The The BA Y+ and Y class Long Haul Experience (LHR-BKK/SIN-SYD and back)
Sep 7, 2009, 12:11 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
Nice report as usual ^ Good to see that BA can be consistent in service delivery across 4 x flights...looking fwd to your return to *A!
Sep 8, 2009, 5:27 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,221
Well you are a braver man that I am Kevin. Even for such a steal I couldn't manage the trip home in Y anymore. I get really ansi after about 7.5 hours and would be climbing the ceiling on the long sectors.
Interesting description of the orange juice.
Just what organ did it see in a previous life? 
Nice photo of the chardonnay BTW. What next? Will you be taking pictures of half eaten food.
Entertaining report as ever. ^
Interesting description of the orange juice.
The “Orange Juice” which in its loosest term may had seen an organ in some previous life, but was very...
Nice photo of the chardonnay BTW. What next? Will you be taking pictures of half eaten food.
Entertaining report as ever. ^
Sep 8, 2009, 7:00 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
Programs: Mucci, BMI*G, M&M SEN, FB Gold, PC Plat, Father of GhettoIFE
Posts: 3,972
I really enjoyed this very nice trip report! It was fantastic. Although I have flown economy all my life, since Sep 2008, I have never flown economy international travel. I've always been upgraded to business (or upgraded with an instrument). I forgot how economy was for long-haul flights. I am one of those people who actually enjoy airplane food. The tray with all the little boxes & cartons; it is all so much fun! After having gone to business class for most of my long-haul flights, I've said I would never go back to economy. But after reading your report, maybe it's not so bad!
Providing the product is delivered, it isn't that bad at all. Add the extra seat pitch of WTP and it becomes a very bearable way to spend 24 hours...
Thanks
I alas am one of those window seat hoggers who will attempt to get the best pictures I can from the sky. Call it annoyance, call it maddening (and yes - I did go to the galley to shoot some photos - I'm not THAT much of an evil person.)The Ghetto IFE was initially in protest to US Airways when I crossed the pond in January. The fact it's one of the most versatile IFE systems I've come across (as it's configured to how I like it) makes it insta-win. The fact it's a two minute build and with decent headphones means that for Y class pax like me, it's one of the best soultions out there.. (I have seen freezerclip/bullclip versions... but I have my doubts on those).
Besides, when I do this, I turn into a form of IFE on the flight
I've had bad Y Class before - this ranks as one of the better Y Class experiences.
Thanks
Thank you - it's the little details that make a difference in any flight
Sep 11, 2009, 3:46 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: somewhere between ORD and Willis Tower
Programs: UA MM, Premier Plat, Costco EM
Posts: 1,392
So what did I take away from the BA Experience? A constant service delivered in a friendly fashion, with edible food, drinkable drinks and reasonable comfort. These are in my opinion some of the best things to have in the sky.
I am defiantly NOT a fan of 3 x 3 x 3 seating configurations and much prefer the 2 x 3 x 2 or 2 x 4 x 2 configurations that are out there. In addition seating policy is to be honest a pain up the rear, and whilst I accept it is something that they wish to keep for their elites, other airlines do allow pre-assignment at booking no matter what your status is with an airline or alliance.
Will it be enough for me to switch my flying from *A to OW? I don't think so to be honest - OneWorld is defiantly a "premium" alliance and thus, having a premium pocket helps (especially if on expense accounts or corporate travel agents) - except I'm not.
I'm travelling on my own coin so I have to evaluate each alliance and airline as needed – thus restricting me to N fares, and bottom of the bucket earning where I can (except when I can score a cheap upgrade). The fact I’m 22,231 miles up in a program I might never credit to for some time is of course besides the point.
So really – thumbs up to British Airways for the delivered product with good delivery both in front and back, but change the booking policy (although your tier point policy is improving) and I might be back.
Right. Enough cricket (2:1 by the way Australia. Tinnies can be cried to anytime. Please recycle them, and do NOT send them to The Oval) ... and enough of me yattering on.
October is coming - so it'll be time to ponder what catering delights UA will be serving...
Bet you can't wait
Comments and thoughts welcome
I am defiantly NOT a fan of 3 x 3 x 3 seating configurations and much prefer the 2 x 3 x 2 or 2 x 4 x 2 configurations that are out there. In addition seating policy is to be honest a pain up the rear, and whilst I accept it is something that they wish to keep for their elites, other airlines do allow pre-assignment at booking no matter what your status is with an airline or alliance.
Will it be enough for me to switch my flying from *A to OW? I don't think so to be honest - OneWorld is defiantly a "premium" alliance and thus, having a premium pocket helps (especially if on expense accounts or corporate travel agents) - except I'm not.
I'm travelling on my own coin so I have to evaluate each alliance and airline as needed – thus restricting me to N fares, and bottom of the bucket earning where I can (except when I can score a cheap upgrade). The fact I’m 22,231 miles up in a program I might never credit to for some time is of course besides the point.
So really – thumbs up to British Airways for the delivered product with good delivery both in front and back, but change the booking policy (although your tier point policy is improving) and I might be back.
Right. Enough cricket (2:1 by the way Australia. Tinnies can be cried to anytime. Please recycle them, and do NOT send them to The Oval) ... and enough of me yattering on.
October is coming - so it'll be time to ponder what catering delights UA will be serving...
Bet you can't wait
Comments and thoughts welcome
Great TR - I won a free trip on BA - ORD-LHR on 17 Nov in WT, return in WTP, probably wont take it do to work and other stuff (also that BA values the prize at USD 2000 for tax purposes, which means at 28% it'll cost me over 500 USD in taxes).
I really could not discern any difference between WT and WTP other than 2-4-2 v. 3-4-3, the footrest and more pitch - am I correct? was the 125GBP worth it?
Sep 13, 2009, 6:40 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
Programs: Mucci, BMI*G, M&M SEN, FB Gold, PC Plat, Father of GhettoIFE
Posts: 3,972
I somehow think I'll be making Ghetto IFE systems for some time to come however
If mother nature throws out the sights, I feel it is requirement to capture them. As long as I have a camera to do the job, flight photography is a really interesting art.
It's why I fight, moan and curse for the window seats...
Great TR - I won a free trip on BA - ORD-LHR on 17 Nov in WT, return in WTP, probably wont take it do to work and other stuff (also that BA values the prize at USD 2000 for tax purposes, which means at 28% it'll cost me over 500 USD in taxes).
I really could not discern any difference between WT and WTP other than 2-4-2 v. 3-4-3, the footrest and more pitch - am I correct? was the 125GBP worth it?
I really could not discern any difference between WT and WTP other than 2-4-2 v. 3-4-3, the footrest and more pitch - am I correct? was the 125GBP worth it?
For the way out - £125 was a steal for 24 hours or so of flying in a larger seat, better recline and a more attentive service than in Y itself. Like most upgrades - how do you define value? £125 for 22 hours + of flying isn't bad value at all.
Sep 14, 2009, 8:36 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 9
Thanks!
Kevin
Thanks for a really fun and informative report! As a long haul virgin, setting off on BA009 2 weeks today, there was lots of useful info. Ok so I am travelling BC, which I hope will ease the long flight for my 82 year old mum. At least I now know the J config for BA009, something BA seemed unable to tell me. Can't say that I will do as good a job as you on reporting my trip, but watch out for my report in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for a really fun and informative report! As a long haul virgin, setting off on BA009 2 weeks today, there was lots of useful info. Ok so I am travelling BC, which I hope will ease the long flight for my 82 year old mum. At least I now know the J config for BA009, something BA seemed unable to tell me. Can't say that I will do as good a job as you on reporting my trip, but watch out for my report in a couple of weeks.
Sep 14, 2009, 9:40 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
Programs: Mucci, BMI*G, M&M SEN, FB Gold, PC Plat, Father of GhettoIFE
Posts: 3,972
Firstly welcome to Flyertalk inquirygirl.
I'd strongly recommend you check out the BA Executive Club forum for lots hints and tips of flying in Business on the LHR-BKK-SYD route.
I've got to admit, that was first Ultra-Long Haul I've done in years, and believe it or not, I wasn't too tired from it (even in Y+/Y-).
From a quick peek at ExpertFlyer, next weeks BA009 is still a MidJ/52J Config. As it's a MidJ/52J flight, there should be seats on the main deck and the Upper Deck (which is where a lot of FF's like to go) - SeatGuru and SeatExpert can guide you in the right direction.
Happy flying!
I'd strongly recommend you check out the BA Executive Club forum for lots hints and tips of flying in Business on the LHR-BKK-SYD route.
I've got to admit, that was first Ultra-Long Haul I've done in years, and believe it or not, I wasn't too tired from it (even in Y+/Y-).
From a quick peek at ExpertFlyer, next weeks BA009 is still a MidJ/52J Config. As it's a MidJ/52J flight, there should be seats on the main deck and the Upper Deck (which is where a lot of FF's like to go) - SeatGuru and SeatExpert can guide you in the right direction.
Happy flying!
Sep 14, 2009, 10:19 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 9
Thanks
Thanks for the welcome!
I will certainly check out the Exec Club. From what I have read on Seat Guru upper deck certainly seems favourite. I fly back with Quantas on the A380 with pre-allocated seats on the upper deck. Will report back on that one.
I will certainly check out the Exec Club. From what I have read on Seat Guru upper deck certainly seems favourite. I fly back with Quantas on the A380 with pre-allocated seats on the upper deck. Will report back on that one.