New Club World (Genuinely something new)
Mar 8, 2019, 5:38 am
#916
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 34
Project times
You're correct. In the current format, the New Club project has been alive for two-ish years.
Some would argue that this is too long a timeframe; I agree but with a caveat. It's not just about introducing a new seat, it's about selecting a seat and supplier, designing the bespoke applications, finding the right configuration for all the aircraft types based on current and future routes, then it's testing, certification... Plus let us not forget approvals. BA's financial approvals are long and painful and, the more expensive the project, the longer and more painful they become. I've only heard rough estimates for the cost of one fleet re-furb: the cost was enough to buy several Cristiano Ronaldos (Air France is paying 170m USD for the refurbishment of 15 330s). In these cases the approval is not just done by the applicable committee and BA Board, but also by IAG's.
All of the above is my opinion and not BA's.
Some would argue that this is too long a timeframe; I agree but with a caveat. It's not just about introducing a new seat, it's about selecting a seat and supplier, designing the bespoke applications, finding the right configuration for all the aircraft types based on current and future routes, then it's testing, certification... Plus let us not forget approvals. BA's financial approvals are long and painful and, the more expensive the project, the longer and more painful they become. I've only heard rough estimates for the cost of one fleet re-furb: the cost was enough to buy several Cristiano Ronaldos (Air France is paying 170m USD for the refurbishment of 15 330s). In these cases the approval is not just done by the applicable committee and BA Board, but also by IAG's.
All of the above is my opinion and not BA's.
whenever in the original product life cycle you might start, there would be about a year of design creation, ideas proposals and decisions etc,
on top of that there might be another 2 years of technical design stages including milestones such as ITCM, PDR and CDR. And a further year of testing and retesting and further revisions before it’s out the door.
So a total of 4 years is not unreasonable. Of course everything can move so much quicker if you’re Emirates or Etihad but the milestone meetings are usually at fixed intervals which are driven by FAA, EASA, Airbus and Boeing.
the only thing we can be sure of is that this one will make its debut on the first A350-1000 delivery.
This is my opinion and and anyone else’s whatsoever. 😜
Mar 8, 2019, 5:51 am
#917
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
I have my invitation now to the launch of the new Virgin Upper Class seat, so it looks like they will beat BA out of the traps.
Mar 8, 2019, 6:25 am
#918
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold & GGL & CCR, HH Diam, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Spire, Tastecard
Posts: 7,549
You need to take I to account the context of his words.
It was an investor presentstion, he’s not justifying anything, just covering their backs if NPS drops, despite a new seat being rolled out.
Investors won’t be too happy if a big investment seems to be lowering NPS
Mar 8, 2019, 6:42 am
#919
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
This is actually positive, when you think about it. It means Cruz thinks the new seat is so great that people will be gutted to not get it ....
Mar 8, 2019, 7:45 am
#920
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, A3 *Gold
Posts: 887
Exactly - having been responsible for NPS at my company in the past I can confirm that customers not getting something they thought they were getting can be a huge driver of dissatisfaction. In general people are much more likely to fill out a survey if they are unhappy about something than they are when they are equally happy, that's just human nature. So I can totally see how NPS could take a nosedive despite a huge improvement in the product if most people aren't going to get that product.
Mar 8, 2019, 9:03 am
#922
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: BAEC Blue, Flying Blue Silver, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold
Posts: 817
Mar 8, 2019, 9:41 am
#923
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold4life, ICH RA, Hyatt Gold and others
Posts: 699
Mar 8, 2019, 10:10 am
#924
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, Diamond Status & on the Supreme Council des Conseillers, BA Ag, Bonvoy GFL/Plat, xVS Au
Posts: 832
Out of interest. How long did it take to roll out the current Club World to the majority of the fleet (767s excepted)?
Mar 8, 2019, 11:33 am
#926
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Durham, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP and 1MM, UA 1K, HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 424
I am lucky in that I was able to meet my needs and avoid flying BA long haul for the last three years. As someone who flies between 150K and 200K miles a year, the quality of the business class experience really matters. Club Europe for short flights is okay, but I have been able to find options with better seats for my long haul flights. Granted, I am not based in London so that provides me with more options. I feel sorry for the folks that continue to pay BA fares for what IMHO is an inferior product.
Mar 8, 2019, 11:34 am
#927
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
No. But the launch is at the Head Office so we don't get to go on an A350. I am guessing they will be doing mock ups. Sounds like a heck of a party looking at the invite ..... which is a shame as we're on holiday in Fort William :-)
Mar 8, 2019, 1:15 pm
#929
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: BAEC Blue, Flying Blue Silver, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold
Posts: 817
Mar 8, 2019, 1:50 pm
#930
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871