BA - Barbados - Club Class

Well what can I say? I was going to give you both trip reports of our flights to/from Barbados but as both flights were identical in every way - One word - Useless - How can BA call themselves a four star airline?

Boarding at Heathrow was ok with no delays at all. The terrace lounge is big but nothing compared to the Clubhouse in Gatwick. Once on board we were offered usual champers which was good. One thing I noticed was the postage size screen for the IFE. Its a joke to be honest. It took them then ove 2.5 hours to get the system going and then it started 15 mins into all the programs. Selection was also not the best but the quality of the picture was as useless as the selection.

Next on the agenda was the food . I was served by a french FA who must have been trained by Ryanair as his skills were as bad as the slop they presented as food. I have to say that in the past I have given out about the food on VS but this was a joke.

Anyway once I had had the delicious cardboard crackers with cheese I decided to watch was left of the movie. I then decided to put the seat into its bed configeration - I have to say its very hard and uncomfortable - very narrow and considering I am 5ft7 + 13 stone I dont take up very much space.

Our return flight was the exact same with same grumpy type of of FAs.
One very good thing was the Sandy Lane + BA have a special departure area that was top notch seperate private check in area that saves you the usual immigration / security delays. 10/10 for this set up.

Good grief BA have gone down the drains big time with their service to Barbados. How they are rated a four star airline is beyond me and I know mabe the service is better from Heathrow but to be very honest I will pay the extra next year and stick with VS.

Oh one more thing - the amenity bag -- Its also a joke - fancy bag with nothing but rubbish in it.

Thank god for the Sandy Lane. I will post the TR on this later and explain why I feel its the best I have ever stayed at anywhere.

K

I got 25k miles after my BA CW flight, as the entertainment wasn't working, so it's worth writing to them from the web site and explaining your issues. I received a phone call back a few weeks later going through the issues and it did feel like they had followed up on the comments, and not just with the usual VS 'here's some miles, we don't care' attitude.

I have noticed that BA miles upgrades from WT+ to CW are much cheaper than VS though, and you need less miles, so although the flights weren't perfect, I will be using them again.

To be honest we flew with them as there was four flying and there was a huge saving - But I can now see why. Old product / The IFE is old / The staff were also as old / Not even at check in was there a smile anywhere.

I don't think the age of the staff matters. In some respects, the older ones are better as they don't tend to gather in the galley and giggle.

Their new entertainment system is better than VS I think, though it's also quite flaky. The man from BA said complaints were down, so they appear to be getting the issues ironed out. I'm flying to Chicago in October, and will be getting the old VS entertainment system, which with the money and miles it's cost me, shows that VS could do better too. VS are quite happy to charge premium prices for a non premium product. Maybe prices should reflect that. If you fly on an A343, it should be cheaper than a 747?

Both airlines have their faults, it just seems that VS aren't listening to their punters as much as BA, as they think they know what we want better than we do.

BA were awfull on this flight and thats that. The food was just terrible and I mean bad. I have flown on the same route with the old IFA with VS and its much better. The fact it has a screen and not the size of 'Barbie and Kens ' tv set. There was only one word for it - A JOKE. I think they state they are the worlds favourite airline --- ehh I think Michael O Leary has had some influence here to be honest. SRB, you have nothing to worry about at all.

[RichardMannion]

Does this mean you won't have anymore questions about BA? [:?]

Yep all answered by that last flight

Forgot to mention by the way - My 13 year old girl ws offered a kids meal only - its was terrible - she said she would prefer an adult meal and they advised there was none left --- this when there was many others still to be served - I asked the FA to give her something else - after some grumping and humping she eventually got 'lamb' -

Did you order a childs meal for your 13 year old?

No we ordered no kids meals at all

Doesn't sounds like a good flight at all!

Was it on a 3 Class (no First) 777? I THINK that all of the 747s have been refitted now and that they have starte don the 777s. The new Club Wolrd seats are better (although I am only a little person and didn't have much trouble sleeping in the old seats) and the IFE system is MILES better (with good sized screens).

BA food normally tastes good. Although their main course - 'all on one plate' - presentation sometimes leaves a bit to be desired: it works well for som dishes (like shepherds/fish pie), not so well for others... They generally do leave the packaging on things (like nuts, crackers and sometimes sandwiches).

That is just bizzare about the kids meal. To be honest I would have completely refused the kids meal for the 13 year old - that is not on (unless you specifically requested one for her - which you did not...). It isn't for the crew to decide who should have a kids meal (be a bit like handing a slightly chubby person a low calorie meal (that they didn't order) and saying 'that's all there is for you - you look like you could do with loosing a few pounds, so I am giving it to you'... [n] ). Did you complain about it to the Purser?

Am sorry that you had such bad flights. The new CW seat and IFE is better and normally the crew are really good. Maybe the food thing is 'horses for courses'.

Boo

Boo,

There was 9 of us in total and and all the kids sat together from ages 6 to 13. My 10 year old in fgact called the FA back and said the food was 'horrible2 and could she have the lamb in stead. 30 mins later after much huffing and puffing they did appear with it.

I think it was just a bad trip and all in all BA are a faily good airline. Lets be honest we dont fly to eat do we. The sooner the better they get rid of the old CW as I have heard such good reports about the NCW.

Was it on a 3 Class (no First) 777?

Think these are 4 class 777 to BGI.

4 class

I didnt realise that there was such a marked difference between the BA LGW fleet and LHR ! worth bearing in mind ! Im sure even the 'old' CW seats had reasonable IFE. Was the seating the back to front CW style sleepers ?

Mark [:D]

Originally posted by porsche911
I think it was just a bad trip and all in all BA are a faily good airline. Lets be honest we dont fly to eat do we. The sooner the better they get rid of the old CW as I have heard such good reports about the NCW.

I think/hope that you are right and it was just a bit of bad luck: I have been lucky to have consistently good crews on BA CW.

You are right that we don't 'fly to eat', but it is all part of the experience... eating is a pleasurable way to pass the time when on a long flight and rightly or wrongly we hope for some reasonable food when flying Business Class [8D] (within the bounds of what can be catered for 30,000 odd feet up in a metal tube, of course [;)] ).

I am not a huge fan of CW on the 4 Class 777 - I love CW on the 747 and it can also be excellent on a 3 Class 777, but the set-up on the 4 Class 777 is not particularly nice. Although, I always remind myself that, CW on a 4 Class 777 is ALWAYS better than economy on any aircraft... [;)]

I have always got on with the CW lie flat seats (the cradle seats have been gone for some years), but I am pretty little (5'4' and fairly slim). The old IFE is not terrible, but I think that we expect so much more these days ('on demand' is highly desirable).

Boo

Boo,
If the IFE / Service had all 'worked' / 'being more professional' I suppose I would not have had such a go at the flight. Anyway its all over now and VS will hopefully be my next flight ---- however I suppose when we fly out in 2009 to Barbados there is a strong chance of the LGW 777s being fitted with the NCW. Now that would be a challange to fly the old UC with the NCW being available.

Originally posted by porsche911
Boo,
If the IFE / Service had all 'worked' / 'being more professional' I suppose I would not have had such a go at the flight. Anyway its all over now and VS will hopefully be my next flight ---- however I suppose when we fly out in 2009 to Barbados there is a strong chance of the LGW 777s being fitted with the NCW. Now that would be a challange to fly the old UC with the NCW being available.

& BA have just started a BA Club and FIRST sale with some good fares to Barbados (and others) in both cabins...... me thinkin of booking a hol or 2 while the sale lasts (esp FIRST upgrade fares)

[url][/url]http://www.britishairways.com/travel/holiday-fares/public/en_gb/?campaign=bah&product=ce

Regards

HG

Did you try Diall A Flight - Amazing packages at the moment for Barbados for the SWL+CW

I suppose when we fly out in 2009 to Barbados there is a strong chance of the LGW 777s being fitted with the NCW. Now that would be a challange to fly the old UC with the NCW being available.

After your anticipated and perceived experience on these BA flights I don't think BA is for you even with NNNNNNNNCW[:D]

I didnt realise that there was such a marked difference between the BA LGW fleet and LHR !

The 4 class 777 to BGI is identical to the LHR 777.Only difference on these aircraft is the size of the IFE screens and some have 17 seats in F rather than 14.I think the small screen aircraft are used on shorter routes east coast US,Caribbean and middle east.

Sorry to drag this topic back up again, but I've been out of the 'loop' for a little while and would like to air the Senior Ponds' (my parents') experience flying this very route in CW a few weeks back.

Traditionally they are VS devotees, especially on the BGI route, having been going to and fro since the early '00s. Price and price alone made them ditch UC for CW this spring (think £1K each fare difference).

Outbound, they abided it. Found the seat OK, food OK, but the crew 'distant' and overworked. On the homebound leg they hated it. Poor food with limited choice, hassled and often rude crew and a coffin to try and get some sleep in. In particular, my mother found it really difficult getting into the aisle from her seat when everyone was bedded down. After their numerous UC experiences they found CW lacked the 'special' atmosphere of their VS trips.

Mum has already stated that if there's a grand's difference when they look to book for next year, she'll pay it!

So it was not just me feeling BA were for the 'dogs' in compared to VS.