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British Airways passengers facing delays after IT failures

bbc.co.uk

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Re: British Airways passengers facing delays after IT failures

#21

Post by tolien »

beachy wrote: post #10
londons_explore wrote: post #9

A failure of IT systems shouldn't stop the plane flying... The gate staff should just let anyone onboard with a legit ticket or a sufficient story about buying one. Sure, some people might get a free ride, or a few legit ticket holders can't get on because the plane is full, but overall, most passengers end up happy. Simple things like "the pilot can't log in to the HR system so he gets paid for the flight" should be…

In yesterday's world, yeah. Today, when you have to take off your shoes to get onto a plane in the US, I don't see that happening.

Not even in recent times; since Lockerbie they’ll offload your bags if you’re not on the flight.

If BA put aircraft in the air without any idea who was on them, they’d be rapidly forced to land again with the threat of being shot down.

Re: British Airways passengers facing delays after IT failures

#22

Post by jon-v »

beachy wrote: post #10
londons_explore wrote: post #9

A failure of IT systems shouldn't stop the plane flying... The gate staff should just let anyone onboard with a legit ticket or a sufficient story about buying one. Sure, some people might get a free ride, or a few legit ticket holders can't get on because the plane is full, but overall, most passengers end up happy. Simple things like "the pilot can't log in to the HR system so he gets paid for the flight" should be…

In yesterday's world, yeah. Today, when you have to take off your shoes to get onto a plane in the US, I don't see that happening.

I have on multiple occasions been boarded by pen and paper in the US when technical issues prevented the electronic systems from being used - somehow airline/ground staff in the US often seem more empowered to do this sort of thing than their European counterparts.

Re: British Airways passengers facing delays after IT failures

#23

Post by jon-v »

tolien wrote: post #21
beachy wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In yesterday's world, yeah. Today, when you have to take off your shoes to get onto a plane in the US, I don't see that happening.

Not even in recent times; since Lockerbie they’ll offload your bags if you’re not on the flight. If BA put aircraft in the air without any idea who was on them, they’d be rapidly forced to land again with the threat of being shot down.

But you don't actually need IT systems to record who is on the flight - all you need is a pre-printed list of legit passengers and a pen.

Re: British Airways passengers facing delays after IT failures

#24

Post by goodcanadian »

jon-v wrote: post #22
beachy wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In yesterday's world, yeah. Today, when you have to take off your shoes to get onto a plane in the US, I don't see that happening.

I have on multiple occasions been boarded by pen and paper in the US when technical issues prevented the electronic systems from being used - somehow airline/ground staff in the US often seem more empowered to do this sort of thing than their European counterparts.

It may be a difference between domestic and international flights.

Re: British Airways passengers facing delays after IT failures

#25

Post by tolien »

jon-v wrote: post #23
tolien wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not even in recent times; since Lockerbie they’ll offload your bags if you’re not on the flight. If BA put aircraft in the air without any idea who was on them, they’d be rapidly forced to land again with the threat of being shot down.

But you don't actually need IT systems to record who is on the flight - all you need is a pre-printed list of legit passengers and a pen.

Yeah - the GGP is talking about just letting anyone go though:

> let anyone onboard with […] sufficient story about buying one

> some people might get a free ride

As dagw’s comment points out they’re using the pen and paper approach; however, it takes longer and missed slots/out of place crews can cascade catastrophically.

Re: British Airways passengers facing delays after IT failures

#28

Post by pcardoso »

goodcanadian wrote: post #24
jon-v wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have on multiple occasions been boarded by pen and paper in the US when technical issues prevented the electronic systems from being used - somehow airline/ground staff in the US often seem more empowered to do this sort of thing than their European counterparts.

It may be a difference between domestic and international flights.

At least in Europe going to/from the UK is a lot more cumbersome than to another EU country, since they are not in the Schengen area.

It is far easier to fly to Switzerland than to the UK.

Re: British Airways passengers facing delays after IT failures

#29

Post by pjc50 »

londons_explore wrote: post #9

A failure of IT systems shouldn't stop the plane flying... The gate staff should just let anyone onboard with a legit ticket or a sufficient story about buying one. Sure, some people might get a free ride, or a few legit ticket holders can't get on because the plane is full, but overall, most passengers end up happy. Simple things like "the pilot can't log in to the HR system so he gets paid for the flight" should be…

There's a £2000 fine for passengers with inadequate documentation: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/passenger-documen...
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