I fly almost monthly between Europe and the US and most often LAX-LHR. I hadn't flown BA in a while as I'd been rather underwhelmed every time beforehand. But this time the price was right and the flight times we're appealing, so I thought I'd give it a go. At $1600 R/T in economy, it was certainly not the cheapest LAX-LHR tour I've done, but certainly not the dearest either.
Boy oh boy, what a mess. In no way am what I'm about to say a reflection on the poor crew, they did the best they could with what they had, but a serious wake up call to BA and the fleet they choose to use.
It started rather bad for the poor guy next to me getting dripped in the head by condensation that wouldn't stop. They couldn't relocate him as the flight was full, so they offered him a blanket for his head to soak up the drips(!). The entertainment system was the old 4:3 square LCD's barely larger than my iPhone. The screen was so fuzzy and unsharp that it was impossible to watch anything on it - clearly been in service too long. But the coup de grace was the photo I took of the reading lamps in the overhead - this has obviously not been cleaned for months:
The most tired, filthy, smelly, old 747 was what BA thought was a great idea to put on this route, you see. The 747-400 felt like it was from the 80's and so did the rattling interior. Maybe it's passed them by that Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world and that many of the travellers might be experienced travellers, very vocal, used to good service and talk amongst themselves when it comes to recommneds etc.
All the national carriers these days have become a total disgrace. Last time on Lufthansa from LAX-MUC they had a 747 with the old CRT display in the aisle we all had to share, no IES at all. That's what they run to Hollywood with? Exactly which of the nice airplanes, with IES, do they think are better spent elsewhere? Which routes are those - I'd like to know. How many old airplanes without IES does Emirates have? Or Air New Zealand? Virgin? Same with BA - they run 777's to Asia that I've heard are nice and well kept after, but the US gets these old pieces of junk? Can someone on the inside explain the philosophy as I fail to see the logic.
BA - take note from Air New Zeeland on the LAX-LHR route. Brand new 777-300's. Power outlets at
every seat so you can work.
Every seat. IES screen bigger in size than my home TV. Clean, crisp, minimalistic seat design. Food the same - less, but very nice quality. The tray completely uncluttered. Second meal is actually a breakfast, not BA's diabetes inducing snack pack with a sugared muffin, sugared yoghurt, cake and raisins.
I will never fly BA again on this route. In Europe they're better - my connection to Lisbon was much nicer. Why can't they at least attempt to be that on long haul?