EXCLUSIVE: Here are the British Airways plans for new service improvements in 2022

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• Panda Mick says:

  3 Feb3 February 14:05

  “A baggage tracing app will be launched, allowing passengers to see where there luggage is and to facilitate the easier return of delayed baggage”

  Have been using Apple AirTags to do this: Its fun watching your bags navigate themselves around the airport. And reassuring to see that they are on the plane!

  • David says:

    3 Feb3 February 21:37

    American have been doing this for years.

• Lady London says:

  3 Feb3 February 14:42

  Doesn’t look like much.

  Anything new won’t be done or not done workably or not done for far too long. Like the baggage tracing app.

  And they could have used the word ‘reinstated’ about requesting refunds online and being able to do functions in MMB that they disabled. It’s not an improvement it’s a reinstatement.

  • TimM says:

    3 Feb3 February 15:48

    Agreed. It looks more like a reinstatement except 1) a new app will tell us where our luggage is lost and 2) a “plant-based” option to save money and appeal to a new demographic.

    It looks like a team of advertising executives at BA have studied 20 years of complaints and decided to make some low-cost or revenue-neutral changes. Whether they actually deliver is another matter.

    BA’s IT systems and call-centre response are running on the verge of illegal. They must act or lose their license to operate. These are not ‘improvements’ but merely compliance with the law.

    • Rhys says:

      3 Feb3 February 16:16

      Not sure plant based is money saving. Vegan burgers in many restaurants are on par or more expensive than their meat counterparts!

      • Rob says:

        3 Feb3 February 17:12

        But if you replace all the cooked food with a big salad bar ….

      • Andrew J says:

        3 Feb3 February 19:20

        The restaurants just have a higher margin on them – they aren’t priced the same just because they cost they same, they are priced based on what people will pay for them.

        • Thegasman says:

          3 Feb3 February 21:18

          Exactly this. Same with Seedlip (or other non alcoholic “spirits) vs Tanqueray/Bombay Saphire etc. Both sell for similar price yet one has £8 duty included in price. If you can’t see you’re being had then you’re a marketeers dream.

• Nathan says:

  3 Feb3 February 14:42

  Would anyone here please know what time the showers in the BA lounge Heathrow Terminal 5 are open until? The last time I was there it was 3pm I’m hoping it is later now as I have a night flight soon.

  • Jack Hodgson says:

    3 Feb3 February 18:05

    I am travelling through Heathrow on Sunday so if nobody has got back by then I will let you know

    • Nathan says:

      3 Feb3 February 20:36

      Thanks very much I appreciate that.Have a great trip.

  • Trent says:

    4 Feb4 February 07:58

    I had a shower a few days ago at 5pm, so they are certainly open longer than 3pm.

• Harry Holden says:

  3 Feb3 February 14:51

  These “words” are just wishful thinking until they are turned into actions. I have every sympathy for crew who are faced with delivering the current rubbish. I have no sympathy for the management who seem impotent to manufacture meaningful change in real time. Everything is always “going to” or “will be”. Try changing this to “has been” and I will be more confident.

• Aliks says:

  3 Feb3 February 14:57

  Data point: Patting BA Help Desk on the back for a change.
  I called them this afternoon at 2pm London time to redeem an FTV. I got through after 15 mins and was done and dusted within a further 20 mins. Not bad considering the FTV contained a 241 voucher.

• HAM76 says:

  3 Feb3 February 15:00

  LAX used to have a dedicated World Traveller Plus check in desk many years ago (maybe 2004, or so).

• Emma says:

  3 Feb3 February 15:13

  Being able to get through on the phone would be a start. Not waiting 60 minutes to on the Gold line listening to messages about how I can ‘earn points by joining the Exec Club’!

  • Rob says:

    3 Feb3 February 16:09

    I got through in 3 minutes last week – this was calling the Gold number for people who are outside the UK, eg the 020 number. Not sure if it was a fluke or not!

• ecugkq30 says:

  3 Feb3 February 15:17

  A big improvement would being able to use an e-voucher online. I have one sitting in my inbox waiting to be used following a points cancellation over new year and am dreading the phone call to book something.

  • Andyf says:

    3 Feb3 February 15:59

    Ten minutes ago i made a booking and paid for the cash element of an Avios flight in rather than calling to use part of an Evoucher. I just could not face calling them to use it. Why you can’t use them online is beyond me? I’ll leave it till later in the year to use.

    • Rob says:

      3 Feb3 February 16:07

      You would have been wasting your time – an eVoucher from a cash booking can’t be used to pay the taxes on an Avios booking.

      • Mark says:

        3 Feb3 February 17:45

        In that case, another benefit of our having booked an upcoming trip with BA Holidays, upgraded to Club World with Avios, rather than using a 2for1. It worked out cheaper anyway, somewhat fewer net Avios required and with the double tier points was a no-brainer.

      • Andyf says:

        4 Feb4 February 08:31

        Shocking but hardly surprised now you have told me. The use of where you can spend the voucher is unpalatable. Its like being told in John Lewis that you returned a garment and as such you can’t use your voucher for any bedding or homeware. an eVoucher should be site wide. We didn’t pay for the flights with silver or frankincense but cash so why we can’t use it else where is beyond me. Maybe its there lack of IT.

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