BA380 From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 1466 posts, RR: 9 Posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 2849 times:
I keep hearing vague references in this site and on Flyertalk that BA is potentially looking at (or even testing?) an improved Club Europe product to tempt people back into C class.
Is there any truth to this? Any leaks or details?
Flyertalk even had a vague reference to an a/c that was being tested with new product.
Is this all just a load of wishful thinking or is there some truth to it?
It is all very confusing at the moment, as there are also rumours (as discussed on this site) that Willie Walsh wants to axe CE on some routes
Cambrian From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 617 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 2756 times:
Forget about improvements to Club Europe- just fly Swiss Business in Europe- 4 abreast on an A320- and you will never look back!
I flew LHR-BCN-LHR in Club last week and it was distinctly forgettable- especially in the worn out and drab 767's that BA fly. No personal space and not even an attempt at anything resembling personalised service.
Swiss Business leaves BA behind on all fronts and now whenever I go to ATH and places like that, I simply use Swiss and transit very quickly in ZRH. The lounge in ZRH is excellent too.
AlanUK From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2657 times:
Actually, yes, I can confirm that BA is trialling Club Europe with 2-2 config on G-EUUM and G-EUUN A320s. This is the first part of a major overhaul of Club Europe...
Cambrian... watch this space!
BA380... don't believe all the media, especially not the Daily Mail/Evening Standard, if WW isn't a fool, he will keep Club Europe and improve it too!
Miami1 From Australia, joined Feb 2001, 706 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2607 times:
Swiss have reconfigured their 320s as all 6 abreast. The C section simply has the middle seat blocked out and a table console on the centre seat. The pitch is only 31-32". Seat width is only increased if you raise the armrest.
I believe this affects only the A320s at this stage. The seats are new carbon fibre seats that increase the the amount of knee space available. Seats are 31-32" in front of the exits and 30" behind. This makes for a total of 168 seats in all Y.
Mozart From Luxembourg, joined Aug 2003, 2014 posts, RR: 14 Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2463 times:
Wow, folks, Swiss Business Class vs. BA Club Europe... you are comparing two contenders for the top prize as Europe's finest short-haul C class. Drab cabin? Impersonal service? Bad seats? Fly Lufthansa, and you will L-O-V-E to go back to BA. And regarding food, even Air France is bad now on European routes. Or has anyone tried Iberia's Business Class? Nothing to write home about either. And someone mentioned lounges: ever been to the cattleyard with the "Senator Lounge" sign at the door at FRA or MUC? In comparison, BA's lounges, especially the Terrace concept are excellent.
I agree that a 2-2 seating would be the biggest needed improvement in Club Europe, but other than that I actually like it quite a bit already as it is.
BA380 From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 1466 posts, RR: 9 Reply 12, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2448 times:
interesting discussion -- does anyone have any photos of the 2 test planes? Or any details? Are the seats just the same wth the B and E seats left empty or are they actually improved seats?
Cornish From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 8187 posts, RR: 56 Reply 13, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2446 times:
Quoting Mozart (Reply 11): Wow, folks, Swiss Business Class vs. BA Club Europe... you are comparing two contenders for the top prize as Europe's finest short-haul C class. Drab cabin? Impersonal service? Bad seats? Fly Lufthansa, and you will L-O-V-E to go back to BA. And regarding food, even Air France is bad now on European routes. Or has anyone tried Iberia's Business Class? Nothing to write home about either. And someone mentioned lounges: ever been to the cattleyard with the "Senator Lounge" sign at the door at FRA or MUC? In comparison, BA's lounges, especially the Terrace concept are excellent.
I agree that a 2-2 seating would be the biggest needed improvement in Club Europe, but other than that I actually like it quite a bit already as it is.
I agree Mozart - as far as European short haul is concerned they are pretty much the two best out there - although nothing beats Swissair of old.
For those who are critical of BA, try some of the other European flag carriers and you'll soon realise that their reputation is well earned.
Just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, it was some B*****d with a torch bringing me more work
Monkeyboi From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 457 posts, RR: 3 Reply 15, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2411 times:
Cambrian.....Just out of curiousity......What has been the largest Business Class load you have flown on with SWISS?
I agree with you, all the things that you mention SR do are nice touches. When it is possible at BA I endeavour to use names and offer extra bread/drink services as well. I work for BA and CLUB loads between LHR to ZRH or GVA are often hovering around the 75 mark. With a Club Cabin of 75 you will generally have 3 to 4 crew working in the CLUB cabin with such loads. This is for a flight of 80-ish minutes.
I am just curious. Are SWISS still able to maintain the standards you mention when they have a completely full Business Class cabin on a short flight or have the flights you used with them been fairly quiet up front?
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3687 posts, RR: 31 Reply 16, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2409 times:
Cambrian, I think BA does pull of a good service In CE although it can be not up to scratch at times. I've had name addressal all the way through the flight and as good as constant attention...was like flying CX The seats on the Airbus on the port side and centre ones on the 767 do make a 2-3 arrangement and the seat is a little wider with the mini-seat for papers etc. Always best in my view.
The cabins in the new Airbus are far from tatty although the 767s are a little on the ragged side. Having flown to BCN a few times recently I get the 767 on the way out and A319 on the way back. The last time the 767 was missing a cabin divider and part of my neighbours seat was falling off!
I look forward to seeing what the new test cabin is like but my flying pattern certainly means my chances of getting onboard those a/c are about 0.1%!
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
Cambrian From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 617 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2327 times:
Quoting Monkeyboi (Reply 15): Cambrian.....Just out of curiousity......What has been the largest Business Class load you have flown on with SWISS?
I have taken a variety of flights- some fuller than others. Of course it is nice from the passenger's point of view to fly GVA-ATH with only 4 other passengers in Business, but I have taken busier flights including ZRH-LHR on Friday night, returning on Sunday nights- busy flights, but still consistent service and product.
Also on Swiss you get the skymap that you don't get on BA. A small thing, but part of why I prefer Swiss every time.
And of course, transiting at ZRH is great. I am not a BA basher- I have taken lots of flights with them in all classes, but their Club product is mediocre.
I would even choose OA over BA when going to ATH, as they fly roomy A300's and their catering is fantastic.
Edina From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 713 posts, RR: 10 Reply 18, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2285 times:
Cambrian.......all BA A319s, A321s and new A320s (The ones registered G-EUUx all feature the moving map display on the overhead screens). The 767s, 757s and G-BUSx A320s do not, but these aircraft are gradually leaving the s/haul fleet anyway.
The new A320s also feature IFE and laptop power.........
Worked on - Caravelle Mercure A300 A320 F27 SD3-60 BAe146 747-100/200/400 DC10-30 767 777 737-400 757 A319 A321
BestWestern From Ireland, joined Sep 2000, 6435 posts, RR: 58 Reply 20, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2242 times:
Quoting A340600 (Reply 19): I'm surprised no-one's mentioned the 737's, you think the 76's are tatty
We wouldn't dream of lowering ourselves to fly from Gatwick Why do you think the 73's are tatty? Its the ruffian passengers that leisure airport attracts.
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 3687 posts, RR: 31 Reply 21, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2231 times:
Quoting BestWestern (Reply 20): We wouldn't dream of lowering ourselves to fly from Gatwick Why do you think the 73's are tatty? Its the ruffian passengers that leisure airport attracts.
you beat me to it! Although the LGW Terraces is superb!
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
Cambrian From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 617 posts, RR: 5 Reply 22, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2221 times:
Quoting Edina (Reply 18): Cambrian.......all BA A319s, A321s and new A320s (The ones registered G-EUUx all feature the moving map display on the overhead screens).
Yes, I have seen them. It is a pity that they seem to be hardly ever in operation on flights that I take.
Perhaps with the new safety video coming out, they will be in use more on short haul and domestic flights?
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2216 times:
Haven't flown CE is a few moons, but it was always pretty good NCE-LHR and v.v., although no lounge access at NCE except for high-tier FQTV nobs. The meal service is nicely presented but a tad predictable - rather too much taboulé salad when I was flying back and forth, possibly that has changed. Always sit on the left hand side facing forward on narrowbodies, the Club seating on that side is only 2, with the middle seat converted to a nice wide armrest.
Speedbird2155 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 847 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2173 times:
Edina, Cambrian obviously has his mind made that he doesn't like CE and that it is the worst thing available, so no matter what you say he will try to prove you wrong. Thankfully we have many customers out there that know that BA offers a quality product even in CE and that it may not be perfect, but it's good. Added to that, they trust BA to meet their needs and choose to fly us.
25 Cambrian: Speedbird 2155, I have not made up my mind about any such thing! I fly BA regularly- spookily enough, quite a lot on your namesake, flight 2155 to Ba
26 Speedbird2155: Cambrian, I never said that there weren't products out there at are better than BA. I've actually stated that we aren't perfect and some customers rec
27 Cambrian: No, I do like it- who wouldn't! It is not consistent, that's all. Of course, one could say that no airline can be totally consistent- it depends upon
28 Fbgdavidson: Talking of which I found a wooden comb in an Anya BAg at home the other week!
29 Speedbird2155: I'll happily admit to this. It can get a bit odd on some of the Euro routes when up to half or more of the aircraft is designated as Club. It doesn't
30 BA380: I have to agree with Cambrian, broadly speaking: BA Club WORLD and First are great premium products, but CE doesn't seem all that exciting. It's not b
31 Cornish: But then what short haul Europe business class is ? Certainly not AF, LH, KL, to name a few key competitors.... That's the thing of course - long hau
32 Jouy31: I usually enjoy short hops on BA in CE to CDG, VIE or TXL. I have consistently been disappointed on my flights to/from ATH when flying on the 767s. Ti
33 BAKrew: The 2 aircraft that will have the new style Club Europe seats being trialled on-board are A320's registered G-EUUM & G-EUUN. BAKrew
34 Cambrian: Maybe someone from BA reads these boards? I am now green with envy, not to mention unkempt... Will this new layout be rolled out throughout the short
35 BA380: I also have my First comb at home, not to mention the fantastic pyjamas. They rock!
36 Cambrian: Yes, the new black pyjamas are smashing! I am surprised that BA don't offer them for sale in duty free.
37 Fbgdavidson: I doubt someone from BA could be bothered to wade through most of the nonsense to find BA specific threads. We do have an official lurker from the Ex
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