Direct flight in 772 J or indirect on A350 Club Suite?
Oct 23, 2020, 10:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Direct flight in 772 J or indirect on A350 Club Suite?
Hello All,
I'm having a debate with myself and need outside influence to resolve. We are flying TPA - LON next summer. I've flown TPA - LGW in old 772 and it was tolerable since direct and non stop.
Anything beats coach.
The question is whether the A350 Club Suite is worth a detour, and 90 minute add to total travel time, to route TPA - PHL - LHR over a non stop TPA - LGW in the old 772?
Departure and arrival times are irrelevant, simply curious if Club Suite is worth the detour.
Thank you in advance!
I'm having a debate with myself and need outside influence to resolve. We are flying TPA - LON next summer. I've flown TPA - LGW in old 772 and it was tolerable since direct and non stop.
Anything beats coach.
The question is whether the A350 Club Suite is worth a detour, and 90 minute add to total travel time, to route TPA - PHL - LHR over a non stop TPA - LGW in the old 772?
Departure and arrival times are irrelevant, simply curious if Club Suite is worth the detour.
Thank you in advance!
Last edited by CoHiba Gent; Oct 23, 2020 at 10:10 pm
Oct 24, 2020, 12:21 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
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Go for direct. Even though the A350 is showing for the PHL next year, it could just as easy be a 787 or 777 too.
the only reason to opt for LHR would be if that was much easier fi4 your final destination.
the suite will be around for decades.
the only reason to opt for LHR would be if that was much easier fi4 your final destination.
the suite will be around for decades.
Oct 24, 2020, 12:34 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Honestly, for me, I'd take the more 'scenic' route as LHR is way more convenient and there would be more TPs in it, and I do want to try out CS sooner rather than later. Provided that costs were roughly equal and the timings were not too bothersome.
But as A P Yu has rightly pointed out, there isn't any away you can guarantee it will be CS to/from PHL this far out or even that you'd be immune from a last minute change of aircraft.
I strongly suspect that most people wouldn't bother with the inconvenience purely based on the seat.
But as A P Yu has rightly pointed out, there isn't any away you can guarantee it will be CS to/from PHL this far out or even that you'd be immune from a last minute change of aircraft.
I strongly suspect that most people wouldn't bother with the inconvenience purely based on the seat.
Oct 24, 2020, 11:09 am
#4
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Oct 24, 2020, 11:29 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Philly
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As someone who lives in Philly there is a good risk of late afternoon and early evening severe thunderstorms during the summer. This could lead to missing your connection and potentially an overnight delay. Tampa could be the same especially with your connecting flight to PHL -with that in mind I would go direct.
Oct 24, 2020, 12:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
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Posts: 3,409
It’s more crystal ball territory. We don’t know the future of BA at Gatwick. BA’s refurb programme is still going ahead and plenty of the 777 fleet has been refurbed. Not with the Club suite but still great IFE. More newer aircraft to come too.
I would book direct and hope that it all works to a newer or refurbished aircraft. At least with direct you won’t have any extra stress of changes to itineraries with connections or the connection itself.
I would book direct and hope that it all works to a newer or refurbished aircraft. At least with direct you won’t have any extra stress of changes to itineraries with connections or the connection itself.
Oct 24, 2020, 1:30 pm
#7
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IMO, it's too early to speak about next summer.
The aircraft type may change multiple times, BA hasn't got a solid decision on how it's Gatwick fleet would evolve, etc...
If you book through BA, an aircraft change isn't a reason for a complimentary change on the routing so book the most convenient option for you.
The aircraft type may change multiple times, BA hasn't got a solid decision on how it's Gatwick fleet would evolve, etc...
If you book through BA, an aircraft change isn't a reason for a complimentary change on the routing so book the most convenient option for you.
Oct 25, 2020, 1:14 am
#9
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IMO, it's too early to speak about next summer.
The aircraft type may change multiple times, BA hasn't got a solid decision on how it's Gatwick fleet would evolve, etc...
If you book through BA, an aircraft change isn't a reason for a complimentary change on the routing so book the most convenient option for you.
The aircraft type may change multiple times, BA hasn't got a solid decision on how it's Gatwick fleet would evolve, etc...
If you book through BA, an aircraft change isn't a reason for a complimentary change on the routing so book the most convenient option for you.
An additional point. Neither TPA or PHL are currently flown by BA What will be the covid situation and the BA routes flown in summer 2021 (or connecting flights to PHL) is unpredictable.
Better book the direct flight that might give you more reroute options.
Oct 25, 2020, 12:16 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2013
Location: PHL
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Looks like BA does currently serve PHL, though likely at a reduced capacity. BA 67 left LHR about 30 min late today, but is on its way to Philly as I write (not that this helps with next summer's schedule)
Oct 25, 2020, 12:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2013
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I'd definitely go direct. Having experienced both Clubsuites and the improved CW there isn't so much difference as to justify a change at PHL especially if you avoid an aisle seat in old clubworld. Get on in TPA, put your head down and wake up close to London. For privacy as a solo traveller I'd book a window seat as a couple a middle pair can be very cosy.
Exception would be if:
a) you can't bear flying backwards which you will in a window seat
b) you haven't the mobility needed to climb over a seat and you are frequently up at night.
IFE between the two types is not that different and on a night flight may not be a concern anyway,
Exception would be if:
a) you can't bear flying backwards which you will in a window seat
b) you haven't the mobility needed to climb over a seat and you are frequently up at night.
IFE between the two types is not that different and on a night flight may not be a concern anyway,
Oct 25, 2020, 12:49 pm
#13
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Hello All,
I'm having a debate with myself and need outside influence to resolve. We are flying TPA - LON next summer. I've flown TPA - LGW in old 772 and it was tolerable since direct and non stop.
Anything beats coach.
The question is whether the A350 Club Suite is worth a detour, and 90 minute add to total travel time, to route TPA - PHL - LHR over a non stop TPA - LGW in the old 772?
Departure and arrival times are irrelevant, simply curious if Club Suite is worth the detour.
Thank you in advance!
I'm having a debate with myself and need outside influence to resolve. We are flying TPA - LON next summer. I've flown TPA - LGW in old 772 and it was tolerable since direct and non stop.
Anything beats coach.
The question is whether the A350 Club Suite is worth a detour, and 90 minute add to total travel time, to route TPA - PHL - LHR over a non stop TPA - LGW in the old 772?
Departure and arrival times are irrelevant, simply curious if Club Suite is worth the detour.
Thank you in advance!
Oct 26, 2020, 6:18 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BA Exec Silver
Posts: 107
If youre willing to fly from MCO (not sure how far you're travelling to TPA) there is a nonstop to LHR 772 refurbished with new CW suite. I just put in some dates for March 2021 and up it popped (taken through to seat map showing only 4 across). Its a later flight 2055 / 8.55pm i think from Orlando arriving 1015 LHR
Oct 26, 2020, 8:20 am
#15
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I would not even begin to look at this until 30-45 days prior to your travel date. Timings, aircraft, and even whether flights operate at all, are fairly meaningless anything further out.
But, presuming that it rolls around to then and things are as they are now, I would always take a nonstop over a connection. One more set of things to go wrong and that is more of a hassle with reduced frequencies. Moreover, whatever aircraft is used on the TATL hop, if you connect at PHL, you are looking at 2-/12 hours+ on a single aisle aircraft with standard domestic F 2-2 seating. How much better would the second flight have to be to make up for the first flight?
But, presuming that it rolls around to then and things are as they are now, I would always take a nonstop over a connection. One more set of things to go wrong and that is more of a hassle with reduced frequencies. Moreover, whatever aircraft is used on the TATL hop, if you connect at PHL, you are looking at 2-/12 hours+ on a single aisle aircraft with standard domestic F 2-2 seating. How much better would the second flight have to be to make up for the first flight?