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Virgin vs BA
Former Member
Posts: 1,875,648 The Mix Honorary Guru
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2139118,00.html
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2139312,00.html
what do you think?
seems like Virgin has gotten away without paying for their part in price fixing...
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2139312,00.html
what do you think?
seems like Virgin has gotten away without paying for their part in price fixing...
0
Comments
Virgin is not exactly innocent in this... rather than reporting the approach right away they discussed the possibility at lenght.
Maybe this is revenge for BA's 'dirty tricks' campaign of the early 90s.
Having said that I remember finding it odd when looking for a flight that all the trans-atlantic carriers quickly decided on a fuel surcharge which was very similar.
They have a nice cartel going alright.
Yeah the fact BA & Virgin are the only airlines allowed to fly direct to the USA + their American counter Parts is a major price fix in itself.
That is due for a major shakeup - not just price wise but think of all the fuel other airline have to waste flying to from the UK to other European Airports before they can then take you to the USA.
There's plenty of airline I bet, ready, willing and able to start flying people direct to the USA and at much better prices.
Well the incentive is NOT to be the last man standing who gets handed the fine.
However why is there no reward for any individual employee that blows the whistle? Say a 10% cut of the total fine upto a maximum amount of say £1 Million. Would have probably gotten both companies found out a lot sooner and save the air passenger paying public a lot of money a lot more sooner.
Piss poor in fact.
The USA is about the size of Europe - so saying only four airlines can fly directly there is kinda lame.
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2139118,00.html
I assume there's nothing to stop Virgin Passengers asking for a refund? Not just BA passengers?
Im also no fan of BA, and think in terms of reputation Virgin had more to loose than BA.
I'd echo Rachie's sentiments, really. BA are vermin and if they go under then I won't shed a single tear. As much as anything, it will teach the illegal striking filth who work for them a serious lesson.
Two sides of the same coin. The greedy trade union CEOs did the same thing and were hailed as heroes on here...
BA is rotten to the core:D
In the past, trade unions did useful work, demanding decent working conditions and decent pay. We've got that in most jobs now - after all, few people die in their jobs today. They've achieved everything they set out to do. Their bosses, then realising they could soon be out of a job, decided to up the ante by making ever-so-stupid demands. These bullying filth were responsible for the UK coming to a complete standstill in the late 1970s - Winter of Discontent, anyone? - and the crafty sods are still up their tricks today. History books tell us that Margaret Thatcher curbed the powers of the unions. Recent years show us that she did not go far enough.
People dont die in their jobs and the unions are now redundant? Apart from the totally false nature of the claim if all you want in terms of working conditions is not to die I feel deeply sorry for you.
Frankly SG you show yourself up in P&D time and again with your totally black and white view of the world.
And it's a bit rich of the US to be fining BA in the interests of upholding standards and all. United, Delta and US Airways all went bankrupt - but all three were allowed to carry on.
Everyone loves to slag off BA but they're a decent airline. I've only had pretty limited experience but I've found BA to be better than the different American airlines... Obv better than the budget airlines too but then they're normally more expensive. Lufthansa is prob my favourite airline... although never been with Emirates which everyone speaks highly of. (I've only ever been economy...even if I had the money I don't think I'd pay extra for business/first, hundreds and hundreds of pounds extra just isn't worth it. Put up with a bit of discomfort and have more money to spend when you get there I think!) But yeah BA really aren't that bad.
It ain't hundreds ... try more like thousands ...
Can't remember if it was dollars or pounds but someone I know that regularly has their company fly them around the world on business said their business class flights are always 5,000 return from the USA to Heathrow.
They actually got a few days off work cos they had to make two trips between USA and Europe and so the chap says do you really want me to spend another 5,000 flying back and forth ... might as well just give me 2 days holiday and save some money ..:)
But if businesses can group together and have a body represent their interests (e.g. the CBI) why should workers not do the same? Unions are out of touch and need to reform - but when there's private equity firms/asset strippers about eyeing up successful businesses with an aim to sell off and destroy unions might help oppose them.
BA have been (and still are) far more successful than many of their rivals.
So he should take the blame for this even though he wasnt actually an employee of the company at the time?
Exactly, it was no way Willie Walsh's fault. If its anyones responsibility it should be Rod Eddington.
BA are a bunch of dirty bastards anyway, all this is confirmed they havent changed. There are worse airlines **cough- ryanair** but BA doesnt deserve the position it has.
Every BA member of staff who walked out last August should have been summarily dismissed, and the ringleaders should have been made personally liable for BA's losses.
I don't see why we need competition regulators. Monopolies exist because of government.
Attack of the free marketeers! Run away! Arggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
:rolleyes: