Calling it a day with BA
Nov 8, 2019, 12:19 pm
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
Cher Madame, I’m surprised you recognised the reference ... surely before your time? 
Anyway, as you say, we all have our perspectives. We find BA “OK” for our s/h and l/h purposes. Nothing to get excited about, but it’s basically safe and reliable ... if a bit inconsistent.
But our next booking to the US of A may well be with AA for the TATL, once I’ve unravelled the Matrix options. We have found them ‘a bit better’ with both hard and soft product. I reserve judgement on the ME3 until I’ve flown QR in 10 days’ time!
Anyway, as you say, we all have our perspectives. We find BA “OK” for our s/h and l/h purposes. Nothing to get excited about, but it’s basically safe and reliable ... if a bit inconsistent.
But our next booking to the US of A may well be with AA for the TATL, once I’ve unravelled the Matrix options. We have found them ‘a bit better’ with both hard and soft product. I reserve judgement on the ME3 until I’ve flown QR in 10 days’ time!
Nov 8, 2019, 1:27 pm
#92
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
I think CE and particularly Domestic CE have improved since the revamp of catering
PE has always been disappointing with one exception of upper deck 380 to HKG
CW seems to have gone down since the new catering as the service has become to slow and unable to have repeated checks and top ups in passengers ; and they have backtracked in many of the innovations
FIRST is really where club used to be and is good at this level
Generally BA appears to be trying ; club suite etc
PE has always been disappointing with one exception of upper deck 380 to HKG
CW seems to have gone down since the new catering as the service has become to slow and unable to have repeated checks and top ups in passengers ; and they have backtracked in many of the innovations
FIRST is really where club used to be and is good at this level
Generally BA appears to be trying ; club suite etc
Nov 8, 2019, 2:38 pm
#93
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
Here’s why: ...
Nov 8, 2019, 5:57 pm
#94
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,552
Nov 8, 2019, 5:59 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Don't know....
Programs: BA LTG, SQ TPPS, CX DMP, AA EXP, Bonvoy LTT, ALL PLT, Hilton DM
Posts: 4,010
Since I fly a lot of OW RTW tickets, I need to stick to OW for London to Europe. 90% I take AA and find their service more consistent and better than BA now.
Nov 8, 2019, 9:49 pm
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
[QUOTE=TWCLAM;31713460As a middle aged man I have experienced CC who have near turned up their noses up in disgust that I should be sat in the J or F cabin
I've literally had "ughhh what do you want" when having the audacity to press the call bell
On LH's it's started right at the door with the ever 'fun' experience of going to turn left, CC subtly placing themselves in the way to obstruct me
of all my flights with BA I've taken one sector in economy every other flight S or LH has been in J or F
[/QUOTE]
Just wondering why it is you believe you are singled out for such odd treatment. I say "odd" because I travel a heavily in a heady mix of economy and business, share your demographic profile, and I have never, ever experienced anything remotely similar to what you describe. Sometimes cabin crew can be lazy, lackadaisical and forgetful - but never, so far, downright rude or offensive.
If you've only ever taken one flight in economy, then you should be an extraordinarily attractive customer for any carrier: perhaps you really should cut your losses and move on.
I've literally had "ughhh what do you want" when having the audacity to press the call bell
On LH's it's started right at the door with the ever 'fun' experience of going to turn left, CC subtly placing themselves in the way to obstruct me
of all my flights with BA I've taken one sector in economy every other flight S or LH has been in J or F
[/QUOTE]
Just wondering why it is you believe you are singled out for such odd treatment. I say "odd" because I travel a heavily in a heady mix of economy and business, share your demographic profile, and I have never, ever experienced anything remotely similar to what you describe. Sometimes cabin crew can be lazy, lackadaisical and forgetful - but never, so far, downright rude or offensive.
If you've only ever taken one flight in economy, then you should be an extraordinarily attractive customer for any carrier: perhaps you really should cut your losses and move on.
Nov 8, 2019, 10:41 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,638
Absolutely does happen, I fly mostly on LH P fares, Intra EU & they are barely more than Y , I have even bought them when they were cheaper than Y.
Nov 8, 2019, 10:49 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,093
Nov 9, 2019, 3:05 am
#99
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: BA Exec
Posts: 38
This is a very important point which I think most don't acknowledge/understand. I have the same assumption about PE as you and thus I'm usually not disappointed when I fly PE. However, many, many FTers seem to think PE is more like J than more like economy and this flawed assumption leads to disappointment.
Regards
Regards
Nov 9, 2019, 3:10 am
#100
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: BA Exec
Posts: 38
This is a very important point which I think most don't acknowledge/understand. I have the same assumption about PE as you and thus I'm usually not disappointed when I fly PE. However, many, many FTers seem to think PE is more like J than more like economy and this flawed assumption leads to disappointment.
Regards
Regards
Ok, its Friday. I'll bite.
The two bolded parts of your first statement really dont seem to gel together. Three months of solid travel with BA in the cabins youre talking about should be a little more than Silver. Is it possible youve had one or two bad trips and thats the height of it and you felt like a grumble on an internet forum?
As for the fly American bit, well good luck with that intra-eu. From my perspective the club europe cabin has improved quite a bit this past year. Seat aside.
The two bolded parts of your first statement really dont seem to gel together. Three months of solid travel with BA in the cabins youre talking about should be a little more than Silver. Is it possible youve had one or two bad trips and thats the height of it and you felt like a grumble on an internet forum?
As for the fly American bit, well good luck with that intra-eu. From my perspective the club europe cabin has improved quite a bit this past year. Seat aside.
Nov 9, 2019, 4:18 am
#102
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
In my view, it needs to be somewhere in the middle. It is its own product and comes in, most of the time, at a much higher price than economy. Airlines must justify the price. I think American's product is rather ideal: comfy, leather seats, a substantial pillow and good, consistent service throughout. Same with Virgin. Their touch of adding hot chocolate with brandy in a real, full-size mug is cute, relaxing and the kind of extra touch that hits that in between spot (for me).
Nov 9, 2019, 5:17 am
#103
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 39
The comments about being treated less well as a younger female are interesting, my partner who is younger than me has noticed it too. When she flew back from PHX with me in first last year she commented how much better the service was that I received compared to hers.
In fairness she has noticed this on AA too.
I wonder if it is because she is young looking for her age and is fairly petite and thus easy to ignore. She is also fairly quiet spoken and undemanding.
I cant believe it is sexist behaviour as this has occurred from male and female crew, but there must be a reason as a couple of posters upthread have noticed it too.
In fairness she has noticed this on AA too.
I wonder if it is because she is young looking for her age and is fairly petite and thus easy to ignore. She is also fairly quiet spoken and undemanding.
I cant believe it is sexist behaviour as this has occurred from male and female crew, but there must be a reason as a couple of posters upthread have noticed it too.
Nov 9, 2019, 5:58 am
#104
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Platinum; Hilton Gold, IHG Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 788
I can't help but wonder how AA is going to fix your Club Europe complaints. And I for one very much appreciate that blocked middle when I fly.
Edit: I think KLM gives extra legroom in their CE equivalent.
But yeah for business class, AA seats are better than BA. Possibly the PE too? I haven't flown it.
Edit: I think KLM gives extra legroom in their CE equivalent.
But yeah for business class, AA seats are better than BA. Possibly the PE too? I haven't flown it.