I just got back from a few days in Greece, thanks to of the new BA routes to Mykonos (JMK, since 3 May) and Santorini (JTR, since 4 May). These two routes sit firmly in the band 4 group for distance (further than Istanbul/Athens/St.Petersburg). Whilst other LHR Band 4 routes get the honour of a hot meal in ET (as per the guide), these two new routes get a simple box with two tiny sandwiches, some cheese and crackers (no knife) and a tiny dessert:






I was looking forward to trying the new fish and chips! The catering was identical on both sectors.

On top of this, on the outbound LHR-JMK, there was no ice loaded (at least down the back). Coming back JTR-LHR, there was no ice OR lemon (well, they “found” some lemon later on in the flight).


Was it someone’s first day? Can you just “forget” the ice? Is ice now too heavy to carry for the masses in the back? And on both sectors! What are the chances? I’ve not been denied anything normal like this for many years. The last times both involved sparkling water (run out in CE, or “it all went flat on the outbound”).

Lounge options in JTR were….not applicable. The terminal is tiny (hint, there is a rooftop terrace which quadruples the terminal’s seating capacity; EUR 5 for a pint of local beer), with just 1 shop, and two tiny bars airside. In other outposts where there is no lounge (e.g. INN/SZG), a voucher is proffered to the tune of around EUR 10. Not so here. No voucher, no lounge (and incidentally, no OLCI either).

View from the terrace


To top off these rather lacklustre flights, the cabin crew used the opportunity of having just 50 or so pax on the return flight to London to do a quick drinks run (as mentioned, no ice or lemon), hand out the cardboard boxes, collect them, then sit in the back galley for the remaining 3 hours with the Daily Mail. No further drinks were proactively offered.

I was travelling with a friend that flew out on easyJet. I was rather embarrassed as I’d sold the BA experience as being much better (“you get a free hot meal, and free flow G&Ts!”). Turns out warm gin and tonics are pretty unpleasant.

Judging by the fares (JTR starting at £293, JMK at £196 (both of these have come down in price since they went on sale in October)) BA are hoping to attract some more discerning Greek travellers that might normally travel easyJet or charter to the islands. I’m not sure they’re going to be winning many customers.

On the up side, Greece was wonderful, even down to the very pleasant Swissport staff in JTR whom offered to block off the middle seat for us. :-:

Mykonos


Santorini