Confusion at BA as crisis official contradicts instrument ban

Liza Ravenscroft at British Airways has written to Slipped Disc, maintaining that two of her colleagues have put out ‘misleading information’ about the company’s instrument policy.

Ms Ravenscroft holds the title of Global News Manager at BA, though she has oddly not written to us in that capacity. Her duties include ‘deputising for Head of Crisis, regularly Comms department lead at Gold crisis sessions, advising operations teams on how to manage reputation during large scale incidents.’

She has asked us to publish the following statement:

We appreciate how precious instruments are to musicians and offer special arrangements for transporting them, which are detailed on ba.com.

We will always do our best to accommodate smaller musical instruments in the cabin.

In order to ensure there is enough space for all customers to store their belongings, larger musical instruments, such as guitars and cellos, can be carried in the hold in a hard case. Alternatively customers can choose to buy an extra seat to carry them in the cabin at a discounted rate.

The statement is vaguely reassuring, without in any way explaining how other BA staff gave out misleading information – or, heaven forfend, apologising for it.

Being BA means never having to say you are sorry.