So last night I flew up to Glasgow on the 9.15pm departure.
A few observations that may be of interest...
Cleared security quickly abut 8pm - fast track, T5 north. Staff were polite, sociable etc. All very good.
GC Lounge (North) not too busy, food was OK (once I pimped it with some tabasco).
However they started clearing down the lounge quite early - the red wine disappeared, there was no ice on the spirits counter etc.
I'd only booked 2 days out but managed to assign 1A. Flight was really quiet but some jub between me booking and OLCI decided to book himself into 1B (he wasn't with 1C)
Once boarded, I had a word with the crew and jumped back to row 7, 3 seats to myself. Bit of banter with one of the crew about giving up the hallowed 1A, double servings of G&T followed along with the smallest packet of crisps in the world .
Flight left quite late, landed just behind schedule.
£200 for cash, or £40 and 2250 Avios. Even accounting for the miles I gave up by not having a cash ticket, it gives a value of around 6p per Avios
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Sorry to have missed you!
But I went through South Security last night (most unusual) and I could see both security areas were very calm and quiet, short queues. The landside queue display showed 3 human figures on both the North and South lines, and that was fairly close to the mark!
T5 is wonderfully mellow late at night, quite enjoyable I find.
You make a very valid point about the clearing down of Galleries North very early. Lately I have had a few flights on the 2200 to EDI and it is a joke now. I appreciate the staff want to get home quickly (so do the passengers!) but after a long day at work, arriving in the lounge at 2100 to the stoney stares when you ask if there is any wine/sandwiches can you have a coffee before they clean the machine etc is so annoying. One person even had the nerve to say, you've left it a bit late getting here - helped her understand I still was over an hour to the take off of my flight.
Ive also noticed a bit of 1B booking going on - I have always taken it to be the aggrieved party who did not get 1A in time!
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Ive also noticed a bit of 1B booking going on - I have always taken it to be the aggrieved party who did not get 1A in time!
1F is my preferred seat and I can't remember that last time 1E has been empty - even though it was when I reserved the seat and did OLCI. A few times recently it's been clear my seat neighbour has not had status so wouldn't have been able to reserve row 1 in advance anyway, so I don't think it's always down to an "aggrieved party"
Sometimes it can be a bit ridiculous with every seat filled for the first 6 or so rows when there is a lot of space further back - respect to the OP for moving to row 7 for a more comfortable ride.
I agree that it is poor form for the lounge to be winding down as early as it is.
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There's a particular sort of individual who seems to end up in 1B or 1E domestic, when the aircraft is not full.
They are typically businessmen on short trips. They typically want to get off the plane quick, to dash back home, no checked luggage. They tried to get a window or aisle seat near the front, but were unsuccessful. So to make the best of a bad deal at least they consol themselves they will be first off the plane.
A colleague and I were on the earlier 18:00 flight which was a 767. Security at 17:00 was very slow - they seemed to be training at the same time as clearing people which caused long delays.
Went to the FLounge and almost no newspapers or magazines left and the cup cakes had all gone! Went to the N Lounge to meet my colleague which was packed - now I know why I avoid it
Very average crew but no major issues and yes I was in row 1.
Three-quarters of my flying is on domestic flights.
I always plump for either 1A or 1C depending on whether I am driving at the other end (1C for wine induced full bladder syndrome - it does get to me that there are still people who cannot squeeze it for 75 minutes (me!) and still opt for window seats). I have noticed that in the last year, 1B has almost always been occupied by someone who boards late - raising your hopes but only to have them cruelly dashed. This is a recent thing and the domestic flights I take are usually pretty full - 5pm - 7pm normally. Before that, 1B remained empty most flights.
It would be reasonable to withhold these seats in say 1-6 from none status holders unless the loading dictated a need. With the introduction of the 767, those sat at the back will be getting off 15 minutes after those at the front. On a 75 minute flight, that is an significant delay. Therefore, being able to claim row 1 or 2 becomes more of an incentive to obtain and maintain status. It would be nice if BA then restricted these seats (or offered CE seating) on these flights unless they were needed.
On a different note, what are the chances of a trip to ABZ in F on the A380 next summer. Serving breakfast on that flight would need to a crew to pax ratio of about 1-1!
Once boarded, I had a word with the crew and jumped back to row 7, 3 seats to myself. Bit of banter with one of the crew about giving up the hallowed 1A, double servings of G&T followed along with the smallest packet of crisps in the world .
I don't think it takes much to get a double on a GLA flight. Last time I did it from LGW, it was a case of "oh, I'll give you another, it is Friday after all."
A wee bit concerned about things winding down early though - my next GLA trip is on that flight, and is my first from LHR since getting silver. I'll have come straight from work - will I have to throw a DYKWIA strop if they've started tidying it all up already?
Oh, and if you want your hopes dashed for getting a decent seat, try picking 2E on an E190 and then finding they've done a last minute sub for an E170 and there's a chair in the way of your infinite legroom!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by teflon
I don't think it takes much to get a double on a GLA flight. Last time I did it from LGW, it was a case of "oh, I'll give you another, it is Friday after all."
A wee bit concerned about things winding down early though - my next GLA trip is on that flight, and is my first from LHR since getting silver. I'll have come straight from work - will I have to throw a DYKWIA strop if they've started tidying it all up already?
Oh, and if you want your hopes dashed for getting a decent seat, try picking 2E on an E190 and then finding they've done a last minute sub for an E170 and there's a chair in the way of your infinite legroom!
We don't ration drinks on our flights. If you want two or even three just ask us. We will always be happy to oblige. You could also ask for extra crisps too!
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(All my opinions are my own personal opinions and I do not speak for or on behalf of British Airways)
..I have noticed that in the last year, 1B has almost always been occupied by someone who boards late - raising your hopes but only to have them cruelly dashed. ....
What really gets my goat is the DYKWIA attitude of some people up the pointy bit of the plane. People who expect to get an empty seat beside them because they are Gold/Silver! It's not a private jet it's a (air)bus.
Last time I checked BA do not offer a premium service on domestic. Therefore any passenger is entitled to select any seat available to them. Every seat is the same on a domestic, though I accept some people choose to pay more. However paying more or having status does not entitle anybody to more space than the rest of us up the back on a 321!
Last edited by G-BUSI; Nov 8, 12 at 10:00 am..
Reason: edited to add a missing word
along with the smallest packet of crisps in the world 
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