celeron

Hi All,

I am traveling on BLR - LHR - JFK and back on BA business class in a few weeks. This is the first time I am flying business class. All my previous international flights have been economy on Emirates and Air France. I am well aware of travel etiquette in economy but was wondering about the do's & don'ts and best practices in business class.

I would love to hear about general and BA specific tips from the experienced travellers on this forum.

Thanks,
Roshan

usrabbs

It's a plane - not a country club. There is no set etiquette. I would say that the same "etiquette" you think you should display in business would be the same in economy i.e. polite and respectful and most of all understanding of others.

Fnate

Congratulations on your first Business Class flight. I am sure you will enjoy it. Etiquette is fairly simple:

1. Be quiet
2. Don't fart out loud. Squeeze between thighs.
3. Don't kick the divider (if CW)

Keep those in mind and you will be fine.

There are also a few duties on board Business Class. The most important is:

1. Keep commoners away from the Club Kitchen!!

cwyeager

What? Planes are loud enough that you can fart at will.

T8191

No special etiquette required at all, it's only an aircraft cabin.

Please do NOT throw food at other passengers, pour beverages over other pax heads, that sort of thing. Possibly the same rules as 'down the back'.

Ignore rumours about wearing a suit, tie, long dress or jodhpurs … comfortable and clean is all you need. Have a read of the notes on maximising the CW Experience the BA Dashboard here … http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...l#post13303139

Swiss Tony

From my 8 or so years on FT, I reckon I've figured out the following etiquette:

1. Get on e-bay, quick, and buy a pair of BA F pyjamas
2. Make a point of walking around the entire plane in said PJ's, carrying a glass of champagne
3. Complain loudly about the most insignificant things (the fact you had to look at another passenger for 20 seconds, that you believe another passenger in WT+ broke wind, or the waste of paper in printing wine list and menu on separate pieces of paper would be good examples.
etc
etc

Or of course just keep yourself to yourself and enjoy the flight.

mumblemumble

I usually follow protocol by taking off my clothes and doing a naked lap of the lower deck while singing "I'm a little teapot". It's not strictly enforced but the effort is appreciated.

ColdWalker

Make sure to break the seat or IFE early on in the flight - you've hit the big time now compensation wise

(serious point - at the end of the day it's jut a seat in a plane. Keep expectations within reasonable bounds and you will have a great time. Hope for the Ritz and you will be disappointed)

gate4lounge

Sorry, I only travel in F, so can't offer any advice on travel in lower classes

PUCCI GALORE

Etiquette - ah we have not had one of these for a while.

I should say

1) Have a bath before you come to the airport and preferably have your clothes washed whilst you're about it.

2) If you are seated on the Left hand side - this is where the CSD works. It is bad form to want anything so don't ask.

3) Do not put your feet on the bulkhead.

4) The bottle of water that we give you is to drink. When the bottle is empty, it is not to be used to recycle the water when it has been through you. Please use the conveniences provided.

5) Drinks are free - the crew are forbidden to solicit tips but they will accept them if offered.

6) The underside of your table is not for sticking your chewing gum

7) Whatever you do do not look at the crew when ordering anything and feel free to throw the menu back.

8) Please and thank you will get you pretty much anything - because of its rarity value

9) It is thoughtful to show your toes to the crew so make sure that your socks have more holes than a Gruyere cheese and smell more like a ripe Munster. (This is not F so we do not get to see the state of your undwear - and no we do not take in washing either). You may give any male member of staff your shoes for cleaning however.


10) Throwing your papers and preferably half your lunch all over the floor is perfectly acceptable. This is your private space so if it looks like a sty when we land that is what you pay for.

Copies of the Farmer's Gazette are available upon request as I think that we must get some of our best customers through the advertising in their pages.


(All of the above have happened. )

If I think of any more when I discuss this with the crew tonight I will pop back and update it. If anyone can think of anything that I have forgotten please remind me.

I Fly To Serve

T8191

I do hope celeron is attuned to the humour on this Forum

Globaliser

One serious thing that is fairly specific to the BA business class configuration, which as you probably know is designed in pairs. There's a translucent privacy divider between the forward-facing and backward-facing seats, because the passengers are looking almost directly at each other's faces when the divider is down. This divider must be down for the safety briefing, but can be raised immediately afterwards and can stay raised for the duration of the flight.

I think it's rude to just push the button to raise the divider without saying anything to the other person - it's a bit like you've decided to cut off someone meaningless and inconsequential. I think it's more respectful to say something, even if it's only "Would you mind if I put the divider up now?"

If the crew lower the divider to serve you, they will almost always put the divider straight back up - so that does not pose an issue.

ColdWalker

How very true:

http://beta.farmersweekly.co.za/view...ation%20Course

BicesterTerrier

I am always amazed at the state of CW as I drag my sorry arse through from WT or occasionally WT+, imagine what their desks are like, or the way they handle themselves in the important meetings they are attending.

I am obviously doing it wrong, as when I flew CW in to EZE on Sunday night I was thanked by the CC for my efforts in keeping the cabin tidy as I folded my blanket and placed it on the overhead locker before landing.

I must admit to leaving the peel off covers for the sticky strips from the questionnaire in the drawer though. What a rebel!!

celeron