First time in F - before I’ve travelled J
Jan 7, 2019, 1:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 284
First time in F - before I’ve travelled J
Having flown 10 or so returns London to Sydney over a few years in Y, my employer mercifully changed policy to allow J. For the past year or so I’ve gone with Qantas (in Y), after a particularly horrid experience with BA (Aggressive attendant on BA flight (LHR->SYD))
Now J is available to me I’ve decided to give BA another chance, and while booking the outbound, F was somehow only an extra £200 or so - I thus paid the extra on my own dime just to try it out. F back was thousands more, so stuck to J there!
I therefore find myself in what seems to be the unusual situation of trying the CCR and F class before the ‘first/gold’ lounge and J. I don’t have gold yet (but will do after BA11/15 there), so chose 4K on both.
One worry is being coealic I’m sadly strictly gluten free, and thus can’t take full advantage of the menu. Various searches in this forum and a Google suggests it’s best to keep schtum and read the allergen details on board.
Now J is available to me I’ve decided to give BA another chance, and while booking the outbound, F was somehow only an extra £200 or so - I thus paid the extra on my own dime just to try it out. F back was thousands more, so stuck to J there!
I therefore find myself in what seems to be the unusual situation of trying the CCR and F class before the ‘first/gold’ lounge and J. I don’t have gold yet (but will do after BA11/15 there), so chose 4K on both.
One worry is being coealic I’m sadly strictly gluten free, and thus can’t take full advantage of the menu. Various searches in this forum and a Google suggests it’s best to keep schtum and read the allergen details on board.
Jan 7, 2019, 2:05 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,194
People flying F before they've flown in Club is not that unusual. There isn't a requirement for you to have flown up the ranks!
I'm not sure why you would want to keep quiet about your illness. If you need a special meal then order one and then at least you'll have something to eat - and the crew on board should be able to offer you other things on the menu on the day once you've checked the allergens - as you can't guarantee anything on the on board menu as being totally gluten free
I'm not sure why you would want to keep quiet about your illness. If you need a special meal then order one and then at least you'll have something to eat - and the crew on board should be able to offer you other things on the menu on the day once you've checked the allergens - as you can't guarantee anything on the on board menu as being totally gluten free
Jan 7, 2019, 2:12 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BAEC (Silver), IHG (Plat Elite)
Posts: 541
Indeed ! I've flown every cabin, except J ! WT, WT+, CE and F. But no CW. My next three return flights are WT, WT+ and F. Maybe I'll get an upgrade, or a dreaded downgrade.
Last edited by chris1922Mk2; Jan 8, 2019 at 2:20 am Reason: correct typos
Jan 7, 2019, 2:41 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Central Scotland, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 286
Just booked an F out/ CW back redemption - maybe I'll get a proper go of CW at last, but I've got my Z class alert set up in ExpertFlyer too....!
Jan 7, 2019, 2:49 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 284
I'm not sure why you would want to keep quiet about your illness. If you need a special meal then order one and then at least you'll have something to eat - and the crew on board should be able to offer you other things on the menu on the day once you've checked the allergens - as you can't guarantee anything on the on board menu as being totally gluten free
I read though that if you order a special meal, even in F, you won’t be able to ask for anything else on the menu.
Jan 7, 2019, 2:52 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 284
Jan 7, 2019, 3:06 pm
#9
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: 63,794
There are several things you can do here
- you can contact YouFirst when within 3 weeks or so of departure and ask them to send you a PDF of the menu
- you may be able to pre-order the First main course (though I gather this is a bit flakey at the moment, that's to say the IT aspect).
- in view of the late departure of the SIN flight it would be good from a jetlag point of view to eat more in CCR, and the CCR menus/allergens are well indicated. Then just snack on board.
- explain the issue to your First cabin crew member and ask to see Chef's Chat
- don't be afraid to ask for a CW meal if that works better - there is a fair chance this will mean a crew member gets an upgraded meal as a result so that shouldn't be an issue
- get some Joe & Sephs popcorn or any of the other suitable Club Kitchen items in early - this appears about 30 minutes after the CW meal. Or get the crew to hold some items back.
- liquid diet.
Have a good flight.
- you can contact YouFirst when within 3 weeks or so of departure and ask them to send you a PDF of the menu
- you may be able to pre-order the First main course (though I gather this is a bit flakey at the moment, that's to say the IT aspect).
- in view of the late departure of the SIN flight it would be good from a jetlag point of view to eat more in CCR, and the CCR menus/allergens are well indicated. Then just snack on board.
- explain the issue to your First cabin crew member and ask to see Chef's Chat
- don't be afraid to ask for a CW meal if that works better - there is a fair chance this will mean a crew member gets an upgraded meal as a result so that shouldn't be an issue
- get some Joe & Sephs popcorn or any of the other suitable Club Kitchen items in early - this appears about 30 minutes after the CW meal. Or get the crew to hold some items back.
- liquid diet.
Have a good flight.
Jan 7, 2019, 3:08 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: The Netherlands
Programs: BA, KLM, Alitalia
Posts: 99
My wife is a coeliac, When traveling first you can book your meal before the flight. In the website they give the allergens. My wife was able to pick a main course that was gluten free ( no garanty on traces or cross contaniments ofcourse). Once boarded on the flight it self we asked for the chefs chat. The chat lists all the starters and there allergens. From there we where able to pick a starter and dessert. Breakfast ofcourse is a no no. We packed our own breakfast for her.
It is risky but worked out well twice. Like you she did not want to opt for the same old chicken with no flavour.
In the CCR there was an allergy menu and the staff where very helpfull and she had a bite before the flight. But it also depends on the server who help you. On our return flights we played safe and went with the special meal as you cant pre book your meal.
It is risky but worked out well twice. Like you she did not want to opt for the same old chicken with no flavour.
In the CCR there was an allergy menu and the staff where very helpfull and she had a bite before the flight. But it also depends on the server who help you. On our return flights we played safe and went with the special meal as you cant pre book your meal.
Jan 7, 2019, 3:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 283
For the past several years I have had several RT a year on BA J, almost always TATL. Last year I purchased F for a couple of those trips and was loved the 380 F - prior to this my only F experience was on a older plane ORD-LHR in 2015.
Jan 7, 2019, 3:50 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,984
As a relatively regular J flyer but very inexperienced F flyer, I have enjoyed F, despite it getting panned quite often on here. That said, I would not pay a huge premium for it, as J does the trick if you want sone kip. However £200 extra one way to SYD sounds about right. Enjoy!
Jan 7, 2019, 7:21 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HK
Programs: Qantas (Lifetime Gold), PAL (Elite), British Airways (now sadly blue), Cathay MPO DM
Posts: 647
Having flown J long haul recently and been completely underwhelmed, I would say paying for the F is a really sensible idea! The F seat I walked past leaving the aircraft last time looked quite similar to some of the J seats on other airlines, but still very nice. Your main problem is going to the underwhelming J on the return!
Jan 7, 2019, 8:19 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
I had my first J flight on BA over the Christmas holidays and that was only to experience the bubble on the 747. All other BA flights have been In Y (before I knew any better) or F (once I learned to turn left!).