stevie

Fair enough, thanks for clarification.

layz

I personally don't think the F lounge catering is at its best at the moment, but I don't think it's terrible either. As CWS says some things have improved so it's all a matter of opinion really.

I had first reached gold a few months before BaxterStorey took over and one of the things I enjoyed in the lounge was fish and chips on a Friday.

Some things I enjoyed in the BaxterStorey era that I've not seen in a while include the fishcakes and the meat pies. The fact that the menus are not put out as widely means those who are unaware of the menu don't get to see the lounge to its full potential either. This may save money but it may also mean some may decide going for gold is not worth it.

Champagne, I do miss Prelude but I understand costcutting in this area. As I said a few years ago, a better selection of ale/craft beer would at least keep me off the champagne and assuming there's others that'd appreciate a good beer then I could see this saving BA money.

MrsW

So MasterW II and I were in the Flounge again today. I had the venison for the second time this week with no complaints. My son ate burger and fries, a portion of mac & cheese plus a slab of red velvet cake with 2 large tubs of Roddas clotted cream. I asked the greedy pig how his food was and he told me it was good. He ate the lot. I take my kids to Jamie's Italian, Côte etc regularly and think the Flounge food is broadly similar. We flew to Vienna today on £60 tickets and after a couple of glasses of Pouilly Fumé with lunch I'm struggling to envisage what else we'd need. We make a point of arriving at the airport at least an hour before the gate closes to have a bite to eat and we're rarely disappointed. We think the Flounge is a super waiting area. YMMV

Tobias-UK

That made me laugh out loud! ^

hugolover

We seem to be heading towards an idea of an FT panel who choose who is worthy of their BAEC status? That already happened for the lounge thread. I have been to Hawaii once and Gold since 2011. If they changed it to be 60% of TPs it wouldn't stop me from qualifying for Gold (would that mean my complaints can be worthy?) I am not sure your idea would be very popular with many of the other FT CCR card holders though .

As you mention mistake fares, how many did you book, eg. the Vikings? By defintion, you had to 'quickly' to grab them to use your words.

I don't think telling people to put up and shut up is part of our inclusive society or the values we ought to defend including the ethos of this bulletin board. BA has been going down the pan for years, the cuts are ridiculous and there's no way on earth Dublin Mike is left quivering in his Lobb's.

They cut millions from the lounge budget and it shows.

Tobias-UK

I have no idea why you think that is relevant, but if you are going to break a confidence, let's be accurate. I mentioned to you that I managed to take advantage of an error fare as I was in the process of booking a business trip to New York following on from a business trip to OSL. I told you that I was shocked at the price and given how good it was decided to make a short break of it and take my wife along, staying in NYC for the weekend rather than travel straight back home as I usually would. It was the GGL line who told me of the bargain, they also very kindly found inventory to use a GUF2 to upgrade to F. So the answer to your question is: one. Not that it matters as far as TPs were concerned, I was well over 10,000 for that year.

The balance of your post is off topic and we have been asked to keep discussion here relevant to the topic.

jlsw7

I suspect that my flying patterns are common to a lot of BA's frequent flyers. I actually credit to AA, but I don't think that affects this. I am London area based and do a lot of (mostly) day trips for work. I tend to fly out of LHR in the mornings and back in the evenings. So, it's mostly the breakfast I get to experience in the First lounge and I think that is very good and has been pretty consistent over the years. It's like a Hilton breakfast - good, but not spectacular. Definitely good enough. I rarely drink alcohol there. Despite the fact that breakfast is offered for only about one third of the day, I wouldn't be at all surprised if over half of the First lounge use is during the breakfast period. So, I can see why BA have kept that at a good level. On my occasional afternoon visits, I have always found it to be good enough.

hugolover

I hope I will be given the opportunity to reply to this. It's relevant because you mentioned members taking advantage of mistake fares in your reply on this thread and this giving rise to cardholders who therefore do not have a right to criticise BA (and you choose to go OT by mentioning it in a thread with FTers complaining of the GF food) and not declaring your own interest in the process that you had also bought mistake fares. I also booked only one and it made no difference to my Gold card renewal. In FT speak the TPs were "wasted".

Going along with this: clearly GGL team need re-training if they are encouraging their top premium customers to "expose" BA to even more cost by booking error fares and I hope if any management are reading they realise how ridiculous that is. I'm sure those reading will be surprised that a) GGL line told a customer that there were cheap error fares out of Norway given the time frame (a real beauty as Mr President would say) and b) you took advantage of this given the general theme of your posts here.

It seems lost that my posts on this thread have been to continually highlight the fall in quality and quantity of what is on offer vs previously. I would very much like them to improve the offering which is why I continually post constructive feedback and I do hope they will spend more money on lounge F&B as part of the CE/CW/F investment. So long as BA's fares keep falling this doesn't seem very likely.

Tobias-UK

I have suggested no such thing. I know you studied politics and so being disingenuous comes naturally, but I expected better from you, hugolover. You've really disappointed me, I thought I knew you better.

Calchas

Guilty as charged!

ps, If anyone wants to join me for a delicious BA burger on Wednesday afternoon, do feel free to PM me

nufnuf77

And now inviting people to join you in lounge wasting BA money and worsening their bottomline? Naughty Boy! I must be punished, mustn't I?

chris1979

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Monday!

I hope we are all having great days.

Filthy Monkey

I'm not sure this is the right thread, or even the right site, for that type of lounge behaviour

Calchas

Is an overwhelming and persistent feeling of guilt what keeps you flying BA?

nufnuf77

That kind of behaviour only happens in CCR cabanas, darling , no need to spoil gold card holders experience in GF.