ABBA - anyone but BA
Jul 23, 2017, 3:53 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,398
Well, I guess only time will tell - but the aspirations as voiced by Cruz do seem rather far-fetched.
To my mind, when an airline's standards, and sense of innovation, have fallen to the extent that BA's have in recent times, it becomes very difficult to conceive of a level of gear change in motivation, focus, and attention to excellence in customer service (and by the very same management of course) that could somehow make it "fantastic, unbelievable, 10 out of 10".
Let's see what the next couple of years bring. Personally I'm not too optimistic.
To my mind, when an airline's standards, and sense of innovation, have fallen to the extent that BA's have in recent times, it becomes very difficult to conceive of a level of gear change in motivation, focus, and attention to excellence in customer service (and by the very same management of course) that could somehow make it "fantastic, unbelievable, 10 out of 10".
Let's see what the next couple of years bring. Personally I'm not too optimistic.
Jul 23, 2017, 3:54 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Jul 23, 2017, 3:59 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,099
I have done Y in BA and Emirates within the last month and it isn't that hard to spot.
IFE and food are miles ahead for example. Tiny screen on BA with few choices, big screen on EK with massive choice. Planes are generally newer too, we had bulkhead seats on BA, my lad's screen wouldn't stay in position without being wedged with a strip of High Life magazine.
The one benefit on BA was 9 abreast on 777, however that is changing too. Plus the crew were good.
On the downside I saw Airbus have offered EK the new variant which is 13% more efficient but has 11 abreast....
IFE and food are miles ahead for example. Tiny screen on BA with few choices, big screen on EK with massive choice. Planes are generally newer too, we had bulkhead seats on BA, my lad's screen wouldn't stay in position without being wedged with a strip of High Life magazine.
The one benefit on BA was 9 abreast on 777, however that is changing too. Plus the crew were good.
On the downside I saw Airbus have offered EK the new variant which is 13% more efficient but has 11 abreast....
Jul 23, 2017, 4:04 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,430
Many thanks to seat 13a for the summary, very helpful. I guess that is the risk, but arguably that is exactly what Emirates and Singapore do now: their reputation among the general public is very high, but going down the back of either airline isn't going to give many clues as to why that would be.
Jul 23, 2017, 4:15 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
I seem to remember your trip in Y last year received much fanfare because it was your first ever longhaul Y?
Has this unfortunate experience become routine? 
Jul 23, 2017, 4:16 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,398
I think a very good percentage of those who hold SQ and EK in high regard have sometimes (and, in some cases, have only ever) flown with them down the back. But I have yet to meet anyone who considers the BA equivalent to be superior, although I suppose such people could be found.
Jul 23, 2017, 4:18 am
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
It's not J by any stretch of the imagination, but compared with (say) UA long-haul economy it's miles apart and does deserve the reputation.
Jul 23, 2017, 4:22 am
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
I think a very good percentage of those who hold SQ and EK in high regard have sometimes (and, in some cases, have only ever) flown with them down the back. But I have yet to meet anyone who considers the BA equivalent to be superior, although I suppose such people could be found.
Make the direct flights worse though, such as by stripping out food and booze, and it may change the equation.
Jul 23, 2017, 4:23 am
#25
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Provincie Antwerpen, Vlaanderen, België
Programs: MUCCI Gold
Posts: 2,512
The poor unfortunate who ends up in the middle seat in the central row (3-5-3) is going to be in for a very, very uncomfortable flight.
To be honest it's this sort of airline trend which leads me to prefer not to travel at all, if the only possibility is doing it in long haul economy. It'll take a week to recover from the flight, not the best start to any holiday.
To be honest it's this sort of airline trend which leads me to prefer not to travel at all, if the only possibility is doing it in long haul economy. It'll take a week to recover from the flight, not the best start to any holiday.
Jul 23, 2017, 4:23 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
I have done Y in BA and Emirates within the last month and it isn't that hard to spot.
IFE and food are miles ahead for example. Tiny screen on BA with few choices, big screen on EK with massive choice. Planes are generally newer too, we had bulkhead seats on BA, my lad's screen wouldn't stay in position without being wedged with a strip of High Life magazine.
The one benefit on BA was 9 abreast on 777, however that is changing too. Plus the crew were good.
On the downside I saw Airbus have offered EK the new variant which is 13% more efficient but has 11 abreast....
IFE and food are miles ahead for example. Tiny screen on BA with few choices, big screen on EK with massive choice. Planes are generally newer too, we had bulkhead seats on BA, my lad's screen wouldn't stay in position without being wedged with a strip of High Life magazine.
The one benefit on BA was 9 abreast on 777, however that is changing too. Plus the crew were good.
On the downside I saw Airbus have offered EK the new variant which is 13% more efficient but has 11 abreast....
And then also consider yourself paying for 4 additional family members on half your salary too.
An interesting anecdote re this and the post further above about not noticing EK and SQ being better in the back because it's there back, a friend recently did a round the world Y ticket NZ-HNL-NYC-LON-SIN-NZ and he, despite not being a travel nerd at all, pointed out that SQ where clearly the best. (He also flew on NZ, VS, UA, Virginia America ).
Would he go out of the way to book SQ again next time? Yes, but not for more than a hundred quid or so combined for the 5 of them
Jul 23, 2017, 4:28 am
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,246
Btw 5 in the centre block is not new, AA did it on B777 2-5-2. Some MD-11 also had 5 in the centre.
Jul 23, 2017, 4:29 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Provincie Antwerpen, Vlaanderen, België
Programs: MUCCI Gold
Posts: 2,512
Jul 23, 2017, 5:00 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,683
When I read the original post I thought how!, what! Then I took in the Airbus comment and realised it was in respect of the new 380+ or whatever it's called.
As to the 5 across mentioned in later posts, I think it makes more sense anyway, 3-3-3 = 3 bad middle seats, 2-5-2 = one really bad middle seat. You could also say that in a 3-3-3 two people have to push across two seats, whereas in a 2-5-2 only one does. In a 3-5-3 it's just all ugly.
Who knows how our views change with finances and times, but I'm at a point now where SH economy is fine, it's all poor anyway, but in LH it's WT+ as a minimum, or not travelling. Ten across 777 and nine across 787 seats are not for me at any price.
As to the 5 across mentioned in later posts, I think it makes more sense anyway, 3-3-3 = 3 bad middle seats, 2-5-2 = one really bad middle seat. You could also say that in a 3-3-3 two people have to push across two seats, whereas in a 2-5-2 only one does. In a 3-5-3 it's just all ugly.
Who knows how our views change with finances and times, but I'm at a point now where SH economy is fine, it's all poor anyway, but in LH it's WT+ as a minimum, or not travelling. Ten across 777 and nine across 787 seats are not for me at any price.
Jul 23, 2017, 5:10 am
#30
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,099
QR Y on the 350 and 380 is excellent - comfy seats, great IFE, nice service (recognised as OWE and took meal order first!) and good food/drink (second service on DOH-LHR was a nice hot shawarma, whereas BA give you a mini chocolate bar!).
Last edited by Prospero; Jul 23, 2017 at 5:49 am Reason: to comply with rule 12