What is ClubEurope like/BA Service
 

So I really don't want to get the train to London. (Been there don't that! Got the VA points). I booked myself into ClubEurope and flying between Manchester and London Heathrow. Its an hour flight, so not expecting much.

I've been told I get served food in Club Europe. What realistically are they talking about? An M&S Sandwich and a drink? I rang BA as I have a fully flexible ticket I still had to pay £27 for a seat reservation for both legs, as apparently I "Don't hold status, BA doesn't consider you a valued customer so you have to pay for a reservation" I'm also not allowed to use the Club check in desks, until "I've travelled on 25 flights and earned some status" is that right? I thought holding a club ticket allowed me to use the club facilities?

Is the inflight service as bad as speaking to them on the phone?

You will get a cold plate plus a warm roll, unless its breakfast time.
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...usiness-dining

You will be able to use the Club desks and choose your seat at check-in (24 hours before travel) for free.

Welcome to the forum kurtis5561. It's good to have you here.

For the catering - this varies depending on the time of day but won't be M&S - that's for economy 'buy on board'. Have a look at the thread here which has full details of the Club Europe offering including photos. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...s-photos.html#

The agent was wrong - you do get to use the Club check-in desks, fast track security and Club lounges if you have a Club Europe ticket, no matter your status.

For seat selection it depends what 'selling class' your flight is booked in. If you're in J or C class that includes free seat selection. A 'fully flexible' ticket will for sure be in one of those. You can check which selling class you're in by clicking 'More flight information' in your flight details in Manage My Booking.

Take a look at the Club Europe catering guide for details of what food you'll get (Manchester is an express band flight) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...ws-photos.html

With regards to other Club facilities you should be able to use Club check in, fast track security and access the BA lounge after security before the flight.

The food and service in F on the train is better than CE on the plane. As is the seat. No security either.

Plus no faff of getting to / from out of town airports.

It can always vary, but I'd say you are quite unlikely to get completely incompetent service inflight, whereas on the phone... ;)

Thank you.

I had a look here and I'm a fully flexible ticket apparently my ticket should allow me a free anytime seat reservation? Or have I read this wrong

The flight time is usually around 35 minutes so you'll get quite a rushed service consisting of one drink and a plate of reasonable food. It can be much cheaper to fly from MAN to LHR than catch the train, depending on the time of day that your are travelling.

The food and service on the train is not always better than the flying. I've sat on the floor of a packed carriage from Euston to Manchester (first class) so careful what you wish for.

Fare class D. It also says "Free seat choice at anytime" however its charged me (Well my company credit card £27 - £13 outbound and £14 inbound). As company we use BA and AF/KLM for our travel, I generally haven't used BA so I don't have status.

After just recently having gone up on the train and back via BA: I would do anything to avoid MAN airport in the future.

This thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/u-k-...-security.html sums up my experience there.

I don't mind Manchester security. I have all my stuff out ready and use the fast pass lane. Through generally quickly. The train mind you travelling in first recently has made me jaded against them hence me flying.

The ticket is worth it for the lounge access, checked bags, bin space, and fast track through checkin, security and boarding. In-flight isn’t that much different than economy on such a short flight.

D is usually non flexible. But you may well get seat selection at T-48.

I personally wouldn't bother paying a seat, unless there was row 1 available, or the exit row, and you are over about 6ft 2 inches. Usually the curtain roulette process ensures that at least one window and at least one aisle seat is made available at OLCI. Otherwise the seats are identical anyway, and you'll always have the middle seat empty if you are on an Airbus service. Even though I get free seat selection with my status, on domestics I often leave it until OLCI to select a seat, it's a detail that isn't worth my time resolving.