BA First Suite Inaugural Review

Old Feb 23, 2010, 9:09 am
  #91  
 
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Anyone remember Danielle Ryman.......?!

In other (back on-topic) news, I found the following little snippet relevant to globalste's post:

Originally Posted by globalste
I have to say, im disappointed they havent redone the toilets, theyre too small and a bit grotty IMO. But then, appreciate this would require an entire redesign to accomodate a large toilet.
The installation of the new cabin is more complex than usual refits.

First, the old seats, sidewalls, lighting (including wiring) are removed, together with the overhead bins and ceiling panels, until the cabin is completely bare, down to the floorboards.

Next, new wiring and support structures for lighting and power supplies are installed, the overhead bins and ceiling panels are re-installed, followed by the new sidewalls and suites. The cabin and washroom decor is updated with new colours and textures.

New equipment is installed in the galley: steam ovens for improved hot meals, an espresso maker and more reliable beverage makers.

Finally, the cabin is completed with the installation of new carpets and curtains.
It's obviously not a doubling in size or a major re-working of the washroom then, but it seems that they are indeed receiving a spruce-up.
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Old Feb 23, 2010, 9:51 am
  #92  
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The thoughts and comments made in this thread and elsewhere about the new F are all very well.

But I for one will not be satisfied until we hear the definitive feedback from the one and only Thorsten Buehrmann.
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Old Feb 23, 2010, 9:51 am
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Originally Posted by nth_utsera_sth_utsera
David_Doyle No, I'm not and thanks for being so forensic in your defence of the product. I'd originally thought you might work for BA, looking to counter any negative feedback on a new product, but your VS status possibly suggests otherwise Feel free to challenge what I've said (yup, in all three links to earlier posts you've also helpfully provided). I can't blame you for feeling excited that BA has renewed its F cabin - my perception is that it could've been much better than what's been delivered, that's all.
I think the BA F product is a welcome improvement, though I'm not sure the hard product could have been made all that much better without reducing the number of seats substantially i.e. to improve the space like CX. In the comments I linked it was clear you didn't think much to it overall, though some of this is down to personal taste. There are quite a few elements of the design I don't like either.

As for ground handling - I've commented many times (here, and here )on here about how BA falls down compared to VS. I did a similar calculation as yourself about pax numbers. I used to be a big fan of VS ground handling and still think that BA, at it's home (and own) terminal, could and should do better for F pax. It certainly wasn't the ground handling that pushed me to switch to BA from VS.
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Old Feb 23, 2010, 9:54 am
  #94  
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Originally Posted by David_Doyle
I'm not sure the hard product could have been made all that much better without reducing the number of seats substantially i.e. to improve the space like CX
In which case we would probably lose opportunities to redeem or buy attractive fares in the sales.
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Old Feb 23, 2010, 10:00 am
  #95  
 
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Originally Posted by Sixth Freedom

But I for one will not be satisfied until we hear the definitive feedback from the one and only Thorsten Buehrmann.
Seeing as you bought it up, may I plug a related post I made last night in the original Thorsten thread

and the whole thread here
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Old Mar 2, 2010, 8:19 am
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Viewed the new First Suite on display in the Concorde Room at T5 this afternoon - very nice!

The staff that is providing information was also very well prepared - knew all of the little details and were very friendly. I can't wait to fly it!

If your at T5 it's worth a trip to see.

A few things they said:
The 1st 777 has to fly 75 days for certification of the interior (I guess safety, basic fucntionality,etc.). Seats are ready to start add'l AC as soon as the 75 days paas. I was also told the 3 new 777s slated for delivery late srping or summer are fitted with the new product.

The 1st 747 is supposed to fly soon and again a 75 day cert period then the roll-out begins.
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Old Mar 2, 2010, 8:28 am
  #97  
 
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Originally Posted by dfwexpx5
Viewed the new First Suite on display in the Concorde Room at T5 this afternoon - very nice!

The staff that is providing information was also very well prepared - knew all of the little details and were very friendly. I can't wait to fly it!

If your at T5 it's worth a trip to see.

A few things they said:
The 1st 777 has to fly 75 days for certification of the interior (I guess safety, basic fucntionality,etc.). Seats are ready to start add'l AC as soon as the 75 days paas. I was also told the 3 new 777s slated for delivery late srping or summer are fitted with the new product.

The 1st 747 is supposed to fly soon and again a 75 day cert period then the roll-out begins.
Im there Friday, will deffo be taking a look
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Old Mar 2, 2010, 8:48 am
  #98  
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Originally Posted by dfwexpx5
Viewed the new First Suite on display in the Concorde Room at T5
Does it really make sense to limit the exhibition to the CCR?

If I were BA I would have a mock up available in the F lounge and both Galleries' too and maybe one in the main concourse for completeness.

My thinking is that if BA are showing it to people who are currently booked in FIRST then they are trying to persuade those who already fly BA FIRST to stay with BA FIRST. Which is all fine of course.

But why not show it to passengers who travel CW, CE or even whY and do not consider that FIRST is good value for money or who fly CW on BA because their routes do not operate FIRST, flying a carrier like SQ or CX when possible. They might persuade some people to upsell or fly BA when they would otherwise not.

There are plenty of contributors to this board who say that they consider F to be relatively poor value added due to BA's excellent offering in CW. Perhaps this could be an opportunity to win these flyers over.

Last edited by Sixth Freedom; Mar 2, 2010 at 9:00 am
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Old Mar 2, 2010, 9:55 am
  #99  
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Originally Posted by Sixth Freedom
Does it really make sense to limit the exhibition to the CCR?

If I were BA I would have a mock up available in the F lounge and both Galleries' too and maybe one in the main concourse for completeness.

My thinking is that if BA are showing it to people who are currently booked in FIRST then they are trying to persuade those who already fly BA FIRST to stay with BA FIRST. Which is all fine of course.

But why not show it to passengers who travel CW, CE or even whY and do not consider that FIRST is good value for money or who fly CW on BA because their routes do not operate FIRST, flying a carrier like SQ or CX when possible. They might persuade some people to upsell or fly BA when they would otherwise not.

There are plenty of contributors to this board who say that they consider F to be relatively poor value added due to BA's excellent offering in CW. Perhaps this could be an opportunity to win these flyers over.

Someone who saw the mock-up in the CCR recently was advised that it was going to be moving around into other parts of the lounge complex, so more passengers would have the opportunity to view it. I would guess that it is more of a "teaser" - look what is coming, since it is only operating on the one aircraft at present, rather than a "if you buy a First ticket today, this is what you'll get" scenario.
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Old Mar 2, 2010, 10:03 am
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Originally Posted by AndyFlyer
Someone who saw the mock-up in the CCR recently was advised that it was going to be moving around into other parts of the lounge complex, so more passengers would have the opportunity to view it. I would guess that it is more of a "teaser" - look what is coming, since it is only operating on the one aircraft at present, rather than a "if you buy a First ticket today, this is what you'll get" scenario.
hope so, not flying F till 30th March, and was worried I was not going to see the new seat in the CCR. If they move it to GF or somewhere else, at least we can go have a play with it
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Old Mar 2, 2010, 10:05 am
  #101  
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Originally Posted by dfwexpx5
Viewed the new First Suite on display in the Concorde Room at T5 this afternoon - very nice!

The staff that is providing information was also very well prepared - knew all of the little details and were very friendly. I can't wait to fly it!

If your at T5 it's worth a trip to see.

A few things they said:
The 1st 777 has to fly 75 days for certification of the interior (I guess safety, basic fucntionality,etc.). Seats are ready to start add'l AC as soon as the 75 days paas. I was also told the 3 new 777s slated for delivery late srping or summer are fitted with the new product.

The 1st 747 is supposed to fly soon and again a 75 day cert period then the roll-out begins.
So it looks like Apr 27th for the 777 certification date, wish the 1st 747 was already up and running too.
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Old Mar 2, 2010, 11:08 am
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Originally Posted by nonsoloinglese
I have kept all boarding cards since 1999 alas they have nearly all faded as they were printed on that plasticky paper. Shame as my First F ones have seemed to die. I almost prefer saving my PDFs now!
Yes - me too. Do you remember the cabin specific boarding passes that BA used to have? I believe it was around the same time as the awful tail fins. The boarding pass was colour and pattern coded as well as stating what class you were in.
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Old Mar 2, 2010, 11:56 am
  #103  
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Originally Posted by BAPremier
Yes - me too. Do you remember the cabin specific boarding passes that BA used to have? I believe it was around the same time as the awful tail fins. The boarding pass was colour and pattern coded as well as stating what class you were in.
Oooh yes those were fun, wish I'd hung onto at least one of them now.
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Old Mar 3, 2010, 2:57 am
  #104  
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Originally Posted by kavithakrar
hope so, not flying F till 30th March, and was worried I was not going to see the new seat in the CCR. If they move it to GF or somewhere else, at least we can go have a play with it
If it is not on display, ask the staff if they will admit you to the CCR to see the new F suite model. Subject to staff being available, I think they're more than willing (and rather proud) to show you the new suite...
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Old Mar 3, 2010, 3:03 am
  #105  
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Originally Posted by BAPremier
Yes - me too. Do you remember the cabin specific boarding passes that BA used to have? I believe it was around the same time as the awful tail fins. The boarding pass was colour and pattern coded as well as stating what class you were in.
These served a great purpose, too, as ground staff and crew could see your premium boarding passes from a distance and offer assistance (esp. if there were queues). I really liked the old, old bright red First Class boarding passes (with the To Fly, To Serve logo on the right).

CX still use colour coded boarding passes. Whilst boarding a flight from HKG-LAX, ground staff could see me coming towards the gate with my burgundy First pass in hand, the stopped boarding blue-pass business customers and escorted me to the front of the small queue and right to door 1 of the 747. Nice service, and pro-active for a First customer.
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