Next time you fly on British Airways, be prepared for a big surprise

British Airways has come up with a number of innovations to make its customers’ journeys smoother and faster. It has introduced a new programme that looks to enhance flyers' experience by connecting customers travelling through the airline's hub at Heathrow. 
 
The new innovations include making sure flights with a large number of connecting customers are directed to arrive at the most convenient aircraft stands for the next part of their journey. When the airline knows lots of customers are transferring to the same flight, it will now arrange for a vehicle to transfer them to their next flight, cutting out the need for extra legwork, according to a British Airways statement. 
 
To help customers print out their boarding passes quickly and easily, new self-service kiosks have been set up in the flight connections area at T5 of Heathrow airport. 
 
The airline also employs dedicated connections managers, who monitor all flight arrivals and co-ordinate with customers having tight connections - the contact is made while passengers are still in the air. They are given Express Connect status, and information packs, to fast-track them through flight connections and security checkpoints.
 
Customers travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe class, plus British Airways Gold and Silver Executive Club members, who are at risk of missing their onward connections, will be provided with a chauffeur driven executive car, where possible, to transfer them to their next flight. 
 
An initial trial has proved so popular that more vehicles are being added to the airline’s fleet.
 
Tom Stevens, British Airways’ head of Customer, at Heathrow said: “We know how important it is for our customers to transfer through the airport quickly and smoothly, and all of these additional initiatives show them we’ll always go the extra mile to provide excellent customer service.”
 
Customers who may miss their connection are now being re-booked with British Airways or any of the airline’s oneworld partners while they’re still in the air. This information is relayed to cabin crew who then reassure and help customers with their onward journey. They are then met at the aircraft door by connections staff who provide them with their new boarding pass, refreshment vouchers and, if overnight accommodation is necessary, their hotel booking.

Watch this Zee Business video

British Airways' route network currently serves more than 200 destinations around the world. The airline has been flying to India for over 90 years and currently operates 49 flights a week between London Heathrow and five key cities in India namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.