BA First SYD - LHR
#4
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Programs: American Airlines British Airways
Posts: 1,752
Nice report. I look forward to the rest.
I had serious misgivings at the time, but I am beginning to think I made the correct decision to take advantage of the BA 2 for 1 CW sale for my trip in the Fall instead of the F seats I was planning on buying. If BA keeps this up in F they will never recover the passenger load they once had, especially at the massive price difference between CW and F. In my case it was a $14,000 difference.
I had serious misgivings at the time, but I am beginning to think I made the correct decision to take advantage of the BA 2 for 1 CW sale for my trip in the Fall instead of the F seats I was planning on buying. If BA keeps this up in F they will never recover the passenger load they once had, especially at the massive price difference between CW and F. In my case it was a $14,000 difference.
#6
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,038
HIDDY - Thank you for your trip report and great pictures. It's a bit sad, IMHO, that after flying F SYD-SIN-LHR, you're still hungry and need to visit the BA Arrivals Lounge in London for breakfast!
(Now when I arrive in LHR flying UA Y from SFO, I may still be hungry, but that's different. )
(Now when I arrive in LHR flying UA Y from SFO, I may still be hungry, but that's different. )
Last edited by restlessinRNO; Aug 2, 2009 at 1:03 am Reason: spelling.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,950
Once again HIDDY, you're proving yourself quite handily to be a very formidable trip reporter.
I hope for a better outcome for my BA F trip SYD-BKK later this year - different equipment, though - 744. I'm flying QF F on the BKK-LHR sector, which does mean I miss out on the BA Arrivals lounges... (no BAEC status, only QF WP).
I blew QFF points on that one to try both BA and QF. Better than cash outright I guess. Of course, I also hope BA F will still be around on that sector when I get to flying it.....
There's always a reason to visit a lounge. Who said you needed to be hungry, let alone thirsty? .....Let alone sober?
So not a bad flight but not a very good one either. I suggest unless your employer is footing the bill that you dont bother wasting cash or miles on flying in First on the SIN-LHR route and go Club World instead.
I do hope I havent come across as being a moaner. I was more disappointed than angry with these two flights as I know BA were capable of delivering a better product than what we received. I had certainly spotted a deterioration in the product since our last super F flight one and a half years ago.
I do hope I havent come across as being a moaner. I was more disappointed than angry with these two flights as I know BA were capable of delivering a better product than what we received. I had certainly spotted a deterioration in the product since our last super F flight one and a half years ago.
I blew QFF points on that one to try both BA and QF. Better than cash outright I guess. Of course, I also hope BA F will still be around on that sector when I get to flying it.....
HIDDY - Thank you for your trip report and geat pictures. It's a bit sad, IMHO, that after flying F SYD-SIN-LHR, you're still hungry and need to visit the BA Arrivals Lounge in London for breakfast!
(Now when I arrive in LHR flying UA Y from SFO, I may still be hungry, but that's different. )
(Now when I arrive in LHR flying UA Y from SFO, I may still be hungry, but that's different. )
#8
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Agoura Hills, CA USA
Posts: 2,659
Thanks for writing such a beautiful report.. The photos were great.. I completely agree with your assessment of BA first.. However.... the T5 CCR really made up for a lot of disappointment ... The food and drink at the lounge is just first rate.... Once again.. thanks...
#11
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Cold Wet England
Programs: BAEC - Blue - How the once mighty have fallen
Posts: 363
Thank you for a brilliant trip report. I know from experience now that it takes a lot of effort to compose such comprehensive reports.
Sydney looks very nice - I'd simply love to visit some day but such a long flight puts me off. I could only manage such a marathon flight in F.
Your photo of the Qantas A380 reminds me of this very morning when I was at a flea market near Heathrow. A Qantas A380 flew quietly overhead on final approach into LHR. Everyone just stopped what they were doing and looked up. Previously only Concorde could command such rapt attention.
Sorry that your F experiences were not top notch.
Look foward eagerly to further installments.
This Trip Reports forum is really addictive. I spend my Sunday afternoons reading trip reports in preference to blockbuster novels now
Sydney looks very nice - I'd simply love to visit some day but such a long flight puts me off. I could only manage such a marathon flight in F.
Your photo of the Qantas A380 reminds me of this very morning when I was at a flea market near Heathrow. A Qantas A380 flew quietly overhead on final approach into LHR. Everyone just stopped what they were doing and looked up. Previously only Concorde could command such rapt attention.
Sorry that your F experiences were not top notch.
Look foward eagerly to further installments.
This Trip Reports forum is really addictive. I spend my Sunday afternoons reading trip reports in preference to blockbuster novels now
Last edited by pb3; Aug 2, 2009 at 8:45 am Reason: grammar
#12
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold
Posts: 6,910
Great report and wonderful pictures. I really enjoyed this one:
http://p2qgda.bay.livefilestore.com/...J/SNC11764.JPG
http://p2qgda.bay.livefilestore.com/...J/SNC11764.JPG
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,306
Great report HIDDY. Shame about the not-so-great BA F sectors.
When entering Galleries Arrivals, does the agent scan the pass or just look at it? I seem to remember on my one and only visit there last year she just looked at it, which struck me as a bit odd, given how many people try to blag themselves into lounges.
Some nice pictures there, particularly of the QF First Lounge at SYD. ^
When entering Galleries Arrivals, does the agent scan the pass or just look at it? I seem to remember on my one and only visit there last year she just looked at it, which struck me as a bit odd, given how many people try to blag themselves into lounges.
Some nice pictures there, particularly of the QF First Lounge at SYD. ^