CO vs BA experience
 

flew last week ewr-lhr on BA (client paid for the ticket, BA not my first choice)

having flown co in the past to london with only a very occaisional op ug (CO plat), i just assumed that BA would be just ok, no better than CO in coach and overall experience. unless i am missing something BA was much better

i am also a recent AA plat, but got upgraded both ways to world traveler plus (you are right - not business or first but a very nice product - food was actually edible, seats are large enough to be comfortable for a 6'6" guy), allowed entry into Terraces (clubs in LHR with moulton brown spa showers).

i have flown ewr-lgw with empty seats in BF - couldnt come back and find me on CO for an ug?. been plat for 3 years and occaisional star rankings . flying overseas is only a 2-3 times a year thing for me , but CO could learn a thing or two from BA on the experience. i know that LHR is BA home city but look at the PC in EWR - nice but could use a few things to make it more attractive to overseas passengers coimg from europe and connecting

BA vs. CO
 

Why were you upgraded? Just because you are AA Plat? Did you have much carry-on baggage? How was BA in that respect? What I must say I like about CO are the carry-on rules.

Still, I am probably going to leave CO next year because of the $800 round trip upgrade fee (plus, of course, miles). Most of my travel is international. I will probably move to AA, which will mean lots of BA in Europe but not over the pond.

As to BA Service, I have mostly flown BA in First and Concorde and must admit, I generally prefer the CO employees. CO employees are very customer oriented and try to help. On BA, I have encountered too many snooty and unhelpful FAs.

I just wish CO management were as pro-customer as its employees.

carry on was the usual 22" roll-on. plenty of space on the BA 777 in the overheads

the BA crew was more "proper" and reserved but CO generally just ignores you in a different way. i actually find the CO crew friendlier on domestic. CO BF overseas has got some small attitude - just before they go hide in the galley

generally i am just getting bored with CO. the reduction in miles for low fares, upgrades are almost always last minute. doesnt always appear that CO mgt is looking to keep high volume flyers

BA's business class (Club World) is very good. The bed is truly flat, unlike CO's 170 "near flat". BA's lounge is much better than CO's PC.

Beware if you travel on BA's economy, their milage program is a really bad. Discount Economy earns only 25% of actual miles flown.

Indeed, the BA Executive Club is the only major FF program worse than Continental OnePass.

The BA Club World product is the best business class in the air, but unless you're going to be a full-fare-paying passenger at least four times per year, the BA program isn't really relevant. As Bookexp notes, anyone looking for bargains even part of the time isn't going to be pleased by BAEC.

I fly NW myself...