As regulars will know I'm not big on posting non-VS trip reports so just a few observations.
We flew out with my Sister in Law, her SO and my nephew aged 5. We weren't looking forward to it as all the carry on restrictions predicated an awfully boring flight. Fortunately a couple of days before we were due to fly they partially relaxed the rules so a quick call to order some new laptop bags and a repack and we were ready.
First thing we noticed on approaching the airport was that nobody was allowed to drop off in the drop off zone for T4 - we were redirected to the car park where a strategically placed bag size checker blocked access to the terminal. You could use this and have an orange 'priority' tag attached to your bag or you could proceed and face larger queues elsewhere.
The security queue (for checking post check in) stretched the length of the terminal inside AND the length of the terminal outside. This did not bode well.
Access to checkin was carefully controlled to about 2.5 hours before flight departure so we went and got a coffee whilst waiting for the flight to open. I checked with BA customer services whether we could all check in together (as whilst Mrs D and I were in Club the others were in Coach) and they OKed this. Score a point for BA. We all approached checkin when it opened and the helpful BA checkin person made us all feel very welcome. Formalities completed she glanced at our companion's boarding passes and said 'Well we'd better Fast Track you too' and promptly attached FastTrack stickers to the remaining three passes. We were quite overwhelmed at this as it meant we could all just walk down to FastTrack avoiding the mega queue!
Security was reasonably straightforward. I'd worn sandles specially as I knew shoe removal was compulsory. Every single bit of electronic kit has to come out of the laptop case for Xraying but apart from that it was a jolly affair! We had planned to go to the Holideck (we weren't planning on leaving the rellies while we went into the lounge) but as things transpired by the time we'd had something to eat it was time to board.
We split and went our separate ways and usual boarding rituals were followed - after a close hand inspection I had been allowed to keep my Airborne tablets! Not much to say about the flight as I worked most of it but the crew were consistently good with the 'Mrs D' 'Mr D' when appropriate, they have London Pride and the food was good! The wine selection was also very drinkable.
Mrs D kept disappearing down the back to drop off newspapers, sweets (encouraged by the crew - 'Take some back for your nephew') etc. I visited once or twice and it was like VS Coach. The wailing babies didn't help and vows were made to try and upgrade on the way back for miles or money by hook or by crook!
Immigration was painless and the bag pickup was quick. So another consistently good flight from BA.
Returning on Monday...
As we drove the hire car back to Dollar I was amused by a large poster advertising Continental which I suspect would strike a chord here...
'We're adding international routes.
They're taking away pillows'
Ouch...
Onto the Monorail (is this really Brent Spiner's voice?) and off to Terminal B. The queues for checkin are huge despite my confident assurances that they wouldn't be. We nip outside the terminal and walk along parallel to check in to get to the Club World check in. Reaching the front of the queue we see that nothing is happening. It seems that the computers for BA have been down on the Eastern Seabord for over an hour so everything is on hold. After another 30 minutes they break out the floor plans of the flight and start trying to do manual check ins. Very brave. So naturally at that moment someone came flying out of the back and announced that the computers were back on line - and lo - there was much rejoicing.
We approached the desk as a family unit again and after Mrs D and I got our Boarding Cards we enquired about a paid upgrade for everyone else. After an initial confusion this was possible - so even more rejoicing. No fastracking the rellies this time though. TSA seemed like a doddle by comparison with the UK - tho' even staff must remove shoes now - and in no time at all we were in the terminal area. It was suggested that I go to the Lounge and put my foot up (I sprained my ankle during the weekend's play activities) but opted instead to stay with everyone in the Sam Adams pub.
Interestingly an announcement was made to the effect that everyone HAD to use US Visit to leave the country so we did but it seems it wasn't being enforced.
We all boarded and we were amazed to see how light the loads were. This was a compulsory 'Sleeper' flight so very limited food availability in Club. Basically hot chocolate or salad and chicken/veggie panini. F had one passenger and J was about half full. W was less than half full.
Service was again consistent with Mr/Mrs D being used at all times. The only problem was the bed. I could not get comfortable - they just aren't as good as the suites in some ways AND there was a vibration that pulsed in an out like a washing machine and kept me awake. At one stage the CSD and another FA were wandering around the cabin laying hands on arm rests to find a less vibrating seat! They located one and I decamped there for a restless couple of hours of sleep.
I returned to my seat for breakfast which was passable. Mrs D had the bacon roll and declared the VS offering the winner. We made our approach 'unusually over Central London' as the female pilot announced and landed pretty much on time. We even had a stand not a remote!
Just for yucks we tried the IRIS entry system (Immigration was empty but having gone to the trouble of registering...) and for both Mrs D and I it insisted on using the top AND the middle cameras in turn. Still nice to know it works!
On to luggage collection and a long wait with belt changes probably occasioned by the reported fire somewhere in the terminal. Priority baggage worked in that ours came off before the others but it still took an age to arrive.
We left the airport and joined the traffic jam that started at the M25 - some accident in Richmond that took 5 hours to clear.
So our latest BA flights seem to show that service remains consistent but that equipment and food can be variable.
Nothing booked now for the rest of the year currently so we'll wait and see who gets the next - VS or BA.
