#939676 by marshy11
19 Nov 2017, 12:12
Long post alert. Feel free to skim read. :)

The first “blip” (a few weeks out) was a myflight notification that our outbound flight was changed. It was. We had been pushed from F to J in the swipe of a hot towel.

We rang YouFirst. An earlier flight was available but with only one reward seat so we opted to check our options overnight and the YouFirst lady said she would email redemptions to see if they would release a second seat. An email a few hours later showed us both in F on the BA203 - 8 seat cabin.

T-24
The day arrived for our first First. It had been fairly straight forward, bar the odd rumour on H4P and FT which made us worry that our 2-4-1 would see us downgraded. Because of that, we had plans (different timings/destinations) and felt confident we would get to the East Coast on F with flexibility.

With a mid afternoon departure we decided to head up to Heathrow the night before to stay at the Renaissance and take a leisurely trip across to the terminal the morning of our flight rather than the M5/M4 lottery from Cornwall on the day.

A night at the Renaissance with parking was such a great deal (and I do love their bedding) at £100 with 8 days parking. We also booked a night for our return to make full use of the daytime flight home.

On the way and halfway between Bristol and Swindon the app told us that we needed to check in

Second blip. We couldn’t check in and were given a message to proceed to the airport. I rang YouFirst. The issue appeared to be connected to our changed flight. He was a little off with me and tried to infer the problem was because we had initiated the change and not done it properly! When I explained the downgrade from F to J wasn’t our choice and the swap from x flight to y flight, he seemed more helpful but didn’t resolve the issue and told us to try again “in an hour”.

I tried again and met the same issue. Worried we had been bumped (8 seat cabin remember) I rang and this time met the most helpful person I could have wished for. After a 45 minute call, we were sorted; in so much as we were checked in but our boarding passes wouldn’t load.

And breathe.

A great night at the Renaissance and a leisurely journey to the terminal.

The First Wing was quick, efficient and professional. We were through in less than two minutes. Into Galleries and straight out the other side and into the CCR. Personally I really liked it. Comfortable seating, airy and great staff. The downsides for me were the magazines (rubbish selection) and the horrid ‘sliders duo’ from the bar menu. Treatments in the Elemis spa were wonderful. Time to leave with an empty lounge and busy airport.

We did the transit walk (thanks FT for the pictorial) and made the transit in time for boarding groups to be called.

First were called and as we boarded we were pointed to our seats (no issue, but a perk of F is being taken to your suite). That aside the suite was great.

Image

Image

As I settled in the suite and pressed the buttons and dials I was asked if I wanted a glass of fizz. Having seen the menu, I was excited to see Camel Valley - it’s £26 in Waitrose round here (half an hour from where it’s grown) but I LOVE IT, and I was amazed it was on the main fizz menu.

Image

We taxied, departed and as the seatbelt signs were turned off the crew re-emerged. The Camel Valley had run out (only 1 bottle loaded) :-(

Meals were ok, service wasn’t great.

Image

Image

Image

About half an hour after lunch (a day flight) the lights were dimmed, blinds were automatically pulled down and I felt like I was on a red eye.

Image

I moved across to 2A (vacant on take off), lifted the blinds and turned on the lights. One member of the crew came to see if I need anything and I queried the night flight mode. He apologised and the cabin lights were turned back on, albeit not in full daytime lighting.

Image

The rest of the flight went well - in quiet mode and with no one asking and therefore the crew not giving - we made a few trips to the galley for top-ups and I asked for chocolates - the crew looked a little surprised at me asking…. (the chocs hadn’t appeared during normal service). Brand new box of chocs was presented and a big deal was made of the box being opened in front of me - really!. Ha!

Afternoon tea was served about 90 minutes out.

Image

Image

Overall it was a lovely small cabin and a great seat/suite. I was disappointed in the night mode and felt a little short-changed on service.

Image

We arrived at Boston ahead of schedule and within 15 minutes we’d navigated an empty immigration hall and collected our bags. Superb ground agents in every department.

Image
#939677 by buns
19 Nov 2017, 12:37
Hi Marshy

Thanks for the TR - worth the long read :-D

As a mere bystander of BA First, your experience of the booking shenanigans does make me wonder whether BA are actively trying to scupper the 2-4-1 situation. However good to hear you managed that first First!!

I was also surprised with your comments about the on board service, I too would have expected a little more.

nevertheless, you made it to Boston - hope you had a good time and are not put off of BA for the future.

buns
#939680 by pjh
19 Nov 2017, 14:59
Meals...ok
Service...not great
..and surely more effort could be made with the afternoon tea sandwiches?

Doesn't make me long for a BA F experience...but perhaps your return leg was better?
#939685 by Hamster
19 Nov 2017, 18:37
Thanks for the TR, service sounds a little off though! I think the escorting to seat is going to be scrapped, its not popular with regulars apparently!

The 787-9 seat is my favourite!
#939686 by hiljil
19 Nov 2017, 18:41
I have been looking forward to hearing about your First First & hoping you had the same wonderful experience that I had. Obviously you didn’t & I feel let down on your behalf. What a great shame.

I do hope the return flight proved more memorable & for all the right reasons.

Thank you for posting & for the photos.
#939692 by marshy11
19 Nov 2017, 20:35
Buns I don't think BA are trying to scupper but I do think forums like FT and H4P give some doubt. It certainly gave us cause for concern after the original flight change. But likewise those sites gave us enough to be prepared for further change - thankfully it wasn't needed.

PJH the afternoon tea wasn't a patch on the "old" VS afternoon tea. The sandwiches were good and yes, that was a single sultana/current in my scone (although being from Cornwall we don't do black bits in the dough)!

There were 8 suites and only 7 were taken. Perhaps my standards are too high but then again, perhaps not!

The return flight was a tale of two halves part two, yes it was EXCELLENT and all that I should have had in F on the way out. Hiljil, I didn't feel let down by the outward, but I did expect more - service is the base line for me. The outward flight on their flashy 789 should have been the bees, but the return on an older 747 was better, enough for me to say I would do it again.....oh wait, we are......roll on St Lucia in April. Until then, it's another (mediocre) CE flight to Rome and some odd balls.
#939812 by Bretty
22 Nov 2017, 22:25
Thanks for the TR Marshy, and the photos which I always forget. It’s another perfect example of the crew and leadership making the difference in service and the customer experience. I mean, for goodness sake, putting the cabin into night mode on a day flight is a way of hoping the pax will take the hint and not bother anyone so the crew can gossip in the galley.

Thanks again for sharing.
#939916 by ultreen1
28 Nov 2017, 17:00
marshy, such a shame the crew were lacklustre. but it didn't put you off booking them again so thats a plus. but great TR and lovely pics!
i must have been very fortunate because i had fantastic crews on both legs in First. i even had a coffee "made with love" by one of the crew.
we've converted to BA fully now! cards! 241! avois! even flying CE!! and in january we become silver!
still not as much fun to be had flying BA as you do with VS. i need to use up my stash of VS miles on a nyc trip soon!
D
#939940 by Sealink
30 Nov 2017, 00:22
Great TR and I think you have encapsulated that the BA experience never really gets close to VS on a good day.

But the seats are so comfy...
#939944 by marshy11
30 Nov 2017, 11:38
Sealink the seats really are SO comfy and we did love the Godfrey, oh my goodness those marshmallow pillows!

Ultreen, we are the same - converted to BA - we both hit Bronze quite quickly with a few paid CE trips but in the transition it's meant silver will allude us for a while longer as out accounts were both reset recently and the only upcoming flights are 2-4-1 or standard avios. That said we've a few more things to book and actually pay for....

Bretty, the night mode was the most annoying and to be fair to BA I dropped them an email and had a telephone call back within 24 hours. The feedback is being fed back to the crew. Let's hope they get the hint!
Virgin Atlantic

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests

Itinerary Calendar