[Linda Hoyle]

Where do I begin with this terrible flight experience? BA 057

I suppose it all began around September 2015, when after working hard in the United Kingdom, I decided it was time to re-visit my husband and family back in Johannesburg, South Africa. This of course when working as a live in carer in Rutland, and looking after my disabled son, who lives in Leicester in the UK. Yes it was time…

I started looking at flights for around January 2016 which is of course summer time in SA, the perfect start to which should have been the perfect time to travel and arrive relaxed, so I thought.

I am of course, quite a tall, mature female, and I was advised that if I book early and pay for extra leg room, then I would be extremely happy, and arrive happy and relaxed. I could only book my seat however in October 2015, and tried to book the emergency exits, as this would give me all the space I required, but they were unfortunately not available, this dis-heartened me sadly.

And so, I booked a seat which was second best, this was 29J, which was the row behind the emergency seats, and I booked the middle seat with great anticipation that no one would book either side of me, and when I arrived for my flight on the 14th January 2016, BA 057 another huge disappointment hit me, I had passengers on either side of me, a Father on the left, and his Son on the right hand side of me, and of course the Father, was not a small person, he was quite big!

They kept leaning forward and talking to each other which was quite irritating, and being the kind polite person I am, I asked them if the Father would like my seat so that he could converse with his son, in a more respectful manner, to which they thanked me. This of course opened a dialogue, and what happened next totally shocked me, as the son indicated to me that they had only booked those seats the night before!! The night before, surely he was wrong, as I had tried to book his seat in October, and it was not available!!! Does this mean that BA was misleading me, into believing that seats where in fact available??

The aircraft was actually quite old, or appeared to be. So once take off had commenced, I thought here I am squashed in a seat I had to pay extra for, I will watch the on-line entertainment, Oh No! You can’t do that madam, I was told by one of the stewardesses, there is a problem with the entertainment, and you will have to wait for it to be repaired! This happened over an hour after take-off. And when it was fixed the picture quality was so bad, you could not watch it anyway!! Just how many more disappointments am I to expect on this flight?

Oh No, I simply can’t take any more of this! Prior to the food being served, the kind BIG gentleman in front of me decided he would lower his seat, which virtually came right back on me, I had no space in front of me, and the BIG gentleman to the right of me, was leaning to the side, so I was squashed whichever way I could turn!



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Speaking to the stewardesses did not do any good, the aircraft was full, so it was a matter of take it, or stand up, all the way to Johannesburg, are you kidding!

Needless to say, I did not get much sleep, I ended up being a human cushion for British Airways passengers,
so they could enjoy their flight.

The following morning when breakfast was served was not much better, especially the man in front who had to be asked once again if he could kindly put his seat up in order for me to try to attempt to eat my food, it was a total disaster from start to finish.

I was very dissatisfied with the limited amount of leg room on BA flights, especially this one, and I paid a premium to be even more uncomfortable!

Once I eventually did arrive in Johannesburg, and started my holiday, I was comfortable and relaxed, and even did a little travelling down to the Western Cape, and visited many of the beautiful sights South Africa has to offer. This great holiday vacation was about to come to an end unfortunately, due to me developing a severe Kidney infection at the beginning of February.

This became quite bad, and after two weeks visiting the local doctor and going onto a course of strong anti-biotics, I had to be hospitalized in Waterfall Hospital in Midrand, where I was in acute pain and extremely ill. This happened on the 24th February 2016, and I was due to fly back to Heathrow on Monday 1st March, on flight BA 054

I was not unduly concerned at the time, I honestly believed 1-2 days in hospital would do the trick, then I could go back to my daughters house, and try to enjoy what little time of my holiday I had left. As the hours turned into days, I started to realise that I probably was not going to make my return trip home on time. And so on around the 26th/27th February my husband started to contact British Airways to try to change my flight, as I was still admitted into hospital, this was a nightmare. Initially you speak to a ‘human being’, and then you are forced to try to communicate with some machine, who cannot use any form of dialogue at all!

My daughter then tried to call British Airways, she did try to communicate with machines, and eventually got through to someone human, who informed her that only I, Linda Hoyle, could contact British Airways and change my flight, me, not any member of family, or Doctor or Hospital member! Excuse me, but I am lying in a hospital bed, quite ill, and you want me to get out of bed and telephone you, when I am so weak and have several ‘drips’ attached to my body, you have got to be joking!

After several attempts to speak with your staff, my family members gave up, and instructed the BA staff I would not be on the flight! Your staff conceitedly replied You, cannot say that, and that was the end of the discussion!

Needless to say I was not on the flight if you check your records, neither do I feel like flying ever again with
British Airways, you do not make me proud to be British in any way or form, and I am going to voice my personal opinions to the media, for such disgusting HR tactics used on your behalf.

Linda Hoyle
SA: 062 327 1420
UK: 07752 148592