BA294 ORD–LHR
7 Jun 12
1715-0655
Boeing 777-200
4 class
World Traveller Plus
5 rows; 21–25
2–4–2
Seats 25AB
We had been staying at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare for a few nights and checked in online using the computers provided in the lobby for the purpose. We had paid the additional £30 each when booking in order to choose our seats, 25AB, and confirmed these when we checked in.
Check-out time at the Hilton is 1200 so we stayed in our very comfortable room until
1100, left our bags with Bell Services and headed out for lunch. After lunch we retrieved our bags and Bell Services took us to Terminal 5 in the hotel shuttle. (Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are walkable from the Hilton, although a bit of a trek with luggage in tow; Terminal 5 involves using the train, and we had too much luggage to do that trip comfortably.)
Although we had paperwork to say check-in opened at 1315, when we arrived at 1320 the sign said it would open at 1345. When the check-in staff arrived they manned the First/Business Class desk and the Economy desk but there was no-one at the Bag Drop desk so we had to wait until the 2 chaps in the Business Class queue were dealt with and then that agent called us over.
Terminal 5 is dreadful, particularly as an international terminal. Obviously designed pre-9/11 there appears to be just one access between landside and airside (a concept previously unknown in the US unlike in the UK). This now acts as the security queue area, with the security area itself being where the corridor opens out into airside. What few shops there are, and the food court, are landside, in the security queue corridor. The food court is right at the end, next to the security area, and is the only place to get hot food. If you want to eat there you have to fight your way past the security queues and remember to leave enough time after you have eaten to get through security in time for your flight.
After we got rid of our luggage, the security queue was spilling out into the check-in area. We had plenty of time so went for a ride on the airport train; when we got back the queue was marginally shorter but we still joined it in the check-in area. It took 45 minutes to get through security at what I believe was not an especially busy time. The length of time seemed to be down to the usual TSA inefficiency combined with the usual number of passengers who seem bewildered at the very idea of having to go through security. Admittedly, this was the first time I recall even having to take my watch off!
As always, and to the usual amusement of my DH, I was chosen to go through the whole body scanner. I worked my way back around to where my carry-on, shoes etc were going through the x-ray. Before my stuff appeared there were another couple of boxes, one with a laptop, the other with a bag in it. The chap next to me asked the TSA agent, “Are these mine?”. Not surprisingly, the TSA agent said he did not know. For a moment I thought the chap was going to ask me the same question but he obviously thought better of it. Had I been quicker on the uptake I could have nabbed the laptop for myself!
Placed right opposite the security exit was a kiosk selling cold bottles of beer from coolers. I expect they do a roaring trade. After the last 45 minutes, even I was tempted and I do not drink beer! Unfortunately there is little other sustenance available once you are airside. No hot food, no fresh coffee, no fountain drinks. In addition to the beer, there are just a couple of kiosks selling coffee from a flask, with pre-packed sandwiches and bottled soda in a fridge. There are also a couple of Hudson News outlets, sort of fitted in against a wall; they also have pre-packed sandwiches and bottled soda in fridges.
I know the terminal was designed and built pre-9/11 but this length of time later it is ridiculous that the facilities have not yet been improved. Indeed, from a quick Google search, it seems that only recently has it been agreed that improvements need to be made – if it has taken this long for that to be acknowledged, I dread to think how long it will take to actually make them. It smacks of Chicago O’Hare not caring about the international airlines and their customers. Notably, the US carriers do not use Terminal 5 for departures, only arrivals, so their passengers are not affected. The other terminals at O’Hare are well served for both food and shopping options.
We found a seat at the gate, close to the desk. There were large groups of mostly teenagers milling around who appeared to be heading to Italy for a sports competition. There was a constant queue of people at the desk looking for upgrades or seat changes. Online WTP appeared to be only 2/3 full but once onboard I could see only one empty seat. I saw several people being upgraded at the desk; whilst I cannot swear to it, from their facial expressions I would guess they were free upgrades.
Even if paying, I have seen online that upgrades are often available on transatlantic flights for less than £200. Which is a bargain given that we paid twice the economy fare to travel in WTP, plus the £30 each to choose our seats. It is somewhat annoying that upgrades can be obtained so cheaply but we would not want to risk waiting so we pay upfront. It is even more annoying when upgrades are given for free, particularly when no differentiation is made once on board, eg for meal availability, as is done on other airlines.
The crew were late arriving because they were apparently stuck in traffic; they did not tip up until 1650. Obviously this delayed boarding. Being in WTP we were last to board – BA’s policy is to board by row number from the rear forward which makes perfect sense but means that WTP boards last of all, hardly what you might expect of a supposedly premium product.
Once onboard we found that our seats were already occupied. It took a little while to find a member of cabin crew and ask them to remedy the situation. They tried to take the easy way out and asked if we would simply sit in the seats that were available. Having booked 25AB (last row of the 5 WTP rows) several months ago, and having paid £30 each for the privilege, we were not prepared to do this. The cabin crew did then get the other passengers to move so that we could have our assigned seats.
The seats were comfortable but the IFE screens were very small and the picture quality was too poor to watch. Unlike our previous BA flight (LHR to DEN), the IFE was not AVOD. In this 4-class 777-200 configuration there are 5 rows of WTP, located in a separate cabin between Business and Economy. There are no toilets in the cabin but they are situated immediately behind WTP at the front of the Economy cabin.
Scheduled departure was 1715 but we took off around 1800.
There are no dedicated cabin crew for WTP and those we had were pretty much uninterested, same attitude as the cabin crew on our Denver flight. It seemed quite a while until they did the first (and only) drinks run. We were only given one small can of soda – when we asked for a second it was given somewhat grudgingly. This was the only drinks run of the whole flight; there were no water/juice runs, even though BA do not provide a bottle of water for each passenger as some airlines do. There was absolutely no recognition from the cabin crew that WTP was anything other than the first 5 rows of Economy.
There was no printed menu for dinner, although we did have these on our Denver flight. I was given my special meal – fruit platter. This was marginally better than previously; it was at least on a WTP tray with metal cutlery and cloth napkin. For some reason I had butter but no bread to go with it, but I did get a mini KitKat. There was an ordinary small starter salad and a larger dish containing watermelon, honeydew, pineapple and cantaloupe. It was not bad but there was not much of it compared to the size of the standard meal. Unlike the previous flight where I had no dessert, this time I did get the same dessert as the standard meal.
The entrees in WTP to/from LHR are supposedly choices from Business Class. However, by row 4 of WTP the choice was simply pasta, take it or leave it. DH did not want pasta so told the FA that he would not have anything. She offered him “chicken curry from economy”, which he also declined. (As this was the only economy choice mentioned, presumably all 15 rows of economy were given the same choice – chicken curry, take it or leave it!) Neither of us were offered a drink with our meal, and we had to catch her as she came back through the cabin to ask for one. However, she did then reappear with a beef meal from business for DH which she went and put on a WTP tray, so DH did get something to eat and said it was okay.
Breakfast for me was a cardboard box containing a Dole fruit cup, a cup of orange juice and something unsuccessfully pretending to be a cherry Danish. The standard breakfast was a pre-packed orange and lemon muffin and the offer of coffee, tea or juice (only one, not coffee and juice – I heard someone ask and be refused).
We landed late and were at the gate by 0745. We arrived at the B gates so had a fair trek and train ride to the main terminal. Using the electronic kiosks we were through Immigration fairly quickly. Luggage started to arrive not long after we reached bag claim and our bags were amongst the first off, which was a result.
Having not been impressed with WTP on our flight to Denver, this flight did not improve our opinion. It is not a good product, especially when compared to Virgin’s Premium Economy, even though it is a similar cost and is marketed as being comparable. In reality, a more accurate comparison would be with United Airlines Economy Plus, ie just extra legroom. Unlike Virgin, there is no separate check-in desk, no priority boarding (in fact, just the opposite!), no priority luggage and no dedicated cabin crew.
Despite the BA website mentioning a complimentary newspaper, none were offered. The website does not mention that WTP boards last but does say WTP is “given priority when leaving the aircraft” – I do not believe that is a specific benefit but simply a result of WTP being located between Business and Economy! The “complimentary bar service … throughout your journey” consisted of one drinks run, and we saw no evidence whatsoever of the “snacks”.
By comparison, on our most recent flight in Virgin PE, by the time I took my seat I had been given 2 newspapers, a Hello magazine and a bottle of water. Before departure I had been offered sparkling wine, orange juice or a mixture of the two, and more newspapers. Drinks were offered regularly, by the dedicated cabin crew who came around and asked as well as being available in the galley, and who always gave 2 of the small soda cans. A full bar service was offered with the main meal; there was an ice cream run and several water/juice runs; a fruit bowl was available to help yourself from; and other snacks were offered during the flight (including hot savoury snacks). The meal was the usual appalling airline food but there was more of it, including cheese and biscuits, so more chance of finding something edible. Also, Virgin provided a hot “full English” breakfast on the overnight flight, with juice and tea/coffee; a considerably better offering than the WTP breakfast.
I do not dispute that the WTP seats are presumably more comfortable and spacious than in Economy. As we do not want to travel in Economy and cannot often afford Business, and Virgin do not have the routes we need, travelling BA WTP is sometimes our only option. So we pay the cost, plus the extra £30 to choose our seats (which Virgin do not charge). But that cost is definitely over-inflated for the product, which could be why it seems upgrades are often available for less than £200 on transatlantic routes. BA should either improve the product to bring it in line with Virgin PE or re-brand it as extra legroom only and reduce the cost accordingly. Although I suppose they’re unlikely to do that as long as people, me included, keep booking it as it is.
I’ve drawn up a table to provide a quick reference comparison between the BA WTP and Virgin PE products, based on information from the airlines websites and our recent experience. I hope this may be of help to anyone thinking of booking either product. (Couldn’t post the table so have listed it instead.)
Dedicated check-in desk
WTP – No
PE – Yes
Checked baggage allowance
WTP – 2 x 23kg
PE – 2 x 23kg
Priority baggage
WTP – No
PE – Yes
Priority boarding
WTP – No (in fact WTP is very last group to board)
PE – Yes
Seat pitch
WTP – BA website does not specify but SeatGuru says 38”
PE – 38”
Cabin layout
WTP – on 777, 2-4-2, 3 or 5 rows
PE – on 747, 2-2 upstairs and 2-4-2 downstairs; 2-3-2 on A340 and A330
Dedicated toilets
WTP – No. On 777, where 3 rows WTP, toilets are in middle of Economy cabin; where 5 rows, toilets are in Economy cabin but immediately behind WTP
PE – depends on aircraft and configuration
Entertainment (IFE)
WTP – varies according to aircraft
PE – varies according to aircraft
Dedicated cabin crew
WTP – No
PE – Yes
Pre-departure drink
WTP – No
PE – Yes
Different meal to Economy
WTP – Yes; to/from LHR and LGW, not clear for other routes
PE – Yes
Food extras
WTP – No
In our experience:
One drinks run on 8½ hour flight, then a few water/juice runs during flight
One drinks run on 7½ hour flight, no water/juice runs
PE - Yes
Help-yourself fresh fruit
More food on the tray (eg cheese and biscuits)
Ice cream (all classes, not just WTP)
Other snacks (sweet and savoury) offered during flight
In our experience:
Drinks readily available – crew either do drinks runs (offering water/juice or actually asking what you want) or you could go to galley any time
Bottle of water provided
WTP – No
PE – Yes
Reading material
WTP – No (except BA in-flight magazine)
PE – Yes; newspapers and magazines as you board, newspapers offered onboard
Extra mileage points
WTP – 25%
PE – 125-150%
