golfmad

This is now day 6 of the new service. I can't speak for any ad-hoc old arrangements.

Vasco Pridat

I read the thread.. That's why I was quoting about Ole times. There were obviously differences
I remember old threads as well where it used to be more special services for ggl and more ccr to use. Like dxb
Looks like they are picking it up again. Luv it.

absoluy

I wonder if the US (esp. JFK) service will include escorting through/priority security and immigration? AA do a great job of security escorts at T8 and dont suffer from the same immigration woes as BA in T7.

Vasco Pridat

Interesting point. Last month I was really stuck at that ba check in t7 and complained about it to ba in comparison to the flagship check in.
They reassured me that this will change the next time Ill check in at jfk. Haha. So maybe that is the plan..?
Let's here about it.
I changed my flights to other airports because of that t7 Desaster.

Schwann

I don't understand the BA obsession with naming stuff after a plane you've left outside engineering opposite terminal 4 for 16 years in the rain.

PGFlyer85

Close to two weeks ago had a suited Concorde team rep come over and meet me while checking in for JFK at the first wing. GGL in F. She explained the new service particularly on the JFK route, asked if I needed anything and said her direct number was in my PNR if there were any disruptions. Nice touch but a bit pointless. The real service I would have liked would have been proper priority boarding as they stated the group 1 and 2-3 boarding line at the same time

maybe I was just before the actually launch and more to come

nancypants

+1, although I suppose at least it’s not called the empire team or something equally jingoistic

premier team, guest list team, seem like better names IMO

PGFlyer85

pretty sure it’s the same view and culture that has left them with (until the club suite) an out of date, uncompetitive J product. I think there is an entrenched sense of being a market leader based largely on 20th century business decisions (Concorde, the innovative club seat in the 1990s, etc) without realizing the competition has passed them by.

LCY8737

The Brits struggle with letting go of the good old times.

fatmac70

I was met on arrival by someone from the Concorde Team at the aircraft door (domestic gates) on a flight from GLA last weekend. It was just to say hello as there really is nothing to be gained from ‘special’ assistance on a domestic arrival.
I have also been met at T3 departures in the F lounge before flying to GIB.

However on B and C arrivals at T5 and off a long haul flight very regular meet/greet with car and assistance to passport control. Not sure how much time I gain with this, especially if you have to wait for another passenger to join you in the car. Last time with a Prem!

I shall see if I have any interaction with the Concorde Team when I fly out of JFK to LHR in mid Nov.

Vasco Pridat

I prefer concorde team over brexit team..

highexpectations

The option to board prior to Group 1 would be most useful as a GGL, especially on SH. Quite often you arrive at the back of the group 1 queue who have all left the lounge way before boarding starts and therefore struggle to get the bag above your seat. If the option to board earlier was available, it would mean BA’s GGL’s could spend more time relaxing in the lounge.

orbitmic

To me, the model in terms of such service are AF La Premiere and GA's First, but both deal with far smaller number, which incidentally, is also the reason why I expect that BA are (quite rightly in my view - piloting this on GGL+ only rather than all F customers which could mean 14 individual passengers on many flights and thus overstretch the capacity of the original teams.

In terms of people expressing disappointment at the specifics, I would just point out that tastes and expectations differ between individuals. For instance, many people love being fully escorted, but personally, it is a service I have often refused when offered by other airlines unless I was really struggling with a narrow connection or it would represent some significant practical advantage (e.g. being offered the T5-T3 car connection - I never was never offered it but would accept that one!). Otherwise, I'm neither elderly nor an invalid and I can usually find my way around airports, so I don't really fancy bothering someone to simply walk with me and indulge in chit chat I usually prefer to avoid (sorry if it makes me sound unpleasant, I think those who've met me will know I'm not, but while I like engaging with people I think I know, I'm not particularly keen on making a pretence with people paid to be by my side!) Conversely, I like boarding early -- including before group 1 -- but know plenty of people who would much prefer wait till the last minute and I can fully understand why they would.

So in short, I think that the effort sounds great, and personally, I think it is a bit unfair to blame the teams starting a new service (or the airline designing it) for specifics which, by definition, won't be 100% what any given person wants. Let's face it the BA ground service in F was always a particularly weak point so any effort to try and improve it (in my view particularly for connecting pax) is particularly welcome.

MrSimonR

As a single data point of last night, no it doesn't. "Fast track" security was backed up to the Fwing, with a 40 minute shuffle to reach security. Similarly on arrival a few days back, no benefit, despite there being a 1 1/2 hour queue to reach immigration.

The assistance was the car on arrival at LHR, which was nice. But that's not where the problems are.

DeltaFlyingProf

When did you start getting that service? I've never had any special treatment, arriving in F as GGL.
I like the way LH and Swiss drive F and HON passengers to the gate and wish BA had something similar...
In fact AA treated me better as a GGL than BA does, driving me to my gate in LAX.