BA new Club World Product.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Guess someones going to ask. Urban myth or not - story occasionally reprinted in the press by journalist with nought else to write.
Buy 3 economy tickets and take your own champagne and Foie Gras. So thats what - £450 quid return NewYork with 3 seats to lie across. Can it be done?
Buy 3 economy tickets and take your own champagne and Foie Gras. So thats what - £450 quid return NewYork with 3 seats to lie across. Can it be done?
Paxing All Over The World
Yes. But you would not be allowed to drink the champagne!
No carrier allows you to open and consume your own alcohol but there was a thread here recently where a couple who take long haul always buy three Y seats for the two of them and have no difficulty.
No carrier allows you to open and consume your own alcohol but there was a thread here recently where a couple who take long haul always buy three Y seats for the two of them and have no difficulty.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by PAXboy
Yes. But you would not be allowed to drink the champagne!
Too mean to buy a long personal title
Originally Posted by manintheback
Buy 3 economy tickets and take your own champagne and Foie Gras. So thats what - £450 quid return NewYork with 3 seats to lie across. Can it be done?
But even with 3 seats, you can't lie down flat. You need four seats (£920) to do that, and it's still not that comfortable.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: He's on the limb to nowhere
Posts: 1,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Even so, £690 for three seats is pretty good and if there are two of you travelling that empty seat next to you makes all the difference and cuts the price down to £350, still good value. Do you get your tax back for the "person" who doesn't fly? Three seats next to each other can give you a good sleep if you aren't too tall, with pillows put in the lumpy bits where the seat belts stick out. You want to avoid bulkhead seats as the arms don't come up. They have blocked out the secret lay flat bed you used to find at the back of 747's.
If you fly 25000 miles a year transatlantic there is an airline which will block out the seat next to you unless it's needed, makes economy class quite bearable (and the pitch is a lot better too). You have to pay for the booze, but they never seem to catch those extra little minutures (sp) at x-ray
bealine, does a flat bed help with the jetlag? No doubt it gives you better sleep and that makes you more functional for the morning meeting, but even if you got beamed to New York by some Star Trek device your bodyclock would be out for a few days. It's the jet lag that kills me after transatlantic and the seat doesn't help me with that.
If you fly 25000 miles a year transatlantic there is an airline which will block out the seat next to you unless it's needed, makes economy class quite bearable (and the pitch is a lot better too). You have to pay for the booze, but they never seem to catch those extra little minutures (sp) at x-ray
bealine, does a flat bed help with the jetlag? No doubt it gives you better sleep and that makes you more functional for the morning meeting, but even if you got beamed to New York by some Star Trek device your bodyclock would be out for a few days. It's the jet lag that kills me after transatlantic and the seat doesn't help me with that.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: LGW - Hub of the Universe!
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bealine, does a flat bed help with the jetlag? No doubt it gives you better sleep and that makes you more functional for the morning meeting, but even if you got beamed to New York by some Star Trek device your bodyclock would be out for a few days. It's the jet lag that kills me after transatlantic and the seat doesn't help me with that.
Speaking only for myself, the Flat Bed matters not a jot to me, it is the comfort factor (Business First seats on Continental's metal do not lie flat) - if I have travelled in a Business Class seat I feel very little in the way of jet lag, in Economy (and even worse if it's a middle seat) I suffer dreadfully! (....even worse if it's BA because there seems to be a hard ridge on the edge of the seat which makes the backs of my thighs start aching after about 4 hours!!!) I have to stress, this is a personal thing - it would be interesting to see how different seating affects other people!
Paxing All Over The World
christep The rules, as I understand them, are: No carrier allows you to open and consume your own alcohol. therefore it is not a BA specific. I do not think that it is any kind of regulation but, rather, best practise. It is not allowed because the CC are supposed to monitor your consumption and stop serving you if you have too much.
OK. OK. 'supposed to' but they cannot monitor all that goes on and minitures are ... welll ... miniture
but opening champers would attract attention.
OK. OK. 'supposed to' but they cannot monitor all that goes on and minitures are ... welll ... miniture
but opening champers would attract attention.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: He's on the limb to nowhere
Posts: 1,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's US federal law,
Of course, it goes on to say
and that appears to be flouted regularly, as does
They actually tell you not to consume your own booze on some flights as part of the pre flight warm up routine. Obviously there are some very naughty people who object to paying $5 for a small bottle of vodka and sneak their own on board. Perish the thought (and no quoting part (d))
121.575 (a) No person may drink any alcoholic beverage aboard an aircraft unless the certificate holder operating the aircraft has served that beverage to him.
(b) No certificate holder may serve any alcoholic beverage to any person aboard any of its aircraft who--
(1) Appears to be intoxicated;
(1) Appears to be intoxicated;
(c) No certificate holder may allow any person to board any of its aircraft if that person appears to be intoxicated.
(and no quoting part (d))
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Would the cunning ploy of buying three tickets and getting an empty seat work in practice - has anyone actually tried it? My (admittedly very limited) understanding is that the airline could treat the third seat as a 'no show' and resell it 
Paxing All Over The World
As I understand it (from an earlier thread) if you have bought the ticket and show up, check in and get the boarding card ... then the seat is yours. Whomesoever it was styated that they have sometimes been asked to give up their third seat (when buying three seats for two people) but upon production of the boarding cards - no problem.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: He's on the limb to nowhere
Posts: 1,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A cheaper way of doing it if you are a couple (and it only works if the configuration is a 3-x-3) is to assign yourselves the aisle and window seat on the side, hoping nobody wants the middle seat between you and the checkin agent doesn't use it. If you get unlucky and somebody turns up to claim the middle seat you offer them the aisle or window, unless you never really wanted to spend 12 hours sat next to your missus in which case you stay put.
More importantly, if you buy three seats and only take two, who gets the miles? I bet it's the airline.
More importantly, if you buy three seats and only take two, who gets the miles? I bet it's the airline.
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 45
Posts: 4,400
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agreee with Bealine: I've only ever sat in BA Club World once, on the back of an upgrade by the CSD (didn't ask for it, BTW!). On a flight to Seattle from Heathrow, I didn't go to sleep at all, but I'm sure I felt more awake and fresh at the end of the trip than I did when I got on the aircraft.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by PAXboy
christep The rules, as I understand them, are: No carrier allows you to open and consume your own alcohol. therefore it is not a BA specific.
Originally Posted by PAXboy
Yes. But you would not be allowed to drink the champagne!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
if you have bought the ticket and show up, check in and get the boarding card ... then the seat is yours.
On the other hand, if the flight is full, are the airline entitled to take the view that this is a no-show and they can resell the seat (and gain a bit more revenue)?
Julian Lloyd-Webber is rumoured always to purchase an extra seat so that his Stradivarius 'cello doesn't have to travel in the hold, so presumably this works for him!
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Dublin
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Right, time to (hopefully) set wind to a few myths!!!
I have just flown with a colleague who has seen the new Club World seat mockup when last back in training!!!
I cant give too much away as it is company sensitive etc BUT I will say a few things, one is...
NO the seat is not to the same herribone config as VS, infact it is of the exact same layout as the current Club world cabin with the same rear facing seats. It is however a little longer and wider. There are other enhancements/improvements to the seat but wont go into it here.
There will be NO wifi unfortunately.
There is a change in colour scheme throughout the cabin.
Mood lighting is apparently to be introduced.
There will be some quirky "raid the larder" gizmos in the galley.
Yes they are FINALLY installing some decent IFE,
and last but not least...
There is no plan to have an eat when you want option!!!!
Hope that quells a few rumours!
I have just flown with a colleague who has seen the new Club World seat mockup when last back in training!!!
I cant give too much away as it is company sensitive etc BUT I will say a few things, one is...
NO the seat is not to the same herribone config as VS, infact it is of the exact same layout as the current Club world cabin with the same rear facing seats. It is however a little longer and wider. There are other enhancements/improvements to the seat but wont go into it here.
There will be NO wifi unfortunately.
There is a change in colour scheme throughout the cabin.
Mood lighting is apparently to be introduced.
There will be some quirky "raid the larder" gizmos in the galley.
Yes they are FINALLY installing some decent IFE,
and last but not least...
There is no plan to have an eat when you want option!!!!
Hope that quells a few rumours!
Shining Example, apparently...
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lone Star State
Age: 50
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hope, really hope that WiFi will appear in the final config, otherwise it could all be money down the pan.
Among others, LH and SQ are already rolling WiFi out and I suspect that once fleets are fully equipped, J-pax will pay a fare premium for carriers that provide it. And that's in addition to the on-board subscription charge.
Among others, LH and SQ are already rolling WiFi out and I suspect that once fleets are fully equipped, J-pax will pay a fare premium for carriers that provide it. And that's in addition to the on-board subscription charge.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Fantasy Island
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Crepello
I hope, really hope that WiFi will appear in the final config, otherwise it could all be money down the pan.
Among others, LH and SQ are already rolling WiFi out and I suspect that once fleets are fully equipped, J-pax will pay a fare premium for carriers that provide it. And that's in addition to the on-board subscription charge.
Among others, LH and SQ are already rolling WiFi out and I suspect that once fleets are fully equipped, J-pax will pay a fare premium for carriers that provide it. And that's in addition to the on-board subscription charge.
Guest
Posts: n/a
And as soon as everyone starts using Skype or other VOIP doo-dahs to call their mates with inane "I'm on a plane" rubbish, then you'll quickly see people paying a premium to fly on non wi-fi equipped carriers!
What a negative and unrealistic opinion.
The main users of such systems will be business people, like me and we do not speak loudly as much of what we say is sensitive info.
Given the airframe generated noise, this will not greatly add to the cabin noise and having used VOIP with connexions on several occasions, even the pax in the next seats said they were not disturbed when I did courtesy checks.
An amazing omission for a carrier that usually recognizes the important of premium pax.
And I'm sorry Bahrain Lad, but most Y pax buy on price - given some of the sh*te legroom and of features that they put up with, I don't forsee flacks of pax paying more for Y tickets - look at AAs experience with increasing seat pitch.
What a negative and unrealistic opinion.
The main users of such systems will be business people, like me and we do not speak loudly as much of what we say is sensitive info.
Given the airframe generated noise, this will not greatly add to the cabin noise and having used VOIP with connexions on several occasions, even the pax in the next seats said they were not disturbed when I did courtesy checks.
An amazing omission for a carrier that usually recognizes the important of premium pax.
And I'm sorry Bahrain Lad, but most Y pax buy on price - given some of the sh*te legroom and of features that they put up with, I don't forsee flacks of pax paying more for Y tickets - look at AAs experience with increasing seat pitch.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Fantasy Island
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you honestly think that premium pax (and the Y over J 'value' argument is such a red herring here) will give up a totally flat bed on BA for a slopey-flat bed on LH or SQ just because of Wi-Fi access....when they want to spend most of the flight asleep?
It's kind of like the Sleeper Service when they intro'd it on East Coast routes. Everyone (myself included) squealed about BA removing food from Club and predicted that everyone would flock to the competition where you could still get a full meal on an ex-JFK to Europe.
Now, 80%+ of passengers think the SS is a BA usp, and not the reverse!
Add that to the increasing number of executives who see a longhaul flight as the only time they're free from the tyranny of the office, email, 'Crackberries' and the like....and the lack of wi-fi is not the deal breaker you think it is. And when you factor in the capital cost.....whoa!
It's kind of like the Sleeper Service when they intro'd it on East Coast routes. Everyone (myself included) squealed about BA removing food from Club and predicted that everyone would flock to the competition where you could still get a full meal on an ex-JFK to Europe.
Now, 80%+ of passengers think the SS is a BA usp, and not the reverse!
Add that to the increasing number of executives who see a longhaul flight as the only time they're free from the tyranny of the office, email, 'Crackberries' and the like....and the lack of wi-fi is not the deal breaker you think it is. And when you factor in the capital cost.....whoa!
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Dublin
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the whole BA Wifi thing is merely because the company cannot currently justify the cost of installing the hardware throughout its aircraft, especially when the technology is still in its infancy. Perhaps in a few years when second and third generation systems are available and aircraft are actually designed with it in mind then BA will be happy to have it installed!