Is this the best way forward BA?
Join Date: Oct 2010
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After recently traveling on BA in Euro Club and standard economy I was surprised that Club is pretty much just a standard economy seat but with a mediocre salad meal. Nothing I would pay for and certainly not impressed waiting for 40 minutes for my priority bag to come on the arrival belt last after all the standard class.
So they're getting new seats and none have built in IFE? I thought that was a standard for non LCC carriers? I'd certainly expect it.
So they're getting new seats and none have built in IFE? I thought that was a standard for non LCC carriers? I'd certainly expect it.
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Confoederatio Helvetica
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With BA, at the end, I always asked them to NOT put a priority tag on my bag, particularly if transiting via LHR.
I suppose the automated systems didn't like those tags.
My baggage incidents fell to zero.
I suppose the automated systems didn't like those tags.
My baggage incidents fell to zero.
Join Date: Jul 2011
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I don't think any European carriers, LCC or not, have IFE on the seat backs, certainly not on the usual A320/737 aircraft which are so common. Most of them don't even have overhead screens with a moving map, and even the BA aircraft which have these screens often don't make use of it. I've lost count of the times I've flown BA shorthaul and they have used the screens for a safety briefing and then folded them up for the remainder of the flight!
BA are a bit like the London black taxis, offering a good but expensive service whilst their customers desert them for Uber (low cost airlines).
It costs money to maintain standards but only a small percentage of the market is prepared to pay for those standards. Do they try to lower their costs and head down market to compete or maintain their position for those willing to pay extra ?
Premium economy is a good compromise, slightly better leg room and a few frills for a reasonable supplement to the economy fare instead of trying to charge multiple amounts for something few people can justify on a short flight.
It costs money to maintain standards but only a small percentage of the market is prepared to pay for those standards. Do they try to lower their costs and head down market to compete or maintain their position for those willing to pay extra ?
Premium economy is a good compromise, slightly better leg room and a few frills for a reasonable supplement to the economy fare instead of trying to charge multiple amounts for something few people can justify on a short flight.
I'm really surprised that so many contributors here think that the only benefit of buying Club Europe is the seat and a better meal.
The ticket is flexible so ideal for business. Access to the lounge at all airports. Better baggage allowance. Priority check in. Mileage points and route to higher level for card with greater benefits.
I do think it is not always cost effective to pay the higher price for very short routes but on longer sectors it probably is.
The ticket is flexible so ideal for business. Access to the lounge at all airports. Better baggage allowance. Priority check in. Mileage points and route to higher level for card with greater benefits.
I do think it is not always cost effective to pay the higher price for very short routes but on longer sectors it probably is.
Join Date: May 2009
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It's not always more expensive. A GVA-LHR-IAD J ticket is almost certainly cheaper than a GVA-IAD J ticket on the non-stop flight. It is also likely cheaper than LHR-IAD J ticket.
Join Date: Jun 1999
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Not all Business Class tickets are fully flexible. For those who are able to book early, some airlines offer Business Basic which, like economy, offers a cheaper fare but with certain restrictions. The point being made, which I think the last two posts are straying away from, is that a full unrestricted C class ticket for SH point-to-point within Europe is certainly not worth the extra expense unless you or your company have money to throw away.
mixture
1A ?????? Have you taken leave of your senses? It has to be 1C. When I worked for an inter-galactic corporation, (at one time BA's 2nd biggest customer - BA staff were and still are their biggest customer) and had BA and SQ Gold, the only time I missed out on 1C was when some unutterably miserable politician nicked it.
1A ?????? Have you taken leave of your senses? It has to be 1C. When I worked for an inter-galactic corporation, (at one time BA's 2nd biggest customer - BA staff were and still are their biggest customer) and had BA and SQ Gold, the only time I missed out on 1C was when some unutterably miserable politician nicked it.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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vctenderness,
Nope. Nope. Nope.... and Nope.
Let's go through them one by one shall we....
(a) Access to the lounge at all airports
If you're genuinely a business traveller, you'll almost definitely have frequent flyer card. Lounge access is one of the few perks of maintaining "status"... BA give you lounge access at both Silver and Gold tiers.... Silver tier is not hard to reach at all.
(b) Better baggage allowance
If you're a business traveller... who cares... you probably only ever travel with one suitcase.
And same again, you get extra baggage allowance as a frequent flyer perk.
(c) Priority check in
Comes with the card old chap'
(d) Mileage points
Not likely to mean much to a business traveller who has status already.
If you're talking about miles rather than status points, then it means even less....because for business travellers someone else will be picking up the tab, plus they get a bonus on mileage points as a frequent flyer card holder anyway.
Access to the lounge at all airports. Better baggage allowance. Priority check in. Mileage points
Let's go through them one by one shall we....
(a) Access to the lounge at all airports
If you're genuinely a business traveller, you'll almost definitely have frequent flyer card. Lounge access is one of the few perks of maintaining "status"... BA give you lounge access at both Silver and Gold tiers.... Silver tier is not hard to reach at all.
(b) Better baggage allowance
If you're a business traveller... who cares... you probably only ever travel with one suitcase.
And same again, you get extra baggage allowance as a frequent flyer perk.
(c) Priority check in
Comes with the card old chap'
(d) Mileage points
Not likely to mean much to a business traveller who has status already.
If you're talking about miles rather than status points, then it means even less....because for business travellers someone else will be picking up the tab, plus they get a bonus on mileage points as a frequent flyer card holder anyway.
Mixture
That makes some huge assumptions! There are many other people who travel in business class than BA card holders.
Lots of reasonably well off folk going on holiday, joining cruise ship, visiting relatives, going to second homes etc. etc. etc.
You also don't just become Silver or Gold card holder you build up to it so don't get those advantages. As you probably well know you can lose your status as well.
So I reiterate my points that Club Europe is more than a seat and a better meal
That makes some huge assumptions! There are many other people who travel in business class than BA card holders.
Lots of reasonably well off folk going on holiday, joining cruise ship, visiting relatives, going to second homes etc. etc. etc.
You also don't just become Silver or Gold card holder you build up to it so don't get those advantages. As you probably well know you can lose your status as well.
So I reiterate my points that Club Europe is more than a seat and a better meal
Perhaps BA could go for an auction system like an unnamable Middle East airline for people to upgrade to Club ?
The price difference is very hard to justify for a short, usually day flight with an hour or two time change. I would rather conserve my travel budget and use the savings to upgrade to business class on long haul flights, particularly overnighters.
The price difference is very hard to justify for a short, usually day flight with an hour or two time change. I would rather conserve my travel budget and use the savings to upgrade to business class on long haul flights, particularly overnighters.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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vctenderness,
And I reiterate my point that Club Europe is an utter waste of time and money. 
Doesn't matter if you're a business traveller or one of your "holiday, joining cruise ship, visiting relatives, going to second homes" brigade.... the only time you should be flying Club Europe is if its a sector that is part of a larger overall ticket that tags onto a long haul Club World sector on the same ticket.
As for the better meal rubbish... save your money and treat yourself to a MUCH better meal at your destination than the revolting muck you'll be served inflight.
So I reiterate my points that Club Europe is more than a seat and a better meal
Doesn't matter if you're a business traveller or one of your "holiday, joining cruise ship, visiting relatives, going to second homes" brigade.... the only time you should be flying Club Europe is if its a sector that is part of a larger overall ticket that tags onto a long haul Club World sector on the same ticket.
As for the better meal rubbish... save your money and treat yourself to a MUCH better meal at your destination than the revolting muck you'll be served inflight.
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Have to agree re these comments. For short haul I would say much better to pay the small extra charge for the exit seat legroom. Just flew back from Thessaloniki for first time in a while using BA (have used Easyjet in recent years) but as BA flight this time round came up same price opted for that. We had an enormous amount of leg room in Row 12 - more in fact than the Club Euope seats we walked past enroute.
