British Airways plans to improve its business class cabin
 

Extracted from http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Detailed/33358.html

British Airways has announced that Dubai has been included in their worldwide plans to trial a new business class service called Sleeper Service.

The trial, which takes place on BA106 flights between 12th and 15th January is designed to provide customers with a longer, more comfortable nights sleep by minimizing cabin disturbances and offering a more tailored catering service.

'We are looking to use the Dubai trial to gather as much feedback as possible from our Middle East customers, crew and staff. If the results show that our customers enjoy the service we will be looking to roll out the Sleeper Service concept on overnight flights in other Middle East countries,' said Debbie Frampton, Commercial Manager for Dubai & Northern Emirates.

The trial flights will include a choice of dining options as well as higher quality pillows and blankets aimed at maximizing comfort when sleeping on Club World flat beds.

Throughout the trials, customers can choose to enjoy a light 'nightcap' service after departure or if they feel hungrier, they can choose from a variety of substantial snacks from the All Night Deli, which is available at any time throughout the flight. Customers will also have the choice between a full Hot Breakfast on board or a full English or Continental breakfast at our Arrivals Lounge in London Heathrow.

'The aim of the Sleeper Service trial is to look at ways in which we can better meet our customer's needs for a longer nights sleep, enabling our business travelers to arrive in the UK feeling relaxed and ready to do business.

'Our Club World cabin is already popular with our customers and we continue to remain committed to looking at ways to further enhance our passengers' travel experience,' added Frampton.

This souds like Part 2 of the Sleeper service that was on the NYC-LHR run and trialled in November last year. I remember when plans for it were revealed in the summer we tore it apart as being a cost cutting measure

Maybe this is the response

Ughh... they should be improving Club World catering, not 'enhancing' it!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Or enhancing the cashews out of the bag... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

(ok, just something I have never understood from BA Business Class...)

Still, it is the seat why I fly business class, so food is just a bonus http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Can't wait - LHR-DXB was one of the few NCW flights on which I got almost no sleep.

I must admit that the 'AllNightDeli-Service' sounds like another 'enhancement' to me too.
Something along the lines of: 'BA is proud to announce a better nights sleep in NCW - in order not to distrub our customers we have done away with the noise of glasses plates and cutlery - a sandwich may be picked up in a soft tissue wrap in the downstairs galley' http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

In BA's defence as a former employee who did some work for NCW introduction, a "sleeper" service option was always part of the game plan. The thinking was to allow tailoring of the service to meet the needs of different types of travellers, those wanting to sleep all night, those wanting a conventional flight experience or those wanting to work as much as possible during the flight.

Whilst a big uptake of a "sleeper" service would probably save some money, it isnt a bad idea providing it isn't enforced upon all (not a strongpoint of BA's I fear). I definitely remember when I used to fly VS J to NYC that they used to do something similar in the upper deck of their 747s with a normal service in the main cabin, difficult to acheive this in a 777 though.

Minimizing cabin disturbances, eh? I wonder how they'd deal with the guy sitting next to me upstairs in NCW on Monday kept on smacking the screen between us with his hand when tossing and turning in his seat. And turning his redundant NCW overhead light on and off so that the privacy screen lit up like a bad amateur dramatics stageshow. Good for silhouette hand-puppets tho'. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Then the ******* settled down and started snoring... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Slightly more on topic, it sounds like Virgin are rolling out a sleeper service in their new UC cots so this sounds like pretty close to the same arrangement.

Scott...

Perhaps the US Government have asked BA to cut back on food and drink at night to reduce nocturnal traffic to the toilets and further reduce q'ing?

I must admit that I have felt kind of guilty on some of my red-eye flights from the US to LHR when I've wanted the conventional full service while others around me were trying to sleep. On some occasions it's been that we've been working all day, and get to the airport with the bare minimum to check in, let alone pre-dine and the meal is the first solid food since breakfast. It would be hard to plan for those sort of occasions and ask for the eating or sleeping part of the cabin! Perhaps a seperate part of the cabin can be used as dining room!

I've also been the passanger that wants to sleep as soon as possible. AA offer a "Dine at Once" option where they present "starter" "entree" and a "specially prepared desert" served on one tray rather than course by course. However, the time I tried it, it took nearly as long as the standard service and in the rush to heat up my "entree" it was served luke-warm. Good concept, just need to work on the delivery a bit more.

It's been quite some time since NCW was introduced so IMHO it's going to need a lot more than a lame sleeper service to revamp it.

I'm thinking Limo service, better IFE, better food etc...

Do I sense a hint of sarcasm and cycnicism? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I've always had good food in J, but then I am a student and my lunch today is toast with chocolate spread (EPC stuff though, its superb http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif)

I think VS can pull of the Limo service because it only flys the select routes. BA would struggle to keep on top if all CW passengers were brought to LHR by limo. Perhaps only for full fare???

I think there should be some distinction between the IFE in WT / WT+ / CW and F. I know there are some differences but I think its all got to the stage where its all pretty smiliar on BA flights. This didnt stop me trying to tear the IFE control panel out of the armrest in WT when I flew back from Washington. The cabin crew noticed me doing this as I was in an aisle seat just behind the galley and one young lady came back and said 'Sir back here they are fixed in the armrest' I looked sheepish and smiled back http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif

btw, dont EK now have some ridiculous number of channels on the A340-500 (the one with the doors in F) something like 500 channels http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

I fear this proposal will end up like Virgin's Freedom Menu. The last time I took a VS late overnight departure I snacked in the Clubhouse with a view to getting some sleep. Didn't sleep much anyway and found the food inadequate. I'd rather have had a full service supper on board. I hope BA will pay attention to the service, it makes a difference.

Agreed - though I suspect that the best they could get away with would be a make over like the Kelly Hoppen one in First - otherwise it would be a complete fleet refit - and we haven't got rid of the cradle seats yet.

So better IFE as you say, a thicker cushion on the chair - maybe leather - with a roll over mini-matress come sleeping bag to put on top.

And full meal service if you want it whether it is night or day.....

Fraser You quite rightly did detect sarcasm above....but whilst it is the lowest form of wit...for us Brits I always thought it was often the funniest form of wit!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif



[This message has been edited by edi-traveller (edited Jan 14, 2004).]