I've been on the flight to Barra from Glasgow return. It was only about £80 return as well. The plane was very small, I think it had about 10 or 12 passenger seats only. There was no toilet and no service on either flight. I kept thinking what's happening re the coffee? Its amazing though the view of the sea and the islands, its like Barbados up there.x
Hahaha, I also worked for BA at their call centre for a few years - some of the complaints were beyond belief. Proper first world problemsI worked for BA at their customer service call centre.
I know of one 'celeb' who put in a written complaint re the quality of the toilet roll in first class
(it was Andi Peters)
I’m thinking of doing this flight to Barra in October and your description just makes me want to do it more! It’s now double the price though but even then I’m still tempted.
Don't ever go up in a helicopter then. My friend flew in the Police helicopter, and said it was like being up in a tin can.
I've flown in several helicopters, big and small. Great fun!
Scariest one was a tourist one in Australia, I think it was over Kings Canyon in the Outback Australia, about 20 years ago. Booked and paid and then walked out to it to find that it didn't have a door on! And my seat was right next to that missing side door. You say A-Team, I say tit my pants. I was strapped in well, luckily!
I’m lucky enough to have flown business class quite a bit through my job and the industry it’s in, even a few freebie biz class flights from BA / AA over to the States #notspon
Had an awful BA flight to Chicago, laid on by them with approx 30 travel industry big wigs on board alongside me all of whom had a terrible flight. The bed was lumpy and uncomfortable, the divider wouldn’t stay up so I had someone staring at me the whole flight, food was dire etc.
I really like SIA and Malaysian for when I go to Singapore, but hasn’t thought about their uniforms and how it might make it more difficult to evacuate people until now
I did once get the private jet treatment through Gatwick, unfortunately it was arranged by a friend who worked for EasyJet and I was not boarding a PJ but an EasyJet flight up to Scotland. Still, got taken to the plane in a big posh car and was first to board etc…
I also got to have a tour of Etihad’s The Residence which was mind blowing. Had a long chat with the butler about what the experience would be as a pax, then made the mistake of asking how much it would cost London to Sydney.
Just a cool £56k return.
He did tell me with a smile that that was for 2 passengers… like that made a difference to me
Had an awful BA flight to Chicago, laid on by them with approx 30 travel industry big wigs on board alongside me all of whom had a terrible flight. The bed was lumpy and uncomfortable, the divider wouldn’t stay up so I had someone staring at me the whole flight, food was dire etc.
I really like SIA and Malaysian for when I go to Singapore, but hasn’t thought about their uniforms and how it might make it more difficult to evacuate people until now
I did once get the private jet treatment through Gatwick, unfortunately it was arranged by a friend who worked for EasyJet and I was not boarding a PJ but an EasyJet flight up to Scotland. Still, got taken to the plane in a big posh car and was first to board etc…
I also got to have a tour of Etihad’s The Residence which was mind blowing. Had a long chat with the butler about what the experience would be as a pax, then made the mistake of asking how much it would cost London to Sydney.
Just a cool £56k return.
He did tell me with a smile that that was for 2 passengers… like that made a difference to me
A great readI’m lucky enough to have flown business class quite a bit through my job and the industry it’s in, even a few freebie biz class flights from BA / AA over to the States #notspon
Had an awful BA flight to Chicago, laid on by them with approx 30 travel industry big wigs on board alongside me all of whom had a terrible flight. The bed was lumpy and uncomfortable, the divider wouldn’t stay up so I had someone staring at me the whole flight, food was dire etc.
I really like SIA and Malaysian for when I go to Singapore, but hasn’t thought about their uniforms and how it might make it more difficult to evacuate people until now
I did once get the private jet treatment through Gatwick, unfortunately it was arranged by a friend who worked for EasyJet and I was not boarding a PJ but an EasyJet flight up to Scotland. Still, got taken to the plane in a big posh car and was first to board etc…
I also got to have a tour of Etihad’s The Residence which was mind blowing. Had a long chat with the butler about what the experience would be as a pax, then made the mistake of asking how much it would cost London to Sydney.
Just a cool £56k return.
He did tell me with a smile that that was for 2 passengers… like that made a difference to me
I can't believe BA have had those awful ying yang seats in Club World for so many years. At least with their new A350-1000 aircraft all Club seats/suites are now forward facing and with direct aisle access. That said, it will be years before all aircraft types will have the same if this is even planned.
LOL, #notspon - it is hard to post genuine recommendations based on personal experience.
ETA: I believe a few 777 also have the new Club suites fitted.
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My husband is a pilot on Boeing 737 so does mostly short and mid haul flights, think long haul is where the gossip is at from all the stopover's. Although I will say I can't imagine many drink the night before as random breathalyser tests are common and not worth the risk.
Bless her, the lady at BA (who was on the Chicago trip with us) was absolutely mortified that we’d all been booked on some of their oldest fleet to fly out. Given they were booking our flights it was their opportunity to show off with some of the newer stockA great read
I can't believe BA have had those awful ying yang seats in Club World for so many years. At least with their new A350-1000 aircraft all Club seats/suites are now forward facing and with direct aisle access. That said, it will be years before all aircraft types will have the same if this is even planned.
LOL, #notspon - it is hard to post genuine recommendations based on personal experience.
ETA: I believe a few 777 also have the new Club suites fitted.
I will say the only thing I don’t like about Malaysian is having to go through KL airport. Every time I have hubbed through there it has been a hellish experience, I think I’m jinxed
but I’ll gladly take a bad hub experience for the Malaysian onboard experience.
I’ve only just very recently flown business for the first time, as there have been some great bargains this year so I took them cos it might be the only chance in my lifetime to fly this way. Round trips Frankfurt to Dallas in June/July, and recently Frankfurt to Athens last month. I loved the experiences, the service was excellent and one really notices the difference of service levels between the economy and business massively.
Being able to sleep properly (horizontally) during the Dallas trip was an absolute luxury. Food is absolutely lovely and access to airport lounges is a plus, as is dedicated check in lines. Extra baggage allowance too.
I think the flights to Dallas (American airlines iirc) were around $2500 pp. Normally I’d expect that to be double. Our flights to Athens (Lufthansa) around $500 pp. definitely worth that money but I couldn’t and wouldn’t justify spending the usual type of prices.
The problem is, once one has experienced these higher grade flights, it’ll be crappy having to go back to economy!
Great thread idea! I’ve never desired to work for the industry but I’ve always been fascinated by the running of airlines, airports, cabin crew, etc. Was a big fan of ITV Airline lol! I think airline staff and cabin crew (closely followed by cruise line staff probably) have to put up with the worst types of customers and demanding Karens imaginable, I could not do it myself.Not cabin crew myself but love hearing stories of life in the sky, particularly business and first class. Just watched a programme where they referred to some cabin crew as ‘stripe chasers’
Though it’s just as well I’ve never wanted to be cabin crew - at 5’2.5” I’m half an inch too short aren’t I?
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My stepdad flew with his job long distance every week. Quantas used to give him an expensive gift at Xmas, e.g. limited edition large framed prints. He was their 7th most frequent flyer. Once I joined him for a flight and we were automatically upgraded. I was used to traveling economy and was embarrassed by the way the crew fell over themselves to be nice to my stepdad. They treated him like royalty. He was a great guy but you’d have thought he was a rock star 
Every weekMy stepdad flew with his job long distance every week. Quantas used to give him an expensive gift at Xmas, e.g. limited edition large framed prints. He was their 7th most frequent flyer. Once I joined him for a flight and we were automatically upgraded. I was used to traveling economy and was embarrassed by the way the crew fell over themselves to be nice to my stepdad. They treated him like royalty. He was a great guy but you’d have thought he was a rock star
That must have been horrendously tough and tiring on the body and the body clock, I think your stepdad deserved to be treated like a rock star/royalty on that basis alone!
I've got a friend from primary school who I've kept in touch with over social media who's CC for BA. She's always jetting off somewhere, which seemed fine and fun when she was single and living in a house share, but now she's moved in with her boyfriend into a new build and it just feels very different in tone. She does long haul as well so when she's away, she'll do 8 - 12 hours to the destination, stay in the hotel (at present, just in her room because of COVID) for a few days, then fly back again. The pools and scenery that she puts up on instagram look lovely but I just think how lonely and boring that job must be.
Loving this thread and some great stories to come.
I've spent some time in Dubai and given business flights with Emirates and can't fault them. I remember the first time (coming from a very working class background) sitting down and being handed champagne then being handed a menu then then asking what wine I would like from a 4 bottle wine holder !! All expensive wine that I would never pick off the shelf ! It's like a holiday before your holiday lol
I was shocked that people were just allowed to stay in the bar the whole time (7 hours) I bet any of you who have done the bar shift must hate it? Chatting to drunk middle aged men for all that time ha
We flew mayalsia airlines shortly after the flight that disappeared. The flight was empty and we were the only European people they'd seen on their flights since the incident. They were so incredibly attentive and happy to see foreigners on their airline again. It was one of my favourite flights ever.
I remember flying a local Indian airline, I can't remember the name but their cabin crew were all women and the uniform was like something out of a carry on film, very sexual, we were so shocked. We also went into the 'saloon' in the airport, big mistake as a woman, it was full of men smoking, sleeping and coughing up whilst drinking whisky like it was going out of fashion. Ive never felt so uncomfortable, I actually checked for a 'men only' sign outside when we left
I've spent some time in Dubai and given business flights with Emirates and can't fault them. I remember the first time (coming from a very working class background) sitting down and being handed champagne then being handed a menu then then asking what wine I would like from a 4 bottle wine holder !! All expensive wine that I would never pick off the shelf ! It's like a holiday before your holiday lol
I was shocked that people were just allowed to stay in the bar the whole time (7 hours) I bet any of you who have done the bar shift must hate it? Chatting to drunk middle aged men for all that time ha
We flew mayalsia airlines shortly after the flight that disappeared. The flight was empty and we were the only European people they'd seen on their flights since the incident. They were so incredibly attentive and happy to see foreigners on their airline again. It was one of my favourite flights ever.
I remember flying a local Indian airline, I can't remember the name but their cabin crew were all women and the uniform was like something out of a carry on film, very sexual, we were so shocked. We also went into the 'saloon' in the airport, big mistake as a woman, it was full of men smoking, sleeping and coughing up whilst drinking whisky like it was going out of fashion. Ive never felt so uncomfortable, I actually checked for a 'men only' sign outside when we left
which airline did you work for? sounds amazingI was cabin crew for 7 years. I wish I had written down a lot of my experiences with the general public because I could write book
In the end I quit because I could not deal with how idiotic and rude people were. And if I had a pound for every stupid question I was asked I would be a millionaire…
I used to sell my old shoes and tights to weirdos on depop and make quite a bit of cash
Never have ice in your drink, I’ve seen crew use the tongs to unclog the toilets and the drawers/buckets the ice are stored in are never cleaned.
The stopovers are so fun, all crew seem to love a drink and I’ve witnessed some outrageous nights out down route
After years of saying I would never date one, I’m now married to a pilot - we met and hooked up on a stopover couldn’t be more cliche
Never heard of this
You wouldn’t believe the amount of weirdos that would pay good money for laddered primark tights
I second this! I moaned a lot about it but there’s no job like it. I miss the people I used to work with everyday. It’s really good fun.
I was only supposed to do a year but stayed for over 7 …
Nooooo!My stepdad flew with his job long distance every week. Quantas used to give him an expensive gift at Xmas, e.g. limited edition large framed prints. He was their 7th most frequent flyer. Once I joined him for a flight and we were automatically upgraded. I was used to traveling economy and was embarrassed by the way the crew fell over themselves to be nice to my stepdad. They treated him like royalty. He was a great guy but you’d have thought he was a rock star
Sorry for being pedantic, but you did what I whinged about just the other day
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I realised too late an couldn’t edit
That is fair enough, no problem. The only reason why I mentioned the spelling in a previous post is because Qantas was the airline I used to work forI realised too late an couldn’t edit
I also have some of your stepdad's memorabilia - prints of QF aircraft throughout the ages and books on the history of the airline. Plus loads of branded items from hoodies; sweatshirts; t-shirts; bags to key rings; cooler bottles and much more. When my children were young they also had model aircraft of the 747-300 and 400.
Your stepdad must be a Platinum One Frequent Flyer. Well done him
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