Our flight from Rome to London was pretty uneventful, as was our long layover in London. It was actually one of my most pleasant Heathrow transit experiences yet. Transit security didn't take too long, and we even managed to secure spa treatments at the Elemis Spa. The treatment was good, except for the fact that…
Continue reading: Review: British Airways Club World A380 London To San Francisco
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British Airways seem to have gone well under standards by your experience. Pity! They used to be better
I flew the BA A380 from LHR to YVR in July and found business class unremarkable (I was sitting upstairs with the window seat). On the way back, I was on a refurbished BA 747 from SEA to LHR mid August (upstairs again). Pretty much the same seating (narrow). However, the screens have been upgraded which was a positive improvement. Interesting to see you also found the pantry offerings to be underwhelming. I think I need to stop flying Qatar Airways from the Gulf to Europe before taking BA to North America to keep my expectations in check!
BA's 747 Upper Deck is definitely worth checking out. Only 20 seats, hence a very comfortable passenger-to-crew ratio (as well as passenger-to-restroom ratio).
I flew first class on A BA A380 from IAD to LHR back in February. Very nice experience. First Class dining at IAD was excellent, and tthe 5 course tasting menu on the plane was almost perfect - the only thing missing was a more consistent wine/food pairing. And I do prefer to ride up in the A380. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be available with BA F.
You should also try the two cozy center seats when you travel as couple. Many couples actually like those very much! And it is a totally new perspective for you on the product.
I flew upper deck 747 the other day. The window seat was private with lots of side locker storage. The service was good as was the food (same menu). For those of us who don't care that much about wifi on overseas flights, it's a very solid product.
@Lucky: Looking at the photos, am I right that one would need to step OVER the legs of the passenger sitting (sleeping) in the aisle seat (if that seat is in a fully flat position)? Have you ever had to do that? That would be rather awkward doing a few times during a 10 hr flight.
@Daniel B: yes, that's how BA's Club World seat layout works. Boo. There are a couple of seats at the ends of the cabin that sometimes have direct aisle access. They're a huge step down from the common reverse-herringbone designs that are so popular (AA, CX, QR, etc.)
747 upper deck is an order of magnitude better as far as service speed and a feeling of intimacy. Also, unlike the 777 and a380, you can find seats with much more leg room for those over 6-feet tall (exit rows / 64 A / 64 K).
However, the interiors can be much more beat up and the flights are getting more difficult to find as the queens are getting pulled from service. ~3 years ago, I had four-747 flights going SFO to India. Last year, I had 1x a380, 2x 777 and 1x 747 on the same route.
The lack of food choice availability is absolutely obnoxious. If seated in row 113 in Y it MAYBE it'd be somewhat understandable (though not really) but in J? Unacceptable, even if some low-cost budget guy is runnin' the show.
I'm with @Hilde, I love the upper deck Business Class on their 747s. Feels like you're flying on their A318 London City service but with a much smoother and quieter ride 🙂
Loved the review - thanks Lucky!
Have to say i've been really disappointed by service in Club World recently. Used to feel pretty special by the crew and generally very attentive but the last few flights this year (in particular) it feels like they are cramming too many seats into Club, having younger/more inexperienced crew and it is becoming more like premium economy in service terms. My most recent flight (ORD - LHR on a 747, lower deck Club) when I asked for another glass of wine after my meal before bed I was looked at like I was asking for first class champagne...! In fact the FA was whisking my glass away and had to almost physically grab them. That's been fairly typical on most BA Club World flights these days... real shame...
Agreed with a number of comments, the BA business class offer doesn't seem to be able to compete with other carriers.
Went 747 business from Miami to Heathrow, was left very underwhelmed with a dirty cabin and lack of food choices.
Earlier in the year opted for Etihad to Australia and the service was top notch despite high volume. Come on BA you can do better.
@Daniel B.
Yes, I did have to step over some poor guy sleeping on our flight back. We caught the flight just before Ben.
@Steve
Both inbound and outbound, a number of the course food choices were unavailable, for us. Pathetic.
As I said in the last review, I think British Airways has the best sub-$1200 business class product, but British Airways is dismally insufficient otherwise.
You need to fly in the Upper Deck of the 744 and then decide if you think Club World isn't spacious. Otherwise, I would just not fly on BA as I really don't think it's your thing. On another note, we all say "Shed-jewel" in the UK and we don't make jokes of the numerous ways Americans use the "ENGLISH" language.
@Paul
Oh Paul, it's fine if you guys want to make fun of our use of “ENGLISH”.
Think of it as your 240 year old consolation prize.
The 'shed-jewel' joke is getting pretty old. I don't live in England but just say English people pronounce words different to Americans. There is no right or wrong (in the minds of intelligent people).
What do you mean, "'it’ll “collapse”'" ?? I don't understand who or what you are quoting.
They served that same trout timbale on my LHR-SFO biz flight too and it was quite awful.
@Stephan
I can relate to the drink glass being pulled. Your empty glass sits there for 40 minutes and no one asks you if you would like a refill. Then, whoosh, it is wicked away unless you can grab it in time! In asking for a refill the stare that came back was: "why"? Yes, you would have thought you were asking for something you shouldn't have. And finally, just like Lucky in a previous post, I was confronted by the question "drink"? Excuse me? "Drink, do you want a drink or not; I have other people to get to". UNBELIEVABLE demeaning attitude. The airline deserves to die.
"Ford wanted the chicken sandwich, but they were out of it"
Tell Ford he didn't miss much.
I flew the upper deck of the 747 JFK-LHR earlier this year. It is spacious, with an oddly wide (double width?) aisle...which makes the fact they have the same standard, narrow "ying-yang" business class seats in a 2-2 formation all the more frustrating!
Of similar tier business class products, I personally find KLM's 2-2-2 long haul "new" business class more comfortable and the service generally better (plus I like the little collectible dutch china houses they give you as a gift).
Plus KLM have a couple of single seats in J on some planes, the best have aisle access and a window. You just have to grab them before others do 🙂
Curious to know how salmon which is described as "Severn and Wye" (both rivers in Wales) can be described as "Scottish"!
Can't you pre-order meals on BA now? Would solve problem of getting stuck with something you don't want. http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/food-and-drink/long-haul-business-dining
The British airways service standards are for the main meal service to be completed in 2.5/3hrs after take off, every review that you have done for BA you have mentioned that the meal service has taken that long. So, BA is doing nothing wrong in that regards, plus why do you want a meal service to be rushed? Seems a tad impatient to me, you don't know what other jobs the crew are doing before the service. Nor, why would you have everything on a tray at once, it's hardly premium, nor would you get that in a restaurant.
And while you clearly don't like the seat (it certainly does have its draw backs) it's not as narrow ststaistcally compared to other seats, plus you don't have your feat crammed in a small cubby like many other airlines. You're also not going to have much of a difference in the seat in any aircraft that you get on with BA apart from IFE which some airlines can't say as they have varying seats on different aircraft etc. They have announced that a new club seat is in development, but why change it when business is usually always full, and they are making a ton of money from that cabin. It be interesting to see if other airlines will copy when the patent runs out off the ying yang seat. It's a shame that your food choice was unavailable but that happens with many airlines too. Luckily BA have announced £400 million in improvements to Club, I did a flight where they were trialing everything hand run, no trolleys in the cabin and they provided First Duvets and pillows in Club to maximise sleep on the upper deck 747 cabin back to Heathrow.