Flyertalk Campaign: Time for BA to Change Ghastly F Washbags
Last year around this time, we had what appears to have been a broadly successful campaign to ensure a more pleasant temperature on board BA flights - proving BA does listen to well reasoned argument, when adequately supported.
For 2013, I'd like to propose something also long overdue; a change to the F washbag. The current model is the Anya Hindmarch 1924 "Gladstone" style BAg:
...we have had various colour iterations, but while all are aesthetically satisfactory, none are truly useful and it's the design which is just wrong for the purpose expected of it.
It's been mentioned both by fellow travellers as well as FTers that the washbag design has now had its day, having been intoduced back in June 2009, almost four years ago.
What is most annoying is that it has never been fit for purpose:
- a bulky container which is too specifically BA branded to have much cred after the flight
- strangely shaped so not use for storing much after the fact
- being rigid is entirely unsuitable for cramming into already overloaded hand baggage after a long flight
- cannot be zipped shut
In the past, BA has had excellent subtly branded BAgs in F, for instance the splendid celebration of BA's Empire Flying Boat heritage on this zippable squishy bag, also by Anya Hindmarch:
I still have several iterations of the above Flying Boat BAg, all of which are used for storing items such as cables or as travel washbags, and many of these are still in my possession and accompany me on trips, but not one of the "Gladstone" style casings ever leaves the aircraft - I just empty the contents and discard the BAg.
Should BA reconsider this design and perhaps ask BA's heritage centre to knock together something using its rich bank of BA designs to come up with something truly original in a squishy, zippable BAg which has decent proportions and is of use to BA F travellers after their trip is over?
I don't fly F much - until this month the last time I did I had one of those very flying boat bags and loved it. Was very disappointed with the Gladstone offering I received. Frankly the CW amenity bag is more fit for purpose on board, and useful afterwards.
Programs: BAEC Blue, LTSB AMD Premier, BA Amex Premier
Posts: 547
A yes from me!
I flew my first F for a while only a week or so ago, I was not impressed with the wash bag. I took it off the aircraft but have yet to open it. However, I agree with your comments regarding the size/shape/squish. It's not really fit for purpose.
Programs: BA Gold; LH Senator; HHGold; Starwood Platinum
Posts: 499
While i think it is great as a one off - quirky and just right for the items it holds - its just not that helpful to reuse. The bags mentioned were much better. And are the ones i have kept for use at home.
Having said that - how many washbags do you need at home? Even if they reverted to the old type, I haven't got much use for more!
Love the 'flying boat' zippable bag in the above picture.. not seen that before.
How about re-introducing that size/shape/style, but with a range of 10 or so different images, reflecting BA through the ages.. (images from the revcent BA advert).
Then they would not only be more useful, there would be the added appeal of 'collecting the set'!!
Programs: BA Silver, Luftwaffe SEN, BMI Silver, Pilsbury Doughboy Fanclub, and lots of Amex cards
Posts: 1,651
Current ones are awful and get left on board. Useless for any kind of storage, and too bulky.
Boat bag/tower bridge bag was the best- and still used today. The boat one was even in vogue some years back as a 'must have' item.
Love the lufthansa/rimowa mini ones too.
__________________
*insert witty signature here*
Last edited by leaveamessage; Dec 29, 12 at 4:22 am..
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters
Posts: 10,094
Quote:
Originally Posted by ukgooner
While i think it is great as a one off - quirky and just right for the items it holds - its just not that helpful to reuse. The bags mentioned were much better. And are the ones i have kept for use at home.
Having said that - how many washbags do you need at home? Even if they reverted to the old type, I haven't got much use for more!
I do, I've never got enough to store all my cables.
Flyertalk Campaign: Time for BA to Change Ghastly F Washbags
