How to book new Airbus from LAX to LHR
Dec 28, 2021, 6:51 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 691
I for one actually like the old club world product (comparing product design and not maintenance of an older product at this point). Depends on one’s needs, if flying solo then agree on the superiority of the direct aisle access type by far.
Dec 28, 2021, 9:58 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,981
A lot of people I know feel a bit uneasy on a plane with a worn interior because in their minds they make a connection between interior and airworthiness of the frame, maintenance etc. Understandable I suppose, but the two and unconnected. Indeed, if anything, I take the opposite view. I am comforted by an old aircraft, in the sense that it has obviously flown a few rotations, presumably without major incident, the crew will be familiar with it, as will the engineers, it's gremlins, if any, will be known and the crew will know how to deal with them, etc. etc. Whereas a factory new aircraft might have a few teething problems, or worse, have a system like Mcas on the MAx, which many crew didn't even know about. I remember when the A320 came out- there were a lot of misgivings at first, especially when it crashed during the airshow (never a great look).
Personally, I have never been on a BA plane that looked THAT bad on the inside, but some of the older frames certainly showed their age- especially the 767.
Personally, I have never been on a BA plane that looked THAT bad on the inside, but some of the older frames certainly showed their age- especially the 767.
Dec 28, 2021, 11:15 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,341
Dec 28, 2021, 11:26 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,577
Dec 28, 2021, 1:33 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
At the risk of swimming against the tide, for a lot of people the interior of an plane is what they judge the aircraft on. If they end up on an old-ish 777-200 with old, dormitory Club, old IFE and no Wifi, they might conclude that no part of the aircraft has had much love in recent times, and that may not sit well with a nervous flyer.
The OP may or may not have been writing tongue in cheek, but I certainly know people for whom that would be the case. Personally I have avoided BA Club as a solo traveller for a number of years, not for aircraft safety reasons, I trust BA on that, but for customer experience reasons, sitting face to face with a stranger, stepping over etc... I would certainly love to be able to guarantee a Club Suite flight - my next has just changed from that, and so I'll be rebooking on AA.
The OP may or may not have been writing tongue in cheek, but I certainly know people for whom that would be the case. Personally I have avoided BA Club as a solo traveller for a number of years, not for aircraft safety reasons, I trust BA on that, but for customer experience reasons, sitting face to face with a stranger, stepping over etc... I would certainly love to be able to guarantee a Club Suite flight - my next has just changed from that, and so I'll be rebooking on AA.
but nevertheless... thank you.AA - really? Better than BA? I've heard horror stories of AA international flights.
Dec 28, 2021, 1:37 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
I find people's answer to the OP a bit tough. Sure the style of his/her post is hyperbolic, but that's not as if this was unusual on this forum, and this is a someone with just a few posts, so I think it is a good idea to be a bit more gentle?
Ultimately, whether the OP would much prefer an A380 to one of the old cabin 777s (I sure would too), or a Club Suite plane to an old J one (again, count me in), those are not illegitimate feelings, but sadly, his/her question is an easy one to answer: you cannot be sure of what plane you'll be flying, especially if booking quite a bit ahead of time (if you book for a flight in a week or two, just check what plane it is on the BA website, including seat map if a 777, and it has a reasonably good chance of staying that way by the time you fly albeit without certainty. If any further than that, well...). However, as more and more of the 777s are undergoing cabin refit with new Club Suites, the chances of flying an aircraft which will feel fresh in J keep increasing over time (at least for flights to/from LHR). And as others mentioned, all BA (and for that matter all major airlines)' planes undergo the same maintenance and safety checks regardless of how ageing the inside might feel. By far the oldest planes in BA's fleet - the 744s, have now been retired (to the sadness of many of us) and the current fleet is by no means old nor dangerous.
Ultimately, whether the OP would much prefer an A380 to one of the old cabin 777s (I sure would too), or a Club Suite plane to an old J one (again, count me in), those are not illegitimate feelings, but sadly, his/her question is an easy one to answer: you cannot be sure of what plane you'll be flying, especially if booking quite a bit ahead of time (if you book for a flight in a week or two, just check what plane it is on the BA website, including seat map if a 777, and it has a reasonably good chance of staying that way by the time you fly albeit without certainty. If any further than that, well...). However, as more and more of the 777s are undergoing cabin refit with new Club Suites, the chances of flying an aircraft which will feel fresh in J keep increasing over time (at least for flights to/from LHR). And as others mentioned, all BA (and for that matter all major airlines)' planes undergo the same maintenance and safety checks regardless of how ageing the inside might feel. By far the oldest planes in BA's fleet - the 744s, have now been retired (to the sadness of many of us) and the current fleet is by no means old nor dangerous.
Dec 28, 2021, 2:09 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,190
Dec 28, 2021, 6:36 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BKK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de la Brosse a Cheveux Dore, SK *GfL, BA Gold, WY G, HH DIA, IC Plat Amb., Hertz PC
Posts: 3,691
Dec 29, 2021, 5:03 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Dallas Brett Crescent
Programs: BA Gold, easyJet Plus, YHA platinum, Amex Centurion, Peugeot owners club, Stagecoach gold rider
Posts: 193
I always get the PA to book me in the new F suites if available as it’s more my vibe. Rarely feel unsafe there.
Dec 29, 2021, 5:41 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
…To add to your BA horror story, I’m pretty sure you’ll not be flying at all if you believe every horror story you hear is the norm