New First soft product: your experiences
Apr 16, 2019, 10:20 am
#271
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bainbridge Island, WA
Posts: 8,960
Apr 16, 2019, 10:50 am
#272
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
so can understand if this is uncomfortable. Pretty important part of the product to get right imo.
Apr 16, 2019, 11:55 am
#273
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NYC and London
Programs: BA (LTG, GGL, CCR), LH (*G)
Posts: 334
The main benefit of these largely cosmetic changes is that they seem to have restored some crew’s pride in the product. No small feat at an airline that has cost cutting in its DNA.
Like that there is now a choice of slipper size. Hate the PJs. Escaped from a 1970s sci-fi movie. Nasty things.
The F&B continues to be rubbish, with a few exceptions (the Lauden chocolates are nice, and now they feature as a “dessert” choice on the menu). Popcorn or crisps - those are your snack options. How very premium.
Some heads-ups for NY regulars: Catering on the 178 has long been pants (in my 20 years of experience of this route), and has now become even pants-er. To be avoided. Better fly VS, AA, or UA in J. In case anyone missed it: the CCR at JFK is closed in the mornings and F pax are instead herded into the charmless J dining room (which has the ambience of an M1 service station).
Like that there is now a choice of slipper size. Hate the PJs. Escaped from a 1970s sci-fi movie. Nasty things.
The F&B continues to be rubbish, with a few exceptions (the Lauden chocolates are nice, and now they feature as a “dessert” choice on the menu). Popcorn or crisps - those are your snack options. How very premium.
Some heads-ups for NY regulars: Catering on the 178 has long been pants (in my 20 years of experience of this route), and has now become even pants-er. To be avoided. Better fly VS, AA, or UA in J. In case anyone missed it: the CCR at JFK is closed in the mornings and F pax are instead herded into the charmless J dining room (which has the ambience of an M1 service station).
Last edited by NYLON Boy; Apr 19, 2019 at 12:08 pm
Thought I’d seen the new pyjamas before!
Apr 16, 2019, 1:18 pm
#277
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC bouncing from Blue to Gold to Blue VSFC Red CXGreen Club Accor Platinum Hilton Silver.
Posts: 914
Apr 17, 2019, 12:01 am
#279
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC bouncing from Blue to Gold to Blue VSFC Red CXGreen Club Accor Platinum Hilton Silver.
Posts: 914
as I don't want to offend.John
Apr 17, 2019, 12:11 am
#280
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London WC1
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 432
Flew LHR-JNB last night. Fantastic crew, although made easy by it being only me and my wife in F (789).
The food was good and well presented, and I would echo above comments re crockery, glassware etc. Definitely a step up from our previous F trip. I had the steak, and whilst it was nowhere near the rare I requested (and didn't expect) it was tender and tasty. I would definitely have it again.
Only significant flaw was that they didn't have one of the wines that I requested. Pretty poor for a LHR-originating flight...
Also the seat was unacceptably dirty and worn but I'll post that with photos in a different thread.
The food was good and well presented, and I would echo above comments re crockery, glassware etc. Definitely a step up from our previous F trip. I had the steak, and whilst it was nowhere near the rare I requested (and didn't expect) it was tender and tasty. I would definitely have it again.
Only significant flaw was that they didn't have one of the wines that I requested. Pretty poor for a LHR-originating flight...
Also the seat was unacceptably dirty and worn but I'll post that with photos in a different thread.
Apr 19, 2019, 11:11 am
#281
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BA Gold Lifetime
Posts: 9
Flew out last week to Cape Town. First class dining T3 lounge is canteen quality food served on canteen tables
...have previously used Cathay lounge which is a big step up but why should one need to shuffle around at home airport ?
The on board experience really has not changed....service is achingly slow and the wine list is sub par...the step down from previous Laurent P Rose step down to Lanson Rose is a good example of cheap cost cutting. Wine list is totally uninspired. Crew are hit and miss.....either completely outstanding or dreadful. Luck of the draw.
The new bedding and wash bags are long overdue but nothing really approaches competitors......the whole package constrained by dilapidated aircraft with no end in sight ....grin and bear it ?
...have previously used Cathay lounge which is a big step up but why should one need to shuffle around at home airport ?
The on board experience really has not changed....service is achingly slow and the wine list is sub par...the step down from previous Laurent P Rose step down to Lanson Rose is a good example of cheap cost cutting. Wine list is totally uninspired. Crew are hit and miss.....either completely outstanding or dreadful. Luck of the draw.
The new bedding and wash bags are long overdue but nothing really approaches competitors......the whole package constrained by dilapidated aircraft with no end in sight ....grin and bear it ?
Apr 19, 2019, 6:12 pm
#282
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Le Club Platinum, SPG Gold, SLH Honoured
Posts: 38
SFO return in F last week (on the 380). I found the changes to be an improvment:
- New food offering was better. I mainly had the fish options, and both were good.
- New headphone, as reported, are very uncomfortable to wear after about 1 film. Fine when first put on. A real shame, as the audio quality is a marked improvement. Noise cancelling on par as previous ones, as they are not active noise cancelling.
- New bedding is great, and a bit better than the previous ones (which I already thought was very good)
- The new day blanket/ small pillow is very soft. But the material sheds lint everywhere! Maybe after a few washes, this problem will go away.
- New PJs are fine, doesn't seem designer to me, but I'm not familiar with Temperley "style". I didn't notice a difference is qualify/ comfort
- Amenities kit. I personally dislike the material used to make the mens wash bag but the contents are now more useful.
- On both flights, meal service was very prompt and quick- no complaints from me.
- Didn't try the new cocktails, but wine/ champagne menu looked similar in standard to the past.
Overall, I think this is a welcome improvement from BA. Now if they could only get the Club World upgrades to work. Just got off a KUL flight where the meal service (where all I asked for was the main) took 3 hours from beginning to table cleared.... ugh! I've personally found the club upgrades to result in a net negative experience... much slower meal service, no top up on drinks pro-actively and far less interaction with crew. The complaints others have made. I don't blame the crew, don't think it was a run of bad luck. My observation is BA have pushed the service level beyond what is possible with their crewing levels in the J cabin. Only improvement is the white company bedding.
- New food offering was better. I mainly had the fish options, and both were good.
- New headphone, as reported, are very uncomfortable to wear after about 1 film. Fine when first put on. A real shame, as the audio quality is a marked improvement. Noise cancelling on par as previous ones, as they are not active noise cancelling.
- New bedding is great, and a bit better than the previous ones (which I already thought was very good)
- The new day blanket/ small pillow is very soft. But the material sheds lint everywhere! Maybe after a few washes, this problem will go away.
- New PJs are fine, doesn't seem designer to me, but I'm not familiar with Temperley "style". I didn't notice a difference is qualify/ comfort
- Amenities kit. I personally dislike the material used to make the mens wash bag but the contents are now more useful.
- On both flights, meal service was very prompt and quick- no complaints from me.
- Didn't try the new cocktails, but wine/ champagne menu looked similar in standard to the past.
Overall, I think this is a welcome improvement from BA. Now if they could only get the Club World upgrades to work. Just got off a KUL flight where the meal service (where all I asked for was the main) took 3 hours from beginning to table cleared.... ugh! I've personally found the club upgrades to result in a net negative experience... much slower meal service, no top up on drinks pro-actively and far less interaction with crew. The complaints others have made. I don't blame the crew, don't think it was a run of bad luck. My observation is BA have pushed the service level beyond what is possible with their crewing levels in the J cabin. Only improvement is the white company bedding.
Last edited by Waran; Apr 19, 2019 at 6:20 pm
Apr 19, 2019, 10:25 pm
#283
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,600
Welcome to BA F class... That is disgraceful.
Apr 19, 2019, 11:05 pm
#284
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Germany
Programs: BA GGL, CCR - TK G
Posts: 809
