LGW-RAK - CE worth paying for?

tearsplash · Dec 31, 12, 6:03 am

I'm looking to book a LGW-RAK return and the price comes up as around £170 in Y, £270 in CE. Normally at this price I would spring for CE as it's not that much more expensive. However I am Silver, so have lounge access even if travelling in Y. Is the ~£100 extra for CE worth it in others' opinion for the onboard product on this route?

Sorry if this is an extremely basic question, but I'm relatively new to BA, so appreciate opinions from those more seasoned than I am.

cornishsimon · Dec 31, 12, 6:07 am

Is that not quite a long flight ? As in several hours ?

cs

Raffles · Dec 31, 12, 6:07 am

Issues only you can answer:

How important is a free middle seat?
How many mini-bottles of champagne can you consume in 3.5 hours?
Do you value the meal (depending on when you fly)?
Do you need the extra tier points?
How much do you value the extra Avios earned?

I'd do it, the extra Avios are probably worth £20 (not run the numbers). You'd get an extra £1.50 of the extra £100 back because of the Quidco as well.

cornishsimon · Dec 31, 12, 6:10 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raffles

Issues only you can answer:

How important is a free middle seat?
How many mini-bottles of champagne can you consume in 3.5 hours?
Do you value the meal (depending on when you fly)?
Do you need the extra tier points?
How much do you value the extra Avios earned?

I'd do it, the extra Avios are probably worth £20 (not run the numbers). You'd get an extra £1.50 of the extra £100 back because of the Quidco as well.

3.5 hours so yes it's quite a long euro flight, you would get a meal and copious amounts of bubbles.

I'd pay the relatively cheap upgrade for that and the tier points tbh.

cs

Genius1 · Dec 31, 12, 6:13 am

It's a good route for TPs. CE will earn 160 TPs return.

For a flight of that length, I would go for CE without a doubt.

thomastuyaerts · Dec 31, 12, 6:23 am

I would say that if you do not need the tier points to retain silver status and to far to achieve gold I would not bother to be honest. If it was me I would relax in the lounge with a few drinks, have a nice meal and just sweat it out in Y for a few Hrs. Don't forget that with the few hundred quid you save in RAK will get you a decent few nice meals, nights out.

So: 1) you do not need tier points?
2) You have lounge access?
3) Don't need the extra bag allowance?
4) you are in the known that LGW 737 fleet are pretty standard up front as well as down the back comfort wise?

Go for Y and have a good meal in RAK

just a suggestion

have safe travels

TT

Swiss Tony · Dec 31, 12, 6:31 am

That's a big haul of TPs for an extra £100 (or £80 if you allow £20 for the extra avios)

Then, even if you don't need the extra TPs, you're paying just over £10 per hour for a marginally more comfy seat & (hopefully) attentive service.

MNManInKen · Dec 31, 12, 7:20 am

That's CE for a very cheap price on a fairly long (for CE standards) route, so to me it would be a no brainer.

Then again, I even fly LHR-BRU in CE, so perhaps I am somewhat biased.

srbrenna · Dec 31, 12, 7:45 am

£270 r/t is a steal for RAK. I did it a few months back in CE for £399. Even though I wasn't in the bulkhead seats I thought it was absolutely worth it.

In your case it is an extra £100. You couldn't get a POUG both ways for that money. What are you waiting for????

tearsplash · Dec 31, 12, 8:05 am

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

I doubt even with the TPs from flying CE that I would requalify for Silver. I'm expecting most of my work travel in 2013 to be UK domestic via train (and the one personal trip I've already booked is an award using my 241, so won't help me there).

So it would come down to whether the onboard service on its own is worth the increased cost. Will give this some thought.

terminalfive · Dec 31, 12, 8:09 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genius1

It's a good route for TPs. CE will earn 160 TPs return.

For a flight of that length, I would go for CE without a doubt.

If you don't upgrade this sort of flight then don't upgrade

For me its a no brainer

Sixth Freedom · Dec 31, 12, 9:38 am

The guaranteed empty adjacent seat would make it worthwhile for me.

TravellerFrequently · Dec 31, 12, 11:33 am

Although a personal decision, as ever with these choices, I would not hesitate for the space, food, champagne, and additional TPs and Avios.

xenole · Dec 31, 12, 12:20 pm

I collect the tier points so at that price, it's a great sale fare. Getting TPs encourages me to fly more to get even more!

But as said, each to their own. An exit row can provide far more legroom than most of the CE seats and the Pommery champagne isn't that drinkable in my opinion.

(Seems to be £270 in CE for quite a few months of the year i.e up to June/July )

Fruitcake · Dec 31, 12, 12:25 pm

The last LGW flight I did in CE, in November, was back from Venice. The food offer and service was exceptionally good. Given that RAK is almost twice as long in the air, it could well be worth it - and that's before the TPs.