As good as it gets?

As Good As It Gets?

Many will now that after many years of loyalty to BA I am trying hard to work my through my Avios pile and where possible not provide BA with any revenue bookings. A task that is easy for short haul but frustratingly difficult on long haul premium cabins. Despite the challenges I have managed some success including a booking last June which would allow us to ski on the West Coast of the USA over this Easter holiday.

So having the seats in First I was determined to maximise the experience and a month out emailed You first for spa treatment times and a cabana.

It was not an auspicious start when “You First” replied that the Cabana was fine but spa bookings for our 10.50 departure were not possible as there were no slots available. I waited 2 days and then called and obtained 2 slots which were acceptable around 9.40 and 10am. Just why they were not available the first time round is a mystery.

Departure day came and we dropped the car with one of the off airport valet parking firms on level 4 at 8am as planned. From there it was a stress free walk to the First checkin area where the guardian of the gate asked if we were in First or Gold card holders. We were then escorted to an empty desk while the guardian of the gate intercepted another passengers and made them wait for us to go ahead. The bags were quickly dealt with a very pleasant agent and we turned to head for security.

It was then that the issue of Gold cards holders using First check in at school holiday time became clear. There was a queue of at least 30 or 40 waiting to enter the First checkin area. The staff were ensuring that First passengers were identified and pulled forward and this explained the dedicated desks for gold cards holders within the checkin point.

I personally cannot understand why anyone would stand in a queue at First when the bag drop desks were all significantly shorter (no more than 5 or 6 in any queue.

So, rather smugly,we marched off to security which was a breeze and into the Concorde Lounge. I had cancelled the cabana and we just wanted some breakfast. The restaurant was packed so we sat at the high table and our orders was quickly taken. I noted that we were eating smoked salmon and scrambled eggs at 8.27 washed down by a Lent busting Bucks Fizz……..a bit of a waste of the rather excellent Grand Siècle champagne.

People watching and the spa treatments followed and both were great fun. My wife went first and I followed while she made her way to the gate for boarding with the kids. I headed for the gate as soon as my treatment ended and whilst waiting for the shuttle train heard the final call announcement. I called my wife who was on board quaffing more Grand Siècle!

On arrival at the gate I was told off very nicely and with good humour as I was the last to board albeit with 15 minutes to spare

As I boarded the two crew at the door checked my pass and said “use the right hand aisle it will be easier” but I was not escorted to my seat. I was forced to pause at the foot of the upper deck stairs as another crew member announced that the passenger behind her on the stairs was the captains wife as was moving to 4E. She was escorted!

I don’t like the New First layout and that did not change on this flight. Sitting in 3A I had uninterrupted sight of the feet of the captains wife for almost 11 hours. There are better views but the cabin layout does not provide a sense of personal space.

The space issue was not helped by the elderly Prem in 1A doing stretching exercises and providing the occupants of rows 1-3 with a less than appealing view of various parts of her anatomy.

The crew were charming, welcoming and helpful and happy to serve the kids. The CSD introduced himself to 1K, got his ear bent about something or other and left, never to be seen again by the other 13 passengers.

The IFE was simply dreadful the screen is new and large but the picture quality shocking and unwatchable. I switched to IPad and Bose headphones after watching Argo. BA simply cannot get this element of the experience right and it remains a serious weakness in my view.

The food was fine until my venison arrived and I stared in horror at the plate of food which would have done an injustice to a school canteen let alone First Class. They say you eat with your eyes and I can tell you this was awful. Some chunks of meat swimming in gravy with 3 dried out dumplings on the side.

I tried it after some time gazing at it and to my surprise it was delicious! So much infact that when the crew came to clear it away I commented on how unappealing it had looked and yet how tasty it had been.

The wines were superb but the cognac BA serve remains a disappointment and I had to ask for the chocolates.

I slept for several hours after lunch mostly due to alcohol intake but woke refreshed about 3 hours out.

Afternoon tea was a huge disappointment but it passed 40 minutes.

On arrival we almost came to blows with the Prem in 1A who tried to push her way past my children and wife, She was out of her seat before the aircraft stopped but her exit was hindered by her excessive hand baggage and my rather loud complaint that my 8 year old was sitting under the overhead bin she was struggling to open with the aircraft still moving. She was livid but I could not have cared less.

We disembarked and a short walk to immigration and no queue. LHR should learn something……. Into the baggage hall and sorted out trolleys then something remarkable happened……our bags, all 6 of them, were first onto the belts, one after another they came out tonour utter incredulity and delight. We exited and in less than 40 mins had our hire car and were on our way.

On arrival at the hotel we noticed that the biggest bag, a brand new sports hold all was split right along the bottom. The ski kit and stopped small items falling out and in the excitement of getting our bags out so quickly we never noticed the damage.

I emailed You first who replied overnight providing a link to create a baggage report which I did. I then sent the reference number to You First along with pictures of the damage on Good Friday. On Easter Monday an email from customer relations arrived offering an apology and the full costs of replacement. no fuss, no bother. Great service indeed.

So my verdict. On the ground the experience is very good but I would not have wanted to be at the end of the queue for first checkin.

The lounge is good but not exceptional and spa bookings are simply hopeless.

The crew were great but the service is inconsistent ranging from the lack of welcome, no escort, self interest of staff passengers and the invisible CSD.

The cabin lacks personal space and does not lend itself to the delivery of a premium product.

The IFE and food presentation are simply poor and not acceptable.

Despite this I came away generally satisfied. The handling of the bag problem was superb simply faultless and BA in my experience handle such issues well.

I think my view was shaped by the fact that this was an Avios booking. Had it cost me £22000 then I would not be a happy camper. But I didn’t nor would I ever pay BA for First, they simply do not offer the service which I feel such fares demand.

Its very nice, offers a superb start to a family holiday but is still in my view Club World without the dividers and need to to climb over others.

Sorry but I think this is as good as it gets!

I’ve been a keen member of British Airways’ Executive Club for a number of years.

The generous earning rates and Tesco promotions mean that I have accrued tens of thousands of avios.

Although I don’t fly BA much for work anymore, I am enjoying redeeming my avios for European trips, which always seem to have availability.

I’ve also been successful redeeming for longhaul leisure trips for my family, with trips to the Far East last year in First aboard Cathay during school hols, and this year managing to snag First seats for four of my family over the peak Easter holiday period. A bit of planning and using the valuable tips from experts on forums like businesstraveller have helped me increase my success rate. Result!

BA has a great YouFirst facility which lets you book cabanas and spa bookings online or by telephone one month prior to your flight.

I emailed to set up the cabana, which was no problem, and once the spa bookings opened up (I had emailed before the 28 day advance booking window opened up) my request for two peak time spa reservations was granted without difficulty over the phone.

There was no queue at First check in, a very friendly agent took our bags. Despite having taken just 5 minutes to check in, a queue of six or seven families was waiting when we walked out; luckily this line would clear quickly as there are often 8-10 desks open during peak periods.

We sped through the dedicated Fast Track line and through the white door direct to the Concorde Room.

Easter is one of the busiest travel days of the year, with 1.5m people heading for the sun. Despite being a busy travel day, and busy in this lounge, we were shown to a high table and enjoyed our eggs and delicious Buck’s Fizz, with vintage Grand Siecle champagne, always a treat…..

I was unaware until now that there was a vintage LPGS

Binman – what exactly are you moaning about now?

From my reading of your post:

A. You managed to book 4 FOUR seats in F over the busy Easter holiday
B. You had an excellent experience at F check-in
C. You pre-booked your Cabana which you subsequently cancelled (did you cancel whilst you were in the CCR, thereby excluding someone else from using it? Just wondering, or maybe whilst you held the booking someone else tried to book it to no avail and felt the same as you that the service provided by YouFirst was “unacceptable”.
D. You pre-booked spa appointments, albeit on your first call your preferred times were not available, they were subsequently (maybe someone else got there first and then cancelled, so they opened up for you)
E. You and your family were enjoying a lovely breakfast in the CCR 27 minutes after arriving at the airport
F. You didn’t like the look of your main course meal but it was delicious
G. Your bags were first off

And some things you were not so happy about:

A. You were not escorted to your seat.
B. You did not like the fuss being made over the Captains wife by the CC, or her feet!!!
C. Afternoon tea was not to your liking, however, it passed 40 minutes
D. Your bag was damaged – but excellent follow-up customer service from BA
E. the passenger in 1A annoyed you
F. The IFE was shocking

You spent an entire flight looking at the Captain’s wife’s feet ….. Really??? I personally wouldn’t care less if the CC made a fuss over her, hey work it out Binman, happy wifey, happy Mannie! So, I for one would be very happy that she was being fussed over, especially as her Mannie was flying the beastie you were sat in! I like being escorted to my seat, but hey I know where I am going, so it’s not a deal-breaker if I am not shown to my seat.

I agree with you that I do prefer the space afforded in old First, new first just seems a bit cramped.

Afternoon tea in F does need to be upped – the DH remarked on it on his last F flight.

I think Binman with all due respect, you are prone to slight exaggeration sometimes (as shown in the last post by VK re fare pricing) and as we all know you repeatedly tell us, BA are hopeless, useless, can’t get Avios flights, etc, etc., but here you are again with FOUR redemption seats in F.

So as I’m sure I won’t be the only one, if not to actually write it but think it,
why are you “sorry this is as good as it gets”? I think on balance you’ve done pretty well. I think that was what the message was in your summing up?

Canucklad – I think that would be the question … Does anyone actually pay? Yes they probably do, or most likely their company does, or they are in there on a promotional offer e.g. Recently you were upped to F either out or in on certain return fares booked in CW. Who knows?

Edited to add: This is NOT a personal attack, just observations from reading the forum. Just in case this thread disintegrates.

BINMAN 62 I was not escorted to my seat.

I don’t know why it did not happen on your flight, but it is second nature and automatically Cabin crew do try and accompany First Passengers to their seat.

Coverage of the door is the main priority for Safety / Security and they have to make sure that is not compromised. Even if there are 2 Crew, one of them may be dealing with boarding whilst they are waiting for information to then pass on to the Flight Crew / awaiting information from the Despatcher.

If several Crew are already taking other First passengers, dealing with a problem, helping a passenger who needs assistance, then it may not be possible for a First Class Passenger to be escorted to their seat; with out them waiting. This is something we would never do, but direct them as happened to you. .

Well, hairs can be split over pricing, friends who can easily afford F/NetJets everywhere tend to plan ahead and book F in the sale for family leisure trips + nanny. These are usually planned well in advance.

I’ve already booked our longhaul leisure trips for this summer, and will be booking Christmas in the November sale; I would always book using the sale when it’s my own money, and try to book during the sale when I am in a position to plan business trips in advance, and my schedule allows access to sale fares.

Therefore I think the sale price is a good benchmark for a family leisure trip. Anyway, I’m sure as a competent TC you’d be able to negotiate/access special rates and savings for a family of four, with companion tickets etc.

I think the figure of 2.92 out of 14 tells it’s own story.

BA F is now a heavily discounted/upgraded ‘premium business class’ cabin and not a true first class.

I wouldn’t pay much, if anything, for it, when I can get a CW seat. In fact, I wouldn’t accept a free upgrade to OF.