Is it true there's a new first class coming ?
May 18, 2023, 7:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: london and amsterdam
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Is it true there's a new first class coming ?
ive been told by a very close friend who's husband is high level board of directors at IAG that the new First Class product has gone past the first stage of approval?
anyone else heard about this or seen images. She says she's seen the images but sworn to secrecy about their design but something "revolutionary"
anyone else heard about this or seen images. She says she's seen the images but sworn to secrecy about their design but something "revolutionary"
May 18, 2023, 8:11 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: BA Gold, Mucci
Posts: 2,065
ive been told by a very close friend who's husband is high level board of directors at IAG that the new First Class product has gone past the first stage of approval?
anyone else heard about this or seen images. She says she's seen the images but sworn to secrecy about their design but something "revolutionary"
anyone else heard about this or seen images. She says she's seen the images but sworn to secrecy about their design but something "revolutionary"
It'll be while off anyway, I'd say.
May 18, 2023, 8:20 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,958
ive been told by a very close friend who's husband is high level board of directors at IAG that the new First Class product has gone past the first stage of approval?
anyone else heard about this or seen images. She says she's seen the images but sworn to secrecy about their design but something "revolutionary"
anyone else heard about this or seen images. She says she's seen the images but sworn to secrecy about their design but something "revolutionary"
May 18, 2023, 8:28 am
#6
Join Date: May 2023
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 168
It's been heavily rumoured that it will come with the delivery of the (ever delayed) 777-9, but I don't think there are any photos or details yet. I also suspect that BA will hold off refurbishing the A380s with CS (if they even intend to keep them in service, which isn't guaranteed) until after the 777-9 delivery, as I imagine they'll want to retrofit CS and the new First in one go.
The ground experience also does lag behind many other airlines. One thing which imo would elevate the First experience would be a chauffeur service from Concorde room to gate for First passengers, having to go through the melee of T5, onto the transit to the satellites isn't a very 'first class' experience, and so given that the vast majority of widebody flights depart from B and C gates, this would make the experience much more seamless and relaxing. Iirc BA already have a small fleet they use to ferry J and F passengers with tight connections, and Air France have a full chauffeur service for first at CDG, though I'm not sure if T5 would need new elevators added to allow passengers to get to ground level from the lounge and into the cars. An added bonus would be a chauffeur service from home/hotel to the Airport for First passengers which many other Airlines offer, Emirates even offer it in London for 1st and business class.
The ground experience also does lag behind many other airlines. One thing which imo would elevate the First experience would be a chauffeur service from Concorde room to gate for First passengers, having to go through the melee of T5, onto the transit to the satellites isn't a very 'first class' experience, and so given that the vast majority of widebody flights depart from B and C gates, this would make the experience much more seamless and relaxing. Iirc BA already have a small fleet they use to ferry J and F passengers with tight connections, and Air France have a full chauffeur service for first at CDG, though I'm not sure if T5 would need new elevators added to allow passengers to get to ground level from the lounge and into the cars. An added bonus would be a chauffeur service from home/hotel to the Airport for First passengers which many other Airlines offer, Emirates even offer it in London for 1st and business class.
May 18, 2023, 8:31 am
#7
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The ground experience also does lag behind many other airlines. One thing which imo would elevate the First experience would be a chauffeur service from Concorde room to gate for First passengers, having to go through the melee of T5, onto the transit to the satellites isn't a very 'first class' experience, and so given that the vast majority of widebody flights depart from B and C gates, this would make the experience much more seamless and relaxing. Iirc BA already have a small fleet they use to ferry J and F passengers with tight connections, and Air France have a full chauffeur service for first at CDG, though I'm not sure if T5 would need new elevators added to allow passengers to get to ground level from the lounge and into the cars. An added bonus would be a chauffeur service from home/hotel to the Airport for First passengers which many other Airlines offer, Emirates even offer it in London for 1st and business class.
May 18, 2023, 8:33 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2014
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It's been heavily rumoured that it will come with the delivery of the (ever delayed) 777-9, but I don't think there are any photos or details yet. I also suspect that BA will hold off refurbishing the A380s with CS (if they even intend to keep them in service, which isn't guaranteed) until after the 777-9 delivery, as I imagine they'll want to retrofit CS and the new First in one go.
The ground experience also does lag behind many other airlines. One thing which imo would elevate the First experience would be a chauffeur service from Concorde room to gate for First passengers, having to go through the melee of T5, onto the transit to the satellites isn't a very 'first class' experience, and so given that the vast majority of widebody flights depart from B and C gates, this would make the experience much more seamless and relaxing. Iirc BA already have a small fleet they use to ferry J and F passengers with tight connections, and Air France have a full chauffeur service for first at CDG, though I'm not sure if T5 would need new elevators added to allow passengers to get to ground level from the lounge and into the cars. An added bonus would be a chauffeur service from home/hotel to the Airport for First passengers which many other Airlines offer, Emirates even offer it in London for 1st and business class.
The ground experience also does lag behind many other airlines. One thing which imo would elevate the First experience would be a chauffeur service from Concorde room to gate for First passengers, having to go through the melee of T5, onto the transit to the satellites isn't a very 'first class' experience, and so given that the vast majority of widebody flights depart from B and C gates, this would make the experience much more seamless and relaxing. Iirc BA already have a small fleet they use to ferry J and F passengers with tight connections, and Air France have a full chauffeur service for first at CDG, though I'm not sure if T5 would need new elevators added to allow passengers to get to ground level from the lounge and into the cars. An added bonus would be a chauffeur service from home/hotel to the Airport for First passengers which many other Airlines offer, Emirates even offer it in London for 1st and business class.
May 18, 2023, 8:51 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,162
I've had a weird email from some market research company inviting me to waterside next week to give feedback on some exciting new developments...all very cryptic - probably too soon for that to be anything to do with a new F? More tinkering with Club Suite? No idea why I've been asked, and I can't make it anyway, but seeing this thread did make me wonder if it might be related?
But yeah, will believe any "radical" new development in F when I see it - I actually think F is fine as it is, it's not the same as some F experiences but for what BA really sell it as it's fine - I can't think anything very "revolutionary" that other airlines haven't done - we've got separate seat and bed on Singapore and others, we've got enclosed cabins on the ME3 - I suspect "revolutionary" could just mean "revolutionary for BA" which I'd settle for just having enough LPGS loaded for the return leg and maybe a slightly better ground experience - even just a separate door / gate downstairs in Terminal A for a plusher transfer bus to B and C (every say 5 minutes) would be great - I'm not expecting my own car, but avoiding the T5A scrum and train would be quite nice, and perhaps some way of having ground staff collect and direct you to the right transfer bus plum on time for boarding would be nice - taking the "when will they board" guessing game away would be a big improvement for F travel - nothing more annoying than leaving the confines of the CCR and find oneself hanging around a crowded gate for no reason...
But yeah, will believe any "radical" new development in F when I see it - I actually think F is fine as it is, it's not the same as some F experiences but for what BA really sell it as it's fine - I can't think anything very "revolutionary" that other airlines haven't done - we've got separate seat and bed on Singapore and others, we've got enclosed cabins on the ME3 - I suspect "revolutionary" could just mean "revolutionary for BA" which I'd settle for just having enough LPGS loaded for the return leg and maybe a slightly better ground experience - even just a separate door / gate downstairs in Terminal A for a plusher transfer bus to B and C (every say 5 minutes) would be great - I'm not expecting my own car, but avoiding the T5A scrum and train would be quite nice, and perhaps some way of having ground staff collect and direct you to the right transfer bus plum on time for boarding would be nice - taking the "when will they board" guessing game away would be a big improvement for F travel - nothing more annoying than leaving the confines of the CCR and find oneself hanging around a crowded gate for no reason...
May 18, 2023, 9:01 am
#12
Join Date: May 2023
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 168
But yeah, will believe any "radical" new development in F when I see it - I actually think F is fine as it is, it's not the same as some F experiences but for what BA really sell it as it's fine - I can't think anything very "revolutionary" that other airlines haven't done - we've got separate seat and bed on Singapore and others, we've got enclosed cabins on the ME3 - I suspect "revolutionary" could just mean "revolutionary for BA" which I'd settle for just having enough LPGS loaded for the return leg and maybe a slightly better ground experience
May 18, 2023, 9:23 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: BA Gold, Mucci
Posts: 2,065
Iwe've got separate seat and bed on Singapore and others, we've got enclosed cabins on the ME3 - I suspect "revolutionary" could just mean "revolutionary for BA" which I'd settle for just having enough LPGS loaded for the return leg and maybe a slightly better ground experience
I'm struggling to see what would be more revolutionary in the air. Bunk beds? (no, Air New Zealand are already doing the bunks for economy class - the "Skynest" from 2024) ... Etihad has The Residence, Emirates has showers and the middle seats with windows... be fun if it was actually revolutionary, but what would it be?
May 18, 2023, 9:24 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Sussex
Programs: BA; IHG; LHW; Hilton
Posts: 780
… that really would be so easy to do – given that in the old days, city flyer used to do this from their business class lounge at Gatwick. Scoop up premium, passengers, escort them to the gate, let them board first, and be given a pre-flight drink. So simple, but really enhances the entire experience.
May 18, 2023, 10:15 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2018
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… that really would be so easy to do – given that in the old days, city flyer used to do this from their business class lounge at Gatwick. Scoop up premium, passengers, escort them to the gate, let them board first, and be given a pre-flight drink. So simple, but really enhances the entire experience.
.Seriously, things to fix First about First Class:
1. Information technology: Website, App, everything that let's the customer know what's happening is far more important to a First Class experience than what is mentioned in this thread.
2. Fleet Reliability: If the plane doesn't take you where you want to go, at the date and time you wish to fly, all else is worthless. There are multiple threads confirming the agony of "paid F" customers being shunted to miserable experiences due to planes that could not perform the desired task of, wait for it, FLYING.
Come on BA, FIRST THINGS FIRST!