BA business class: why would anyone choose 8 across?
#76
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#77
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Lemonia. Best Greek ever.
Posts: 2,280
1. I can sleep in most places, if it is flat.
2. I live near LHR
3. I have no desire to visit shopping malls or bars/restaurants in the ME, no matter how good. (Been there, got the T shirt).
4. BA have a virtual monopoly at LHR.
5. BA are about the same price as the rest of them.
2. I live near LHR
3. I have no desire to visit shopping malls or bars/restaurants in the ME, no matter how good. (Been there, got the T shirt).
4. BA have a virtual monopoly at LHR.
5. BA are about the same price as the rest of them.
#79
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
There was the analysis done on here very recently about how much of a monopoly BA had at LHR and the answer was very few routes didn't have competition. Dominant yes - monopoly (even virtual monopoly) no way.
Measuring BA's grip on London Heathrow
BA really only have a monopoly if you want to stick in OneWorld.
There are some significant price differences out there too. Picking a random trip - LHR to CDG next week out on Monday, back on Thursday. AF pricing up at 124, BA at 251. BA will be cheaper sometimes and more expensive sometimes, but to argue it's all the same is rubbish.
#80
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
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I choose BA Club World primarily for the route. Going to Europe, the nonstop PHX-LHR is hard to beat - Leaves after work, and no connection inside the US means I get 10+ hours in a lay flat seat
Other things that I like about CW are:
* Aisle seats feel more spacious than others (i value that over privacy)
* Facing my wife with the partition down facilitates conversation, especially compared to the 1-2-1 seats on other airlines since even the "2" often means our heads are separated
* Pricing: BA runs CW sales for $2600-$3000 (sometimes via AA vacations)
Other things that I like about CW are:
* Aisle seats feel more spacious than others (i value that over privacy)
* Facing my wife with the partition down facilitates conversation, especially compared to the 1-2-1 seats on other airlines since even the "2" often means our heads are separated
* Pricing: BA runs CW sales for $2600-$3000 (sometimes via AA vacations)
#81
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
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I'd be happier with the BA CW seat if there was anywhere to put anything without be imprisoned by deploying the meal table.
Spectacles, Kindle, water bottle, TR note-book and pen, pocket camera ... where are they supposed to go? Oh, yes, in the bloody drawer that you can't access if the meal table is deployed!
Sorry, but the practicalities of that seat just annoy me every single time I sit in one.
Spectacles, Kindle, water bottle, TR note-book and pen, pocket camera ... where are they supposed to go? Oh, yes, in the bloody drawer that you can't access if the meal table is deployed!
Sorry, but the practicalities of that seat just annoy me every single time I sit in one.
#82
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
I'd be happier with the BA CW seat if there was anywhere to put anything without be imprisoned by deploying the meal table.
Spectacles, Kindle, water bottle, TR note-book and pen, pocket camera ... where are they supposed to go? Oh, yes, in the bloody drawer that you can't access if the meal table is deployed!
Sorry, but the practicalities of that seat just annoy me every single time I sit in one.
Spectacles, Kindle, water bottle, TR note-book and pen, pocket camera ... where are they supposed to go? Oh, yes, in the bloody drawer that you can't access if the meal table is deployed!
Sorry, but the practicalities of that seat just annoy me every single time I sit in one.
As someone who thinks its fine and totally fit for purpose, I have absolutely no need to ever have anything out.
My phone acts as a camera and Kindle/ Telly if desired and fits easily in my pocket, otherwise there is nothing I need to have access to in the seat. A water bottle fits along side you on the arm rest when sleeping and that's it.
Cocooned away until 20 mins till landing, unlike on AA where they shake you awake with about an hour to go to get the headphones back.
If you need a lot of stuff with you, the CW seat is a pain
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
I'd be happier with the BA CW seat if there was anywhere to put anything without be imprisoned by deploying the meal table.
Spectacles, Kindle, water bottle, TR note-book and pen, pocket camera ... where are they supposed to go? Oh, yes, in the bloody drawer that you can't access if the meal table is deployed!
Sorry, but the practicalities of that seat just annoy me every single time I sit in one.
Spectacles, Kindle, water bottle, TR note-book and pen, pocket camera ... where are they supposed to go? Oh, yes, in the bloody drawer that you can't access if the meal table is deployed!
Sorry, but the practicalities of that seat just annoy me every single time I sit in one.
#85
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 174
I have only flown BA CW twice in the last year. I would NEVER put anything in that filthy, disgusting, disease/germ-infested drawer. I get the feeling that not all BA cleaning crew open the draws up and clean, let alone disinfect, the insides.
- end of rant.
#86
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
My shoes often go in it so probably a good plan
#88
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Gold Coast AUS
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To give my take on the OP's question quite simply I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would actively choose CW. Terrible seats, service, food and the chaos of LHR just all adds up to a awful experience. I've been actively avoiding LHR for some time anyhow much preferring to use LCY as entry/exit point (even if it means a extra stop which it almost always does) but the idea of LHR combined with well ...BA anything really just makes me feel sick. BA in my view are basically barely above a budget carrier ( don't get me started on BA F which is noticeably worse then J on many other carriers ).
#89
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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Posts: 43,108
To give my take on the OP's question quite simply I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would actively choose CW. Terrible seats, service, food and the chaos of LHR just all adds up to a awful experience. I've been actively avoiding LHR for some time anyhow much preferring to use LCY as entry/exit point (even if it means a extra stop which it almost always does) but the idea of LHR combined with well ...BA anything really just makes me feel sick. BA in my view are basically barely above a budget carrier ( don't get me started on BA F which is noticeably worse then J on many other carriers ).
#90
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,266
I flew BA PE right after flying AY J and I'd prefer the BA product in nearly all aspects with the exception of sleeping. Even the T5 transfer was bearable this time.