FlyerTalker39574

Pascoe

Just not sure I wouldn't rather just do the direct from London. Not so bothered on the way there, but on the way back I normally just want to board and flop. Stumbling bleary eyed through Barajas doesn't appeal....

nallison

Several have mentioned safety and I'm not entirely sure on what they base that? Do they have an actual evidence BA are safer?

Certainly the engine cowl incident revealed a lot of quite alarming features of how 'efficient' staff rostering to put it politely, was directly impacting safety. It was also not a good advert for BA pilot training given they could barely control the plane once - oh my god - they had to use manual thrust. I believe AF, LH and KL all give their pilots more training in manual flight and allow them to do it more on the line.

Of course BA are extremely safe, but there's nothing to suggest any more so than most other western airlines. There seems to be some kind of strange idea that Brits are just better pilots, without any basis. But anyway, no harm if it helps you sleep on the red eye I guess

cupsandsaucers

I am responsible for corporate travel in my business and we have a "no fly" list. Airlines I won't put us on. The list is not just decided by me but all staff have their say. This list is as such.

Ryan Air
AA
United
Jet Blue
Spirit.

For a company that travels globally. That's a pretty US heavy list wouldn't you agree? And to get on that list the airline has to have made the travel experience particularly bad, more than once.

Delta is the only US carrier we will take now.

Phil the Flyer

T8191

Interesting, cupsandsaucers. I have to guess a lot of factors were involved in that ‘group think’, including IRROPS handling, baggage allowances etc.

I will still stand by the AA FAs we’ve encountered on our travels ... albeit in J or F, as we don’t fly down the back. Different to BA, but certainly not deserving (in our experience) the massive negativity you expressed upthread. Genuinely looking forward to flying AA next month (DUB-PHL-PHX).

Oh, well, you can’t please everyone. Back to the Topic

HIDDY

The IB midday flight to EZE suits us best as it gets into EZE that evening which means we can go straight to bed when we get home. BA is by far the best eastbound if you're London based.
IB seem to be sticking with the A346 on the EZE route which is good news for those down the back. In J it doesn't matter.

cupsandsaucers

In fairness yes, metal does come into it. And ethics.

bigmarley4

As a newish BA flyer, having moved from the US West Coast where I was a loyal United flyer for a number of years, I really like the BA staff, especially lounge and flight crews. It's been said a few times above but US-based carriers (outside of Virgin America/Alaska and maybe Jet Blue in my experience) are in general horrible, mean people who treat you like crap unless you are a VIP and/or flying up front. I was almost shocked at how pleasant the staff were when I first moved here and started flying BA regularly.

The lounges are in pretty good shape and have decent offerings especially considering how much volume many of them handle on a daily basis.

The mobile app is OK (the UA app is far superior for sure). But does the job most times.

I fly from LHR almost exclusively and I like how easy it is to get to T5 from Paddington via Heathrow Express, through Fast Track to the lounge or gate. I've gone from my couch to T5 lounge in 40 minutes a few times. The walk from the train to T2/T3 is really far in comparison.

The consistency of experience is also pretty good in my opinion. In the US a lot of the carriers have legacy crews from old acquisitions and mergers (Northwest on Delta, Continental on United, etc) that have totally different expectations around service and quality and it can lead to some odd experiences.

BA to me is an above average global carrier -- not amazing, but has lots of good qualities and rarely do you have a really poor experience.

-bigM

frandrake

In one world, I love the homely feeling. When I am overseas, as soon as I see a BA tailfin or step inside the aircraft I already feel at home.

I also love the iphone app, the First Wing at LHR, the friendly and professional staff, overall organisation and enforcment of rules.

Despite being a fierce critic of BA's latest downhill route, I do enjoy flying BA very much.

OverTheHorizon

Knowing that even as a GGL flying in F, my fawning experience will be non-existent

To put it another way, 99.99% of the BA people I encounter do a professional job in a refreshingly human way. They're not afraid to josh and joke and they don't take any crepe !

Back when I was flying a lot (occasionally from some very trying places), I couldn't really beat stepping out of the hassle and bustle into the calm of a BA cabin - all the more so when I was immediately offered a cuppa

RollAnotherFatOne

I like that BA isn't fancy and pretentious - it knows it was once something and now isn't much. It's humble in that regard and staff on the ground seem very kind.
I find BA very good from the point of view of redemption availability and avios build up.
I think the lounges on the whole are very good, apart from holiday season.
I have found BA to be fairly reliable in getting from A to B. No flight cancellations and almost all of my flights have arrived within 3 hours.

Out of these options, I'd say the redemptions in BAEC are the best. It's very no-nonsense and in my opinion reasonable.

thebigben

- Seat availability for status pax. (Exit row is a must-have for me)
- OW emerald seems a nice status to have, and doesn't cost me an exorbitant amount of money to achieve. (although I haven't achieved it yet...)
- Same for OW Sapphire, it's been really nice going on a lot of economy flights since I achieved it.
- Living in London, the sheer amount of options is nice.
- Cost-effective last-minute day trips! I love those.
- Cheap enough economy tickets if booked in advance.
- The only UK credit card that has good airline rewards is for BA, so that's a thing...
- BA lounges are good enough for me (certainly better than being limited to PP!). Some OW lounges are awesome.

RAAng

Crew, for sure. During a recent 2.55 hour delay on the tarmac at LHR before an 8 hour transatlantic flight and then during the flight the Captain was in touch and the flight attendants were on top of the situation in a pleasant but not forced way. The Captain explained what was going on without actually saying that they over-fueled the plane, and water was forthcoming so no one passed out from dehydration before we even left. That 8 hour turned into an 11 hour flight could have been worse thanks to the crew.

Unfortunately, the plane was so cramped that I will do my best to avoid BA in the future. AA flies the same route and with them I can get stuff out of my under seat bag without standing in the aisle.

Pascoe

Betting that's a combination of cargo and slight leaning to 4 engines for ETOPS reasons maybe.