I'll be taking my first T5 F flight in just over a week and am really looking forward to the whole T5 experience. However I have relatively recently returned from an LHR-HKG round trip in VS UC and this thread has provided an excellent opportunity to compare recent experiences. We should be really comparing the UC experience with CW to compare like-with-like but actually it shows how far F can slip on a bad day..
Originally Posted by
UK Flyer 1
Scene of Crime : Concorde Lounge, Terminal 4, LHR
Client enquires regarding availability of Elementic Treatments, time 8.20pm
The desk lady's response: " no idea, you'll have to walk down and check yourself".
Client: Are you able to phone down for me?
The desk lady: No (
clearly too much trouble )
Client and bag walks down to lower ground floor, attendant :
" Sorry they should have told you that we start clearing up around now, the official close is 8.30 pm but they should have told you that up at the desk".
I have succeeded in a pre flight massage once in four years with BA. Not for want of trying. I generally get the impression that everything's a little too much trouble.
I booked a haircut and massage a few days in advance at the cowshed. To be fair the haircut wasn't great but at least I had both treatments when I wanted them.
Originally Posted by
UK Flyer 1
?First? Class Dining Experience
Wandered over to a set apart dining emporium, with 'a voucher' in hand, ( why was that necessary? ), got to sit in such a cosy spot that I could not fail but overhear every word of the dull conversation next door on ones side, and could easily have joined the other side in a joint novel reading session, we were that close.
As for the usual niceties - trying the wine, ( some chance! ) bread rolls, ( had to ask for those with the soup ),
Well let's just say, more akin to an IKEA cafeteria experience.
Everyone who has been in the VS clubhouse at LHR will know how good the drinks and food service is - there is no comparison (and no need for a voucher! If you're in the lounge, you're entitled to eat!) Yes the tables are quite close together but no more so than in a restaurant.
Originally Posted by
UK Flyer 1
The Walk of Shame
I was very surprised at a 10 minutes + walk to the gate, it felt like it would never end, down a gloomily lit corridor without the benefit of walk assists. I know, I know, I am fit and healthy so don't really need it but . . I realise that there is a lot of work going on, its just that this added a contributory negative.
No channel for special boarding business or F class.
Ground experience better but not great at LHR, especially now the premium checkin area is open but separate channels for BP check and boarding at HKG.
Originally Posted by
UK Flyer 1
Front seat in first, usually a thrill on most serious airlines.
This time no chaperone, no newspaper offered, no coat hanger offered, entertainment an ancient grubby looking TV monitor, would have looked more at home in a charter to Torremolinos, miaowww. Films by cartridge - that seems a little old fashioned to me.
I wasn't shown to my seat from the door but there are so many flight attendants in the cabin that the hanger and newspaper were both offered almost immediately along with glass of fizz.
Originally Posted by
UK Flyer 1
Tiny bathrooms,
Cabin temperature too high - lowered on request ( and to be fair I find this to be a fault with all airlines )
Bathrooms smaller than ideal and 3 between 45 probably not quite enough - especially when 45 people trying to change into PJs! Never too hot though.
Originally Posted by
UK Flyer 1
If I was going to be picky I would add to the story my bemusement at the 500 yards cattle run to reach bag check in - why do they do that when there's only 3 people in the line ? ) and the absence of any first class greeter or speciall first class facility.
My bag was taken from the car for me and my boarding pass given to me before I even left the back seat of the car.
Originally Posted by
UK Flyer 1
I don't like whinge on, but for those folks who pay top money for this, it pales in comparison with the competition. BA lowers the bar every time I travel with them.
Can't wait to get back to SQ, TG, ML, any*other.
It's not a whinge - we can't always expect BA's First product to be as good as all other airlines' First products, but it should be reasonable to expect it to be as good as the business class product from it's biggest UK-based competitor.
I am very much looking forward to the CCR in T5 as a new experience but am very disappointed that the opportunity hasn't been grasped to improve the rest of the ground service at LHR for First passengers, such as accompanied boarding, quality dining (served by staff in BA uniform, not subcontracted), assistance in the terminal before checkin etc. I know the onboard hard product is likely to be updated next year and I am sure we're all looking forward to that but the holistic approach appears to be missing to provide that special, seamless end-to-end experience. With VS
business class, the service starts and ends at your front door. It shouldn't be too much to expect something similar from First Class in a brand new terminal!! Will post my experiences in a couple of weeks' time.