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BA Golds, recent amazing first experience on EK/QF

BA Golds, recent amazing first experience on EK/QF

Old Dec 3, 2017, 3:48 am
  #31  
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Originally Posted by TabTraveller

Perhpas your flight on QR will show you quite how disruptive a dine on demand service can be if everyone around you decides to eat at different times, especially on a night flight.
It's fine if people are conscious that others around them are sleeping and keep the light/noise to the useable/reasonable level but some people do dine-on-demand and set up the table with a buddy and talk very loudly to the dining companion and crew members, all lights on at the seat, and eat very noisily with a lot of clinking noise.

Then that becomes problematic... on BA, that is. Probably the same on any other carriers for that matter.

Last edited by LTN Phobia; Dec 3, 2017 at 6:18 am
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 3:59 am
  #32  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Originally Posted by PJSMITH0
In the end its down to individual preferences. Personally I hated EK F (very TOWIE) and I like the more direct routing that BA generally offers. Im also confused as to why everyone believes BA is struggling. I have yet to fly in a F cabin that isnt always full
Don't forget though in one of the recent IAG presentations, BA was not happy with paid F revenue as many F flights were with avios/vouchers/redemptions/upgrades.
Will F disappear eventually on BA?
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 4:13 am
  #33  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Just my two pence worth.

BA: I've travelled 8 sectors in BA F this year. I'm not going to wave a fan placard for it. However:
- i've not once been declined my first meal choice.
- i've not once been on a flight where a particular champagne has run out.
- the menu clearly spells out that dining is on demand and i've never had a rolling eye when i've asked to eat and a particular time.
- BA PJ's come in three sizes and i'd assume the crew can reasonably guess whether i'm a S, M or L.

QF: Pretty much agree with the comments about QF F. 6 sectors in F so far this year. Wonderful crew. Food is only on par with BA IMHO, presentation better. There definitely are NOT ground staff that assist with boarding. There are 'first hosts' that escort certain very high CVV's to the aircraft but any duty undertaken on board the aircraft can only be done by the three cabin crew working in F.

EK: One sector in F on a QF codeshare after being rerouted. I liked the bones of the seat although not the bling. I found the 'mini bar' no more than a gimmick as nothing is chilled and the contents actually get quite warm. Was the ONLY one of any of the flights I list here where I did not get my choice of meal (and it was as simple as an arabic mezze plate).
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 4:30 am
  #34  
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
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Originally Posted by ahmetdouas
Don't forget though in one of the recent IAG presentations, BA was not happy with paid F revenue as many F flights were with avios/vouchers/redemptions/upgrades.
Will F disappear eventually on BA?
Maybe this is the answer. Looking at the best J products, most of them are on carriers where there is no F. Some part of why CW is so underwhelming must be that BA feels the need to differentiate it from F - and of course with a mediocre F product, that severely limits how good J can be.

QR J (except the non suite 777s) is pretty close to BA F anyway. TK's J soft product is IMHO on a par with BA F.

The option is to do what AF/LH do: take the amount of seats out, better soft product and then drastically limit access for non-cash (lots of miles, Golds only)
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 4:44 am
  #35  
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Manchester but from Yorkshire better known as Gods country
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Originally Posted by ahmetdouas
Don't forget though in one of the recent IAG presentations, BA was not happy with paid F revenue as many F flights were with avios/vouchers/redemptions/upgrades.
Will F disappear eventually on BA?

What we we dont know though is how much revenue is generated because these perks are available. Again what is the income stream from the Amex / other credit card deals. Taking away the sweetners could push business elsewhere.
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 4:57 am
  #36  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
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Originally Posted by ahmetdouas
Don't forget though in one of the recent IAG presentations, BA was not happy with paid F revenue as many F flights were with avios/vouchers/redemptions/upgrades.
Will F disappear eventually on BA?
Just about one month ago, I sat listening to Alex Cruz when he spoke at WTM London, in the (ironically-named) Inspire theatre. He said categorically that BA had no plans to ditch First class, and believed that it had a strong future on key routes. I would think thats almost certainly the case.

However ........ at the very same event, he also said that one of his objectives is to ensure that BA deliver the same high standard of customer service whether youre seated in a First class cabin or travelling shorthaul economy. And if you believe that (I didnt, and got the distinct impression that nobody else in the audience did, either .....) ..... well ..... you might believe anything
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 5:12 am
  #37  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Since 2014 airline CEO's have been saying First Class doesn't make any money. Attached are two articles - one from the AF CEO in 2014 and one from the AF CEO in NOV this year.

A couple quotes that spell out why F is important despite not being a money spinner:
'First Class was uneconomical because of the amount of space taken up by each seat and the level of personalised service required. It was retained as a "marketing tool" which is very important'. (M de Juniac. AF CEO 2014 - Times article)

'Experts say that, in status concious asian societies, first class remains an important service, but, elsewhere, the global financial crisis has killed the cabins profits'. (writer of same Times article.

'I don't see First Class becoming redundant, because there is a lot of value, especially if your airline does not have a long history. First Class can provide a lot of marketing and brand cache'. (Arthur Wu of Aviation consultants Teague - Telepgraph article.)

So there you have it - its biggest value is as a marketing tool. It is profitable in very few markets.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ne...r-first-class/

https://www.businesstraveller.com/op...s-had-its-day/

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a...ss-5k0bfl7j68w
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 6:51 am
  #38  
bil
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
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Originally Posted by Nuster
The point in your first paragraph is exactly what I am saying - both hotels are 5 star but vastly different
Sorry did not manage to follow second para.
That's my point.

Originally Posted by Nuster
like 2 hotels who proclaimed they were "5 star"?
Even if two products are called First or 5 stars can be extremely different. The quality depends mostly on the price, not on being called First or 5 star. These hotels are targeting very different kinds of customers: one that is willing to pay ~500 or ~200. The price is precisely what is very different between those hotels (in general) as is between BA and many other carriers that offer better First products. My point is BA First is generally cheaper than many of these carriers. In a few words: you get what you pay for.
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Old Dec 3, 2017, 10:52 am
  #39  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Originally Posted by headingwest
It was more of an observation than a criticism, but if you see it that way then fine.
A perfectly valid observation. Ignore the BA apologists. Heres the first sentence from the BA website page on First Class dining.

Enjoy an enhanced dining experience at a time that suits you

So perhaps either the staff training isnt aligned with the promise, or its a case of a cabin crew putting their convenience ahead of yours, or maybe they had equipment/menu issues they didnt disclose to you that made them want to take that approach. Regular F travellers maybe be able to tell us....
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