VintageKrug - 09/03/2008 19:37
You can listen to the latest Investor Day presentation at www.bashares.com
One of the interesting facts gleaned from this was the intention to build on the advances made at www.ba.com/terminal5 to ensure customers continued to have a superior experience with BA wherever they are in the world.
With the equivalent of 10 football pitches of space dedicated to the 6 premium lounges in T5, and 100 showers in the new T5 Arrivals Lounge this will not be an easy aspiration to meet.
However, in addition to investing in the existing three lounges at JFK (Concorde, FIRST and Terraces, including pre-flight dining and Elemis Spa), a drive through check in will be introduced for FIRST and Gold Card customers. No date given for this.
This will be a welcome improvement, further easing the journey from car to plane, and matching the sorts of bespoke services provided by airlines such as www.flysilverjet.com which has its own dedicated "terminal" style lounge at EWR Newark Liberty and LTN London Luton.
Also, it was stated the 777s will start getting www.newclubworld.com "from early summer", with completion within 18 months (so not complete until Christmas 2009). They must have solved the structural issues, which is good news, and this will also particularly benefit customers in Economy and World Traveller Plus as they will get AVOD, video on demand, for the first time on BA 777s, as they already do on all 747s and longhaul 767s.
New FIRST will be delayed until 2009, probably with the introduction of the 4 new 777-200s starting in March 2009. Dedicated crew will be trained for FIRST duties.
Increased focus on the Premium Leisure market - now 30% of people travelling in Club or FIRST are likely to be on their hols! The £1299 Club World return to Barbados was highlighted.
Upgrades continue to be offered at each stage of the process, initial purchase, during manage your booking and at check in to Club Europe for £59 and now to World Traveller Plus for £150 per sector.
Finally, the elite invitation only Gold Guest List for highest value Gold Card holders will be rolled out beyond the UK and enhanced.
