V-Flyer

BA returns SFO-LHR came up $600+ cheaper and the company travel system won't let me book VS as I usually do.

I haven't flown Club World since 1998.

The equipment is A380. What should I expect? Any tips to maximize the experience?

I really enjoy Club still - especially on the A380 - I would argue there is more space than in Uppper Class which I still find a little cramped.

Club seat is very comfortable, new (White Company) bedding on that route is very good indeed and is getting great reviews and I think SFO also has the new Club dining service which I found far superior to Virgin. I do find the upper deck a little tight sometimes but there are also Club seats on the main deck. Just make sure you invest in picking a good seat location - that can make or break a Club experience if you end up squashed in the middle. SFO BA Lounge isn’t a patch on the Clubhouse though :(

Commiserations

I think you will be pleasantly surprised. The A388 is a fantastic aircraft and the new bedding / meal service is much improved and the window seats very private once the screen is raised. Headroom on the upper deck is reduced over the window if your very tall. I’m 6’6” so standing up is is cramped when going to the toilet or getting off. Seat rows 15 downstairs or 53 and 59 upperstairs are the window seats with no step over. And finally look on the bright side you’ll get a chance to experience the A388 which is something you wouldn’t be able to do with VS.

PaulS wrote:I think you will be pleasantly surprised

......... once you’ve left the lounge! But until then, expect to be decidedly underwhelmed.

Always brings a wry smile to my lips when I read stories of being forced to fly one airline's business class over another airline's equivalent.

You'll either like it or not, no-one can say what you'd prefer. But I know I prefer it over a cramped UC any day.

Some irony you are an Alex....

gumshoe wrote:

PaulS wrote:I think you will be pleasantly surprised

......... once you’ve left the lounge! But until then, expect to be decidedly underwhelmed.

I’ve never understood the fascination for lounges. It’s an airplane ticket that I’m buying and the I try to spend the least time possible in the actual airport. It’s the 10 hours on the aircraft that matter not the 45 mins in the lounge, and I have to agree with a previous poster CW is far more comfortable than UC.

Don't approach the flight feeling bummed about it for a start...

Head to the BA lounge in T5B, if youre flying from T5. It's much much quieter. Do ensure that's where your flight leaves from B or C as I believe getting back to A gates us difficult...

i think its a pain if you use the transit, but if you use the walkways, its easy enough.

God forbid you had to fly Economy....

you might just be surprises

shaneg17 wrote:God forbid you had to fly Economy....

My previous job had a lot more travel. In that time, I earned 1.4 million miles riding Economy and Premium Economy (some routes), saving all miles for VS and spending them on G upgrades for the routes to the UK.

That my new employer has me travel much less but does so in J for >10 hour flights seems like a fair trade off.

alexr wrote:

shaneg17 wrote:God forbid you had to fly Economy....

My previous job had a lot more travel. In that time, I earned 1.4 million miles riding Economy and Premium Economy (some routes), saving all miles for VS and spending them on G upgrades for the routes to the UK.

That my new employer has me travel much less but does so in J for >10 hour flights seems like a fair trade off.

I know I will get my head bite off for saying this but those 1.4million VS miles were earned by the company paying the ticket, not by the individual. I have always thought miles earned this way should go into a company 'pool' and then perhaps at the end of the year have a charity raffle contest and the winners get the prize of the miles

alexr wrote:

shaneg17 wrote:God forbid you had to fly Economy....

My previous job had a lot more travel. In that time, I earned 1.4 million miles riding Economy and Premium Economy (some routes), saving all miles for VS and spending them on G upgrades for the routes to the UK.

That my new employer has me travel much less but does so in J for >10 hour flights seems like a fair trade off.

I have to agree, though (per my earlier slightly tongue in cheek post) I'll always be jealous of anyone whose employer has a J class policy. Even at a senior position in my last company it was Y all the way.

Hev60 wrote:I know I will get my head bit off for saying this but those 1.4million VS miles were earned by the company paying the ticket, not by the individual. I have always thought miles earned this way should go into a company 'pool' and then perhaps at the end of the year have a charity raffle contest and the winners get the prize of the miles

Again, at my last company it was an unwritten understanding that the individual's accrual of the miles was in some was a recompense for the travel being expected to be out of work hours.

Sealink wrote:Head to the BA lounge in T5B, if youre flying from T5. It's much much quieter. Do ensure that's where your flight leaves from B or C as I believe getting back to A gates us difficult...

Nope, it is in no way difficult. Indeed, I prefer to go the quiet way.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british ... ngers.html

It takes less than 10 minutes to walk back between any of A B and C. Do not use the transit train, it only goes one way to C, and then back to arrivals.

Basically go to the bottom floor of the lift and there's a corridor with a travelator going towards B/C, so its quicker going that way, but still easy and quick. Sometimes faster than transit. Very quiet in a crowded terminal...

chris9642 wrote:I really enjoy Club still - especially on the A380 - I would argue there is more space than in Uppper Class which I still find a little cramped.

Club seat is very comfortable, new (White Company) bedding on that route is very good indeed and is getting great reviews and I think SFO also has the new Club dining service which I found far superior to Virgin. I do find the upper deck a little tight sometimes but there are also Club seats on the main deck. Just make sure you invest in picking a good seat location - that can make or break a Club experience if you end up squashed in the middle. SFO BA Lounge isn’t a patch on the Clubhouse though :(

I’d second most of that - we’ve just completed CW to PHX and back, and I was impressed with the White Company bedding. Soooo much superior than the grubby dog blanket they used to provide, and the pillow is a decent size too. Food was really nicely presented. I also was more than happy being upstairs. It really didn’t feel like a tragedy!!!