Positive Club World experience
Mar 21, 2018, 6:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 157
Positive Club World experience
I've always been a bit dubious about booking BA J, given the mixed feedback about it online. However, earlier this week I was lucky to get an op-up from WT+ (the double beep absolutely makes my day). For background/comparison, I've in the past used BA F, and the J products of Cathay, Aer Lingus, Air France and American.
Storage: I was initially a bit stuck for where to put my things, given the lack of a side table/ledge, but once underway I found that just using my meal table was no problem, as I could push it pretty far away from me when using it as a place to put my odds and ends.
Privacy: I was on an aisle, but front row in the cabin so nobody climbing over me. I left the operation of the divider at the discretion of the chap in the window seat, who put it up fairly promptly. The crew only took it down when they had to, and I didn't find the face-to-face configuration any more awkward than sitting next to a stranger in older traditional side-by-side seating. Yes, it's not as private as most other products, but that brings me on to...
Sleep: Oh my god, that was the best sleep I've ever had on a plane. The bed just *worked*. I'm sure this is to some extent a taste thing, and I'm 6ft+broad shouldered, but I found the this bed to be more comfortable than any of the other J products I've used. The ability to comfortably turn on my side makes such a difference, and there was none of the lumpyness that some of the seats have in the lower back area.
Service: Crew level of attention was absolutely fine (full flight), the food was OK (I'd say on a par with Aer Lingus or American, but nowhere near as good as Cathay). However, these days I'm not too fussed about the level of ceremony around meals, I kind of like just being brought a tray with something simple on it and getting mealtime over with.
So anyway -- I'm not sure how often I'll pay cash for it, but I was really pleasantly surprised by CW.
Storage: I was initially a bit stuck for where to put my things, given the lack of a side table/ledge, but once underway I found that just using my meal table was no problem, as I could push it pretty far away from me when using it as a place to put my odds and ends.
Privacy: I was on an aisle, but front row in the cabin so nobody climbing over me. I left the operation of the divider at the discretion of the chap in the window seat, who put it up fairly promptly. The crew only took it down when they had to, and I didn't find the face-to-face configuration any more awkward than sitting next to a stranger in older traditional side-by-side seating. Yes, it's not as private as most other products, but that brings me on to...
Sleep: Oh my god, that was the best sleep I've ever had on a plane. The bed just *worked*. I'm sure this is to some extent a taste thing, and I'm 6ft+broad shouldered, but I found the this bed to be more comfortable than any of the other J products I've used. The ability to comfortably turn on my side makes such a difference, and there was none of the lumpyness that some of the seats have in the lower back area.
Service: Crew level of attention was absolutely fine (full flight), the food was OK (I'd say on a par with Aer Lingus or American, but nowhere near as good as Cathay). However, these days I'm not too fussed about the level of ceremony around meals, I kind of like just being brought a tray with something simple on it and getting mealtime over with.
So anyway -- I'm not sure how often I'll pay cash for it, but I was really pleasantly surprised by CW.
Mar 21, 2018, 7:56 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 557
I've always been a bit dubious about booking BA J, given the mixed feedback about it online. However, earlier this week I was lucky to get an op-up from WT+ (the double beep absolutely makes my day). For background/comparison, I've in the past used BA F, and the J products of Cathay, Aer Lingus, Air France and American.
Storage: I was initially a bit stuck for where to put my things, given the lack of a side table/ledge, but once underway I found that just using my meal table was no problem, as I could push it pretty far away from me when using it as a place to put my odds and ends.
Privacy: I was on an aisle, but front row in the cabin so nobody climbing over me. I left the operation of the divider at the discretion of the chap in the window seat, who put it up fairly promptly. The crew only took it down when they had to, and I didn't find the face-to-face configuration any more awkward than sitting next to a stranger in older traditional side-by-side seating. Yes, it's not as private as most other products, but that brings me on to...
Sleep: Oh my god, that was the best sleep I've ever had on a plane. The bed just *worked*. I'm sure this is to some extent a taste thing, and I'm 6ft+broad shouldered, but I found the this bed to be more comfortable than any of the other J products I've used. The ability to comfortably turn on my side makes such a difference, and there was none of the lumpyness that some of the seats have in the lower back area.
Service: Crew level of attention was absolutely fine (full flight), the food was OK (I'd say on a par with Aer Lingus or American, but nowhere near as good as Cathay). However, these days I'm not too fussed about the level of ceremony around meals, I kind of like just being brought a tray with something simple on it and getting mealtime over with.
So anyway -- I'm not sure how often I'll pay cash for it, but I was really pleasantly surprised by CW.
Storage: I was initially a bit stuck for where to put my things, given the lack of a side table/ledge, but once underway I found that just using my meal table was no problem, as I could push it pretty far away from me when using it as a place to put my odds and ends.
Privacy: I was on an aisle, but front row in the cabin so nobody climbing over me. I left the operation of the divider at the discretion of the chap in the window seat, who put it up fairly promptly. The crew only took it down when they had to, and I didn't find the face-to-face configuration any more awkward than sitting next to a stranger in older traditional side-by-side seating. Yes, it's not as private as most other products, but that brings me on to...
Sleep: Oh my god, that was the best sleep I've ever had on a plane. The bed just *worked*. I'm sure this is to some extent a taste thing, and I'm 6ft+broad shouldered, but I found the this bed to be more comfortable than any of the other J products I've used. The ability to comfortably turn on my side makes such a difference, and there was none of the lumpyness that some of the seats have in the lower back area.
Service: Crew level of attention was absolutely fine (full flight), the food was OK (I'd say on a par with Aer Lingus or American, but nowhere near as good as Cathay). However, these days I'm not too fussed about the level of ceremony around meals, I kind of like just being brought a tray with something simple on it and getting mealtime over with.
So anyway -- I'm not sure how often I'll pay cash for it, but I was really pleasantly surprised by CW.
I think what you hit on is that in CW there are some good seats (aisles where others don't climb over you) and great seats (window seats where you have direct aisle access). Seats in the 744 like 14AK and the UD rear bulkhead and emergency exit have great privacy an F level extra space.Then again, the downside is the other CW seats.
Mar 21, 2018, 9:34 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glasgow / London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 3,457
Having recently experienced Qatar's A350 J product, I'm now somewhat flummoxed by so many people saying how much nicer it is than BA. I found it 'cosy' at best and completely lacking privacy. BA's CW product is definitely dated, but it's not as bad as many on here make out.
Mar 22, 2018, 2:12 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Programs: BAEC Gold [>20k Lifetime TPs] | Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond [as is Mrs PtF] | Various Others
Posts: 6,156
Having recently experienced Qatar's A350 J product, I'm now somewhat flummoxed by so many people saying how much nicer it is than BA. I found it 'cosy' at best and completely lacking privacy. BA's CW product is definitely dated, but it's not as bad as many on here make out.
If ‘so many people’ (myself included) rate QR’s A350 J product - including the light, spacious cabin, superior IFE, etc - then maybe they’re onto something; after all, you can’t fool all the people all the time.
Mar 22, 2018, 2:17 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,252
Glad to hear a positive report technical_bob, sounds like you had a nice flight (although the food being 'OK' sounds a bit like damning with faint praise!).
Curious a) which aircraft type you were on and b) which route you were on.
Curious a) which aircraft type you were on and b) which route you were on.
Mar 22, 2018, 2:21 am
#6
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
Not that I fly BA much these days (out of choice) but on my most recent CW 788 flights (in the favoured 3A/3K) it felt as if I was lying in a coffin (low, narrow seats, tall sides) - it doesn’t get much more private than that!
If ‘so many people’ (myself included) rate QR’s A350 J product - including the light, spacious cabin, superior IFE, etc - then maybe they’re onto something; after all, you can’t fool all the people all the time.
Mar 22, 2018, 2:46 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 732
As time has gone on, I've grown more and more fond of the BA seat. As a tall person, it's by far the best business class seat for sleeping, largely due to the space for my feet to move around a little (ie not stock in a micro footwell). That being said, it's makes a huge difference getting a window seat at the back of a section.
Mar 22, 2018, 3:11 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,634
As time has gone on, I've grown more and more fond of the BA seat. As a tall person, it's by far the best business class seat for sleeping, largely due to the space for my feet to move around a little (ie not stock in a micro footwell). That being said, it's makes a huge difference getting a window seat at the back of a section.
), as a tall side-sleeper I really dislike the foot coffins you get on some other airlines J products
Mar 22, 2018, 3:22 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 157
Maybe I'm under-selling the food a bit -- when I say it was OK I mean that I found absolutely nothing to complain about!
Mar 22, 2018, 3:40 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 471
I've not flown in J on any of the middle East carriers but out of SQ, QF, VS and NZ I prefer BA... now there might be an element of familiarity coming into play there, we all like to be in familiar surroundings but I have no complaints about the seat in CW.
Mar 22, 2018, 3:44 am
#11
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,814
Q
Well that's a very fine CW product now on that particular aircraft, given the small cabins, and personally I would prefer it over the A350 certainly of Finnair (which has an 8 row dorm in the front section and is very cramped) and the A350 QR (6 rows), subject to pricing. When the bed works properly - and they usually do - with the new bedding and pillows, combined with rear facing seats which the OP didn't get, makes for a very good sleep in my experience. That's in the context of the A350 being a very fine aircraft too, but perhaps doesn't quite have the right spacing for business seats.
Mar 22, 2018, 4:13 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: A hop, skip and jump away from MAN.
Programs: BAEC Gold, ex-VS Gold, ex-UA Gold, Premier Inn Platinum-Iridium
Posts: 1,114
I tend to agree with the OP's comment about the CW seat - it's comfortable for sitting in, you can get a good upright position for working, and with the new bedding has become better than before for sleeping.
I've been doing long haul travel regularly for around 20 years now, on VS, BA, UA, NZ, and LH and I'd say that some of my best in-flight sleeps have been in the current CW seat. I always found the VS suite mattress too hard, despite the extra shoulder room, but NZ's tweaks to that improved it significantly, while the previous VS "angled flat" seat was really the predecessor of all the coffin seats that followed.
The big killer for me is nowhere to put my glasses - which I'm basically blind as a bat without - so putting them in the low-level drawer isn't an option. So I tend to sleep in them which isn't great - unless I've got an upper deck window seat on the 747 or 380. So the thing that's really missing for me is some sort of trinket tray or nook for things like that.
I've been doing long haul travel regularly for around 20 years now, on VS, BA, UA, NZ, and LH and I'd say that some of my best in-flight sleeps have been in the current CW seat. I always found the VS suite mattress too hard, despite the extra shoulder room, but NZ's tweaks to that improved it significantly, while the previous VS "angled flat" seat was really the predecessor of all the coffin seats that followed.
The big killer for me is nowhere to put my glasses - which I'm basically blind as a bat without - so putting them in the low-level drawer isn't an option. So I tend to sleep in them which isn't great - unless I've got an upper deck window seat on the 747 or 380. So the thing that's really missing for me is some sort of trinket tray or nook for things like that.
Mar 22, 2018, 4:30 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,387
The big killer for me is nowhere to put my glasses - which I'm basically blind as a bat without - so putting them in the low-level drawer isn't an option. So I tend to sleep in them which isn't great - unless I've got an upper deck window seat on the 747 or 380. So the thing that's really missing for me is some sort of trinket tray or nook for things like that.
Mar 22, 2018, 4:41 am
#14
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,927
I used to put by glasses on the small drinks tray in Club - easy to find and far enough away not to be accidentally knocked off.
Mar 22, 2018, 4:48 am
#15
Join Date: May 2017
Location: UK
Programs: Deliveroo Plus
Posts: 179
I have absolutely no qualms with BA CW although I do believe some airlines offer a way more superior business class product, having said that, the fact there is a thread here regarding positive experiences on CW somehow suggest it is regarded in a bad way generally. - Something for BA to look into then.
I have the same issue, I cannot see very well without my specs and dread losing them....I have discovered a solution though; I pull out the controller for the IFE system and loop out a inch or so of the connecting cable and gently click it back in so it does not get jammed, I then put my glasses through that loop, works like a charm
The big killer for me is nowhere to put my glasses - which I'm basically blind as a bat without - so putting them in the low-level drawer isn't an option. So I tend to sleep in them which isn't great - unless I've got an upper deck window seat on the 747 or 380. So the thing that's really missing for me is some sort of trinket tray or nook for things like that.