terrible BA flights to kolkata( not sure what services are like to-from other destinations) (British Airways in general)

Member Name: kelebhutu

Product:	British Airways in general
Date:	29/10/08 (274 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: direct flight

Disadvantages: loads

To start with I have had several not so great experience in travelling with British Airways so this is really a rant honestly though I have tried to be fair in quoting everything I have liked about the flights in general.

I have flown with other companies on long haul and hence have had the chance to comapre and contrast British -airways services with flights like Royal Emirates, Royal Brunei, Malaysian Airways, Air Singapore , Jet Airways and Lufthansa.

So why did I really use BA time after time even after having 4 returns flights to Kolkata (India) even though I have suffered so much..the answer is simple they are the only company that do a direct flight to Kolkata from London Heathrow(9-10.5 hrs long), which is easier when you are travelling with children in a long-haul flight.

Points I found favourable with BA:

Terminal III is a huge place but BA always gets gates 9-10 which are very close to the check-in points. so no endless walks.

Only direct flight to some destinations.

allow upto 23kgs (not sure if that si good or bad compared to 60kgs in the american flights)

Planes are very clean

Things I want to moan about (please don't read if you are too laoyal to BA it might break your heart or you may get me thrown out of dooyou):

HEHEHe the prices are atrocious: about £550 + during non-rush times for a return to 1400+ during vacations for an adult.

rant 1.

Mar 2003 lhr-ccu: food and juice finished within 5hrs into flight time due to disorganised distribution).broken luggage handle , but maybe the handle was flimsy on our Samsonite lugggae.

vegetarians and vegans upset as they had been served fish and eggs in pre-ordered packs.

May2003 ccu-lhr: it was too cold and they ran out of blankets as flight was packed...

May 2004 ccu-lhr:lost my luggage -had to go to london heathrow 2 days later(nearly 60miles from where I live) to identify luggage... wrong lugagge hence had to wait another only 5 hrs to get my own one, no compensation(taxi afre etc).Airport staff were friendly though.

may 2006 :lhr-ccu no help from staff while travelling alone with 6mth old baby had to ask co-passengers while going to the loo. food burnt.

feb 2008 : lhr-ccu child's pre-prdered food mix-up was given non-hala beef instead of halal food , then had to make do with spare vegetarian adults meal for kid and was served cold meal for myslef after sking 3 times ... they said the foil plates could'nt be microwaved..acc to the info on the tickets and on the internet , 'you can enjoy your own meal later'(was travelling alone and they served kids first).

mar2008ccu-lhr: was about 30 mins late with my own lunch as was feeding little one first and they did'nt want to serve tea seperately after I had finished my lunch as everyone else had had theirs while I wa shaving my lunch.

ohh that is what I call A-class service.

I really would'nt recommend the flight to anyone who can manage flying with some other airlines really... not sure if its the same to every other destination or just this flight route...have always had choice to use some other airlines to other destinations .

Staff are very uncooperative and unhelful .

Summary: could do with something better for the money we pay