leisureflyer1234

Just a few points about my recent flights in F booked on Avios and 241

BA 5 to Tokyo (NRT) 1st July 2015

Main point about this flight was that we had 2 very different experience in the same cabin / flight

We arrived at 9.00 for our 13.30 departure to enjoy the CCR. Had to wait a few minutes for checkin at the F desk but it was friendly and efficient. fat Track security was fast.

I had been concerned by negative reviews of the CCR but it was fine. We went straight into breakfast. Food was good and service reasonable. However, we found we had to ask clearly for exactly what we wanted, nothing seemed to be pro actively offered. Eg I ordered 2 glasses of champagne. I expected white but we got pink - they didn't ask which we would prefer. We went out onto the terrace and into the main room where table service was offered.

Fast track boarding worked well. At the door we were met by a male crew member who simply pointed us to our seats - a sign of bad service to come. Pre flight drinks exceeded my expectations and we were offered white or prink champagne, still or sparkling water and OJ

We took middle seats in row 2. My aisle was served almost exclusively by the purser who was very good. Service fully met my expectations. Food was good, glasses always topped up, bed made up and put away gain and she was very attentive. CSD came around and shook hands with us after take off

My friend was served by the male crew member who just did the basics. Glasses weren't toped up, he had to make his own bed and stuff it under the seat when breakfast was served. He didn't even get the bottle of water. My friend said he could see me getting good service. Every now and then the purser would go to the other aisle and then they actually got some service. My only encounter with this crew member was when the purser asked if I would like my bed made up and she sent him to do it. I then asked him for a drink which he didn't bring

The purser could see what was going on but seemed unempowered to deal with it other than doing the work herself. I think my friend should have pressed the call button but he didn't.

BA6 NRT-LHR 8th July 2015

Checkin was very fast although we arrived at T-3 just before it had opened. At priority security we were greeted by a member of staff who explained everything to us as if we had never been through security before. Process was very fast with no waiting.

We used the JAL F lounge. Its a nice lounge and there was a dining area with an extensive buffet but no table service

Fast track boarding worked well and the CSD escorted us to our seats and explained that one of the "girls" would be with us shortly (Although he never appeared again)

We took window seats in 2/3K which I found to be more spacious than the middle seats. The "girls" provided excellent service which fully met our expectations and we really enjoyed the food. One small point of note, my choice of starter wasn't available. It turned out my friend got it. He is Bronze I am silver so there is no priority given in the ordering process. Also on this flight both "girls" seemed to work together across the whole cabin rather than taking an aisle each

Both flights were on time and bags were waiting when we got to the belts

JustTheOne

Thanks for this - it was an interesting read! Differences in levels of service are reported pretty regularly on FT, but I guess it's more noticeable when you have something with which to make a direct comparison.

Mr JtO and I always go for the A or K seats when flying together in First (so we both get treated just as well/badly as each other...!), but we will be middle-seating it for the first time next month on the A380. We've only sat in a pair once before, on our very first CW flight quite a few years ago, and we really hated the fact that we were served completely out of sync and received VERY different levels of service.

So having finally bitten the bullet and gone for a pair again - albeit with some trepidation - your report doesn't exactly help convince me that we've made the right decision!

love_flying_hate_strikes

I've always wondered what people must think when they see their colleagues acting like this if they are being markedly more professional.

My instinct would say maybe have a quiet word with the purser and just politely ask whether her colleague is having a bad day for whatever reason and perhaps could she help you a little bit with various things like top-ups etc.

f4monty

I flew First to Narita in May, returning June, and have to say that the service could not have been better on both legs. It was my first First and having read so many negative reviews on here, I was expecting something quite average.

On the contrary. All praise to the excellent crews from me.

ozon78

Flew LHR-NRT-LHR in F last summer. I know I know there are raging arguments about the quality of BA's F-service/product in comparison to other carriers. For us, after SQ, LH and TG it was rather disappointing.

LHR-NRT:
- F check-in - checkin assistant as disinterested as one can only be
- Concorde Room: busy and crowded, Kir Royale? No, we run out of cassis; Mojito - No, we run out of mint. [no comparison to LH's F terminal or TG's one-hour spa treatments at BKK, or the SQ's Private Room]
- Boarding: bus gate, 777-300 swapped to 777-200
- Service onboard: badly ironed tablecloth, chipped crockery, overcooked steak, napkins without buttonholes - there were other small things which I now won't remember but they do add up. They did not frustrate or made me upset - just puzzled as to how underwhelming many aspects of this experience were.

NRT-LHR:
- check-in fine; JAL lounge is really good
- service onboard: we were in row 2 - they run out of choice - the answer was 'we had only three lambs loaded' (I was Gold and my partner was Silver at that time) - to be honest, I do not care what was loaded and what was not loaded - this is your 'premium' product and I want my choice.

- service onboard 2: asked for garlic bread - a normal thing in my book of flying first with other carriers. Response: "I do not think we have it'. No apology or anything. Me: Disappointing. Crew - sulky and rather vicious: 'Let me see if the Captain can turn the plane around and we go back to Narita to get you some'...This is where I asked for a feedback form.

Service onboard 3: had to press the call button and invite the purser when the number of empty glasses on my table reached 4 despite various CC members gong back and forward a few times.

Overall...we knew what to expect (or not to expect) after reading extensive discussions here. We will still fly F since we have a healthy avios balance to spend and a couple of AMEX vouchers. I am dreading to think what the service is like in what they call 'club world' - which I managed to avoid so far thanks to an accommodating travel agent at work and LH, TK and LX presence at BHX which is more convenient for me than LHR.

Blueboys999

I'm a big fan of that lounge.

Nothing extraordinary but it somehow has a quality feel about it and the staff are top notch.

ozon78

I agree - I remember we were both very happy - not even the choice of food etc. but the overall ambience and very very friendly lounge staff ^

love_flying_hate_strikes

That's Japan. Things just "work" due to the attention to detail which is a national character trait.

Coathanger

Agree.

The food selection was very good, especially with the sushi bar and beef curry offering.

Whilst the massage treatments are only 15 minutes compared to TG and QF that offer up to an hour, the masseuse really knew what he was doing and I felt noticeably more relaxed after the treatment.

The showers are another case in point. Not the largest or fanciest but everything was quality and meticulously cleaned before being assigned to a passenger.

My experience with BA 6 was pretty good given the variability you get in BA F. The crew were friendly and professional and the meal services were nicely paced.

Especially enjoyed the Wagyu beef main, which was exceptionally flavoursome and tender.





The only odd thing was they apparently didn't load any slippers in NRT, but were eventually able to find some about 3/4 of the way through the flight.

Can I help you

Slippers are only ex LHR and are not 100% loaded.

Coathanger

Ah, I wasn't aware of that.

My only previous experience in BA F had the slippers already at the seat upon boarding, but this was back in 2010.

I did pop into the forward galley to ask for a pair and the gentleman was going to bring a pair to my seat but was unable to find any. He specifically said that they didn't load them at NRT.

Either way they managed to find two pairs (one for 1E and the other for me in 2A) later in the flight which was appreciated.

Can I help you

They used to be one on each buddy seat, then they were moved to a trolley and now there in a trolley but not 100% loaded.

LTN Phobia

Out of curiosity, what is your estimate on the % of the people who use them?

I never do - I end up looking like I've got the flippers on, not slippers otherwise.

dpark74

I did the same trip as the OP recently (even the same seats). Our first first. Coming back, we unfortunately had a sulky crew member on our aisle who really couldn't be bothered. I didn't think we'd have to use the call bell to ask for the second meal service, for example. I kind of thought they'd be more proactive in offering it. Other people on our aisle were already eating, and we were left completely ignored. It was a shame because I was really looking forward to this long daytime flight in F.

Can I help you

You should have been asked if you wanted anything but the menu does say that you can have food when you would like them it so you should have asked if not offered.