British Airways No Longer Selling Old First Class

Ben, for those of us who haven't experienced "old FC", what's the biggest giveaway to know whether a flight is "new" or "old" FC. Thanks. Flying in August MIA-LHR-MIA.

If I'm understanding this correctly, BA will put their remaining 747 with OF (I think there are maybe 9 of them), exclusively onto those routes you named - meaning that those other routes (like MIA) that so far have had a mix of OF and NF aircraft, will now be guaranteed 100% NF?

Check out the "Tracking NF [New First]" on the British Airways Executive Club forum on FlyerTalk for great info on how to determine whether your flight will have New or Old First Class.

FTDashboard currently has MIA-LHR flights as 87% chance of having New First.

I'm following the dashboard. I see that it's running at 87%. My problem is that I'm the idiot who hasn't experienced enough to know Old v New, and would sure appreciate tips in this journey.

Thanks for the tip, though.

Colleen, check out the first post in this thread, has lots of info and pics that I think will answer your questions:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1050471-tracking-nf-new-first.html

If your seat is covered with wood paneling, you're in Old First.

Thanks to both of you. I tried to look at trip report pix. but they weren't side-by-side. I'll be paying attention for the wood paneling and the window configuration.

@ Chris -- That's the theory, I think. Lets see what happens in practice.

I've got some routes that are OF much of the time coming up this year, Sept/Oct. CPT and JNB, and a random IAH. I'm fine with getting OF and 50K avios, I am NOT fine with being downgraded to Biz - without being compensated a lot more than 50K avios. Wonder what will actually happen.

@ Tivoboy - I thought Houston had new first class already so I checked the dashboard. IAHLHR is NF 100% of the time; the only variable is a plane. BA194/195 has 744 and BA196/197 usually has 772.

Lucky, is this also affecting San Diego? I've been doing some searches lately on the BA Site for flights from SAN to LHR, and it says that 1st is "not available" on this route.

@ DougB -- I don't think I've ever seen even business class award space out of San Diego, to be honest.

Lucky, do you know when BA started offering compensation (50, 000 avios miles) for flying in Old First on a 744? My wife, kid and I flew in early 2013 but never got any compensation.

Thanks,

@ DougB

BA to San Diego is always operated by a 772 without a First Class cabin

@ Vinod -- I believe it was fairly recently, unfortunately. In early 2013 they would have been not even halfway through the retrofit, so weren't offering compensation at that point as far as I know.

@ Lucky

Thnaks for the response - appreciated

@ Lucky

Do you know if there are any BA 772's (4 class configuration) with Old First Class? Heading to LHR next week, and I noted that the chart for BA 226 may indicate 0% new First Class (steep decline from 100% new First Class for preceding weeks to 'unknown')

Thanks

@ Vinod -- Hmmm, I could be mistaken, but I don't believe that they're all reconfigured yet.

Booked with Avios miles 1st class PHX-LHR 4/15. BA notified me of downgrade to Club World (no 1st class on route as of 10/14) but still able to keep 1st class seat. Hope it's true.