British Airways First Class and a 9 seater in Costa Rica w/pics
Sep 7, 2010, 10:07 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: UK
Programs: Virgin Flying Club Red, Emirates Skywards Blue, BA Executive Club Blue, Amex BA
Posts: 2,381
Comparison
I've now flown First Class on BA (747), Swiss (A332 and A340), Singapore Airlines (747), Lufthansa (747) and Thai (747). In my limited experience, here is how I would rank the various facets of their First Class product. Whilst I appreciate that the sample size is small, there is something to be said for First Class delivering consistently.
Lounges
1. Thai Royal First Lounge, Bangkok. Massive, spacious, quiet, top notch food and drink.
2. The Concorde Room, Heathrow.
3. The Lufthansa First Class Terminal, Frankfurt. Excellent food and drink complimented by a very well stocked bar.
4. Swiss First Class Lounge, Zurich. A little disjointed and industrial
I've now flown First Class on BA (747), Swiss (A332 and A340), Singapore Airlines (747), Lufthansa (747) and Thai (747). In my limited experience, here is how I would rank the various facets of their First Class product. Whilst I appreciate that the sample size is small, there is something to be said for First Class delivering consistently.
Lounges
1. Thai Royal First Lounge, Bangkok. Massive, spacious, quiet, top notch food and drink.
2. The Concorde Room, Heathrow.
3. The Lufthansa First Class Terminal, Frankfurt. Excellent food and drink complimented by a very well stocked bar.
4. Swiss First Class Lounge, Zurich. A little disjointed and industrial
Sep 7, 2010, 11:30 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,101
Good report.
The Fog's Head Chardonnay listed on the outbound wine list can also be found in the Galleries Club lounge at T3 and retails for about $10 a bottle.
Not acceptable for a F wine IMHO.
The Fog's Head Chardonnay listed on the outbound wine list can also be found in the Galleries Club lounge at T3 and retails for about $10 a bottle.
Not acceptable for a F wine IMHO.
Sep 7, 2010, 2:52 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,558
Thanks for the report.
I was surprised to see that you ranked TCR over the FCL with LH. I can't see it! The Do & Co food is much better quality at the FCL, with a much better selection, and TCR at LHR is often too crowded and noisy.
BA's F meals just do not look appetising. They've been going downhill for a few years. They need to improve the presentation of their meals as well, and their wine list. A $10 a bottle of wine in F is beyond ridiculous (how much do they want for that seat?). And as for the old tatty seats with the 14 inches of space for the feet in the "bed" position, well............they're past it. Even the new seats they chose do not come with much additional space over the old (well, at least the armrests come down now), still with the same number of seats in the nose of the 747.
I was surprised to see that you ranked TCR over the FCL with LH. I can't see it! The Do & Co food is much better quality at the FCL, with a much better selection, and TCR at LHR is often too crowded and noisy.
BA's F meals just do not look appetising. They've been going downhill for a few years. They need to improve the presentation of their meals as well, and their wine list. A $10 a bottle of wine in F is beyond ridiculous (how much do they want for that seat?). And as for the old tatty seats with the 14 inches of space for the feet in the "bed" position, well............they're past it. Even the new seats they chose do not come with much additional space over the old (well, at least the armrests come down now), still with the same number of seats in the nose of the 747.
Sep 7, 2010, 3:43 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 2,368
Thank you BiH.
Mind boggling that after all this time that they can't present something as simple as a steak that's edible; once upon a time it was a fillet of beef carved on a trolley, but if they persistently can't provide a decent, basic steak, why are they bothering? BA, bear in mind that passengers in F are potentially paying $ 000s. Pathetic
I've only seen the laminated F seat plans at SFO which I thought was quite a nice touch.
I don't entirely get the whole 'amuse bouche' thing. Being BA it is obviously a cost cutting thing over the previous canape 'selection' of 3 items. At least with 3 small items there was a chance that non-seafood, vegetarians etc etc might actually get something they could enjoy. This way it is 'take it, or leave it' with a high chance that many passengers just don't want what's thrust at them (and who wants to eat with a plastic spoon?)
I am going to start a campaign to bring back a tray of various canapes that are passed around with drinks after take-off so that passengers can actually choose what suits them.
Great report that just about sums it up for BA F which can be described as a Curate's Egg. Saw the news about Jancis Robinson - watching from here to see if there is a further descent in quality in the wines, which IME have tended to be a high point on BA. We can't afford to splash out willy nilly on F travel; we enjoyed LX recently and will probably keep a watch on BA to see if we can get the new F cabin but will stay away unless we hear that ground handling and Food/Beverage are enhanced (in the true meaning of the word).
MIA - the pits
Mind boggling that after all this time that they can't present something as simple as a steak that's edible; once upon a time it was a fillet of beef carved on a trolley, but if they persistently can't provide a decent, basic steak, why are they bothering? BA, bear in mind that passengers in F are potentially paying $ 000s. Pathetic
I've only seen the laminated F seat plans at SFO which I thought was quite a nice touch.
I don't entirely get the whole 'amuse bouche' thing. Being BA it is obviously a cost cutting thing over the previous canape 'selection' of 3 items. At least with 3 small items there was a chance that non-seafood, vegetarians etc etc might actually get something they could enjoy. This way it is 'take it, or leave it' with a high chance that many passengers just don't want what's thrust at them (and who wants to eat with a plastic spoon?)
I am going to start a campaign to bring back a tray of various canapes that are passed around with drinks after take-off so that passengers can actually choose what suits them.
Great report that just about sums it up for BA F which can be described as a Curate's Egg. Saw the news about Jancis Robinson - watching from here to see if there is a further descent in quality in the wines, which IME have tended to be a high point on BA. We can't afford to splash out willy nilly on F travel; we enjoyed LX recently and will probably keep a watch on BA to see if we can get the new F cabin but will stay away unless we hear that ground handling and Food/Beverage are enhanced (in the true meaning of the word).
MIA - the pits
Thanks for the report, BIH. Did you enjoy the flight to Quepos? I know the novelty would wear off quite quickly but I really enjoyed it compared to the more plastic experience of ordinary commercial flights. You really get a sense that you are flying in those wee planes...
Thanks for the report.
I was surprised to see that you ranked TCR over the FCL with LH. I can't see it! The Do & Co food is much better quality at the FCL, with a much better selection, and TCR at LHR is often too crowded and noisy.
BA's F meals just do not look appetising. They've been going downhill for a few years. They need to improve the presentation of their meals as well, and their wine list. A $10 a bottle of wine in F is beyond ridiculous (how much do they want for that seat?). And as for the old tatty seats with the 14 inches of space for the feet in the "bed" position, well............they're past it. Even the new seats they chose do not come with much additional space over the old (well, at least the armrests come down now), still with the same number of seats in the nose of the 747.
I was surprised to see that you ranked TCR over the FCL with LH. I can't see it! The Do & Co food is much better quality at the FCL, with a much better selection, and TCR at LHR is often too crowded and noisy.
BA's F meals just do not look appetising. They've been going downhill for a few years. They need to improve the presentation of their meals as well, and their wine list. A $10 a bottle of wine in F is beyond ridiculous (how much do they want for that seat?). And as for the old tatty seats with the 14 inches of space for the feet in the "bed" position, well............they're past it. Even the new seats they chose do not come with much additional space over the old (well, at least the armrests come down now), still with the same number of seats in the nose of the 747.
In respect of the seat, I didn't find any issue with it coming to a point at the end but then I suspect that very much depends on your height and sleeping position.
Sep 7, 2010, 7:17 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
The alternative would be the FCL, with the same facilities as the FCT (minus the car to the plane, depending on where the flight leaves from) but, as it is inside the main terminal, you can still wander around.
Sep 7, 2010, 10:08 pm
#25
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, GoldPointsplus Gold, QF Platinum, Flying Blue
Posts: 20
Geat report, thanks for sharing!
I did seem to have missed the pictures from the inflight catering on your
SJO-XQP-SJO leg
Will be following your blog as well, so keep the stories coming!
I did seem to have missed the pictures from the inflight catering on your
SJO-XQP-SJO leg
Will be following your blog as well, so keep the stories coming!
Sep 8, 2010, 7:02 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: SYD
Programs: UA Premier Gold (*G), IHG Platinum & Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,456
Thanks for a great report!
These three lounges are some of the best in the world at the moment. While there isn't too much between them each one has its points of distinction.
1. The Lufthansa First Class Terminal, Frankfurt.
No lines guaranteed with private Immigration/security screening staff and tarmac transfers to the plane is just brilliant. A personal assistant so you never have to worry about missing your flight (or which gate your plane is at) round out a ground handling offering every bit as good as TG in BKK.
Obviously, the famous LH FCT rubber duckie (and novelty of taking a bath at an airport) gets bonus points! As does being able to get some quality sleep in a blissfully silent slumber room (I managed 3+ hours during a long layover).
2. The Concorde Room, Heathrow.
Small details like the Concorde office chairs in The Boardroom and bowls of fresh strawberries (how British!) add to the 'specialness' of this lounge. The airy terrace area with a nice view of the apron, private Cabanas and complimentary treatments at the Elemis spa are also notable.
While the back and neck massage was only 15 minutes long, it was really good (and more effective than the hour-long massage below).
3. Thai Royal First Lounge, Bangkok.
Outstanding ground service with buggy transfer from gate to lounge (and back if you are transiting). Plus the complimentary hour-long massage at the Royal Orchid Spa.
Bang & Olufsen televisions are a nice touch.
1. The Lufthansa First Class Terminal, Frankfurt.
No lines guaranteed with private Immigration/security screening staff and tarmac transfers to the plane is just brilliant. A personal assistant so you never have to worry about missing your flight (or which gate your plane is at) round out a ground handling offering every bit as good as TG in BKK.
Obviously, the famous LH FCT rubber duckie (and novelty of taking a bath at an airport) gets bonus points! As does being able to get some quality sleep in a blissfully silent slumber room (I managed 3+ hours during a long layover).
2. The Concorde Room, Heathrow.
Small details like the Concorde office chairs in The Boardroom and bowls of fresh strawberries (how British!) add to the 'specialness' of this lounge. The airy terrace area with a nice view of the apron, private Cabanas and complimentary treatments at the Elemis spa are also notable.
While the back and neck massage was only 15 minutes long, it was really good (and more effective than the hour-long massage below).
3. Thai Royal First Lounge, Bangkok.
Outstanding ground service with buggy transfer from gate to lounge (and back if you are transiting). Plus the complimentary hour-long massage at the Royal Orchid Spa.
Bang & Olufsen televisions are a nice touch.
Sep 8, 2010, 8:08 am
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 2,368
I'm aiming to update the blog weekly from now on so keep reading.Very kind, thanks.
Sep 8, 2010, 8:12 am
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 2,368
Out of interest, is that how you rank them; 1. LH FCT, 2. BA CCR, 3. TG RFL
In my ranking, I've ignored transfers to/from the aircraft but I suspect others will consider that part of the lounge experience.
For completeness I ought to add that I've also been to the Wing at HKG which I thought was nice but nothing special.