Mutu

Not a trip report but given I had become a little jaded with BA, I thought I would share this:

LHR to EWR:

-T5 Fast Track security: queuing out into the concourse!! The design of priority screening always makes me chuckle: Its like a surprise to BA and HAL that BA has so many F and J and status pax passing through the terminal. By my basic maths, 30% of pax would be eligible in a given day yet dedicated capacity far less than this.
-T5 Concorde Room. tired sure but cleanliness, food and service much improved. staff most attentive. Lounge crowded as always.
-Boarding from C gates: Priority boarding politely but firmly enforced. Very easy
-welcome from crew: shown to seat and drink offered immediately
-Crew: BA at its best, attentive, engaging, humorous, friendly. Use of name throughout. Nothing was too much
-Food on board: Had the lamb rogan josh which was terrific for airline food, although once landed I knew I had had it!! Great salad on the side. Improved quality? Felt so ex LHR
-Wines on board: a good selection, in fairness BA have always scored well here
-IFE: well the old system on the RR powered 777's, not robust, poor choice, limited selection, rebooted twice.
-Arrival at EWR: Straight off the plane and through the GE booth and into my Uber in 15 minutes.

Overall worth 4 or 5 * as it ought to have been for the money

Return JFK to LHR:

-JFK security: After check in escorted to the front of the long priority queue for screening, name used throughout. (The JFK staff a longstanding asset despite recent grumblings). The screening experience itself is a pain and I wont repeat common observations here
-Concorde Room: its just an oasis of calm. Its not fancy or glitzy or gimmick filled, its is just a wonderful haven to unwind and have a drink or a meal pre flight. Service appeared much improved and quality of food consistently good.
-Priority Boarding: Gate 6 and imagine my disappointment to see that lady duty manager overseeing things. It usually means chaos and disregard for priority boarding. And it did again. She is hopeless, unwelcoming with an almost permanent scowl on her face " OMG its like so busy with all these people....". I didnt challenge her this time but she most certainly is losing BA business on this route
-on Board welcome: escorted to seat, drink supplied
-Crew: no surprises, on the return leg no use of name, no hot towels pre take off, lots of tiny little omissions but nothing major to the infrequent traveller I would guess.
-Food and drink: good as has been the case with Do & Co for many years
-Flight: pushed back early, unstuck early and landed early.
-T5 customs and baggage: Digital kiosks working well and really no build up of a queue. Down to the baggage hall within 15 minutes of arrival at C55. Bags arrived 5 minutes after that. System worked well this morning

Overall 4*

Issues: T5 fast Track capacity (the F Wing may help this), crews on return overnight sectors and that bloody woman at T7!!!!! But nothing that couldn't be fixed.

Its not a glamorous product but its is functional and perfectly enjoyable, and despite a certain understated britishness or reserve about it, for people with class and taste it remains fit for purpose!!!!

obduro

Thank you for sharing and glad you enjoyed the experience!

There is a fair bit of negative feedback on BA J/F on this board especially when comparing to other carriers, but like you I find it is perfectly enjoyable even with some minor problems like you have mentioned.

Slightly OT: I like how your post references britishness, and in the previous paragraph you use the term "that bloody woman"

navylad

OP, many thanks for sharing your balanced experience.

TravellerFrequently

Agreed.

An interesting and calm report, with experiences that will be familiar to many.

Flexible preferences

+2

hugolover

You actually wrote "an oasis of calm"!!!

I nearly choked on my premium beverage reading that little ditty. Good for you OP ^.

Flexible preferences

Stick around Mutu ^

Fontana

"T5 Fast Track security" is always rammed, I sometimes find it easier using the normal security and you get through it much quicker.
There was this one occasion at the end of Jan 2017 on a Friday afternoon when I used T5 Fast Track security and I was the only person using it for good 3-4min. I felt as though something was wrong with this picture as I've never seen it like this before and cracked few jokes with the security staff.

seanp7

The JFK up-hill security, the crammed T7 gates, and the lack of LPGS at the CCR is an annoying start to any JFK-LHR F experience.

Purim

While I think that curry is pretty good meal on board, I think that is the case for your less advantaged fellow passengers further back. In F, curry? Really?

IAN-UK

I feel queasy at anyone assuming the mantle of class and good taste after publicly (near) identifying, criticising and swearing in reference to an employee handling a company procedure in a way he finds sub-standard.

There are other, less public, less hurtful, more discreet and potentially more effective ways to report egregious behaviour, without resorting to public abuse.

NWIFlyer

A number of posts have been removed which were precipitated by a highly unfortunate attack on the OP. Some members may wish to reacquaint themselves with FT rule 12 ...

/mod

Cap'n Benj

Why on earth not?

Unless you're an old fuddy duddy

TravellerFrequently

Agreed.

Hopefully future works will improve the T7 premium experience at some point.

The absence of LPGS or other decent champagne is very poor and just mean.

Purim

Why not? Because it tends to be cheap comfort food and not often expertly prepared on BA.