BA Executive Lounges LGW / NAP

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    Stratocruiser
    Participant

    Hi All,
    I’ve just sent a complaint to BA regarding the poor Executive Lounge experiences in Gatwick North and Naples Airports.

    I took my wife to Sorrento last week (out Saturday, back Thursday). Sadly, the Lounge at Gatwick (No. 1 Traveller lounge) was very full, very noisy and very slow (40 minutes for a sandwich was the norm)

    Then on our return from Naples, the VIP Lounge in Naples was unbelievably noisy (there seemed to be building work going on in the vicinity) plus only one of the toilets was working properly. There was no notice or apology regarding either of these problems at reception, and we only received a shrug from the staff when we mentioned it, as did other people. We ended up going into the main terminal area to find some peace and quiet, and also to use the toilets.

    The only bright spot was that the crews on both flights were excellent, although the room in CE seems to have shrunk of late….
    I was keen to show my Wife the ‘Executive experience’. Sadly, the impression received was of a service in decline.

    Very disappointing.


    FDOS_UK
    Participant

    Stratocruiser – 31/05/2016 14:37 BST

    You wrote “Sadly, the impression received was of a service in decline” and this is accurate.

    BA sees fit to allocate 30″ seat pitch in Club Europe, which is the same as economy.

    If you want a better experience in the future, you have options:

    1 – for a proper executive experience, fly Alitalia business class, it’s better than BA – I find it unbelievable I am writing this

    2 – fly easyJet and book an extra seat, so you have 3 between you – yes, the pitch will be 30″, you can buy lounge access and nice carry on picnic, plus a half bottle of champagne onboard – you should still be quids on the price differerence

    It’s a shame you found out the hard way, but it is difficult to make a case for Club Europe, these days.


    JohnHarper
    Participant

    I can’t comment on the LGW arrangements but the lounge BA use at NAP is the same one used by everyone else except Alitalia/Skyteam who have a rather better one immediately next door.

    The NAP lounge is a joke, it’s like sitting in a noisy barn and I have also left it to seek peace and quiet in the main terminal in preference to enduring the lounge which has nothing special to offer anyway.

    The Alitalia one is rather better and I agree with DoS, Alitalia is on the up. James Hogan’s recent point about them being as good as any other European airline was a bit of an understatement, it has changed by light years compared to the airline of a few years back. Service is there, staff care and are passionate about what they do and most of all they have a sense of pride in what they are doing.

    The latter makes a huge difference when so many crews in European carriers are demoralised from death by a thousand cuts.


    peter19
    Participant

    Stratocruiser, I did the same route a few weeks ago and do agree. LGW was very busy in the lounge on the way out and the staff were over worked in the lounge and a bit grumpy…no surprise really based on the numbers they are getting through that lounge at the moment.

    I went Club Europe and one good thing was the food on BA was very nice but the same as yourself it was really the crew both out and return were excellent, especially the CSM on the return going out of her way to assist with myself and a few others.

    The lounge was the same in NAP banging, hammering and cramped. I was delayed slightly and was starting to get fidgety.

    On the return in LGW it was a couple of hours before closing in the No 1 Lounge and it was a much better experience. Far quieter and much more relaxing.

    This was as expected though and unfortunately although Sorrento is beautiful there may of been better destinations or airports if you were aiming for the lounge /other premium experience. I knew this before leaving about naples so already had set an expectation level.

    I hope you had a good holiday though. I managed to fit in driving Amalfi with stops in Positano, Ravello and Amalfi, Mt V, Pompeii and the main reason we went my friends wedding.

    cheers


    SimonS1
    Participant

    Well you can get business class to Naples and back for £136 each way in mid June (including £30 e/w of taxes) so I guess you get what you pay for. Cheap and cheerful.

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