For people familiar (FTers) with BA 's spa provision, the Elimis spa's limitations will come as no surprise. But I have some sympathy with the OP, the 'subject to availability' line is fine if you pull up with 30 minutes notice, but there are clearly some longhaul flights that have little chance of getting spa treatments given the spas opening hours. It seems their promotion of spa services builds expectations they often can't deliver.

BA provide the spa because Virgin do. It's not amazing, but its free and not a bad way to kill some time before a flight. In terms of competition, I don't think BA are bad. Last time I went with VS you could book them, they are good, but the slots do go fast. Thai is great in F, but the services are more limited in J, and more like the shopping mall approach mentioned above. The most bizarre experience I have had was with Etihad. I'm convinced the guy had had no training. I had a facial and it was v strange - he massaged my eye lids.

But before we moan too much, I do see the service is the type of thing that might be cut, particularly if VS/DL cut the service. It's far from a standard, there are quite a few good airlines out there that don't do spa services. Someone correct me, but I don't think CX, SQ or OZ do.