robertf999

I'm in the CCR for the first time since the new furniture. I quite like the new terrace layout but... what's happened to the service?

xenole

What, there is some?

orbitmic

The article is mostly about EK new F, but I'm copying it not for that but for the Cruz quote at the end that confirms the suggestions upthread that BA are seeing the limits of a 'mass F' strategy and want to restrict it further:

"At a speech in London on Tuesday, the British Airways chief executive, Alex Cruz, vowed: 'First Class is here to stay.' But he indicated that it will be restricted to some high-performing routes.
'There are a number of markets that do not need 14 seats in First Class every single day,' Mr Cruz said."


http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/...-a8050856.html

Cap'n Benj

I suspect this would lead to a better overall product and CCR, sadly most of the people whingeing about it on here won’t get to experience it (including me) as prices soar and award availability and upgrades evaporate.

xenole

Other than the place being perhaps slightly less packed at times and thus being classed as more "exclusive", I doubt any real change in the overall product would actually occur.

Petrus

Granted, have not visited the CCR for a while, but have visited some other superb lounges like JAL F at Haneda, CX J and F at LHR T3 recently. To say that CCR, even with some new pink sofas, Cabanas on the terrace and apparently improved catering would be on par (or better!) is, with the greatest respect, not an objective POV.

Scallywag72

Unfortunately totally lost in translation. Over time (like with so many words in many different languages) the meaning of the word 'gay' has been twisted totally away from what it really means. 'Gay' as in happy etc. Not homophobic and puerile. People, colours etc., all can be gay.

ringingup

I'm looking forward to my visit in less than two weeks and put an end to the debate. Surely my point of view will be the right one.

Jokes apart, has anyone been to the one of the new AA flagship lounges? How do they compare?

rather_be_on_a_griffin

JFK FL is a huge improvement on its predecessor but not comparable to the CCR. It is almost standing room only early evening because it’s open to J, F, OWE and OWS. I really wish they would rethink the access rules. I haven’t been in the separate dining room which is for F only.

ringingup

I will be trying it out as part of my next trip!

lost_in_translation

Would agree with this having also been to JFK only, probably better than GF (and with better champagne) but not to the level of the CCR. Also way too busy at peak times given very generous access rules.

Flagship Dining looks good but I'm not paying for AA F, thanks!

xenole

I was in there last Monday and it wasn't too bad. Plenty of places to sit and the food was ok. Brussels Sprouts were hard unfortunately (I like soft veggies) and the coke machine was broken.
Few hot items, veg, cold meats etc. Akin to GF I suppose.

Went into the First dining part as well and nothing special.
Half a dozen people in there and sound tends to echo a lot. Worse when a couple of people were having phone conversations.
No power points at the tables.
The beef ribs were nice and a bit of a kick to the gin based cocktail I had.

Would have had more off the menu (separate starter/main and dessert menus) but had an upcoming CX F flight so didn't want to overdo things.
5-15 mins for dishes (depending on how long cooking / preparation took).

Service was pretty good although not perfect considering the small size of the place and the low number of people in there.

squawk

Hooray, there is at least one on the list which I’m realistically likely to be able to visit

msm2000uk

The last 6 pages of this thread have made for some really interesting reading.

I've been part of the FT community for just under 4 years; pretty much since my employment role became an international one.

The CCR is, as some have said, a bonus for frequent flyers. Most of us who spend our lives inside metal tubes, would rather be on the ground with our loved ones. However, we have all made conscious choices. Not many make a conscious effort to get CCR status; it just happens when your job entails sitting in 'waiting rooms'.

While a small improvement to people who fly infrequently may seem, small, to those of us who go back & forth through the CCR, the smallest changes can make a world of difference.

However, something I am often reminded of, is that the FT community is not the general public. My wife, for example, couldn't care less that the sofas have changed colour, or that there is now beach furniture on the terrace.

However, she does care that the sofas are cleaner, and more comfortable, than the old ones.

She has visited a vast number of the 'top F Lounges' (based on those recommended and compared over the past 6 pages), and yet she likes the CCR best. Why? Because their magazine choice is better than in any of the other lounges.

I can assure you, her answer surprised me; and I started to list reasons why the CCR wasn't as 'good' as The Pier in HKG for example, but it didn't matter to her.

We are all objective, and while some have criticised the CCR without seeing it, others have just accepted that any small improvements, are improvements nonetheless.

M

crazyanglaisy

I found the ORD one, which recently opened, to be excellent and a real surprise - perhaps just because my expectations of AA were rather low. It's a serious upgrade on the old flagship lounge.

It's also not as busy as the JFK one in my limited experience, and the food and drink options were particularly impressive, including a live chef station preparing pancakes and such like. A notch above Galleries First, I would say, though below the standard of the CCR and the CX First lounges. However, if you're a OWS member, I think it's the best OneWorld lounge you can currently access. My view on this latter point might change when the Qantas lounge opens at LHR T3 of course...!