'Piss Up' and 'Brewery', part 2

[peteryoung]

Having spent several hours in my office today on standby, I've spent some of the time trying to get more information than just what we're hearing from the BBC, re. the sudden imposition of Sky Marshalls on British flights from that often infuriating 'mis-Administration' across the Atlantic.

You'd think my own Ops Centre could tell me everything I need to know, but everyone's just been quoting bloody press releases at me, and my specific questions (some of which I asked in my previous post) are met with "Well, we can't answer that right now", until they get the word (a black-and-white internal memo that they can quote at me) from on high. My own managers are able to pass on little that's relevant to MY job, and even the trade unions are running in circles.

There's also a small two-paragraph message on a noticeboard saying BA will comply with US rules in order for our planes to be able to land there, so that's all our Management are officially saying to us the crew directly, and all we can say for sure is what we've already learned from the news, that the Captain will know if there's a Marshall on board, but not necessarily who he is.

So as I'm going to Philadelphia tomorrow and New York on the 4th January I'll just have to find out first hand, won't I?

Note to self: Must remember to borrow my hotel's copy of the local Almanac as I walk the empty streets of Philly on New Year's Day lurking suspiciously around the Liberty Bell and other glorious reminders of American 'freedom'.

Comments

[dougs.livejournal.com]

You must be sure to mark up your almanac with suspicious annotations.

In other news, http://www.livejournal.com/users/swisstone/125644.html

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

What's your flight number to IAD? Will leave a note for the sky marshall crew, if I have time tomorrow morning.

[scarlatti.livejournal.com]

Butting in here, with dougs's approval...

His flight to IAD on the 1st is BA 217, and his flight back to Heathrow on the 10th is BA 224.

Many thanks to you! :)

We...Are...The...Mysterons...

[(Anonymous)]

Pete:

To attract the attention of any Sky Marshalls, you ought to trundle up and down the aisles muttering "We are the Mysterons". That ought to attract some attention.

FPK3

[swisstone.livejournal.com]

I've just seen this news item. I'm guessing that the "major carrier" is your employer. Has it filtered down to the employees yet? Given that the US are going to insist on the presence of sky marshals (which in its own way sounds just as silly as air marshal, but at least only has one meaning), this looks like as good a deal as you're going to get.

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

Cheers Tony. I've just printed some copies of this article to pass around tomorrow, as when I arrived this morning there was still no official communication about this resolution on our notice boards.

Cheeky favour time!

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

Hi there!

At the last moment I'm flying to Tampa from Gatwick tomorrow (2nd January) at 12:20pm and returning from TPA to Gatwick next Thursday (8th) arriving back in on the morning of the 9th (at 8:40am)

I doubt you'll see this in time, and even if you did whether you could do anything, but it never hurts to ask ... and don't forget, if you're ever idling at Heathrow, give me a call and we'll meet up for a (non-alcoholic?<grin>) drink!

Re: Cheeky favour time!

[peteyoung.livejournal.com]

Sorry mate, didn't get home ’til today (3rd) so I missed your comment! But anyway, I can't actually do much with flights from Gatwick, as I would have to make a long journey down there (in practicality there's not really any other way to get a handwritten message into the system).

Fear not, next time I have to spend a bit of time at the office I'll call to see if you're around.