edi-traveller
Nov 28, 06, 11:06 am
As my BAEC membership year wasdrawing to a close I realised that I would just miss out on renewing Gold with the few UK Dom flights I had remining. So I added a quick I Class Club Europe trip into an existing EDI-LHR-EDI to make up the difference.
24th November
BA306
LHR-CDG
Airbus A319
Seat 1A
Got to T4 and got my BP from the machine and headed to Fast Track Security. Here I encountered an extremely rude individual who really enjoyed barking commands.
Him: Get your laptop out of your bag.
Me: There is no laptop in my bag
Him: Get your shoes off then
Me: Walks towards the arch
Him: Sir get back here?
Me: What now
Him: You need to push the trays towards the Xray yourself
Me: Do you get paid for doing anything other than being rude to your customers
That got me grumpy - but I settled down once I arrived in the FIRST lounge. The flight was called and boarded on time.
There were 6 rows of Club Europe on this A319. I quite like the new (ish) light blue and white headrest covers. As usual the cabin layout was 2x3 with the best seats being the A or C seats because they have the extra space between them. The DEF seats are still wider than in Y but they don't have the bit in between.
The Club cabin was only half full and there was no one in 1C - great.
As soon as the safety video was over the crew gave us hot towels before take off.
Once in the air the crew speeded into action - they had less than 20 minutes to get the service done. I received a tray with a plate of fresh fruite (pineapple, melon, kiwi fruit and grapes) and the famous Club Europe hot breakfast of scrambled egg, sausage, bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes. This came with two rounds of hot bread rolls and pastries - with jam from a real glass container - and two rounds of tea and coffee.
Great service for such a short flight.
No delays into CDG. I then had 2.5 hours to kill waiting to return to LHR and spent this in the Sheraton Hotel and the EC Lounge. Nothing in the lounge but crisps but I do like LAYS crisps - yummy.
24th November
BA316
CDG-LHR
Airbus A320
Seat 1A
Boarding was a little late abd this time there were 8 rows of Club Europe and each seat was taken.
The crew were not as good as the one on the way out and they made a mess of the service even though there were 3 of them in the Club Cabin.
We got no hot towel. As they prepared the trays I heard the CSD say that they would start the service from the back of the cabin. Why do they do this. It is likely that their best customers have got the front rows so why serve them last.
In the end I got my food and drink last of everyone on the flight by which time the scones had gone cold. I had little over 10 minutes before the seat belt signs came on.
The meal was a tray containing tiny sandwiches. Cheese and ham and cheese and egg each served with Rocket. Plus the scones and clotted cream.
The CSD forgot to serve the scones to row one and after a while one of us had to ring the call bell to get him to re-emerge.
I don't eat cheese so this was no use to me so I ended up asking for another cold scone.
Washed the scones down with a bottle of Blue Top Monopole Champers and a cup of tea.
When the crew cleared up the trays they again forgot row one. I had to use the call bell again to get the CSD to come and get my tray and that was when we were on final approach.
No stacking over LHR and very quickly onto stand.
Overall a good trip slightly marred by the lacklustre service on the way back. I might expect a Purser to start from the back but not a CSD.
Still they manage to give you quite a lot to eat and drink for a 35 minute flight.
^ ^
And guaranteed Gold for another year!!
24th November
BA306
LHR-CDG
Airbus A319
Seat 1A
Got to T4 and got my BP from the machine and headed to Fast Track Security. Here I encountered an extremely rude individual who really enjoyed barking commands.
Him: Get your laptop out of your bag.
Me: There is no laptop in my bag
Him: Get your shoes off then
Me: Walks towards the arch
Him: Sir get back here?
Me: What now
Him: You need to push the trays towards the Xray yourself
Me: Do you get paid for doing anything other than being rude to your customers
That got me grumpy - but I settled down once I arrived in the FIRST lounge. The flight was called and boarded on time.
There were 6 rows of Club Europe on this A319. I quite like the new (ish) light blue and white headrest covers. As usual the cabin layout was 2x3 with the best seats being the A or C seats because they have the extra space between them. The DEF seats are still wider than in Y but they don't have the bit in between.
The Club cabin was only half full and there was no one in 1C - great.
As soon as the safety video was over the crew gave us hot towels before take off.
Once in the air the crew speeded into action - they had less than 20 minutes to get the service done. I received a tray with a plate of fresh fruite (pineapple, melon, kiwi fruit and grapes) and the famous Club Europe hot breakfast of scrambled egg, sausage, bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes. This came with two rounds of hot bread rolls and pastries - with jam from a real glass container - and two rounds of tea and coffee.
Great service for such a short flight.
No delays into CDG. I then had 2.5 hours to kill waiting to return to LHR and spent this in the Sheraton Hotel and the EC Lounge. Nothing in the lounge but crisps but I do like LAYS crisps - yummy.
24th November
BA316
CDG-LHR
Airbus A320
Seat 1A
Boarding was a little late abd this time there were 8 rows of Club Europe and each seat was taken.
The crew were not as good as the one on the way out and they made a mess of the service even though there were 3 of them in the Club Cabin.
We got no hot towel. As they prepared the trays I heard the CSD say that they would start the service from the back of the cabin. Why do they do this. It is likely that their best customers have got the front rows so why serve them last.
In the end I got my food and drink last of everyone on the flight by which time the scones had gone cold. I had little over 10 minutes before the seat belt signs came on.
The meal was a tray containing tiny sandwiches. Cheese and ham and cheese and egg each served with Rocket. Plus the scones and clotted cream.
The CSD forgot to serve the scones to row one and after a while one of us had to ring the call bell to get him to re-emerge.
I don't eat cheese so this was no use to me so I ended up asking for another cold scone.
Washed the scones down with a bottle of Blue Top Monopole Champers and a cup of tea.
When the crew cleared up the trays they again forgot row one. I had to use the call bell again to get the CSD to come and get my tray and that was when we were on final approach.
No stacking over LHR and very quickly onto stand.
Overall a good trip slightly marred by the lacklustre service on the way back. I might expect a Purser to start from the back but not a CSD.
Still they manage to give you quite a lot to eat and drink for a 35 minute flight.
^ ^
And guaranteed Gold for another year!!