‘FLUB’ class: travel in First (F) cabin but with Club (J) service on 4-class aircraft
Nov 17, 2017, 11:40 am
#1
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‘FLUB’ class: travel in First (F) cabin but with Club (J) service on 4-class aircraft
We've got one of these coming up in just over a week. J seating is looking 75% full already, but the F seats are still blocked on expertflyer.
Does anyone know when the front cabin opens up (if it does) - is it when FLY takes over at T-72 or as soon as reserved seats run out ?
From certain knowledge I can predict that on this particular flight the premium load (W, J) will be extremely high.
Does anyone know when the front cabin opens up (if it does) - is it when FLY takes over at T-72 or as soon as reserved seats run out ?
From certain knowledge I can predict that on this particular flight the premium load (W, J) will be extremely high.
Nov 17, 2017, 12:10 pm
#2
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Reputedly depends on your CIV. We have had 4 "FLUB" sectors to/from the Caribbean, and got left in CW every time whilst others moved forward.
Nov 17, 2017, 12:48 pm
#4
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It's usually in the 12 to 24 hour range. On some occasions you can select direct into First, if you haven't printed your boarding pass, sometimes people will be moved there by ground agents and there won't be anything you can do about it. It typically won't be before then unless there are equipment changes or other factors that mean it will be opened sooner due to CW loads. If I suspected this was going to happen I'd check in at the earliest point but perhaps defer boarding pass downloading.
First only opens up if it's the only way to get all CW passengers seated. It takes up too many crew members for it to be done "just because we can". Furthermore there is always a good chance of an equipment change, LGW has very little spare aircraft capacity and LHR isn't overly blessed either.
First only opens up if it's the only way to get all CW passengers seated. It takes up too many crew members for it to be done "just because we can". Furthermore there is always a good chance of an equipment change, LGW has very little spare aircraft capacity and LHR isn't overly blessed either.
Nov 17, 2017, 1:11 pm
#5
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Points taken, c-w-s, but I would note [on our last airframe shuffle to ANU) ...
I fully understand, from bitter experience, the lottery of the LGW 777 fleet. But it's still difficult to know how to play the cards. Not printing BPs until the last minute makes sense - perhaps that's where I go wrong, wanting everything tied up neatly before travelling? But then ... Select J seats and wait to see what happens? Grab F seats if they show on MMB, and risk being dumped back into random seats in J if BA changes its mind?
We're on a 3-class 777 ex-LGW next month. You will appreciate my personal interest, having dipped out on both ANU and CPT in the last 12 months thanks to late substitutions!
... On arriving at the Gate, I asked the Ground Agent if the First cabin was actually being used today … he replied “No”. OK, good job we didn’t try to use it, then.
Eventually the ‘priority boarders’ were called, and we established Base Camp in 11J/K. Looking around, the CW cabin seemed rather empty, and a quick look down the aisle proved that the Ground Agent had lied … there were pax in the F cabin. Now I fully accept that seating is a complex and often emotive topic here, but what really gets me going is being lied to. Unless the Gate Agent was ignorant about what was happening with the aircraft he was boarding, which is equally unforgivable. [/rant]
Eventually the ‘priority boarders’ were called, and we established Base Camp in 11J/K. Looking around, the CW cabin seemed rather empty, and a quick look down the aisle proved that the Ground Agent had lied … there were pax in the F cabin. Now I fully accept that seating is a complex and often emotive topic here, but what really gets me going is being lied to. Unless the Gate Agent was ignorant about what was happening with the aircraft he was boarding, which is equally unforgivable. [/rant]
We're on a 3-class 777 ex-LGW next month. You will appreciate my personal interest, having dipped out on both ANU and CPT in the last 12 months thanks to late substitutions!
Nov 17, 2017, 1:13 pm
#6
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Nov 17, 2017, 1:19 pm
#7
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It's usually in the 12 to 24 hour range. On some occasions you can select direct into First, if you haven't printed your boarding pass, sometimes people will be moved there by ground agents and there won't be anything you can do about it. It typically won't be before then unless there are equipment changes or other factors that mean it will be opened sooner due to CW loads. If I suspected this was going to happen I'd check in at the earliest point but perhaps defer boarding pass downloading.
First only opens up if it's the only way to get all CW passengers seated. It takes up too many crew members for it to be done "just because we can". Furthermore there is always a good chance of an equipment change, LGW has very little spare aircraft capacity and LHR isn't overly blessed either.
First only opens up if it's the only way to get all CW passengers seated. It takes up too many crew members for it to be done "just because we can". Furthermore there is always a good chance of an equipment change, LGW has very little spare aircraft capacity and LHR isn't overly blessed either.
Nov 17, 2017, 1:21 pm
#8
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Nov 17, 2017, 1:52 pm
#9
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We have been shifted to 'bad' seats in J, but managed to re-allocate at OLCI. On another occasion (ANU) we were able to shift, after departure, to better seats as the occupants had moved to F
It's the curse of the LGW 777, I regret. Three airframe options, and with no certainty [in our experience] of getting the airframe you thought you were getting. Constant checking prior to departure is, irritatingly, essential.
It's the curse of the LGW 777, I regret. Three airframe options, and with no certainty [in our experience] of getting the airframe you thought you were getting. Constant checking prior to departure is, irritatingly, essential.
Nov 17, 2017, 2:39 pm
#10
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WOW..... taking my first ever LGW 777 flight next year. I had no idea that even if you had a seat in F, you were served as J....... SHOCKING..... but with Cruz in control is there any wonder. I have never heard of this FLUB before, but I guess as it is just mainly leisure routes why bother with anything preimum.
Nov 17, 2017, 2:41 pm
#11
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We have been shifted to 'bad' seats in J, but managed to re-allocate at OLCI. On another occasion (ANU) we were able to shift, after departure, to better seats as the occupants had moved to F
It's the curse of the LGW 777, I regret. Three airframe options, and with no certainty [in our experience] of getting the airframe you thought you were getting. Constant checking prior to departure is, irritatingly, essential.
It's the curse of the LGW 777, I regret. Three airframe options, and with no certainty [in our experience] of getting the airframe you thought you were getting. Constant checking prior to departure is, irritatingly, essential.
Nov 17, 2017, 2:47 pm
#12
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WOW..... taking my first ever LGW 777 flight next year. I had no idea that even if you had a seat in F, you were served as J....... SHOCKING..... but with Cruz in control is there any wonder. I have never heard of this FLUB before, but I guess as it is just mainly leisure routes why bother with anything preimum.
Nov 17, 2017, 10:05 pm
#13
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Nov 17, 2017, 10:36 pm
#14
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WOW..... taking my first ever LGW 777 flight next year. I had no idea that even if you had a seat in F, you were served as J....... SHOCKING..... but with Cruz in control is there any wonder. I have never heard of this FLUB before, but I guess as it is just mainly leisure routes why bother with anything preimum.
Nov 18, 2017, 1:16 am
#15
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WOW..... taking my first ever LGW 777 flight next year. I had no idea that even if you had a seat in F, you were served as J....... SHOCKING..... but with Cruz in control is there any wonder. I have never heard of this FLUB before, but I guess as it is just mainly leisure routes why bother with anything preimum.