British Airways PR

[4little1s]

There was an interesting Radio 4 interview this morning with a couple of PR people talking about BA and their image. I was quite interested to hear that despite all the agro BA are getting at the moment (x million pound losses announced, Gate Gourmet, Cabin Crew strike etc etc) they still are seen as a 'Respected brand' by the general public.

The PR person (sorry forget the name) went on to discuss this reflected how 'well' BA had built the brand up over the years to be seen as a quality brand but if these PR issues continue that it could start to erode it.

....interesting

[Mister B]

It's quite an interesting situation.

Like most, I'm acutely aware of what's going on at BA and I have sympathy for them.

FWIW, I would always fly BA by choice but the possibility of strike action is making me contemplate a move to another long haul carrier.

Mister B

[Be Known PR]

There are some (but very few) institutional names/brands that to some extent are as 'immune' as you can be to bad publicity. Whilst it may have an initial negative impact they will soon go back to business as normal.

The xmas strike worked in their favour less bacause of their own PR response but more because of the car crash that became the Union's handling of the situation.

BA relies on the fact that for every negative story that comes out, the fact is that they continue to carry more UK passengers around the world than all of the other 'quality' airlines and 99% of those passengers have a positive experience and will use them again. Plus they provide UK travellers with a wider choice of destinations than their competitors. Yes, Virgin/Emirates etc might offer a better flying experience, but they go head to head on a relitively small number of routes.

The biggest PR fiasco that BA have faced recently was the opening of T5 but even that is now pretty much water under the bridge (note: I flew from there two weeks ago and was out of the airport and in my car within 25 mins of landing). The funniest thing I did read about BA and their handling of the T5 crisis was a story about one of the press officers who, on having unaswerable questions fired at him from a group of journalists, literally ran away and locked himself in a toilet cubicle. Much to the amusement of the journalists who then ridiculed him. The feeling from the journalists was that if he simply turned round and said "Look, I don't know the answers, I am giving you every bit of information I get and when I get more you will be the first to know", they would have simply thanked him.

[Cornish Steve]

For international travellers, BA is viewed as one of the most solid airlines - despite having flight attendants that are a bit like bossy hospital matrons. Others, like me, who've travelled the world rather a lot, do try to avoid Paris and Air France because of the poor customer service and penchant for strikes. There's no doubt that a series of strikes at BA and London would tarnish their reputation and affect their business.

[sirearl]

Amazing what putting British in front of your company name does.:)

Earl