New First Class Wing Unveiling

Back to Forum
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 44 total)

  • Tom Otley
    Keymaster

    Good morning,

    Tomorrow British Airways will unveil (to the media, at least) the new First Wing

    British Airways releases details of new First Wing at Heathrow

    It’s an all-day affair, starting at Gatwick to see the new lounges, then flying (yes, flying) to Heathrow, which will give us the chance to see some forthcoming improvements to the Club WOrld onboard product (not the seat) and then touch down at Heathrow to see the new First Class Wing.

    There will also be the chance to ask questions of CEO Alex Cruz.


    Raffles99
    Participant

    You’re getting a 787 apparently with a 3 hour scheduled flight time!

    (I’m in Asia but do say Hi to Anika if you see her.)


    esselle
    Participant

    You could ask Cruz to explain the logic of investment in this new entry point whilst cutting on board quality for F pax.


    Tom Otley
    Keymaster

    Will do – that’s question No. 1 !


    Tom Otley
    Keymaster

    [quote quote=799799]You’re getting a 787 apparently with a 3 hour scheduled flight time!

    (I’m in Asia but do say Hi to Anika if you see her.)

    [/quote]

    I will – though I don’t know what she looks like – she was at ITB as well I think so presumably we were in the same scrum around the QSuite


    rferguson
    Participant

    Esselle I think when we finally DO see a new J class seat it will be adios to F on a majority of aircraft. The new F&B service in J as well as the J class bedding will narrow the gap. It’s only based on my own opinion and general rumour around BA but the general feeling is the A350’s which will replace the 747’s will not have First and as the 777’s become reconfigured to ten abreast in coach many will lose First.

    The F amuse bouche is apparently making a come back though 😉


    Raffles99
    Participant

    Yes, apparently we don’t have the same pull as The Points Guy who got whisked to the front of the line 🙂

    Pic: http://www.headforpoints.com/contact/ (these were courtesy of the free headshot service Qatar was doing at the Business Travel Show this year!)

    I never got to thank you for the Krug we had that day either 🙂


    Tom Otley
    Keymaster

    No problem, very welcome. I missed the Business Travel Show because of overhead lines damage on East Midlands Trains. They have already paid compensation. But not in Krug.

    rferguson
    Rumour is that it is indeed about a new F&B service in business class and well as new J class bedding. I believe this is a quilted underblanket.

    ANything you;d like to ask AC?


    JonathanCohen09
    Participant

    Tom,

    Can you please ask him why he thinks it is reasonable to ask a passenger who has paid £860 return to Madrid in Euro Traveller to then pay for something to eat and drink?

    That was a fare that ba.com quoted me for peak time flights next week, I of course would never pay that but according to a nice young man at customer relations BA charge what is fair for a ticket and that according to passenger feedback they prefer the POB food and beverage offering to what used to be offered free of charge!

    Never mind after 26 years Exec Club membership I have finally given up on BA and will not fly with them again by choice.

    Enjoy the 3 hour flying time from LGW to LHR!

    Oh, and my trip to Madrid with flights at slightly less convenient times than BA, £146 including seats with legroom on Easyjet.


    Tom Otley
    Keymaster

    Thanks Jonathan, I will certainly ask!


    ScottWilson
    Participant

    I’d be quite keen to find out how Alex Cruz thinks BA CW hard product can remain competitive up against the latest hard products by Delta and United (and already AA), given it is already behind that of most Asian and ME carriers.


    rferguson
    Participant

    Hi Tom,

    The question i’d love asked is similar to ScottWilson.

    Alex Cruz has expressed a desire to get a new club seat as soon as possible in various staff forums and interviews…so….what is BA waiting for in deciding on and revealing a new design? New food and beverage and bedding is all very nice but the number one complaint we get from passengers is the lack of direct aisle access. Also, was he correctly quoted when he previously (apparently) said that the new product is so similar to the current that it would not be retrofitted?

    Thanks and enjoy tomorrow.


    first_class_please
    Participant

    According to YouFirst, this opened today (4th).

    Travelling F tomorrow morning so will see and report back…


    Tom Otley
    Keymaster

    Thanks Rferguson.

    With regards to the new seat, he told me that it would not be retrofitted, so unless things have changed…

    Also

      Will there be any further investment in the F onboard product?
      Is F going to be removed from some aircraft?
      Where are we with wifi?
      Are there any plans to improve the boarding process, both in short and long haul?

    Reeferman
    Participant

    Tom – I took my first-ever ME3 flight a few weeks ago (as part of a Pisa/Doha/Auckland/Doha/Frankfurt trip) on Qatar.
    I’ve been a BAEC member for 25 years (and am GFL) and was amazed at just how much better the Qatar experience really was.
    Putting aside the significant cost savings on the ticket price, I’d like to know if AC has ever (recently) travelled long-haul with Qatar and seen the service (escorted to the seat/personal welcome and goodbye etc), food+drink (quality and range – as well as ability to dine off the full breakfast/dinner menu in any order at any time), seating (no 8-across crammed seating here!) and the general feeling of high service, excellent staff and great relaxation/comfort – and how he possibly thinks BA’s CE product can be compared with this.
    Enjoy the day!

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 44 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls