British Airways is updating first class amenities, bedding, and dining across its fleet, but are these changes enough to call it a true overhaul?
Highly doubt anyone's booking a +$5K/way TATL F ticket based on... the amenity kit. That said, some F/J kits are better than others. (For instance, I like what LATAM has going on currently with their Altitude Collection themed bags.)
You're lucky that @AeroB13a is gone.
That apologist would have paid $10k to DEN and tells everyone who doesn't like the BA amenity kit is because they never flown before.
I have way too many White Company kits. And still don't understand why LGW exclusively gets the new kit for almost a year now.
Everyone is getting the new kit now. I got one from LHR a few weeks ago. They're fine - but yes, better than the White Company ones.
Just landed less than 24 hours ago.
Still got the White Company both from/to LHR.
I will say that the eye mask for both CW and F are among the best out there.
So hopefully they didn't cut corners there.
Where did AeroB13a go? Was it ever decided that he was or wasn't TD's alter ego-cum-sock puppet?
Willy, try not to be such a *anker!
It was as obvious as the nose on your face that TD is definitely a U.S. citizen, while I am most definitely English, old boy.
I am not sorry to disappoint you Eskimo, old trout.
Taking little notice of the gross ignorance posted so prolifically herein, is no indication that one has “Gone”.
Hello 1990, no points for guessing who is keeping a beady eye on you and your dubious friends too …. 🙂
You are probably aware that there is absolutely no point in my responding to the obviously gross ignorant rhetoric which is posted herein.
However, needless to say, our collection of amenity kits has been expanded recently …. yes, BA, plus SQ and AF too.
Expat life seems to suit some of us ….
When are these changes rolling out?
@ TopBoffinNYC -- They all roll out effective immediately (they were implemented October 1-6), except the service training, which is still happening.
With regards to AF not losing any sleep, perhaps this should be cause for concern. BA previously appealed to the price conscious F passenger and AF F to the product conscious passenger. With BA improving the hard product and improving the soft product and positioning it closer to (albeit not up the the standards of) AF F perhaps they may take a section of their market who weigh up the toss between product quality and price.
A quick look at AMS-LAX (not fare to compare O&D traffic) on random dates in Feb shows BA to be £5400 rtn and AF to be £14,500 rtn. BA also comes with the added benefit of: More seats per plane and significantly more F routes so that in the event of IRROPs or even voluntary date changes, that F passenger is likely to keep an F seat rather than have to accept a downgrade. This is the biggest issue I find with airlines switching to 3-4 seat F cabins... F passengers usually want to retain an element of flexibility.
@ pogonation -- I hear you, but I think the Air France first class customer profile is a little more specific. It's for people where price is no object, and where having as close to a private jet experience as possible is the priority.
A new amenity kit and the option to pair lamb and broccoli is a nice improvement, but you're still connecting at Heathrow, and the ground experience is still more like a good business class than a good first class.
When we're talking about a $7K vs. $21K price tag, I think that's a crowd that just thinks "I want the best regardless of the cost," rather than "well, that amenity kit doesn't look very nice, I'll spend an extra $14K for Air France instead.
But like I said, I think BA has the right strategy. It doesn't need to be the best, it just needs to be a well rounded, mass market first class.
For that matter, the other thing about AF first class is that most passengers are starting in or terminating in Paris. It's another major, lucrative market, and the people willing to pay for Air France first class value the convenience of a nonstop flight. So when they are traveling to London, they may very well fly BA so they can travel nonstop.
These changes aren’t going to get peoole to switch from another airline to BA, but they could ne nice touches those flying BA will appreciate.
Of course, we’ll still have to see how some of the changes, like the menu, are executed.
The food pictures look like nicely plated business class food. When your marketing materials look like business class food, you know the actual product is usually a notch or two lower.
That is the problem with BA First. You have to keep reminding yourself that you are in First class.
@ BBT -- Yeah, I've gotta say, when I saw the food pictures, I was wondering if that was actually the new first class food, or what. Because if that's what the food looks like in marketing materials, it's not exactly impressive.
This is more about BA catching up to the rest of its competitors on long haul. While BA has made subtle improvements over the the last few years, it isn't regarded as a world class airline in the league of AF, QR, SQ, CX, etc...This all helps push it closer. It will come down to execution and the full end to end experience. They're improving the lounges and creating changes for premium check in at Heathrow, but overall, BA doesn't have a luxury or premium halo just yet. Maybe these changes will help.
Meghan and Harry as brand ambassador. That would be a game changer.
Now if only their FAs would stop treating passengers like a inconvenience…
Good luck customizing anything on BA. On various flights I was on they even ran out of desert choices. If you are the first to be asked you might be able to choose, bets are off if you’re the third or fourth on the list.
Why do you keep going to places where your lifestyle is not only not welcomed but illegal? I totally do not understand that.
London doesn't welcome..."lifestyles?"
Sir, this is a Wendy's.
The Middle East is ESE of Heathrow.
1. He can go where he wants
2. What does this possibly have to do with a new rollout of BA first class?
1. BA lost the in-cabin corporate memory of great service when it "retired" its long-tenured FAs several years back. 2. The CEO's talk about restoring luxury travel is lip service. 3. After years of paid F long-haul, there's no F reward inventory. Betrayal.
BA has a very privileged position, as the largest slot holder in LHR, the most desirable airport to fly from.
As a result, it has realized it doesn't need to try very hard anymore, the most valuable thing it offers is LHR slots, not the product.
This is a nice incremental upgrade, but generally doesn't impress me. Quite frankly this is still about as good as business class on most Asian airlines.
Hah. You're funny. LHR the most desirable?
Make it the least miserable that actually has long enough runways.
And let's not dive into the night curfews.
I agree that they are successful financially because they have a captive UK audience, but LHR in my opinion is one of the worst airports for connections, and the lounges there, including the Concorde, are miserable for resting if you connect from a long-haul flight.
I don't understand why LHR is the preferred airport to fly in/out of. Are you British? Are you going to the UK? Okay, great choice then. Otherwise, why?
BA's winning edge is number of F seats to more destinations. Not its main hub.
It turns out there are many British people and there are also many people who go to the UK
i am not impressed. that they can tell you, you can't have your first choice when flying F and somehow think that is acceptable is beyond the pale.
Flying it tonight. So we’ll see if it is really implemented!
I am intrigued. A slightly smaller cabin, Bigger (better ? ) seats.
Specific cabin class training ( had that at Pan Am a lifetime ago)
And being able to customise your meal ? I like it.
I also experienced providing that level of service in the mid 80's and I hope to God BA's flight attendants are well trained and ready for it. As we used to say " It's going to be a worker !"
Looks like a nice improvement. Trouble is the “world best business class” sure has been tough to get with avios of late…
The one time I flew BA (business) they ran out of water!!!, ice, and snacks. I was starving for the last two hours of a 10 hour flight because when one combines IAGs budgeting with D&O quality you end up with tapas portions…. Not eager to go back to IAG in any cabin.
BA flies very large business class cabins, and while the FA's are generally nice, they are way understaffed, sometimes I have given up on meal service and just gone to bed....
My 30 year BA boycott is still going strong, although now I'm a bit older I'm starting to miss the matronly stewardesses.
So after 30 years, did your boycott actually achieve anything?
BA is still flying.
Sorry to disappoint, but they were all sacked under cost cutting measures during covid and clueless gen Z now rule the roost…