To return from Mykonos to the US we decided to fly British Airways, given what a convenient routing they had available.
Continue reading: Review: British Airways A320 Business Class
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
You always seem to take an instant disliking to the ‘less polished’ mixed fleet crew.
Not sure how well intentioned they could be if they didn't offer any drinks while sitting on the ground, or refills, etc. I'd call that lazy instead.
Dana, the avios got him all the way to the US.....this was just a review of the first leg of the trip
Yikes!! 100.000 avios + $341 for an economy seat and no lounge? You got ripped off
Basic comprehension seems to be a challenge given some of these comments. 100k avios was for the entire trip which is clearly explained!!!
A caveat on Europe business bulkhead seats: they're fine on A320 family aircraft, but on 737s the fuselage narrows near the front and back, so the seats in the first few rows are narrower, and it's particularly noticeable in the first row where there's usually fixed armrests further narrowing the available seat space.
I went on 2 BA flights in business class last month and they were both pretty good. the crew came through with drinks every 20-30 minutes and were very good. Meals were nice as well.
I went on BA business class last month and the crew came through asking if anyone wanted a drink every 20-30 minutes on both flights. Food was decent too.
I'm guessing there's a bit of misunderstanding that 100k avios got you to LHR and not BOS. I presume this flight has a lot of award redemption since there are 48 seats! Wow.
I just flew MAD-LHR yesterday on their noon (12.10) A321 which, although marked wide open 3 hours before on Expertflyer, was packed to the gills, I think an earlier IB flight was delayed or cancelled.
The meal you are showing is nowhere near what was offered on that 2.10 hr flight (ref your mentioning that your catering was not so different from what they offer for half the time flights). Ours was much more similar to what you get on CDG-LHR, 35 minutes. And YES, no pre-departure drink. My request for a glass of water was not well received, especially when I sent it back with a request for ice.
Of course, if you add that MAD-LHR is an absolute monopoly of IAG, it all makes sense.
Surprised we haven't "theluxurytraveller" opinion/comment on this. He seems to enjoy his luxury trips we Iberia and British Airways. LOL
Sounds like typical BA. Ridiculously tight intra-Europe business class seats (you were smart to get the bulkhead, though only because it's slightly less lousy than other seats in the section) and bad service. I'm sure your first class flight to Boston was immeasurably better. But BA is still trash compared to most of the established Asian, Middle Eastern, European and even U.S. carriers.
Steve - name a single European carrier that offer anything better for intra-European flights? 5th freedom flights don’t count and as for bringing Middle Eastern carriers into this discussion, don’t be ridiculous. They operate at a loss/are heavily subsidised
@matt Turkey joined the EU and we didn’t notice? Regardless, the point here, as was made in the article above, is that BA EU business class is competitive for the EU market. Turkish who are only arguably European do have a roomier seat, i can’t argue about that.
How about TK? Wonderful in J even on short 1.5-2hr hops. Fantastic service, catering, legroom, entertainment... Often fly wide bodies with fully flat seats on short flights from IST to DUS/FRA/MUC etc. Then there’s also SU, which has really good amounts of legroom and a recliner seat. You just have to know about these flights...
@TLS~ sorry mate, you're flogging a dead horse to point out to Americans that a bathroom and a toilet are entirely two different things! Even more uncouth is the universal aviation-speak description of 'lavatory'. Maybe knowing the French root of that word would make it more palatable to American sensibilities.
Intra Europe business class is all pretty much the same, but I swear BA pitch is worse than Lufthansa. It just seemed like my knees weren’t squished on my LH flights like they were on my BA flights. BA food was nicer though.
Last time in Mykonos, I stood in the international terminal for the longest time until someone helpfully pointed out that domestic flights left from another building. Then the power went out while my things were in the X-ray. It was quite the little airport.
@ Jordan
“How about TK? ... Then there’s also SU...”
And they would get you from Mykonos to LHR how, exactly?
The unreality of some of these comments is almost tragic. Looking at the main travel hubs in Europe, getting from A to B is a competitive market. In this case Ben had a choice of BA, or ULCCs (maybe LCCs?).
We know that customers are mostly buying cheapest, not best-quality. So, to compete, every airline is trying to crush in as many pax as possible, and to cheese-pare the cost of service.
You might as well have compared this Mykonos flight to, say, a Qsuite from Doha to Sydney, then slagged off BA for not providing pyjamas. It’s so obvious that Qatar ULH is better than BA Club Europe that it doesn’t need to be said.
But how will that help you to get from Mykonos to LHR? And how would the economics work?
My partner and I are both London based so we’re pretty much tied to BA for most of our outbound flights so this review comes as no surprise to us having used BA club Europe several times. It’s disappointing though that the toilet was left like that.
We recently flew back from BKK with a mixed crew and it was obvious that the more older trained members in the team had to prop up the newbies. Gone are the days when you’d only have mature skilled crew on long haul flights but what was most shocking was that they’d ran out of food in the galley mid flight!!!
@The nice Paul.
He was clearly asking about other intra-European airlines with better service. I answered of a couple off the top of my head. Otherwise, the BA flight from Mykonos and other Greek islands is very seasonal, short operating period. At any other time of year, you’d have to connect. I’d much rather take an 8 hour trip via Istanbul on a TK lie flat (or even recliner) with amazing catering, than an Aegean or Lufthansa 6-7 hour trip via Athens or horrible Frankfurt. No need to draw extreme comparisons... just voicing an opinion
@ Jordan
Yes, but, with all due respect, you are an avgeek. You *love* flying. Most people are not avgeeks, and they prefer to minimise the total travel time and, if at all possible, avoid any "complicated" transfers mid-journey.
I get so bored of commenters on here telling me that I have so much better choices than BA when I need to travel for business from LHR to, say, EZE or SCL. Really? Only if I introduce a transit instead of a non-stop, and then I increase the risk of the connection being broken and me not arriving on schedule (as well as potentially being stranded in the middle of nowhere).
And I explain that to my boss and my clients by saying, well, by travelling on Qatar I got vastly better service, air nozzles at every seat, *and* free pyjamas?
Nice to see that the UAE sheikhs are finally acknowledging their true selves and flying to the LGBTQ party capital of the Mediterranean. Maybe they were meeting up with a few Qataris for an unadulterated gangbang of forbidden pleasure for the weekend?
@ The "nice" Paul
In case you haven't noticed, this blog is overwhelmingly populated by avgeeks for avgeeks. What Jordan did was point out options. You on the other hand, get all huffy and puffy!? Are you an adult or a peevish teen? Perhaps a different sandbox for you and your so called "nice-ness" to play in?
Your comments are consistent with my most recent experience in Club Europe, VCE-LHR, a couple of months ago. On that flight the crew served the meal ( only 3 passengers in J) and proceeded to chat in the galley for the remainder of the flight. Not so much as the offer of a drink/tea/coffee. Highly unprofessional, replete with loud giggles and an semi audible conversation of what appeared to be a risqué nature.
When a passenger wanted something he had to use the call button. Very ordinary for the crazy premium they charge.
@ the truth hurts
Passive aggressive much?
Let’s ground this in the article that started it off, which is the FACT that for the route taken, this was a comparable product to all available options.
The OPTIONS Jordan puts forward are double or 1.5x the journey time, which are not optimal for anyone other than a mileage runner, someone with no onward connections, or someone who places little values on their time.
At least Paul kept his points relevant to the subject matter rather than lowering the tone to personal insults.
Curious why didn't you use 80K AA miles plus the same fuel surcharges for F instead of BA? The metal is the same.
@Tim - had a similar thought. Going to guess AA couldn't see the space, maybe?
@The nice Paul,
Of course, there’s no substitute for a nonstop. But as someone who also has to justify any extra travel hours and costs, I’d usually (8 times out of 10) go for an option max 1.5x longer, which potentially provides me with a fuller meal, comfort to work/be productive, etc. This saves me time and energy at my destination. Little to do with being an avgeek. To each his own.
Again, any time outside of the BA nonstop season, the option I put forth actually isnt significantly longer than other options. And as I laid out for ‘The nice Paul’ above, there are definitely benefits to longer routes sometimes. Different priorities.
@TLS he is american, in america we use the term bathroom or restroom for any kind of facility that is meant for those purposes, whether they include a shower, bathtub, or not.
Don't try to make him conform to British language by saying he should've used the term "toilet". That's british english, not american english. 😉
#TheMoreYouKnow
LHR is my home airport, this review reminded me why I never fly BA because there's always a better alternative even if it takes longer, has a transit and costs more.
FWIW Turkey is signed up to all the EU aviation agreements and although Turkey is not in the European Union Turkish Airlines might as well be.
Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini - I have seen the latter featured in the "world's worst airport" lists, and with good reason. The Greek island airports are shockingly bad. They seem to have been built in the 1960s for very light traffic, and had zero investment since. I have been to the lounge at Mykonos, and it's pleasant enough. Good service in the lounge, when i was there, September '18. But you look down into what quite literally appear to be cattle pens for economy passengers below. Not to be a business-class reptile, but i was in Santorini a few months ago, flying Aegean business class. There was no lounge, but also not even a business class check-in counter. I was told to wave my ticket and just push to the front. Hardly gentile behaviour. So I joined the line, but then why pay the extra?
Given the vast volume of traffic through the Greek island airports, it is inexcusable that there has not been any investment. You just have to wonder where all the tourist revenue is going.
At Santorini earlier this year, there was probably not even one square metre of space in the departure hall, with only three flights leaving in the space of an hour. I think it was at Mykonos that you check-in, then have to carry your own checked baggage back through the terminal to the truck.
I love Greece, I love the Greek people, I love the Greek culture. But somebody is making a lot of profit and avoiding investment and it is shocking.
After my most recent trip to Santorini, I searched the web to find the volume of traffic the airport is built for, and the volume today. Today it is abotu 2.5 million a year, but I could not find the planned figures. I would be very interested to read them if anybody does.
@Jordan
@The Nice Paul
Both of you make good points.
But when it comes to (paid) premium travel, I think we should let @Endre decide who is the winner.
Personally I used to take longer detours to get disconnected and catch up with whatever I need in the air. Now with WiFi everywhere, I can't go off the grid anymore. I emphasize on arrival time.
You're incorrect. Paul deserves to get called out. Did you not pick up on his aggressive tone? It was as if his method was the only correct way. While everyone else who differed was wrong. What Paul tried to do was shut down a perfectly good discussion. I'm glad he was called out, and if the response seemed a little harsh to you, then so be it. Bullies don't respond to being molly-coddled.
@ Shaun
Hey, I’m all for debate. It’s one of the things that makes comment sections more interesting. I even like a bit of madness if it’s done with the intent of amusement (Credit/Debit was clearly insane, but his occasionally hysterically funny posts made the rest of his more tiresome posts worth it for me. Others thought differently).
Equally I’m not sure what was aggressive in my posts. Sorry if they made you bristle. But I do strongly agree with your implied point that different things work for different people. It’s precisely why I made the first post: “alternative” routes from Mykonos to LHR that involve a change in, er, Istanbul are simply not credible to non-avgeeks — or to people whose travel is paid for by their employers. YMMV.
@ Schaefer
There’s a lovely example from a US “plain English” translation of the Bible. It involves the Old Testament story of a hermit who had spent decades living in squalor in the desert, who is visited by a prophet. The hermit is overwhelmed with spiritual joy. In most translations, he runs into his cave and defecates himself: but in this mealy-mouthed Bible he runs into the cave “to go to the bathroom”.
Just never understand the BA hate. Intra European business class is what it is, period, and it doesn't matter which carrier you're flying with.
We almost always use Avios when flying within Europe, and often we just toss in the extra for biz. Always have friendly flight crews (if you're nice to them — shocker! — they're nice to you), the drinks refills constant, and the upgraded catering = a perfectly nice time.
Just did LCY => EDI to attend Fringe. Not only was the FA a sweetheart, but she also recognised us at a performance and came up to say hi and that she hoped we were having a good time.
It's correct to say that the airports on the islands are not built to cope with the traffic of today. Thirty years ago the only islands with a runway that an A320 could use were Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Kos. The rest were served only with latter day Dash 8s.
It's not that there isn't a will to expand the airports but just go out and look at the terrain - there's no where to go in the main. Runways often hug a cliff edge or are on a narrow coastal strip even somewhere like Heraklion or Rhodes. There is no where to build that is suitable.
Also bear in mind the economy of Greece, there isn't huge money for infrastructure projects.
It is what it is, it's not about to change so if you want to go to the islands you need to adjust your expectations accordingly.
I guess the "no tea or coffee" might have something to do with the "no running water in sink" problem...let me know if I'm wrong, but lav sink water = potable water = coffee brewer water (and, usually, brewed plane coffee = used lav sink water tastewise).
Atleast you had a menu. On my recent MUC-LHR flight the flight attendant just asked if we wanted a mushroom Quiche or a plate of cold cuts. There wasn't even enough Quiche for everybody. And the business class was just 3 rows.
Shame for Pierre as I was on the MAD-LHR A350 flight on Tuesday & had exactly what Ford ordered & thoroughly enjoyed it.
The meal selection on the outbound earlier that day was equally as generous & tasty.
"name a single European carrier that offer anything better for intra-European flights? "
@Mark: Air France because on 1st class their meals is much more than just "decent"
As for Mykonos and Santorini ,they ve become places of tacky Mass Tourism so i much prefer Paros & Antiparos islands nearby.
@Caroline and Air France 1st Class is available to which destinations in Europe?
@Caroline as for their short-haul business class I’ve flown it and it’s not better or worse than BA
I have flown on BA's inter European Business Class many times. It varies. Ben like you have said, the seats are the same as in economy. What I would have appreciated from BA would have been the service. What I find is that the less people there are in Business Class, the better the service is, but it is really hit and miss.
On an inter European business class flight a couple of years back on a flight from LHR to ZRH, BA tried to distribute menus, realised they had loaded the wrong dishes, and then I got a broken wine glass, like not just splintered, but fully chipped. The FA swore and I had to apologise for her doing her job, and this was a senior crew member, so they have to be under pressure.
That said on Swiss, the crew is completely inattentive, lazy and just like: well we are giving you a better meal and that is worth the CHF 300 (USD $ 300) upgrade to the worthless lounge in Zürich or Geneva. I would still always pick BA over Swiss between Switzerland or Germany and the UK for inter European flights.
Sorry to quality vis-a-vis Swiss: I will put up with a Heathrow (which is horrible) change rather than fly direct from Zürich with Swiss within Europe... they are awful in Business Class. Arrogant, do not want to speak high German (although they all do) and then don't understand English, throw down the main meal at you… it is a embarrassment for the Swiss, and then hide in the galley for the remainder of the flight.
So rather BA, Lufthansa or Air France for inter European flights.
I've been to Mykonos more than 20 times beginning in the 80's through 2016. You should've seen the airport back then! Plus, the old Olympic prop planes - I even saw a FA sitting on the pilot's lap during one flight.
08/26/2019 - BA 432 LHR to AMS Seat 3F - Club Europe. Although a short flight for "business" class, I was very dissatisfied with the seating layout and was disappointed in myself for not investigating that before the flight. I would greatly prefer 2 larger seats than a non-functional center seat with economy legroom. The food and drink were good for a short flight and the cabin crew was attentive.
If we use London Airways (after they canned the daily BA1503 MAN-JFK service) we HAVE to ho through LHR and T5 (see later for a great alternative if flying through Chicago ORD).
This .AN-LHR shuttle means an A319/320. The "business class" seats are as you describe. The "screen" moves fire and aft, so "Business Class" may only be three rows.
Get the first two services of the day out of MAN, because the third and subsequent flights depend on BA getting an airframe out of congested LHR and its overloaded peaktime pair of inadequate runways.
The BA T5 lounges are great for the waiting time. We prefer the northern Galleries with a view of the northern Runway threshold. The smaller Club World lounge out on the satellite is often quieter, but the train works well.
But, for Manchester, we have found the lovely Aer Fungus business class service from Chicago O'Hare to Dublin overnight leaving a short A320 hop from DUB into MAN. Better than ORD into LHR T5 then Border Farce in T5 with an Arrival Lounge that closes before the BA service from SFO into LHR arrives... Then we realised that the Galleries North has a perfect set of showers so that you feel human as you board the front rows of seats for the hop home from LHR into MAN. This involves leaving T5 via a cramped set of gates on the North end or - more usually it seems nowadays - a bus to a parking stand!
And don't mention leaving Manchester to support the BA services from LGW to places like Tampa in pension-age 777s.