In the run up to the flight I was getting messages from BA that I could book in at 20:00 on November 9th, 24 hours before my flight on EI724 which for this flight had morphed into BA5724. The annoying thing about that was that EI opens its OLCI 30 hours before a flight so the chances were that the best seats were gone but I was also eager to see if I could also check in for my onward flight at the same time even though it was the next day. So at the witching hour of 20:00 I logged in to the BA site only to be told I was too early to check in and this message continued over the next while.
I was annoyed to say the least, not because I couldn't do it but because I had been told I could. If I had been told I could only check in 24 hours before my TLV flight (which in truth, I expected to be the case) I would have been quite content. Out of curiosity I logged on to the EI site and inputted my BA number and found that I could indeed have checked in through that site and also that the best seats had gone. I decided therefore to check-in at the airport which was both a right and a wrong decision to take.Early the next morning I found I was able to check in for my TLV flight and scored seat 14A with which I was quite content. Later that day I headed to Cork and to an empty check-in desk. I was checked in efficiently - or so I thought and informed that I had to collect my bags in LHR on arrival; that they could not be kept in LHR overnight. Part of me really did not mind and as check in proceeded I was asked what seat I wanted and as rows 1-5 had been blocked he kindly released 2A for me. Apart from a minor incident when boarding the flight was uneventful and soon I was ensconced in the Holiday Inn M4J4 for the night.
Bright and early next morning I took the Hoppa back to Terminal 5. This was my first time using it so I was eager to enjoy the experience. My thoughts? I was nice and light and airy but I seemed to forever be going up and down escalators and lifts. Eventually I found my way to zone H and got my boarding pass via a kiosk before heading over to the bag drop counter. There were only two open and a rather long queue so that the whole check-in process was less than sterling. I was directed towards security and advised about the lounge in the B gates from where my flight was leaving. Fast track was open but like the fast track in the main security area in T3 it was busy and somewhat slow to the extent that a guy ahead of me joined the main queue.
Once through I headed for the lounges just after security but I was directed once more to the B gates so I had no choice but to take the train over to the satellite. The lounge was very quiet but it also reminded me of the VS lounge in JFK in that it was open to the departure area so that the announcements were very clearly heard. It was spacious and airy with plenty of seating areas but a distinct lack of staff. I was aware from my fellow V-Flyers that the food was self service. The choice was standard breakfast fare, cereals, bacon rolls, vegetarian rolls, cold meats and cheese but nothing very exciting. Drinks both alcoholic and otherwise were placed around the lounge but no-one to ask for the requisite glass of champagne. Time for a treatment - or was it? I went to the Spa area to find no-one there at reception and in any case the facial I probably would have chosen was marked "Not available in this lounge" In the absence of staff there was no other option for me to choose. All in all a less that stellar experience
and my disgruntlement was complete by the lack of announcements and the need to keep one's eye on the departures board. In fairness, the latter wasn't a major failing or problem but I was at the stage that I was ready to blame BA for the Fall of Adam, the Death of Christ, World War 2 and any other catastrophe you care to name! When "Boarding" popped up on the monitor I headed down to gate 33 at the far end of the terminal. Now I don't mean to cause any offence to any of you of the Jewish persuasion but there were two men there clad in prayer shawls and with their left arm bound and were obviously praying. To be honest it slightly freaked me - not the praying but the bound arm. However once in Jerusalem it was explained to me and indeed it was a frequent sight but it was the newness of it and also my ignorance of prayer rituals and for that I apologise.
I had been allocated 14A and once in my seat I became aware of how near one's seat partner is this odd configuration - perfect for a couple compared to UC but distinctly odd for a lone traveller. However my companion was a very nice English lady just slightly younger than me so all was well with the world. I examined my new surroundings. I loved the drawer to stow things and the cushion provided but didn't think much to the footstool. The whole area was grubby and the area around the screen between myself and the passenger was really grimy. I had to resist the urge to clean it. The crew came round with a good selection of newspapers and with orange juice or water but no champagne. We had told there was going to be a delay in push-back but it turned out to be minimal and we trundled over to the runway parallel to the Bath Road to await our turn for take off which was only 20 minutes after our initial departure time and therefore of no consequence.
Once the staff were released to their duties they came around with amenity kits which were really nothing to write home about - more or less the same as the UC ones but with the addition of some Elemis sachets which were rather nice. The lady beside me put up the dividing screen and as I was in the window seat I must say I felt totally isolated from the rest of the cabin. At least in UC you have some awareness of other passengers. I was expecting a drinks round to follow but the crew then came round with a brunch menu and then to take orders. During this time I felt rather sorry for the lady in the seat next to me as they had to pop down the screen every time they came to talk to me. I ordered a fruit plate - and I can't remember the main course although I have a vague memory of a lamb noisette and a loin lamb chop together with some scrambled eggs and sauté potatoes. Oops, silly me. That's exactly what it was. It was fine, nothing special, but fine. The tray with the fruit plate was handed out first and also had some granola and yoghurt as well as a fruit compote looking rather like a scoop of ice cream. Like everything else it was handed over in front of my seat companion and when I went to open the napkin it was wet. So was the tray cloth as the juice from the fruit plate had slopped on to it. Cue even more disgruntlement!
There was no wine glass on the tray and the only drinks on offer were tea and coffee. Once the tray was cleared there was no further interaction with the crew except that a bottle of water was suddenly thrust in my face from over the screen. Ah well, I was going to the land of many miracles so maybe this would turn into wine. Nope! It stayed as water.I tried the IFE and rather liked the touch screen. The film choices were not that great and so I watched and episode of The Simpsons and one of Porridge. However just before the end of the latter the IFE turned itself off and although I could turn it back on again I was disinclined to see if I could get back to that bit again.
As others have remarked, the worst part of the seats is having to climb over someone's legs to use the loo etc. Although the passenger in that seat was OK with it, I almost felt that I was needing to go more often than usual as I seemed to be stepping over him every five minutes or so - well that's a bit of an exaggeration but you know what I mean! There was however an added bonus. About an hour before landing I noticed that the lady in the seat next to me had a glass of wine. Well if she could have one, so could I so I headed back to the galley (BTW, there was nothing in the Raid the Larder place) and requested a glass of red wine. I was a bit chagrinned to note they were opening a new bottle for li'l ole me but they were very nice about it and soon honey lamb had morphed into a happy bunny.
I thanked the lady as I was passing and she popped down the screen to chat to me. She told me she frequently flies this service as her husband is working in Tel Aviv and has never known there not to be champagne on boarding and a drinks run before brunch. While we were chatting the cabin crew came round and re-filled her glass and shortly after, also refilled mine.Shortly after that we landed in Tel Aviv. I had been told by a friend whose brother lives there that we would be questioned on arrival before immigration but this did not happen. It was straight to passport control where I was asked about my plans in Israel which was no more than the usual questioning one would expect from TSA but without the finger printing. I was surprised at how quick I was through.
My friend's flight had been due in about 40 minutes before mine and the monitors showed that it was the same carousel. Sure enough, there he was and better still my cases were there too so after a warm greeting, it was off to find our driver who was to take us to Jerusalem
Overall impression
Based on this flight I won't be joining the rush of V-Flyers over to BA. I went with a feeling of anticipation and looking forward to a new experience and felt very let down. If it had been a VS flight I would have marked it down in every single marker and I have to do the same for BA. Sorry!
