A GREAT WAY TO FLY. RUBBISH!

It's time to put the record straight. British Airways are a company who look after those who pay extortionate fare prices and don't care much for those who sit down the back-end of the aircraft and are crushed into seating that is totally unsuitable for anyone over the age of 12.

No leg room for normal people; seats that tilt back and nearly decapitate the person in the row behind; food that is barely edible and coffee that tastes like - well certainly not coffee. The cabin staff have perfected the art of treating these 'lower' classes like something people find on the soles of their shoes after walking across a cow field.

There is not much attempt to make the trip a bit more comfortable. I would liked to have read an English newspaper when we left Boston but a polite request to the steward in response to my "do you have any English newspapers?" was a curt "No. You can get the BBC news on your screen." I'd already seen The Times appearing in the 'up-market' sections of the aircraft - and later he came down the aisle with the Daily Mail.

The food is served up like school dinners. Get on with it and don't ask questions. The staff much prefer to hide behind curtains and talk loudly about their schedules.
"Last week I went to Rio. Next week it's Calgary and Vancourver. Have you been to Cape Town. What hotel did you stay in while in Vegas?" It's the kind of loud, casual chat that is for the benefit of nearby passengers trying to get some shut-eye.

Finally we arive in London, crumbled, aching, tired and, yes, irritable. It's over for the cabin staff - so they are laughing and joking amongst themselves without so much as a goodbye and thanks for flying BA. The Chief Steward and one other member of the cabin crew were prepared to wish us a safe onward journey. The rest of the staff gave the impression they were glad to see us go.

So flight BA 214 from Boston to London on 2nd October 2009 was a grim and uncomfortable experience. Those sitting at the back-end were made to feel as though we were doing BA a favour. It seems there is a culture within this huge company that the 'oiks' don't matter. Wrong. They do. Next time we go to America then Mr Richard Branson will get our business.