Chat thread – Sunday 20th April

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Always interesting to chat to crew about their working patterns. I usually do it whilst waiting for the jet bridge to get attached. “Where you off to next when you get back to Heathrow …”

One flight LhR-BER was operated by a crew that flew in from JER that morning so did JER-LHR-BER-LHR and then on somewhere else.

Flight and cabin crew hadn’t changed planes either

On another where we landed early afternoon one of the CC was rostered to work the first flight back the next morning so she was staying over night.

I guess crew rosters aren’t the simple things people think they are what with balancing the need to operate planes efficiently, staff them and manage crew operational hours and rest periods in line with the regulations ans such like.

Hotels are just part of the cost of doing business (not that airlines will ever be paying anywhere near rack rates)

[executiveclubber]

Travel Strong wrote:

I stayed 1 night at The Beaumont, for £630.

Once they knew they could fleece you that much, why would they stop there? 😉

[Cat]

Hi all,

So my flight that was due to leave in 5 hours (KQ259, if that helps) has been cancelled. The next flight they’re offering is on Thursday. I have a year 11 GCSE Maths class and a year 13 FM class who will be deeply p!ssed off that I’m not there to teach them for 3 days. KQ are not offering alternative flights with other airlines. Also, there’s no KQ staff at the airport to talk to (I hopped in a taxi).

Any advice on getting them to fly me with another airline, via chat, getting them to pay for a hotel (as I believe they have a duty of care here), and whether UK261 applies here (I suspect not) gratefully received, while I breathe into a paper bag.

Seriously, I am jinxed, aren’t I?

Thanks all,

Cat

[Richie]

@Cat Something on Emirates via DXB leaving at 23:50 or 08:15.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

KQ = Kenya Airways

KW259 = Mahi – Nairobi

EU/UK 261 just doesn’t apply.

And I doubt they’ll pay for a hotel etc so that’s one for travel insurance

[Cat]

Thanks @BA Flyer IHG Stayer. It’s the first leg of a flight back to London, but yes, I booked with KQ, so Uk261 doesn’t apply. Blast. Don’t they have a duty of care to put me up in a hotel (apparently KQ do this all the time, as this particular flight is often half empty)?

@Richie – I’m in no financial position to pay for a new flight and then hope I can claim it back in a few months, sadly! I will try to sweet talk them into booking me on the Emirates flight, but I’m not holding my breath!

I have insurance through my (personal) Platinum card and my BAPP, if anyone knows what that entitles me to, off the top of their heads…

[NorthernLass]

Oh @Cat 😱

Have you tried calling your insurer? They might say that they don’t consider 3 days an excessive time to wait but it’s worth trying.

Could you deliver your classes remotely, like in the pandemic 🤷‍♀️

[Cat]

@NorthernLass not with the glitchy WiFi I’ve been experiencing here!

Ooh, I wonder if Chubb (the new AMEX card insurance providers) will actually be open at the weekend… The last lot weren’t.

Managed to find a lovely airport person who’s phoning KQ for me (in Nairobi, there’s no number I’ve been given in Kenya).

Fingers crossed…

[Ruralite]

BSI1978 wrote:

Ref the tipping / service charge comments above. Interesting if brief piece from Chris Haslam about this (well, in the US at least) in today’s ST.

Yes saw that. Interestingly we were in Australia earlier this year & out for a meal with Australian friends & when the bill came I asked how much to tip – there was instantly a unanimous ‘Don’t, staff in this country are paid a proper salary and it’s their job, we don’t tip unless it’s for something out of the ordinary’.

[Cat]

OK, they’ve rebooked me on KQ251 tomorrow afternoon, and then BA64, so I should get into Heathrow at 6am ish on Tuesday, so I should be in school by lesson 2, maybe – that’s going to have to be good enough.

In the meantime, they’ve put me up in the Berjaya at Beau Vallon, so I will have an extra few hours on the beach tomorrow morning!

I can live with that, as long as the flight tomorrow int cancelled!

Thanks for all of your help!

[Lady London]

Well done Cat.