vectismanpaul

As TCX69 informed us last November looks as though 4 G-MIDx aircraft are on way to Gatwick for the Summer season which begins tomorrow. G-MIDO on the way now from Glasgow to Gatwick and G-MIDS on route to Malaga from Gatwick. Looks like a busy summer season ahead.
V.

Skipcool3

Interesting mix of seating on the Gatwick A320 fleets then.... Going to make switching aircraft fun!

Jacaranda

I've just written a ranting complaint to BA, it seems all the LGW SH airbuses have had the wardrobe bulkhead on the left side removed and replaced with an extra pair of CE seats opening directly into the galley opposite the crew seats, right by the door ŕ la easyjet style.

The whole flight you smell the toilet feel the cold air from the door draft, people standing by you waiting for the toilet and watching the crew prepare the service. Other pax boarding bash into you, tread on you and hit their heads on the newly exposed overhead locker. The two previously available half lockers have now been blocked above row one for all the stuff that used to go in the wardrobe. And in the locker in row two the crew stored the trays for the trolley carts. There is effectively now two normal overhead lockers for the first 10 pax Above row 3.

I can't find a thread on this a anywhere else apologies if it is covered elsewhere - crew are encouraging everyone to complain - it's ruined the privelage of sitting the front as now there is no curtain is cold, noisy and stinks of the toilet, no locker space - you couldn't think they could ruin CE any more, but they have - has anyone else complained ?

Dicksbits

This has been discussed since these birds came into service! But your points are valid! I always try and take 2 D/F now. Extra legroom, with the galley bulkhead in front. Best advice for next time!

corporate-wage-slave

There's quite a lot about this in this thread generally, this specific post shows some photos and how to identify them:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25110166-post221.html
In short if there isn't 1F, you want 2F! It's not all of LGW's SH, there are other aircraft available there.

There's also some information in
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-aircraft.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ul-cabins.html
(admittedly a monster thread, so it's quite buried).

I certainly will NOT be complaining, 2D and 2F are among the most pleasant seats in BA's shorthaul fleet, along with the 190 seats 2C and 2D, but even there you don't get the empty seat free absolutely guaranteed, though generally it is.

Jacaranda

The crew said it is being done to all the planes based at LGW - wardrobe removed and extra row. €700 for a CE ticket to inhale the stench of the toilet for the entire flight. The fight for the overhead locker space was unreal.

vectismanpaul

It is not all the short haul planes at Gatwick. The G-GATx aircraft will all soon have 177 seats with 30 inch pitch. Personally the front row in these for me is great being 6 3 tall. To be honest I am not too fussed about having to look at the cabin crew during take off and landing! I find the galley and toilet activity ok but I'm usually reading or using ipad and find the hustle and bustle reassuring. Each to his own. As others have said there are other options on these aircraft.
The A319 aircraft and other A320 aircraft retain the bulkheads/wardrobes. There are 11 A319 based there at the moment (seating 144 I think) plus 5 ex BM1 A320s which are configured for 168 passengers.
The 10th G-GATx aircraft is due any day soon for the busy summer season.

Jacaranda

I'm tall also, 6ft4 and there was plenty of room with conventional bulkheads, but now the open set up with the noise, the smell, the cold draft, constant flow of people, lack of over head locker space - all totally unacceptable for me for CE fares. Front row always held back for golds was a nice perk and a choice of 4 seats now on these aircraft only 2F is an acceptable seat for me personally. At least it is not all the aircraft if this is true, but the CSM on board said all the LGW short haul fleet were going to be changed like this and loads of people were hitting their heads getting on and off. I've been flying this route for 15 years up to 10 times a year and it's the final straw for me. But clearly others seem to be happy,
The crew indicated on both legs that everyone who had these seats was complaining. Wait until a trolly falls or rolls into someone's knee caps!

Genius1

All 11 ex-BD A319s are currently based at LGW with the ex-BD cabin, plus one A319 with the usual Pinnacle seats on loan from LHR. All of these aircraft have wardrobes at the front.

4 of the 6 ex-BD A320 are currently based at LGW with the ex-BD cabin, plus one A320 with the usual Pinnacle seats on loan from LHR. All of these aircraft have wardrobes at the front.

All 9 of the second/third hand A320s are currently based at LGW, and have the usual Pinnacle seats but with no wardrobe in front of 1ABC.

GDOCA

I was on G-TTOE into Gatwick from GLA earlier this week and it has the pinnacle seats and wardrobe at the front. Is this a LGW based aircraft, I didn't think it was?

corporate-wage-slave

It's not, she just had a few days holiday in Málaga and Scotland, and has since returned to LHR.

irmster

is it still the case that to guarantee an exit row on an LGW 320, you have to book row 12, given some have 11/12 and some 12/13?

Nimrod1965

Deleted

BA6501

Yes, MEDK and other "visitors" to LGW have 11-12, but most have 12-13.

irmster

thanks. Have booked row 12 on my flights to/from PFO, so as long as it's not switched to a 319 should be fine.