I boarded through the second door on the left, where I was greeted by the cabin service manager, who handed me over to one of the first class flight attendants.
Continue reading: Review: British Airways First Class 747 London To Nairobi
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
BA use the old entertainment system planes for routes to Africa to set the scene. You could easily say they localize the inflight experience before landing which as far as I can tell you love on other airlines 😉
Thanks for another well-balanced BA review I can't help but feel that somehow you've become a real fanboy lately.
“The World’s best Business Class” says it all...on par with most good business class seats.
I flew to JFK in August on a mid-J jumbo, they are so old and dirty, though some are being refurbished now with better IFE. I had the same issue on arrival too, in that the crew made no effort to deplane First ahead of PE (only door 2 was used for disembarkation), so by the time I arrived at immigration there was a queue already ahead of me. Not very 'first.'
The guy in seat 2A sounds like a d-bag, but in row 1 on a 747 I think the crew recommend you use the closet.
They use the same old entertainment system to go to Las Vegas most of the time... are they setting the scene there too? 😉
Yea I thought 1A & 1K use the closets in the nose.
That's what I've always done.
Lucky,
Thanks as always for the great review! One question though, how come you don’t eat pork or pig products? I know it’s a personal choice, but I’m curious why and you seem to mention it a lot so I figure it’s fair game to ask about. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Lucky, for future flights, you can always choose your meal in advance on BA in First through their website. It’s annoying they don’t cater enough meals in F but I always reserve mine now to avoid the problem.
They seriously need to speed up the refurbs on those mid-J 747s, those and the older 772s are now the planes to avoid in their fleet.
@eponymous coward
A friend of mine who works for BA said they use their oldest jumbos on the Las Vegas flights as the flights tend to get pretty rowdy.
My dad is currently working with BA to advise them on how they can improve the customer experience, so, Ben, and anyone else reading this, what is the ONE thing that you would ask him to pass on to the chief executive of BA regarding improving the customer experience for passengers travelling in premium cabins?
Row 1 is reserved for BAEC Gold and oneWorld Emerald...so how in god's name had they run out of your first choice food order...did they take your order last?
OMAAT: We don’t review PE because it’s all the same.
...And then reviews BA 5 times in a row.
Decent upgrade cost. But man I'd be pissed if I didn't get my first meal choice in first class.
I flew this route in first in both October and then again a couple weeks ago. Interestingly, the plane was a 777 both ways to and from NBO in December. Not sure if it's a seasonal or permanent equipment change. The layout is a bit different on the 777 (three pairs of seats run down the whole middle), but seats otherwise seemed the same.
Row 1 uses the closet in the nose. That might be why the folks behind didn't want you using "their" overhead bins.
ba should rebrand their first class as business, business as premium economy, premium economy as main cabin extra. this would make them much more competitive in hard products without a major refresh.
@C - stay tuned for another exciting Marriott/Sheraton review!
*spoiler* it will be like all the other Marriott/Sheratons!
Pulling the latch on the ottoman brings it down and forward so you can put your feet on it. It's weird.
"Their" overhead bins, lmao. Seriously, what is wrong with people? Were they planning on having "their" dinner in them?
looks like one of their older 747's that needs a refurb. I've not seen those PE seats in a long time ...
A few years ago I was in row 1 on VS and the flight attendant came to me as I was opening the bin over row 2 and said "lets put your bag in the closet. Some people get really upset about you using 'their' bin space." She then tutted her annoyance in a very British way, making it clear that she thought it was stupid and that she didn't need drama, all with one irritated noise. I thought it was funny, but it is a thing. I've run into it since as well.
Also, while BA F isn't awesome I do love it. Maybe because it's what we flew when I took my wife to Italy for her 50th birthday and there are many fond memories of that trip. The version that Lucky flew on this trip was brand new at that time. I also love their PJs... the best airline PJs of all. i think I have four pairs at the moment!
You have to start giving us other types of reviews than BA F and BA J. More premium eco please. If you have to keep evolving.
I imagine with 5 main course choices they'd only load 2 at most 3 of each choice onto the plane with just 8 first class passengers? I can't imagine many people would be going for the pie or the salad in F so inevitably people filer through to the other choices, and they ran out!
They might as well only offer 3 - 4 choices of main course and load more of each onto the plane.
I took a mixed AA and BA flights to Dallas from Dubai via Heathrow in Business. Jumped off a 747 from the first leg and boarded an AA 777 from London to Dallas which was at pair with some First Classes with other carriers. So one could notice the difference. BA was one of the first that had flat beds in J class but then it has not changed ever since (I have hear that it is now doing so gradually). For instance in my seat in both flights the seat in front which becomes a leg rest was loose. Not the end of the world but doesn’t look nice.
Lucky, I'd be very interested to know how you eat so much during travel, considering the relative scarcity of proper bathroom and shower facilities. Usually, you have a bite at some lounge before boarding and then several large courses inflight too. How do you manage this?
Just how claustrophobic is this seat and space compared to many other Business Class offerings let alone comparing to other First Class offerings?
Ben. As always, loved the detailed review and it's this that makes me enjoy OMAAT so much. Maybe think about an end of year review and a looking forward to 2019 for your readers to tell us what are your plans for 2019. Maybe the elusive Kuwait airways final first class review........? Keep up the good work and thanks for keeping me entertained in 2018.
I am constantly seeing negative reviews here for BA first class, and maybe it is deserved. Out of curiosity however how many airlines fly first to Nairobi? It may not be the best product out there but it seems like BA flies the most first class routes and seems to have the best first class award availability and the easiest to book. They consistently offer cheap first upgrades using points, I feel like they deserve some serious credit for that given other airlines don't make the elite experience as easily and widely available.
Just my two cents worth anyways. I am someone who has never flown first class or even business internationally but will get it finally try first thanks to BA being one of the few airlines that flies first to Seattle.
And there’s the picture of your used towel, I always look forward to those disgusting pictures, thanks for sharing
Saw on FlyerTalk last week that BA have been trying new first products on LHR-SJC route. Will be flying this route in first in July
I’d love you to do a ranking of best first class incorporating price and availability. For example, while BA don’t have the best first seat I’ve always seen great paid prices for it at their planes (which have a first cabin) have at least a minimum of 8 seats, compared to Air France first class which is expensive and hard to come by and only have 4 seats on their 777s.
Kevin, you are in for a great time. BA First was also my first overseas premium cabin flight. It isn't as over the top luxurious as many options are today (no closing doors, in flight showers, or caviar), but it is still laughably amazing if you haven't done anything like it. And you will have something more to aspire too in the future! Plus transit lounges in London are nice.
Not to beat a dead horse, but yes the closets in the nose are for row 1 passengers. The guy in row 2 may sound like a jerk, but the overhead box is really about the only place each seat behind the first row has to stow anything larger than an iPad, so it is kind of important to have access to it. Also seconding that the ottoman does work for shorter passengers if you pull on the latch (it sort of scissors toward you and slightly down). My wife is 5'2" and was able to use it fine when adjusted.
I hope when they refresh these planes they keep premium economy right where it is. I flew it many years ago and it was nice, it had J flight attendants, and we used the J lavs, by virtue of its location, which is a nice upgrade over many Y+ products.
@ Lucky (Ben), I’m a long time reader and love that you DON’T review PE...
I like that the blog is differentiated from TPG and others. The best thing is that you have passion for flying and passion for airplanes !! The mile games and credit cards came after your passion for airplanes. Other bloggers started out this hobby from liking to travel in style etc but some of them can’t even tell the difference between A330 and 767 etc by looking the curvature or partial exterior shapes.
Readers who are beginners in this hobby but have passions for airplanes and also need helps for flying F/J can learn a lot from this blog, but people who just want the advices for PE (or who has better PE/Y) because they want incremental better comfort but don’t put more effort (and *passion*) to go further up to F/J can go read TPG or else.
You have a habit of taking pictures of the hot towel. Before using it is one thing, but often there is a closeup of it after you have used it.. somewhat eww and totally unnecessary....
@Daniel from Finland: Generally, "Mixed Fleet" (MF) crews are much younger. Think early-to-mid-20s. "Worldwide" (WW) crews tend to run in their late-30s-to-late-50s. That's the easiest way to tell by looking solely at the crew makeup. This FT post has a list of routes worked by MF: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1600711-mixed-fleet-vs-non-mixed-fleet-routes.html
@Alex Conway: As Lucky notes, I would posit that MF crew need a bit more "polish" on service etiquette in F and J. While cheeky can be fun, I've noticed that MF crew tend to be too overly familiar for my tastes. There should be consistent addressing of passengers by Mr/Miss Lastname (whatever's on the boarding pass). Joviality is fine if the pax is being engaging in that manner; jocularity should not be initiated by cabin crew. These are things that should be covered in training on the ground, along with service flow, food plating, etc.
For the record, ALL my hot towel pics are taken before using them (since this is apparently a point of concern for some). 😉
Kevin,
Yes, for all the bashing of BA premium products, BA gets very good load factors on most of their flights in J and F. And award seats get snapped up quickly which is why BA gets away with high fees.
HiAperture,
It's a convention that Row 1 pax get the nose closet but it not a rule. I was in Row 2 recently and the flight attendant told me to put my bag in the nose closet because it would not fit in the overhead. The passengers in Row 1 who arrived later just had to make do.
I haven't traveled in Club World in a while, but last time I remember the sandwiches for afternoon tea were relatively full size.
This past week in F LHR-IAD, I thought the afternoon tea sandwiches were pathetic. Tiny pieces of salmon or beef, and I do mean tiny, on mini bagel type of things. Not even finger sandwiches. These shouldn't have even ranked as Y sandwiches. Otherwise I thought the senior crew LHR-IAD was delightful and the service in the Concorde room good as well.
LOL... who cares if the towel has been used. What do you think @Lucky is doing with it other than wiping his hands and maybe his face?
Also, @Lucky, I agree about the afternoon tea. I have a weakness for the sandwiches and scones. I was very upset when they said they were going to substitute lunch and am glad when they stuck with Tea.
I actually had ANA flight attendants escort me (and other first class passengers) through the business class cabin upon arrival at SFO since there was only one door for deplaning. I was first off the plane, though honestly felt a little awkward being escorted through. (I was to the curb for pickup, with a checked bag and immigration in only 18 minutes - a record I'll probably never beat!)
Lucky, I don't understand why you didn't use the facility to pre-book your choice of food.
Also, sorry but I'm with the guy in row 2 here. It's our mindset to expect what is assigned to where we are to be what we use.