This is a mini- trip report EDI-LGW-BCN-LGW-EDI taken in I class on one of the recent ICLUBAN fares.

I needed to make a quick mileage run to ensure I renewed my Gold Card - so took advantage of the recent low I Class fares to take the Mrs to BCN for a weekend jolly.

In the past when we have bought I Class fares in the IEUNBA class the domestic add on also ticketed in I Class - was therefore a Business UK fare and earned full miles an tier points. When I booked I noticed that the website said the flights would only earn 80 points rather than the 20+40+40+20 we would usually get. When I phoned BA to query this I ended up speaking to 6 people and got no understanding of what my question was let alone an answer. I wonder whether is was a mistake in the construction of the ICLUBAN fares. No one knew. The MMB lurker tried to help but I guess even he can't find someone who knows.

Anyway the flights ticketed in I class for the Europe flights and K class for the Doms. This has to be wrong - if you book business (lowest) - you want business with lounge access and points (I know I have a gold card but what about people that don't?). They should have ticketed in I (or D or J as they have in the past). I just ddon't know whether I can be bothered to try and find someone who would honestly know what's going on here.

((Incidentally I priced some other ICLUBAN fares and they all gave the full 120 points - so there are definitely inconsistencies)).

Anyway onto the report:

Saturday 19th Nov EDI-LGW - B737-400 - 2 E and F

Quite an empty flight so we were able to spread out and use the empty D seat. Soon after take off we were given the usual Domestic Shuttle breakfast - half sized tray - with orange juice carton - butter, jam, bread roll, and hot breakfast of sausage, 2xbacon rashers, half a tomato, mushrooms and scrambled egg. Crew served coffee and tea and offered refills when they collected the trays. Landed in Gatwick early and headed off to the FIRST lounge.

Saturday 19th Nov LGW-BCN - B737-400 - 2A and C

There were 4 rows of CE on this flight and our seats were the front on the 2 seat side. The rest of the flight was packed and two people were upgraded from ET - they seemed to be friends with the purser.

The service on this flight was rubbish. After take off the purser literally chucked the breakfast trays at us from the trolley, quickly filled our coffee cups and then packed away all the stuff and sat and read her paper for the remaining hour and a quarter. The rolls were not warmed up - and were cold and hard. No offer of coffee refills. No drinks offered. Nothing. I had to go and ask for a drink and then was only given it grudgingly.

The hot part of the breakfast was exactly the same as that on the Dom sector - though the CE full tray comes with a full tray, plate of fruit and glas jam pots instead of plastic. Thumbs up for metal cutlery!

Sunday 20th Nov BCN-LGW- B737-500 - 1A and C

What an amazing contrast the return flight was. Three rows of CE and once again a packed flight.

As soon as the seat belt signs were off the crew handed out hot towels. They then immediately took induvidual drinks orders and served these individually from the galley - no sign of the trolley today. Even the Monople Blue Top bottles were cold - great stuff.

Then they took orders for lunch and once again served this individually from the galley. The choice was either hot penne pasta with tomato sauce with prawns or spicy chicken with pineapple and green pepper and rocket salad. I had the latter and it was delicious - almost the best CE meal I have ever had.

The crew offered another drink with the meal followed by tea and coffee whilst we finished our cheese and biscuits.

The service was excellent, attentive - and I didn't notice this purser sit down once. I even asked her about the service we had the day before - and she suggested writing and complaining - "some pursers are lazier than others"

Anyway well done!

Sunday 20th Nov LGW-EDI - B737-400 - 2A and B

Gosh the economy config seats feel cramped after the extra 2 inches you get in CE. My wife found the B seat particularly tight.

Typical afternoon Domestic Service - drinks and the worthless - "Something Insultingly Small" deli -box with a couple of pieces of wrap (I could have bought a whole wrap with the £5 voucher we've been getting from LHR flights.

So great trip (Arts Hotel in BCN is fantastic) - one great CE flight one poor.

Oh and it was great to bump into GregM who had been on a trip to NCE on the final sector.