help! which flights!!!!

[Snapper]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katys Grandad
Do you really think the service there is what it was? The dedicated terminal, agent check-in, Club check-in, service desk, BA staff, international flights, full Terraces Lounge have all disappeared in the last couple of years. Less than 2 years ago you could fly to several UK destinations but now they only have a few London shuttle flights a day all serviced by Agency staff. Even BMI offer a better shuttle these days.[/quote]
I can't honestly say that I have noticed anything to be hugely different. Personally I quite like the check-in machines. Anything that gets me from the car park to the lounge/gate without having to queue I think is a bonus. Would I prefer to deal with a check-in agent? For sure. I love dealing with people rather than machines. Would I prefer to deal with a check-in agent after a 20 minute queue rather than breeze through a machine. No way! Give me the machine and the relaxing cup of coffee any day.

Not having a direct flight to Orlando from Manchester has never really been a problem for me. If I fly via Gatwick I can check-in at Manchester an hour before the flight (or sometimes quite a bit less hey Rosie [msnwink]). The flight is only 40 mins and if the connection time at Gatwick isn't huge it means my check-in time at Manchester is not a million hours away from the time I would have to check-in at Gatwick if I was playing by the rules and aiming for 3 hours before the flight.

Alternatively we get the train down to Gatwick the night before, stay in the Sofitel and have heaps of sausages for breakfast. [msnwink][msnwink] Now that's a relaxing way to travel!!

If I want to fly Manchester direct to Orlando on a scheduled flight I have, approximately, one option. Virgin. To be honest I can take them or leave them given their service. Virgin direct MAN-&gt;MCO or BA indirect MAN-&gt;LGW-&gt;MCO I'll choose BA every time.

If I want to fly with a different carrier such as American or Continental I'm still travelling indirect, just that I'm changing at the US end rather than at the UK end.

Machine check-in and indirect flights to me are just not such a big deal. What is more important is the comfort and service on the plane, the confidence that it will depart and arrive more-or-less on-time, and the confidence that if the aircraft does go technical BA have some spare ones to swap in. Just my view.

[Katys Grandad]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Snapper
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katys Grandad
Do you really think the service there is what it was? The dedicated terminal, agent check-in, Club check-in, service desk, BA staff, international flights, full Terraces Lounge have all disappeared in the last couple of years. Less than 2 years ago you could fly to several UK destinations but now they only have a few London shuttle flights a day all serviced by Agency staff. Even BMI offer a better shuttle these days.[/quote]
I can't honestly say that I have noticed anything to be hugely different. Personally I quite like the check-in machines. Anything that gets me from the car park to the lounge/gate without having to queue I think is a bonus. Would I prefer to deal with a check-in agent? For sure. I love dealing with people rather than machines. Would I prefer to deal with a check-in agent after a 20 minute queue rather than breeze through a machine. No way! Give me the machine and the relaxing cup of coffee any day.

Not having a direct flight to Orlando from Manchester has never really been a problem for me. If I fly via Gatwick I can check-in at Manchester an hour before the flight (or sometimes quite a bit less hey Rosie [msnwink]). The flight is only 40 mins and if the connection time at Gatwick isn't huge it means my check-in time at Manchester is not a million hours away from the time I would have to check-in at Gatwick if I was playing by the rules and aiming for 3 hours before the flight.

Alternatively we get the train down to Gatwick the night before, stay in the Sofitel and have heaps of sausages for breakfast. [msnwink][msnwink] Now that's a relaxing way to travel!!

If I want to fly Manchester direct to Orlando on a scheduled flight I have, approximately, one option. Virgin. To be honest I can take them or leave them given their service. Virgin direct MAN-&gt;MCO or BA indirect MAN-&gt;LGW-&gt;MCO I'll choose BA every time.

If I want to fly with a different carrier such as American or Continental I'm still travelling indirect, just that I'm changing at the US end rather than at the UK end.

Machine check-in and indirect flights to me are just not such a big deal. What is more important is the comfort and service on the plane, the confidence that it will depart and arrive more-or-less on-time, and the confidence that if the aircraft does go technical BA have some spare ones to swap in. Just my view.
[/quote]

Steve

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to reply.

I don't think our views differ very much at all. My point about BA at MAN is that the service isn't what it was in so many aspects. The machines don't save any time because you have to queue for them as well and then join another one to deal with the agent who checks your bags. On the last 2 or 3 times I've been through there, it definitely took me 5 to 10 minutes more than it used to. The new security entrance is a slight improvement but that's mainly because my elite status allows me to use the Fastrack.

Like you, I have no problem taking connecting flights on the outbound. However, the inbound is never much fun. Although I do it many times a year, all I want to do is get home and after a long overnight flight and I'm not a fan of going through security again and waiting for a short flight up to MAN to start my drive home. That is really the point I was making to the OP.

BA are a very good airline but their focus is very much on Heathrow now and, to a diminishing extent, Gatwick. I love the lounges at Heathrow T5 (I let them pay for my sausages!) but I could easily do without them in exchange for a better service at Manchester. Can't see that happening though!