Europe to Brazil, IB or BA?
 

Hi Everyone,

I am planning a RTW trip and was wondering if anyone think one airline is better than the other for flying this segment. It's going to take me a while to get there, so I would like to be as comfortable as I possibly can be in economy http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks.

Alex

In coach it is more up to your luck with the seating and the load of the day of your flight....If you do not have any status on either airline, I'd go for BA. In premier cabins this would be totally irrelevant question, but that's another story... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

If I play my cards right, I should meet the Platinum challenge by the time I leave for Brazil. So that means I will have some type of elite status on the OneWorld network. Does the elite status make a difference? Other than the seating, of course, how else can I make full use of my status to have the most pleasant ride?

BTW, just for info, how much do you think an upgrade to business would cost? or is there a semi-business like they do on Cathay?

Thanks.

Alex

On BA you can upgrade from WT (the economy class) to WT+ (World Traveller Plus, BA's premium economy class) for USD 300 when flying from London to Brazil. Otherwise segment upgrades are not permited on One World Explorer fare.

IB doesn't have a premium economy product.

Your elite status won't probably make any difference on board. BA and IB will first see that their own elite status passengers are accomodated IF there's a need to do operational upgrades.

Anyway, based on what I have been reading (no own experience on long-haul IB) I would choose BA.

[This message has been edited by JuPe (edited Dec 29, 2003).]

Er, what? Cathay has Economy, Business and First.

Business comes in two varieties: "Regional" on the B777 and some A330s, and "Long Haul" on the B747, A340 and some A330s.

I think you may have misunderstood about "semi-business". BA has a "World Traveller Plus" which is economy with an extra few inches of room, but CX has nothing like that.

Wow, $300 is kinda steep. But if I have cash left over, I might consider it. But has alone flown in this class? Other than the seats being bigger and recline more, is the food any different? I can't get comfortable in any class, business or econ (haven't had the chance to fly 1st yet :P)

Also, I just realized that there are no direct flights. I have to either stop in MIA or Sao Paulo. Since I am doing the RTW, does this prevent me from stopping in MIA for a few days if I plan to go back to NA later?

Thanks.

Alex

World Traveller Plus has normal economy food and slightly more room.

Club World (on BA) has totally flat beds. This is not the same as short haul business, or, indeed, any US-based carrier's idea of business.

Too bad I can't afford business. It would be much too expensive to pay for it, but do you think I can use my miles? I might think about it because it is a LOOOONG flight.

Alex

You must transit MIA in <24 hours or you cannot go back to do your other NA segments later. The BA flight LHR-GIG via GRU is a through flight with only an hour layover in GRU.

I have AA EXP, and no status at all on BA. Despite this BA has upgraded not only me, but also someone traveling with me (who had only Gold status on AA). I recall upgrades both from business to first and from economy to economy plus. By the way, if you get the right seat in economy plus it is actually more comfortable than business on AA, although the food is strictly economy.

Euro to Brazil is certainly a long flight, but there are many others which are longer. For example, JFK-SYD, LHR-MEL etc.

I think USD300 to u/g to WT+ is a reasonable price given the pricing differential between standard BA (3rd world) traveller class and WT+ class.

Dear ajnaro,

How did u upgrade? miles, $, or comp?

Alex