[VintageKrug]

Indeed it was HBHLondon who branded BA institutionally racist as a consequence of allegedly upgrading some other passengers ahead of him on a flight he once took many moons ago….all this was an event which occurred in the mid 1980s….

Interestingly, HBH has removed ALL his posts from that thread:

http://www.businesstraveller.com/discussion/topic/BA-upgrading-after-boarding

It does seem most odd that someone who believes BA to be a racist organisation should still keep putting so much premium business their way.

The reference to FAs does not ring true with someone who is habitually familar with the British Airways nomenclature, either.

[JonathanCohen09]

Hello Everyone,

I have been reading this thread with some interest and feel that I need to make a contribution.

Regular contributors to this forum know my views on BA, I am not currently a big fan but previously flew with them almost exclusively for many years and had a Gold Card.

I find myself once again having to agree with VK. In my experience of flying F, and that was on quite a regular basis, in the days when almost all of my clients sanctioned travel in the F cabin, I do not remember a single occassion when CC did not escort me to my seat.

I do remember one occassion when there was no CC at the door as the flight was a particularly busy one, I had just turned left to head into the F cabin and the FSD was at my side to aplogise that no one was there to greet me. He then escorted me to my seat and had one of his colleagues take over as he had to get back to greeting other passengers.

So HBHLondon, I find it strange that BA always seem to come up short when it comes to meeting your expectations as compared to those of others.

For my friends and other regular poster out there who are interested in the ‘Jonathan’s return to BA saga’ my first flight in a long haul J cabin will take place next weekend. you can be sure that I will post my views on the whole experience, from check-in, lounges, on-board and post flight upon my return.

Safe travels everyone,

Jonathan

[HBHLondon]

Dear VC: I am indeed escorted 1 out of 10 times to my First seat whether you like or not what I say. It is not odd, it is real. I did not accuse BA of institutional racism, I said that a BA ckeck-in person told me this was the case. What are you doing in this forum if you keep demonising people like me? You are obvioulsy planted here by BA. Come on: BA is not perfect. Well, perhaps only in your mind. I do like BA and I wish the best for it, but sometimes one does have really bad experiences from them. You seem to live in cucu land. I stick to my point that I am escorted to my seat 1 out of 10 times. And I am sure it has nothing to do with racism, as most of the times there is at leats a FA of ethnic origin on any flight.
I do put business there way because BA is still the most convenient airline for me and I suppose it is best to stick to the devil one knows…

[HBHLondon]

Dear Jonathan: it is not strange, it happens. I flew to Cairo over Easter this year and it did not happen. I asked a FA why was I not escorted to my seat and she apologised.

[VintageKrug]

Greetings from cucu land.

What is the reasoning behind removing all your posts from the thread in which you made the accusation of institutional racism?

[HBHLondon]

Dear VC: Greetings from the real world.
I did not accuse BA of institutional racism, but people in the thread did because of their appalling experiences on flying BA.
The reason for removing my entries was very simple: it was the first time I had made a contribution to this forum and was shocked by the criticism and the negative reaction, especially yours, obviuosly a BA employee who is determined to contradict and smear me. Also, it was bit silly of me for criticising BA for not upgrading me. It never happened and will never happen, especially now that you will try to see who I am to put me on some black list.

[VintageKrug]

*rolls eyes*

I really could not give two hoots of my special cuculand hooter who you are.

If you actually read the thread, you will see how many people disagreed with the points you made:

http://www.businesstraveller.com/discussion/topic/BA-upgrading-after-boarding

As I recall, the event to which you referred in that thread happened in the 1980s. You stated that based on your experience then, that it was BA’s *policy* not upgrade people based on their race. That is an appalling libel and is just simply not true. In other words, a lie.

For the avoidance of doubt I am not, nor ever have been, connected to BA in any capacity other than as a customer and shareholder.

[JonathanCohen09]

Hello everyone,

HBHLondon, you are free to stick to your view that it happens 1 time in 10 to you just as I am free to tell you that in my experience that it seems strange to me that you are only escorted to your seat as little as you are. Can I also ask you not to accuse VK of being a BA plant as he has said on more than one occassion that he is not and that should be good enough for us.

We should not be accusing people of lying in this forum.

VK- how are things in cucu land, do they have volcanoes and ash clouds or you free of such problems there.

Safe travels everyone,

Jonathan

[VintageKrug]

cuculand is very sunny this afternoon, though I fear the natives may be getting restless….

[Senator]

Dear all,

In fairyland, cuculand or in plain ol’ World… Let’s be civil ladies and gents..

Back to topic.. I have only one experience in BA F and about handfull across LX, LH, and AF. I must say that LH/LX I always get escorted to my seat and on BA I am 1 of 1. Given the BA cabin has many seats as compared to AF, LX, LH (except 747-400) perhaps they don’t have enough staff to deal with it?

[MartynSinclair]

when i grew up, my mummy and daddy taught me to walk unaided to seat 1A. If the busy cabin crew cant walk me now, at least i know the way. now i must join you all with another glass of milk………where did i leave my rattle then…………………??!!

[VintageKrug]

I refuse to darken the door of any airline which is not able to convey me to my seat in a Sedan Chair.

Air CuCu never disappoints on this score.

1A, MartynSinclair?

That’s rather arriviste. 😉

Natch, Mummy and Daddy never used public transport, so I took my cues from Nanny who was well versed in travelling en masse. When Nanny and I flew with the other people, she taught me alway to seek out 2K.

A better view of anyone of note, suitably distant from the bogs on most aircraft, and the drinks shelf is on your right, making sipping the DP a more natural manoevre for the right handed. You also don’t get blinded by the sun when heading West.

[JJames3]

As a lowly Exec Blue card holder for I guess 15 years or more, I have only graced First on 5 occasions (one ‘Involuntary upgrade’ and 4 ‘miles’ trips) and on all 5 have been graciously escorted to my little piece of luxury in 2A. I have without doubt suffered moments of prejudice over the years, (you can’t be this ugly and expect to get away with it), but never at the hands of BA. Seems I’ve missed the first cuckcoo too. 🙂

[MartynSinclair]

u should have asked nanny to close the blind to stop the sun shinning into boo boo’s eyes – guess it was too long ago for you to have had armani or gucci shades???

ps – never knew they put DP into milk bottles or was this the BA touch all them years ago???

[VintageKrug]

MartynSinclair are you Victoria Beckham’s brother? Armani shades indeed…!

In those days we just used a man with a parasol.

Nanny would sweeten the DP with orange juice until I got a proper taste for it. Hardly any ill effects at all.

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