BA Euro Traveller
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BA Euro Traveller
I am travelling from LHR to CDG next weekend with British Airways in the Euro Traveller cabin. Although the flight is short (does anyone actually know how long normally?) what is the service like? What kind of thing should I expect. Its my first time flying with BA so its their one chance to impress me!!!
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Please don't expect to be that impressed!!! LHR-CDG is (apart from some of our Highlands and Islands hops) the shortest flight we operate - usually 45-55 mins duration.
Take 5-10 mins off that for ascent and 10-15 mins off for the descent and it leaves precious little time for "service".
Having said that, you should receive a "snackette" and beverage.
(LHR/LGW - AMS offers a similar "reduced" meal service due to the short flight time as well!)
So, please don't take the LHR-CDG flight as "typical" BA - try something a little longer - Rome, Venice, Athens, Copenhagen, Prague, Berlin, Vienna - all fascinating places and well worth a visit on BA!!!
Take 5-10 mins off that for ascent and 10-15 mins off for the descent and it leaves precious little time for "service".
Having said that, you should receive a "snackette" and beverage.
(LHR/LGW - AMS offers a similar "reduced" meal service due to the short flight time as well!)
So, please don't take the LHR-CDG flight as "typical" BA - try something a little longer - Rome, Venice, Athens, Copenhagen, Prague, Berlin, Vienna - all fascinating places and well worth a visit on BA!!!
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I guess I shouldnt expect too much!! I think if you take the whole travel experience (including check-in etc) into account though, you should get a good flavour for an airline.
Anyone know if CDG is good for viewing?
Anyone know if CDG is good for viewing?
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You cannot get a proper impression of an airline based on one flight; it must be done over several. If you had a dreadful flight then that wouldn't be representative of normal BA - nor would an amazing one with free upgrades!
Bealine has summed up the service pretty well. Depending on the time of day expect a cold breakfast (yoghurt, fruit salad, muffin), snack (sandwich, kit-kat) or if you're really unlucky the feared 'something sweet/savoury' boxes. Drinks are all free except champagne which is £4/quarter bottle.
You'll get leather seats in a 3-3 config. The pitch is offically 31" but if you sit in the first few economy rows you'll probably get 34".
If you can, checkin online (12 hours before you go) to get your preferred seats.
Bealine has summed up the service pretty well. Depending on the time of day expect a cold breakfast (yoghurt, fruit salad, muffin), snack (sandwich, kit-kat) or if you're really unlucky the feared 'something sweet/savoury' boxes. Drinks are all free except champagne which is £4/quarter bottle.
You'll get leather seats in a 3-3 config. The pitch is offically 31" but if you sit in the first few economy rows you'll probably get 34".
If you can, checkin online (12 hours before you go) to get your preferred seats.
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Wannabe Flyboy - I agree taking one flight would not be a fair representation of an airline but unfortunately thats life!!
If my flight is rubbish next weekend, I am unlikely to fly BA again by choice. On the other hand though if it is great, I'll probably fly them again. This is why airlines and all service companies try to get their service spot on as much as possible. It is cheaper to keep an existing customer than spend money trying to attract new ones.
Any recommendations for particular seats then? There are two of us travelling.
If my flight is rubbish next weekend, I am unlikely to fly BA again by choice. On the other hand though if it is great, I'll probably fly them again. This is why airlines and all service companies try to get their service spot on as much as possible. It is cheaper to keep an existing customer than spend money trying to attract new ones.
Any recommendations for particular seats then? There are two of us travelling.
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Phil, it is a 50 minute flight for Gods sake, not a trip half way around the world. You go up then you come down ! The crew will be rushing to complete a very baic service within the constraints of an extremely tight schedule. I am not sure what you are expecting, have you actually flown before ? If not then perhaps I can understand your anticipation.
If there are 2 of you flying together then get seats next to each other if you like the other person. Failing that ask for seats apart. The earlier you arrive at the airport the greater the choice if the flight is likely to be full. These days you can often select your seat on line, either 12 or 24 hours before departure, from the comfort of your computer. Just logon to B.A's website and follow the links to check your booking. Click www.britishairways.com and then click on the "Manage my booking" link.
Enjoy yourselves.
If there are 2 of you flying together then get seats next to each other if you like the other person. Failing that ask for seats apart. The earlier you arrive at the airport the greater the choice if the flight is likely to be full. These days you can often select your seat on line, either 12 or 24 hours before departure, from the comfort of your computer. Just logon to B.A's website and follow the links to check your booking. Click www.britishairways.com and then click on the "Manage my booking" link.
Enjoy yourselves.
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So I'm not allowed to construct an opinion on BA because its only a 50 minute flight?!? I'm not just talking about the actual flight...what about check-in, boarding etc? Whilst I appreciate 50 minutes is no time at all to show truly good service, it is long enough to form an opinion of some sort of the general level of service from the cabin crew, the level of comfort etc.
easyJet and the other LCC's do not offer an inflight service as such but you would still form an opinion of their service regardless of the length of flight wouldnt you??
Phil
PS - I have flown many times before.
easyJet and the other LCC's do not offer an inflight service as such but you would still form an opinion of their service regardless of the length of flight wouldnt you??
Phil
PS - I have flown many times before.
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Phil,
Of course you can construct an opinion. It is just LHR to CDG is a very short high density air route. It is never going to be the last word in luxury or gracious living. Check in is standing in a queue to deposit your bags, answer a few questions and pick up a boarding pass. Boarding the plane is sitting in a holding area, then standing in another queue that slopes down a metal tunnel, enter a plane, slowly proceed down aisle to your seat. Level of comfort is a seat in economy class for around an hour. It is not a long time so you won't get too uncomfortable. The cabin crew will be polite but busy. Very few of them in number will try and serve a drink and a boxed snack of some description ( its a sandwich ) to many people, in a time frame of little more than 30 minutes if they are lucky.
Easy jet and other LCC's do offer an inflight service. You can buy stuff from a trolley. BA give you a sandwich and a drink. Most people on short distance transport only care that the flight gets them there efficiently and on time. If you are hoping for some sort of ethereal experience on such a flight you are probably going to be disappointed. Beyond this there is not really much anybody can add, is there ?
Of course you can construct an opinion. It is just LHR to CDG is a very short high density air route. It is never going to be the last word in luxury or gracious living. Check in is standing in a queue to deposit your bags, answer a few questions and pick up a boarding pass. Boarding the plane is sitting in a holding area, then standing in another queue that slopes down a metal tunnel, enter a plane, slowly proceed down aisle to your seat. Level of comfort is a seat in economy class for around an hour. It is not a long time so you won't get too uncomfortable. The cabin crew will be polite but busy. Very few of them in number will try and serve a drink and a boxed snack of some description ( its a sandwich ) to many people, in a time frame of little more than 30 minutes if they are lucky.
Easy jet and other LCC's do offer an inflight service. You can buy stuff from a trolley. BA give you a sandwich and a drink. Most people on short distance transport only care that the flight gets them there efficiently and on time. If you are hoping for some sort of ethereal experience on such a flight you are probably going to be disappointed. Beyond this there is not really much anybody can add, is there ?
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Phil
Of course you can form an opinion of an ariline from a 50 minute flight.
The only downside is that there a quite a number of frequent flyers on this forum and they might consider you to be a total pr*t, since they are aware that the best airlines are the ones who deliver consistent service over a period of time.
Of course you can form an opinion of an ariline from a 50 minute flight.
The only downside is that there a quite a number of frequent flyers on this forum and they might consider you to be a total pr*t, since they are aware that the best airlines are the ones who deliver consistent service over a period of time.
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Hi,
I would say that you can form an opinion on an airline from one flight.
However, please be aware that you could have a bad flight on any airline
For example I have had baggage delayed for two days on both Bmi/BA on the LHR-EDI which has given me cause to moan about both of them sometimes ( I have also been dealyed on both airlines but that is a price of air travel).
[ I did get 2k miles from BA for the luggage a month after it was delivered ( second time in a month that my luggage was delayed for 2 days]
Hope you havea good flight.
Regards
TBS
I would say that you can form an opinion on an airline from one flight.
However, please be aware that you could have a bad flight on any airline
For example I have had baggage delayed for two days on both Bmi/BA on the LHR-EDI which has given me cause to moan about both of them sometimes ( I have also been dealyed on both airlines but that is a price of air travel).
[ I did get 2k miles from BA for the luggage a month after it was delivered ( second time in a month that my luggage was delayed for 2 days]
Hope you havea good flight.
Regards
TBS
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Hi Phil
As cabin crew with BA (LHR base, Eurofleet) I hope your enjoy your experience with BA, and consider the company in your future travel plans.
On the CDG route you can expect a full bar service (wine, soft drinks, G&T Tea & Coffee etc.) plus a light snack (the exact contents will differ according to the time of day). You may be offered a sweet or savoury bite, or a fruit salad and muffin at breakfast.
Granted, that's not very substantial, but by the time the crew get down to your row, you'll probably be rushing to finish it off before landing!
As many have stated, it's a brief flight, and it's sometimes quite difficult to serve everyone a drink and a snack, then clear in before the "10 mins to landing" call.
Nevertheless, the crew should still welcome you aboard warmly and treat you with respect and courtesy. Anything less is not the BA standard.
Happy travels.
As cabin crew with BA (LHR base, Eurofleet) I hope your enjoy your experience with BA, and consider the company in your future travel plans.
On the CDG route you can expect a full bar service (wine, soft drinks, G&T Tea & Coffee etc.) plus a light snack (the exact contents will differ according to the time of day). You may be offered a sweet or savoury bite, or a fruit salad and muffin at breakfast.
Granted, that's not very substantial, but by the time the crew get down to your row, you'll probably be rushing to finish it off before landing!
As many have stated, it's a brief flight, and it's sometimes quite difficult to serve everyone a drink and a snack, then clear in before the "10 mins to landing" call.
Nevertheless, the crew should still welcome you aboard warmly and treat you with respect and courtesy. Anything less is not the BA standard.
Happy travels.
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manintheback - how very true. I've only been to CDG T2B once and if the rest of the airport is anything like that I do not want to go back. Ever.
A temple to concrete that place is.
A temple to concrete that place is.
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Wasn't too long ago you would get a drink run, HOT meal, and another drink run on those short hop type flights. They could do it now, if they really wanted to......
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Although it maybe wrong to form a judgement of an airline solely on one flight, I believe the majority of people would do. In any service industry when there is a choice of providers, if you have a bad experience with one you will be more inclined to use the other providers in future, I believe. However I do accept that the best airlines are those which offer good service consistently, I was never disputing that!!!
I look forward (!) to going through CDG after those comments on it! Does LHR T4 compare any better??
I look forward (!) to going through CDG after those comments on it! Does LHR T4 compare any better??
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Compared to the bit of CDG from which BA currently operates (read: is forced to operate), LHR T4 is heaven.
Best thing to do, if you can, is to check in online 12 hours before your departure (24 hours before if you're already a member of the BA frequent flyer scheme, although you can't now join it if you're not already a member if you're only flying on deep discount economy tickets). That way, you can waltz into T4, pick up your boarding pass from a machine, drop your bags (if any) at the Fast Bag Drop desk and then go straight through security. Great for avoiding the queues if it's a busy time.
Best thing to do, if you can, is to check in online 12 hours before your departure (24 hours before if you're already a member of the BA frequent flyer scheme, although you can't now join it if you're not already a member if you're only flying on deep discount economy tickets). That way, you can waltz into T4, pick up your boarding pass from a machine, drop your bags (if any) at the Fast Bag Drop desk and then go straight through security. Great for avoiding the queues if it's a busy time.
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Is that really how BA do it?
With our mob you don't have to bother on-line. Just arrive at the airport, use the check-in machine to get seat and boarding pass (takes about 2 minutes), drop off bag at express bag drop and go. Longest whole procedure has taken me is 10 minutes. Domestic or international.
Is that really how BA do it?
With our mob you don't have to bother on-line. Just arrive at the airport, use the check-in machine to get seat and boarding pass (takes about 2 minutes), drop off bag at express bag drop and go. Longest whole procedure has taken me is 10 minutes. Domestic or international.
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slim... how necessary is a drink then food then another drink on a 45 minute flight, eh? 45 minutes man! You spend an hourish in the departure terminal before the flight - spend that hour or so wisely 
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WF is right.
On Monday, I got 11F going to Brussels (exit) and 9F (exit) coming back.
Although the 319/20 is okay for room anyway, the extra few inches are always nice to have.
If I can't fly Skyteam (gold card = regular upgrades), then BAs online check in drives me in their direction.
On Monday, I got 11F going to Brussels (exit) and 9F (exit) coming back.
Although the 319/20 is okay for room anyway, the extra few inches are always nice to have.
If I can't fly Skyteam (gold card = regular upgrades), then BAs online check in drives me in their direction.