ABBA - anyone but BA
Jul 24, 2017, 8:17 am
#181
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I follow that, but the reason the design for the new seats is unavailable is because they are a long way off. When BA fitted its old CW seats in its new aircraft, it was clear to everyone that a new CW seat was a very long way off. What we have instead, is the promise of a new blanket. Meanwhile the broadsheet press are hammering BA and AC.
Jul 24, 2017, 8:37 am
#182
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Am I remembering correctly that AC said they wouldn't be retrofitted to existing aircraft or has this changed?
Jul 24, 2017, 8:38 am
#183
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He said that has not been decided, there will be some retrofitting but not necessarily across the whole fleet. I suspect the 747s and the older 777s will not get the new seat.
Jul 24, 2017, 8:39 am
#184
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EDIT: see above for a better answer!
Jul 24, 2017, 8:41 am
#185
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
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I still maintain that the current CW seats are better than the slopes that some airlines still have to my shock and horror.
They are not exactly the industry-leading product but at least I am not trapped in the window seat by the slopes in CW and there is a decent level of privacy in the window seat. Personally, I much prefer it to any slopey J seats.
They are not exactly the industry-leading product but at least I am not trapped in the window seat by the slopes in CW and there is a decent level of privacy in the window seat. Personally, I much prefer it to any slopey J seats.
Jul 24, 2017, 8:56 am
#187
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I still maintain that the current CW seats are better than the slopes that some airlines still have to my shock and horror.
They are not exactly the industry-leading product but at least I am not trapped in the window seat by the slopes in CW and there is a decent level of privacy in the window seat. Personally, I much prefer it to any slopey J seats.
They are not exactly the industry-leading product but at least I am not trapped in the window seat by the slopes in CW and there is a decent level of privacy in the window seat. Personally, I much prefer it to any slopey J seats.
Jul 24, 2017, 9:51 am
#188
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HIDDY, we need to differentiate here between short- and long-haul, I think. The subject about LoCo competition [financially] broadly affects the former, whereas the 'quality' aspects tend to belong with the latter. But you are right in highlighting the price difference for the receipt of 'baubles': I think the baubles should be much larger, and actually meaningful.
My mind, such as it is, tends to break it down into:
And, as Porky Speedpig implies above, don't even think about cutting back on the quality of the staff. They're the on-the-spot saviours of every situation, so invest MORE in Customer Services, not less.
That's my amateur Business Plan. But then I know nothing about running an airline.
My mind, such as it is, tends to break it down into:
s/h Economy ... pile it high and sell it cheap.
s/h Business ... make it miles better than a free meal in the same low-pitch economy seat. Forget the moving curtain, install a few rows of decent Business-class seats.
l/h Economy ... pile it high and sell it cheap
l/h Economy+ ... make it an affordable enhancement above WT..
l/h Business ... make a major effort to start competing with other carriers, both East- and West-bound with the hard and soft product. Those seeds are starting to germinate, albeit painfully slowly.
I would hope that savings in one area could be fed back to real enhancements in the other, rather than into shareholder profits.s/h Business ... make it miles better than a free meal in the same low-pitch economy seat. Forget the moving curtain, install a few rows of decent Business-class seats.
l/h Economy ... pile it high and sell it cheap
l/h Economy+ ... make it an affordable enhancement above WT..
l/h Business ... make a major effort to start competing with other carriers, both East- and West-bound with the hard and soft product. Those seeds are starting to germinate, albeit painfully slowly.
And, as Porky Speedpig implies above, don't even think about cutting back on the quality of the staff. They're the on-the-spot saviours of every situation, so invest MORE in Customer Services, not less.
That's my amateur Business Plan. But then I know nothing about running an airline.
At the end of the day, customers don't know how to run the airline, our opinions are only based on guesswork and wants.
Anyway, who really cares if BA goes bust? I certainly won't be bothered...I don't have status or bundles of Avios, I'll just give another airline my cash.
Jul 24, 2017, 10:09 am
#192
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Piquant, accurate, but perhaps a bit rude 
Anyway, HIDDY, we all seek best value when spending our own cash. If that necessitates schlepping to Dublin, Tallin or Ulan Bator, and we have the time/energy to do it, it's not a dirty thing. It's common sense.
Not sure why connecting pax should diminish the product, though.
Does that mean we are different/less-worthy people just because we connect? I really don't get your point.
Anyway, HIDDY, we all seek best value when spending our own cash. If that necessitates schlepping to Dublin, Tallin or Ulan Bator, and we have the time/energy to do it, it's not a dirty thing. It's common sense.
Not sure why connecting pax should diminish the product, though.
Originally Posted by HIDDY
BA has a lot of connecting passengers on their short haul network especially through LHR so I imagine it does have an effect on the quality of their long haul product to some extent
Jul 24, 2017, 10:24 am
#193
Join Date: Jul 2002
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You could all be right. If there really are enough customers out there willing to pay more for quality then they should go for it. I just won't be one of them as I don't want to pay extra on my ticket for a free drink and bag of nibbles on short haul flight in ET, a better quality amenity kit in CW or the 101 other improvements that get highlighted on here. 
Jul 24, 2017, 10:30 am
#194
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Executive Club: Gold - Flying Blue: Gold
Posts: 1,382
I can tell you that most of my BA ET fare cover the cost of the flight. They are not sub £100 one way tickets nor those £21 fares as per Alex Cruz!
Jul 24, 2017, 10:44 am
#195
Join Date: Nov 2015
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