Bad experience on a flight- worth complaining?

[Laura2121]

I recently had a bad experience on a long-haul flight from British Airways, regarding poor customer service from a couple of the cabin stewards. After patiently putting up with the way that one steward was treating me and my elderly parents for a few hours, I raised my voice and complained to her about her level of customer service, only to then get a telling off from the cabin manager for raising my voice in the cabin- no accountability or apology for my experience at all. In fact I was even made to apologise for raising my voice, as if I was the problem. I have never had such an appalling experience on a flight before.

A quick Google search afterwards revealed that BA had recently made some policy changes as to protect their staff from customers expressing annoyance at them, so it could be that my loud complaint was ‘pounced on’ disproportionately given that the new policy had just come into force. But I am frankly appalled at the treatment I was subject to on board the flight.

I am soon taking the return flight back, and not feeling too keen about this after the poor experience I had on my outbound flight last month. I was going to complain to BA after getting back home, but it would help to know that they want to make things right before my flight home. An upgrade wouldn’t hurt either if they offer this! Has anyone had experience with something like this? Thanks!

You were unreasonable, you can express displeasure without raising your voice.

This isn’t an AIBU post

‘I shouted at a member of BA cabin crew to the point where a manager got involved, and now I want an upgrade on my return flight’? Right, that’s so likely to happen.

It's not ok to raise your voice on a flight. Very stressful for the other passengers to hear, and I'm not surprised you were told off. A quiet word with the crew manager is appropriate, don't disturb everyone else.

YABU for flying BA.
It is a low cost airline in all but name and price.

This is true

You haven’t a hope in hell of an upgrade - those days are long gone.

BA are a very poor airline now but hold on to all the best routes and timings so have a captive audience. Their newest tranche of cabin crew are on much poorer terms and conditions and you get what you pay for. Let it go.

Wouldn’t be stressful for me in some situations - esp if it’s a woman trying to be heard

More context is needed here

This. I can certainly believe that some cabin crew are less than helpful but generally even on a long haul flight my only interaction with them is when they hand me drinks/food. I am intrigued how they could deliver poor service for a few hours.

Oh, sorry, I didn’t realise that. I was not using AI, I was just posting my thoughts. As I said, I have autism and so maybe my communication style is different but there was no need to be sarcastic. I am sorry if my post was not what the OP asked for, she wanted advice on whether to complain and I put the context about not shouting on flights before saying she should only complain about her behaviour before raising her voice because it didn’t seem, from the OP, like that was something she understood. I have struggled a lot with reacting to things by shouting etc and have to remind myself that this isn’t the done thing and was just trying to help explain to the OP like people have explained to me before.

I am sorry if my post wasn’t what the OP wanted but I don’t believe I was rude and even if you didn’t think it was helpful you could have just ignored it, there was no need to single it out or try and make me feel belittled just because the way I responded wasn’t the way you would do so. I am not AI, my autism might make me communicate differently to you but I am still human and deserving of respect.

What a very strange response.

If there is a place not to raise one's voice it's on a plane. Flight attendants are there for safety first, the rest is extra. Luckily, the offense only warranted a telling off by a senior member of the crew.

OP you lost the high ground when you raised your voice. Also your expectations for compensation are optimistic - miles or low level vouchers at most. Next time, ask to speak to the pursor and keep your temper in check.

Yes, let's ban all sarcasm, banter humour and fun in case someone with an ism feels belittled.

Another case of the disappearing OP.

Come back @Laura2121 We are waiting to hear details of the poor service.

Sarcasm, fun and banter and fine but not at other people’s expense. There’s no need to be sarcastic about things other posters have written, if somebody disagrees with something another poster has written then by all means they should express that with reasons as to why as this is a discussion site, but responding sarcastically doesn’t add anything and it’s not fun or moving the discussion forward, it’s just mean spirited.

I don’t think a woman shouting is any better than a man shouting. No one should be shouting. Being a woman, being ND, all irrelevant.

As others have said we really do not to know more about how they were treating you for a few hours.

im afraid it doesn’t make much sense to me as my interaction with cabin crew is confined to asking for a drink, receiving my meal, asking to buy duty fee etc. So I’m struggling to understand what was happening to cause you a few hours of bad service and lead you to raise your voice at them.

You’ve clearly not observed people being treated poorly to the point where intervention is required

I’ve observed plenty of shitty cabin crew and other service staff

Snapping, ignoring customers requests for water, not helping when asked etc

Not ok esp when you’re in a vulnerable situation with children or elderly people or a disabled person

Raising your voice - even if you're in the right - makes you in the wrong. There's no reason why you couldn't have raised your complaint in a normal tone.

Thanks for letting me know
I will be factual in any replies to you from now on and not use sarcasm

Thank you.

Yes, I'm finding it difficult to imagine what they could possibly have done that's so awful.

Why haven't you come back to explain what they did that was so bad?

Once you raise you voice, you loose the moral high ground.