V-Flyer

A fairly short TR from me, while I'm sitting in the CNAC lounge at HKG, waiting for my onward flight to Dalian...

This was my first CW flight in donkeys years. Ordinarily, I'd have been on the VS200, but because of my very convoluted itinerary for this week, BA was the only option that made sense. Plus it ensured that I'd get over the line to BAEC Silver, which I was otherwise likely to fall just short of (which would have been criminal, given just how many domestic legs I've done this year). So overall quite happy.

In terms of the pre-flight stuff, some of you might have noticed that I already posted on this, but just to recap, BA is not in the same league as VS when it comes to a seamless transport, check in and lounge experience. Not that it was bad per se, but I guess my standards are set quite high these days I do however think that BA need to be clearer on their directions for check in for CW (and First) passengers.

So the main point of this - the flight itself. When I originally booked, I was confined to a less than attractive downstairs middle seat, but 4 days out, a minor miracle happened and 64B came free on the upper deck, so I happily switched. I was quite late getting to my seat as I was chatting to a colleague downstairs, so by the time I got there, 64A had already raised the dividing screen, so no awkwardness there, as I know can sometimes happen.

The seat itself - extremely comfortable, more so than the UCS I think. Easy to use, the footrest seemed a bit flimsy when let down, but seemed to manage the weight of my legs easily enough .

Service - excellent. 2 CC for the fairly small upper deck meant that I didn't have to wait for anything I needed, and drinks were frequently topped up without me feeling like an alcoholic for asking

Food - very good, and again, ahead of VS based on recent experiences. Good leaf salad alongside the starter (asparagus, parmesan, cesar dressing). A very nice beef curry as well. The cheese was acceptable although nothing to write home about - cheddar, camembert and a few crackers and tiny cubes of membrillo.

Wines - good quality, found a very decent Cabernet that I stuck with throughout the flight, as well as some Warre LBV for the port.

I managed a bit of sleep, but I'm generally an insomniac on planes, so the lack of a bar that I could go and sit at for a while was a minor irritant. The converted bed itself was comfortable enough, a couple more inches of legroom would have been nice, but I didn't feel too squashed.

So all in all, how does it compare to VS... probably slightly ahead if I'm being honest. I may have gone the other way if I'd been downstairs, but the wide aisle and generally spacious, quiet feel of the upper deck is pretty much akin to UC in the A zone of the 744, and much appreciated on a night flight. I'd definitely do it again, at least occasionally and certainly to maintain my new found BAEC status!

Thank you for your TR. I'm please to hear you enjoyed the flight. It was also nice to have the comparison between BA & VS.

Thank you for the TR.
I am pleased that you were able to sample the Upper Deck with sufficient CC but wonder how different you would have felt on the crowded lower deck ? Maybe like me you would have found the CC seemed rushed and yearned for the attentiveness of UC CC ?!

Thanks for the comparison TR.
I like the look of the joined capsules in CW. If travelling as a couple it could be nice.
Not that I'm actually complaining about flying VS UC but when travelling as a couple it's a bit seperated although have love being able to eat together in the UCS.

Ratechaser
Totally agree with your TR. Unfortunately for me I have only ever used the DTCI once as I have always come in on connecting flights. The advantage BA has is that the product you are actually buying I.e. the flight segment is nowadays better on their aircraft . I have posted about this on the lost virginity topic, and I concur about the upper deck CW cabin. However I was just impressed with the service in the large 777 cabin with the crew service bring constant so much do I had to turn down Gin and Tonics as I was full up.

Thanks for the TR RC. I'm flying back from JFK on a BA 747 in a couple of weeks, and have just changed my seats to upper deck - so look forward to trying this out.

PaulS wrote:Ratechaser
Totally agree with your TR. Unfortunately for me I have only ever used the DTCI once as I have always come in on connecting flights. The advantage BA has is that the product you are actually buying I.e. the flight segment is nowadays better on their aircraft . I have posted about this on the lost virginity topic, and I concur about the upper deck CW cabin. However I was just impressed with the service in the large 777 cabin with the crew service bring constant so much do I had to turn down Gin and Tonics as I was full up.

Well I'm coming back on a 777 at the end of the week, so will have the basis for comparison there. I have to say that the downstairs of the 747 did looked a bit cramped, and the idea of a 2-4-2 configuration had always put me off, but I'm keeping an open mind. As I said before, it's a tight race, when you look at VS vs BA as a complete package. I do miss the bar though!

And BA will be operating the new A 380 on this route. I've booked it in Dec. As for the 777 I had 11K window rear facing and found it to be good. It was interesting on take off as I could see e full length of the aircraft and I didn't realise how much snake there is during the initial climb.

Thanks for your objectivity in the TR, great to see someone giving an honest comparison on service and the product they have received Top marks RC

PaulS wrote:And BA will be operating the new A 380 on this route. I've booked it in Dec. As for the 777 I had 11K window rear facing and found it to be good. It was interesting on take off as I could see e full length of the aircraft and I didn't realise how much snake there is during the initial climb.

That sounds cool
Does it feel a tad odd facing backwards?

Thanks for the TR rate chaser.
What was the state of the 747? Was it clean, spruce, filthy, knackered, etc.?

at240 wrote:Thanks for the TR rate chaser.
What was the state of the 747? Was it clean, spruce, filthy, knackered, etc.?

Not too bad actually. I mean, it wasn't as though I went around with white gloves looking for undusted surfaces, but there were no obvious signs of dilapidation. I'd say that the 777 I just came back from DEL on looked a bit more modern, but that was more than offset by the rather more cramped dormitory feel of being in a 2-4-2 configured cabin. I was offered an upgrade to first at check in, for just shy of £400 (supposedly free but I just had to pay the extra 'taxes'... Really?), but as I was planning to try and sleep, didn't think it was worth doing.

So my overall verdict here is that I'd be very happy to go BA again, provided I could get a seat in the bubble...