British Airways in a serious attempt to beat out United Airlines for bad passenger treatment

[DFW]

United had pretty much beat out all competition for Unfriendliest Skies, but this incident puts up a stiff challenge from an unexpected contender--British Airways. My experiences with BA have always been good in the last 15 years or so, but something like this would have made me cancel any notion of ever flying with them again.

A passenger on a BA flight was in economy on an 11 hour flight to Johannesburg, and noticed his seat was soaked with urine. Economy was full, but instead of giving the passenger a seat in a higher class, the steward just gave him a blanket, and when it was soaked, and the guy wanted another one, the steward told him off for being "difficult," and refused to give him another one.

This is deservedly all over the British press. I hope it is brought up again and again until BA refunds this guy's fare and gives him a free seat in First Class for the return trip. I also hope the inconsiderate steward is given a new position cleaning toilets when the planes are on the ground being serviced.

https://www.inc.com/chris-matyszczyk/this-may-be-the-ugliest-airline-story-youve-heard-.html

I contrast this with my flight on Air France last Sunday. They only had beef or lamb as meal choices, and I said I wasn't supposed to eat red meat for dietary reasons. The crew said they'd find me something even if it meant giving up one of their own meals. I said please don't do that, as it wasn't their fault the menu had no fish or poultry. Instead, they pilfered a meal from first class (jumbo shrimp in pepper sauce with spinach) and gave me that. So much for the "nasty" French! Even my baggage made it this time!

[raven mad]

1. LOL! My husband was a worker in the airline industry during the buildup for the AK Pipeline.

They all called United "Untied"................

[DFW]

3. My last two experiences with them certainly made sure I'd rather walk than take them again

For that matter, the last time I had booked them, I nearly DID have to walk.

My wife and I were in New York City, and we were scheduled to fly to Portland, Maine on a Friday afternoon since a ship bearing the name of the father of a good friend of ours was being christened at the Bath Iron Works the next day.

The flight was canceled, but United never told us, much less tried to re-book us. We heard it from my travel agent in Dallas, who keeps a benevolent watch over us when we're on the road stateside. He tried to find us a flight--ANY flight that would get us to Maine that evening (or even Boston, or somewhere in New Hampshire). Nothing. Everything was solidly booked, and since it was a Friday, chances for standby for three passengers were dim. So we had to rent a car in NYC and drive the nine hours through Friday afternoon traffic our of NYC (horrible) through Hartford CT (worse) and driving rain past Boston to the Portland, Maine airport, drop off the NYC car and pick up the car we had originally rented to get us on beyond Portland.

The time before that, we had come from Europe to Washington-Dulles, and were supposed to transfer to United from Dulles to Charleston, SC. They canceled the Charleston flight after a four hour delay, said they might get us a new flight in a day or two. I said we HAD to get to Charleston that night. United said no way, but there WAS a flight to Columbia, SC. I said I'd take that IF they could transfer our luggage to the same flight. They said it was another 3 hours, so no problem. So, we landed at 11 PM in Columbia, SC. No luggage. We took a $250 taxi to Charleston with our hand luggage. United's phone said they had no news on where our luggage was. I took a taxi out to the Charleston airport to talk to a live United agent. Our luggage was sitting there, for anyone to grab and run off with. The skies aren't all that's unfriendly about United.

If the only alternative meant hitchhiking across the Bonneville Salt Flats by mule in the summer, I would STILL not book a flight on United ever again.

[raven mad]

5. I've refused to fly commercial any airline for years -

but Untied did me in - trying to get to my dad's funeral. Overbooked, and bumped me AND my 2 year old daughter and 10 year old son to a flight for THE NEXT DAY.

I was raising all kinds of holy hell - fortunately pre-9/11 - and a Delta worker overheard us. THEY got us booked on a flight less than an hour later.

But since the crapola with the shoes and the carry-ons, etc., no more, no way. I'll drive (not easy from Interior Alaska), take my motorcycle, or walk before booking commercial. Of course, I have some buddies that have planes, so sometimes it's not too difficult.

[DFW]

6. A bit more complicated for me

Driving from Germany to North America involves some serious wear and tear on a land vehicle.

[raven mad]

7. LOL!!!!!!!! Yeah, that could be tough. I wanted to drive to Hawaii a few years back.........

someone suggested a kayak.........

[DFW]

10. Remember the old joke about the Caiflornian who wouldn't fly but wanted to see Hawaii?

He found an old lamp on the beach and rubbed it, and (of course) out comes a genie. The genie says he can have one wish. The guy says, "One? I thought it was three."

The genie explains that times were tough all over, and they had been forced to cut back. So, the guy got one wish.

He ponders, and says, "well, I am terrified of flying and big boats, but always wanted to see Hawaii, so I want a bridge from California to Hawaii so I can drive there."

The genie, says, "come on, man that's a huge engineering feat even for a genie. Can't you think of anything else you'd like?"

The guy says, "OK, sure. I would like to fully understand women."

The genie looks at him and says, "Right. So, do you want that bridge to have two lanes or four?"

[raven mad]

13. Oh, heck yeah - especially since I heard it in high school -

and my BFFB (best friend forever boy) had just immigrated here from So Cal..............

[SwissTony]

2. Treat with caution

This doesn't appear to be "all over the British press", at least, as yet. It's all over the Daily Fail (not a typo), the Express and The Sun. Also all over the Australian Murdoch press.

I wouldn't trust any of those.

[DFW]

4. Fair enough

I will see if it shows up elsewhere as well. Murdoch is indeed not the most reliable of sources. As I said, my own experiences with BA have been favorable.

I'm rather sure BA will be quick with a denial if this is a phony, though.

[Siwsan]

8. BA was always my airline of choice for visits to the UK.

On one flight, there was a delay leaving Detroit - kind of a long one - and then when we landed in Toronto, to pick up the Canadian passengers, there was another delay. Finally they let us knew there was an 'issue' with the reverse thrusters so we would have to stay in Toronto, over night, while the problem was rectified. They put us up in a really nice hotel, wined and dined us until they finally got everything straightened out, the next afternoon. Yea, it was a day not spent on our planned vacation, but we had booked our hotel through BA, too, so they took care of everything. Honestly, their customer service, at that time, couldn't have been more helpful and accommodating.

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. Mine too.

I never had a bad experience with them, though it's been a while since I've been able to go. Once, they even upgraded me from coach to business class. What a wonderful experience that was!

[IcyPeas]

11. can't you order a special meal when you are booking your flight?

I always order a vegetarian meal (on most airlines), but they have other special dietary choices too.

[DFW]

12. Of course I can

Bur for over ten years, Air France has ALWAYS had at least one fish choice, so I stopped bothering. This has to be the first long haul flight with them where they had no fish choice since maybe 2004.