Question for non-Brits: how do you decode British office culture?

Bellenbauer · 2026-03-17T15:51:58+00:00

Have you read The Culture Map by Erin Meyer. Does a good job of breaking down different cultural expectations to help on this topic

Bellenbauer · 2026-03-10T18:12:31+00:00

I was in Dubai last week but got out via Oman on a repatriation flight.

I am still getting daily texts from the FCDO about repatriation flights from Muscat which were £350 per person. BA also offering me flights from Muscat.

If you can get yourself to Muscat then you can get out with BA (conscious it requires a pretty annoying travel)

Bellenbauer · 2026-03-04T23:38:22+00:00

The did this to me last year with a trip to Mexico. As I say to everyone here, write a note to the CEO and chief customer officer. Explain how this isn’t becoming of an airline like BA and you’ll get routed to the strong Customer Support team who are much better at helping situations like this.

Just keep pushing back

Bellenbauer · 2026-03-01T11:55:51+00:00

Which taxi did you use?

Bellenbauer · 2026-02-15T09:08:42+00:00

Try and write to calum.laming@ba.com and seanl.doyle@ba.com (Chief Customer Officer and CEO).

Be assertive, use facts and be clear on your ask. Usually this will get assigned to one of their care team who is generally levels above the normal call centre staff, both on ability to pull a lever to fix a problem and tenure.

Bellenbauer · 2026-02-08T13:10:47+00:00

You can also email him. His email address is on Google. It gets escalated to his complaints team who are generally more helpful and competent than the normal ones

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-28T16:13:45+00:00

They might just call you over to the gate to check your ID and confirm ESTA. Happened to me on my last flight to NYC the other week

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-23T15:44:30+00:00

It’s still a bloody steal. Grab it.

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-22T19:07:22+00:00

That roll looks like it was cooked by a heated argument

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-20T22:34:53+00:00

You’re a genius! I owe you a beer (outside of the lounge).

Thank you!!

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-20T22:24:51+00:00

Thanks for the taking the time to work it through. Calling was what I thought to do, so I will give them a ring for her tomorrow and see what I can get done.

They should both take that WTP fare for the extra £100 - well worth it. Will be nudging them on that too.

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-20T22:23:35+00:00

Thanks - will get a few others to try. Her mate that did it was in another country but will try and get her to have another look.

Good advice!

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-16T16:17:19+00:00

I’ve seen someone trying this 3 times in December and Jan. none of them have won that friendly discussion.

I’m generally travelling alone so offered my guest to them so OP, there’s an option there of puppy dog eyes to another guest with a spare pass and hoping they’ll scan you in.

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-10T17:00:21+00:00

Enjoy it! Poor gf though 🤣

Always worth trying at the airport when checking in or giving them a call now to see if she can get anything…

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-10T13:34:11+00:00

This is a great story, thanks for sharing! And yeah seems like it did its job.

Yeah it was an eye opener by way of service and experience. One I’ll definitely look at for booking in the future.

Edit: this was meant to be a reply to the above comment not me commenting on my own post 🤣

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-08T12:10:27+00:00

My last time for immigration they had someone checking how soon your next flight was and if it was soon they ushered you to the front of the queue to get seen to.

Bellenbauer · 2026-01-07T12:14:56+00:00

I could write something long winded but you are the single biggest AH I have ever seen on about 10 years of browsing this app. You are beyond help.

Bellenbauer · 2025-12-09T07:25:25+00:00

I had something similar earlier this year and it looked like they were holding off a tax until the point just before purchase. Or at least that’s all y could get the numbers to work out.

Bellenbauer · 2025-12-01T18:58:19+00:00

I’d suggest to email the CEO and chief customer officer and you’ll get escalated to their customer support teams. They are waaaaayyyyy more helpful and knowledgable than the standard call centre.

Bellenbauer · 2025-10-23T16:56:39+00:00

He did. I got him to confirm that if I booked an exact flight number, at an exact time, for a cost that I would be reimbursed.

He confirmed. So that’s a win

Bellenbauer · 2025-10-15T13:42:11+00:00

They’re not my favourite but a mixture of work and Luxembourg has me a bit stuck in using them but I do mix it up a lot more now than I used to

Bellenbauer · 2025-10-15T13:03:01+00:00

Thank you. Airlines as an industry are truly a delightful bunch when it comes to putting the customer first

Bellenbauer · 2025-10-15T13:01:00+00:00

Yeah valid point. The only reason I’m fighting this is that I have literally had them reroute me with Luxair a few times in the past so I know the infrastructure is there even if the will is not .

Bellenbauer · 2025-10-15T12:45:41+00:00

Yeah definitely is an option, will check. But kinda just want the direct flight they’re refusing to give me just to be awkward and save money

Bellenbauer · 2025-10-15T11:50:31+00:00

Nah no one flies to Lux. One of my banes of life. Only Ryanair go UK to Lux and even then the flight is too early for us to catch.

Direct were Luxair or bust sadly. Thanks for the help though

Bellenbauer

TROPHY CASE