BA059 LHR-CPT 27 NOV 11 (CLUB WORLD)
Posted: 12 Dec 2011, 09:23Some of you will remember that this trip was blighted with a 12 hours and 25 minute delay of my VS603 flight to CPT. This was substituted by those great folk in the CS team, (especially at the CS desk in MAN) by an BA flight 059 instead. All this was in order to make my onward connection from Cape Town to Durban.
So here it comes, what should have been my first ever VS Upper Class experience replaced by a B. A Club World Experience. I have combined the sectors in one big TR if that’s OK. This does go on a bit.
The MAN/AMS (In Economy) sector went without a hitch. Bag dropped then onto departures area and up and away to AMS..all courtesy of Avios miles with KLM (booked before the cut off date when charges applied so no cost other than the Avios).
The MAN experience was enhanced by spending a shed load of time discussing the options caused by the LHR/CPT delay with the VS team...all per my previous post...here...http://v-flyer.com/forum/index.php?f=4&t=272125&rb_v=viewtopic
Arrived AMS, bags took around 20 minutes to arrive and then off to departures area. Bag drop was a dream. I was checked into the AMS/LHR (got seat 1C, SEQ15 via OLCI the day before) The bag was checked all the way to CPT. I even got my BP for the LHR/CPT sector all sorted and allocated seat 17D (SEQ 125 ).
Check in agent was superb, knowledgeable and, even advised me that the closest BA Lounge at LHR would probably be in the area near the “B” Gates as there isn’t a lounge near to the “C” Gates area from where my CPT flight was due to depart ...all this from an agent in AMS, not even got to LHR yet.
Once checked in, off through a quick and efficient security area and what seemed like and age to walk to the BA lounge.
Not sure how long I spent in the BA lounge before the flight to LHR. Nice lounge. Very quiet, only 4 passengers using it. There was more activity by the lounge staff pimping the lounge with Christmas decorations.
A good selection of snacks and drinks. The lounge itself is airy and just that bit of class higher than the Servisair type lounges at MAN and LHR.
A non eventful flight to LHR, wide, bulkhead seat, efficient CC, but I can’t remember what was to eat ....it wouldn’t have been much on such a short flight and certainly not the BA Breakfast that Dear HL was struck down by!..too late in the day for that.
Arrived in LHR T5 in good time to catch the CPT Flight.
A trip on the transit train from the main zone to the “B” Area and up to the lounge.
Aah, this is better. This was my first time in the lounge and a really nice place to be. Again, only a handful of pax so very quiet and calm. By this time, after travelling from Wigan over to AMS then back to LHR the travelling “Munchies” were starting to get the better of me so, over to the buffet (Hot and Cold) and a nice light snack of Beef Stroganoff was enjoyed. This was washed down by at first, a loooooong orange squash but afterwards, the usual B n C had to be consumed.....then another, well its rude not to enjoy what is part if the deal..isn’t it?
In no time, the CPT flight was called and after unplugging the lappy from the charging point and collecting all my worldly goods, off I toddled for another transit train ride to “Area “C”. (The AMS Agent was bang on with her advice of gates and lounge locations). All these “Areas” makes it sounds like there could be an “Area 51” locally OO ERR.
A bit of a wait at the gate but soon called forward to board with priority lanes open and down the bridge to turn left, erm, no.. right...What!
... All along I was looking forward to turning left on a plane but BA Club World on this 747 is to the right. Greeted by name by the welcoming committee and personally shown to my seat which was no more than 8 feet away from the door!
Must admit that 17D is a great seat though. In the middle row of 4 with nobody having to climb over me unlike the A and C seats across the aisle.
Suitably seated and served with an orange juice, we were off, about 30 minutes late with an estimated flight time of 11 hours 50 minutes. God its strange having a different set of rules for economy pax ....no need to raise my seat back, just the usual no tables or electronics rule. Must have been even stranger for the pax next to me ..they were facing backwards.
Seat was in good condition with no signs of use or abuse.
Noticed all the window blinds in this part of the cabin were closed and remained so for the duration of the flight, including the landing at CPT.
Personal service was to the fore with the Purser attending to my every need throughout the flight. He even managed to find me a power adaptor for me to borrow so that I could use the lappy for the previous posts on here.
Soon after take off, Dinner orders taken along with delivery of a B n C to carry things on from the lounge.
Dinner arrived, I had the salmon and prawn starter with a loveley Chablis . Main course was a really juicy beef fillet which even in comparison to some restaurants, this was brill. Chablis was in abundance with Mr. Purser topping up as required along with ample supplies of water.
IFE was a great selection. I used my QC 15’s to great effect when watching Pirates of the Caribbean 4. Listed to Elbow and Billy Joel on Paddy. Elbow's "On a Day Like This" summed up the day nicely.
And so to bed. The seat motored into action on demand and converted easily to completely flat. Bed was a bit firm and, with just a blanket an pillow (no duvet),I must have slept for around 5 hours because I woke to the smell of brekky and 90 minutes remaining before landing. So a full English was duly ordered, consumed and survived.
WOW, what a great flight...the long sleep obviously helped by all the evening drinks!
Connected to Durban on time. Usual short haul Business Class flight with BA (Operated by Comair in South Africa), then chilled a lot poolside before starting my decorating and maintenance chores on the house. Then not too long after ( a couple of days) I started to enjoy my well earned rest.
So, again all credit to VS for getting me where I needed to be in a cabin class on with an airline that I never thought I’d be on. I’ve even had my miles and TP’s credited to my FC account and, get this, I got Avios as well through my BA Exec Club Account!.
Next thing though, I’m going to compare the return from JNB with the original VS Upper Class plan.Just to whet your appetite, this comes complete with a couple of SEQ 1's and an awesome CC....So, I’ll do this TR for you all to compare...unless this one’s been too heavy to read?
Cheers
Paul
Sounds like BA gave you an awesome flight with everything you could want from the CW package 
