BA is too expensive ..
May 8, 2013, 6:01 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Middle Earth, and often worse
Programs: BAEC Silver, A3 Gold
Posts: 2,221
Don't purchase lounge access in AMS! The pay per use lounges (Servisair I think) in AMS are awful and there's a lot of places to eat and drink in Schiphol so use your money in one of those. It's a pleasant enough space to spend a few hours if you avoid the contract lounges, it's certainly a lot nicer than LHR T3/T1.
The KLM lounges are OK, but I don't think you can pay to get in those. KLM allow FB silver (equiv to BA bronze) members to pay to get in, but if you have no KLM status then their lounges are out of bounds.
The KLM lounges are OK, but I don't think you can pay to get in those. KLM allow FB silver (equiv to BA bronze) members to pay to get in, but if you have no KLM status then their lounges are out of bounds.
May 8, 2013, 7:40 am
#32
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BA, Marriott, Hertz, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 2,015
I was looking at BA flights on that route for next week and couldn't get anything for less than £550, and that was only by compromising on departure times. A lot of dimes for flying in economy.
May 8, 2013, 8:15 am
#34
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC - Silver
Posts: 271
Same for LHR <-> SFO
I've had a similar experience - was booking my quarterly work trips to SFO and BA was pricing out at over £2200 for WT for a same week return (no sat night) and this was months in advance, July looks just as bad.
UA were almost £1000 cheaper than this and that's including the upgrade to E+, just could not justify the BA flights at that price.
I have to admit, I was not looking forward to the UA flight as I've not flown anything other than BA TATL for about 12 years but with the exception of no lounge access (which, given the hot food enhancements is not such a major loss) & having to pay for a glass wine on board, it probably beat BA WT in all aspects.
T1 was very quiet and security was quicker that T5 fast track. Great seat pitch in E+, food was very decent and entertainment better in both choice and screen quality, I may have been lucky to get one of their newer 777s (3-3-3) and the UK based crew. Priority boarding & security could be pre-purchased for a nominal fee and paid upgrades to their business seat were available at check-in for $800 (i wasn't persuaded - the seat looked ok but the arrangement is definitely unusual).
Given I've just about renewed Silver on BA, UA is likely to get my business for the next few trips if they keep pricing out like that.
UA were almost £1000 cheaper than this and that's including the upgrade to E+, just could not justify the BA flights at that price.
I have to admit, I was not looking forward to the UA flight as I've not flown anything other than BA TATL for about 12 years but with the exception of no lounge access (which, given the hot food enhancements is not such a major loss) & having to pay for a glass wine on board, it probably beat BA WT in all aspects.
T1 was very quiet and security was quicker that T5 fast track. Great seat pitch in E+, food was very decent and entertainment better in both choice and screen quality, I may have been lucky to get one of their newer 777s (3-3-3) and the UK based crew. Priority boarding & security could be pre-purchased for a nominal fee and paid upgrades to their business seat were available at check-in for $800 (i wasn't persuaded - the seat looked ok but the arrangement is definitely unusual).
Given I've just about renewed Silver on BA, UA is likely to get my business for the next few trips if they keep pricing out like that.
May 8, 2013, 8:15 am
#35
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
That's the key of course. They know their loads and what it will bear. Frustrating at times though when I would like to give BA my business but the cost difference is so big.
However they are clearly confident they will sell seats at a premium to others as an airline seat is the ultimate perishable commodity...they can't keep it in stock and sell it the next day.
However they are clearly confident they will sell seats at a premium to others as an airline seat is the ultimate perishable commodity...they can't keep it in stock and sell it the next day.
When that is a SLOW process, most senior managers are either clueless or loath to accept the bitter truth. That is how & when BA (or any other business wakes up, ) often too late.
May 8, 2013, 8:19 am
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Middle Earth, and often worse
Programs: BAEC Silver, A3 Gold
Posts: 2,221
May 8, 2013, 8:33 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,341
I find BA totally hit and miss.
Sometimes their TATL fares are astonishingly cheap when compared to other carriers, and then I'll check something like LHR-BUD and find that BA want £350rtn compared to £80rtn on the Orange Peril.
Swings and roundabouts.
Sometimes their TATL fares are astonishingly cheap when compared to other carriers, and then I'll check something like LHR-BUD and find that BA want £350rtn compared to £80rtn on the Orange Peril.
Swings and roundabouts.
May 8, 2013, 9:02 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,245
When there's no Saturday night stay involved, this is where you should look at bundling on a hotel or car via ba.com
May 8, 2013, 9:08 am
#39
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC - Silver
Posts: 271
May 8, 2013, 9:09 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,245
May 8, 2013, 11:16 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
May 8, 2013, 11:17 am
#42
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: BA KL LH Hilton Marriott
Posts: 1,233
KLM have 10 across in the B777-300 and will also be putting 10 across in the -200 when they refit (currently 9). Econ Plus will stay at 9 abreast.
May 8, 2013, 1:25 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,753