Swanhunter

Thanks for the comments! The very upright position and dodgy tray table make we wonder if the old CX NBC seat is part of the BD seat heritage.

Capricorn

And as for PE... Wow! BMI now have the BEST PE product on the market. Flew DB705 to Chicago yesterday. Seats are the old business class seats so those who've flow them will know them. For those that don't they 50 degree recline, 18 inches wide, electronic footrest and lumbar support, IFE screen, tray table in armrest. Leg room is of course less than transatlantic business class but adequate. Certainly we had enough leg room in row 10 (bulkhead) so can't comment on what the rows behind were like.

Couple of snaps here http://www.flickr.com/photos/14298166@N02/?saved=1

As for the whole experience, check in at T3 in Manchester is as ever awful There's just too little space for 2 long haul plus the short hauls to be checking in in that area. Lounge crowded but serves decent coffee. Once on board, cabin service excellent as usual with BMI. Food is acceptable, very nice French red wine served with diner.

Overall I've always liked BMI when flying across the pond. The new PE enhancement makes their product a world beater. Definitely ^^^ to BMI.

As we deplaned I went and had a look in the new business class. Looks really nice but as thegoderic has had the full experience his comments are better than mine could be.

NoY

Thanks for this. Looking forward to the first full review - especially any pics! Sounds like a very promising product enhancement!

sentinal

We used 2 GUVs. There was 6 empty seats on the flight even after we bagged a couple of upgrades.

sentinal

The new seats are certianly an improvment to PE. Bar service is also improved, proper full size glasses for drink and served individually rather than a drinks trolley being pushed up and down the ailse. New full size metal cuttlery in use as well, just need to improve the food service and will nearly be as good as most biz class even with the limited space and reduced recline.

Will now be even more frustrating if you dont manage to use the GUVs.

ajamieson

Good to hear - but that's what the premium economy service used to be like back when it was launched as New Economy years ago.

thegoderic

I hope to finish the trip report in the GLA lounge tonight while waiting for BD 15. In the meantime, here are my photos of the new Business cabin

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14311267@N03/

modularmayhem

WOW! Looks great! Thanks for making the effort to take pics

FlyingOnceMore

I'm not sure the electric blue walls quite go with the coffee/cream seats

Oxon Flyer

daaahling, they're beige and chocolate brown.

MAN Flyer

Thanks for the pictures. It looks like the row 1 seats do have screens fitted to the bulkhead but they look rather low down. Did you notice if they were working ?.

Mofomat

I imagine these screens are "general cabin screens" and not the personal screens for those in row 1.

MAN Flyer

I can see the "general cabin screens" and they are in use. I am referring to the ones below them that are not. These are seen quite clearly in the middle picture on the top row titled 'Cabin 2'.

The reason I ask is the CSM on a recent flight told me there had been a cock-up and those in row 1 had no IFE screens at the moment and would get a DVD player or similar instead until November.

ajamieson

Great pictures, thanks ^

But please tell me that's not your copy of the Daily Mail

thegoderic

In my defence, they were the only papers available at boarding and the business service with a wider choice didn't start till after take off. Anyway after two weeks of USA today, the Mail isn't half bad.

I've added a detailed trip report to a recent BA set that I posted here.