Club Europe

Hi everyone, just wondered if there were many people on here who have used BA's Club Europe for short European flights? Had a look at a few trip reports but can't make up my mind! I need to go to Hamburg for a couple of days in December and wondered if it is worth the money (373 instead of 178) for such a short flight?

Hi Dan
I wouldnt pay double for a two hour flight, however when you get to the desk for checkin, if you ask for upgrades you will probably get offered Club Europe for 50ow, i fly to Naples annually for the grape(wine)harvesting season 'its a family thing' and always get the upgrade.

cheers
alex

Do you have BA status to access a lounge?If yes and you don't need the TPs I wouldn't bother.If No then 100 each way extra for lounge access, more space on board, a better meal, plenty of champagne, 40TPs(perleg)and a few miles.If you do go for it try to get A/C seats as these have more room.

Hi dan

I travel club europe quite often with BA nearly every time over the last year or two i have managed to get the 50 upgrade price but also pay full J fare if no cheep upgrade is available.

I mainly fly out of choice and dont particularly worry about the extra money, but if I were booking on a cost issue then I would say that probably your are not much better off in Club Europe than economy.
Yes the food offering is better and the lounge is handy and you do get extra FF miles and tier points, also you get slightly wider seat but 195 could get you a good meal and drinks prior to your flight and you would still come out with a lot of change,the legroom is I believe the same in club Europe as economy.

Hope it helps a bit


Jerseyboy.

Originally posted by dan87027
Hi everyone, just wondered if there were many people on here who have used BA's Club Europe for short European flights? Had a look at a few trip reports but can't make up my mind! I need to go to Hamburg for a couple of days in December and wondered if it is worth the money (373 instead of 178) for such a short flight?

Originally posted by jaguarpig
Do you have BA status to access a lounge?If yes and you don't need the TPs I wouldn't bother.If No then 100 each way extra for lounge access, more space on board, a better meal, plenty of champagne, 40TPs(perleg)and a few miles.If you do go for it try to get A/C seats as these have more room.

Ermm ditto

Only a lowly blue member with BA I'm afraid as very rarely use them. Sounds like it is worth waiting to see at the airport then. Does this still gain you the extra miles/tier points? Not sure how it all works on BA!
Cheers for the advice.

If you upgrade at check-in yes you get the extra TPs and miles.If you book a Y trip the option for a cheap upgrade sometimes appears in manage my bookings.Forgot to mention you can also get away with carry on luggage in CE, 2 pieces up to 18kgs in total.

Many thanks!

If I check in online, will they offer the upgrade at bag drop? Do you think?

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
Do you have BA status to access a lounge?If yes and you don't need the TPs I wouldn't bother.If No then 100 each way extra for lounge access, more space on board, a better meal, plenty of champagne, 40TPs(perleg)and a few miles.If you do go for it try to get A/C seats as these have more room.


I have to say I am repeatedly embarrassed for BA at how crap Club Europe [onboard] is. I totally disagree that the meal is better. On several occasions I have been in CE with a colleague in ET. In comparison the taste and quality of the sandwiches in ET has exceeded CE IMHO. Last week I was served two dried-up sandwich triangles with a chunk of the very old fashioned quiche. The sandwiches in ET were sealed and hence very moist.

I also have to say that the champagne is not great either. Standard Pommery. A cross between hair spray and cat sick. If they served Pommery Pop I'd be happier.

I just wish Virgin would start their own UK/Europe airline, like Virgin America, covering the destinations BA fly to. I'd never fly BA again. BA needs to refit CE flights with better seats. You get better seats on BMI Business and it feels like a proper separate cabin.

A controversial one, as you can see. Front of the plane seats are a bit better on the BA european flights, but those sets extend at least to the emergency exits, you tend to get a fair few at the front of the economy cabin and online checkin will allow you to snag one of those. I believe BA was due to suspend conversion of the CE cabin to wider seats, (from which JPs A/C pairing comment) and have now committed to the LH model of not selling the middle seat on CE flights. Still better space, but it was nicer before IMO.

Pricing's all over the place. I was looking at some tickets LHR-PRG and the difference between ET and CE was 36 pounds each way. At that difference, it's worth it! It is not usually this way, though. Upgrades are difficult to predict. On a flight to Athens last November I got it offered both ways - those flights are on 767s and there was lots of space. Flying to PRG in Feb the planes were pretty much full, and no upgrades to be had. Flights from LGW are lower yield anyway, so for sure on something like Naples (or Pisa, as I do) you can always get the 50 bucks offer.

I tend not to do this unless I have a REALLY long layover at LHR, and want a nice place to rest. I've come in at 7am and had to wait for a 3pm flight. Definitely worth it then. Normally not worth it, especially in T5.

Agree that food & drink leaves a lot to be desired at times. Afternoon tea's a joke, order the seafood special meal and you'll do a lot better [;)]

quote:Originally posted by mcnaugha




I also have to say that the champagne is not great either. Standard Pommery.



I quite like Pommery blue label don't know if the small bottles make a difference but then again I'm easy to please as long as its filled up regularly.In my experience the food quality and quantity is dependent on the catering band of the flight.Not taken a euro for a bit so will be interested to see what the new 2+2 seating is like and sample the Alberto Balsam puss puke fizz[:D]

I also like the Pommery and disagree strongly about the food, I frequent LGW-AMS in CE and their ability to serve a tasty meal in the evening within 45 minutes with professionalism and a few drinks is amazing!