I just returned from AMS, having flown out from LHR, and returned into LGW. All I can say is that the difference between the CE experience on both routes is shocking. Yet the fare is identical. Something is wrong.

LHR-AMS
- A breeze through fast-track at T4, and lots of time to linger before the flight.
- Gate One Lounge nice and quite - nice spread from the buffet, plenty of spare pcs to use, very nice atmosphere.
- Spotlessly clean plane (A320). Sat in 1D (with 1E empty) due to my skillful seat selection strategy.
- Selection of newspapers at the gate.
- 9 rows of Club, fairly full, yet friendly and efficient service.
- Nice meal of smoked salmon with salad and choccies, champagne, the works.
- Crew worked hard throughout, and only sat down to chat for the last 10 minutes.

AMS-LGW
- I avoid ex-LGW flights due to the lack of fast-track
- Sat in 1C on a filthy 737. The armrest looked like it had been chewed to bits by a labrador puppy. The foam cladding around the wardrobe in front of 1AC was dangling loose. Bits of food crumbs attached to the seat pocket. Toilet the usual stinking wreck.
- Crew chucked out the meals and returned to the front galley (joined by one of the crew from the back) and proceeded to chat the rest of the journey about what they were going to do in ANU.
- Catering was disgusting (may be the ex-AMS breakfast to LHR is disgusting too, but this was sheer carnage). The standard meal was lumps of meat and fried mushrooms. The SFML was a lump of grey salmon covered in garlic sauce (for breakfast?????). The bread consisted of flattened croissants with grease oozing out of them. Absolutely foul.

On a route (LGW-AMS-LGW) where the cheap seats go for £5 plus tax, why would I use a £400 J ticket to travel like this? On the LHR route I am happy to, as it is a consistent and excellent product.