Club Suite seat swapped to old Club World

@ChasP – BA sells you a seat in Club World not one on any particular aircraft or seat type. They can even swap you onto a wet lease aircraft with a completely different seat. They don’t charge different fares for different seating types as one can see from routes that regularly operate more than one flight with different aircraft types. I really don’t think they are trying to rook anyone in this process; airline operations are very complex and the aircraft might need to be changed even if they all had the same seating types.

Some people prefer the old CW, particularly if travelling with children or they want to sit directly with a partner or go on the A380; they don’t perceive the ‘downgrade’ as you do.

I never found sitting with a stranger awkward. I just put the divider up if I didn’t want to engage with the fellow flyer. Otherwise I’ve had a few conversations with interesting people.

It’s weird that people find it awkward – why is it worse than when sitting next to a stranger on a short haul flight?

Are you closer to a stranger in a CW ying-yang seat or closer to the passenger next you in WT+ or worse WT?

I’d take a legacy CW ying-yang seat over either WT+ or WT any day of the week.

My first CW is this August on 2-3-2 according to expertflyer? Is this any better than 2-4-2? Thanks

The middle seat of 3 does have you facing two strangers, yes. But only while the privacy screens are down. When the screens are up, you have a very private space. If travelling alone, I would choose the middle seat over a (very exposed) aisle seat. You might have to climb over someone to get out of your seat, but you have a choice of going left or right. And I would prefer to be the one climbing over rather than being climbed over.

Whatsthepoint wrote:

… I really don’t mind CW given the price I’m paying, it’s still leagues ahead of PE and Economy

Absolutely. If I am getting a redemption with a 241 voucher, I will happily travel on BA with the old CW seating. If I’m paying cash for a route where CS is not available, or not using a voucher, I’ll travel on a different OW airline.

I took my nephew to Japan in 2019. He had never flown in a premium cabin before. We flew out in F and back in old CW. He said he didn’t see much difference. Compared to economy, CW is luxurious.

The grumbles about CW are from those of who have experience of better hard products on different carriers.

Aardvark wrote:

There seems to be mixed views on the subject of the late changes from the newer Club Suite to the older Club World (Ying-Yang) after you have have booked. Forgetting about what the T&C’s of carriage are, my view is that it is a deemed as a material change. Yes some would say it is not first world problem and maybe it is not! However, the fact is that some people are disappointed when this occurs. Also, just because the majority on this forum uses Avios to book flights, it shouldn’t devalue the issue, if I had paid the full fare I would definetley feel that it would be a major issue!

The CAA does not consider this as a material change. Business class is business class and it also doesn’t entertain that any argument in the event of being rerouted on another airline whose business class you consider inferior is a relevant consideration.

It really is a duff argument; you book Club World and whether you end up in a brand new A350 with Club Suite, an old A380 with CW, a rattly old Gatwick 777 or an Air Belgium aircraft is just not relevant in terms of any material change for a contractual claim. BA might chuck you a few Avios as a gesture of goodwill if there were any specific complaint but that’s as far as it goes.

If you have paid “full fare” as suggested in your post, you can always change your booking at will.

Arguably if you book a lie flat and get switched to a very old-fashioned business class seat it is the same product. As @JDB states CW to CS isn’t a change as far as BA or the CAA is concerned. What would you rather if something happened on the day, a cancellation or a switch to an older product.

I have had this situation a couple of times recently and decided not to become too excited about it. On one occasion in the legacy seats I found myself sitting opposite the GM of the Intercontinental Paris which was really interesting.

Yep I agree, still better than Premium and Economy. However, for a night flight it can be a bit awkward climbing over the legs of a passenger stretched out. My point is that it is shame when you think you are booking CS and then it changes to the old CW! However, some people seem to readily accept this! Hopefully all the remaining old CW will be upgraded soon to the new CS.

ekposh wrote:

I’ve never flown old CW and I will be on my honeymoon to MRU using a 241 and Avios. As a result of all this, I am dreading it but I have also come to the conclusion that it will probably be totally fine and better than what I could have afforded cash which would have been Economy. All relative I guess.

Well, climbing all over the other person when they are in bed is kind of the point of a honeymoon so old CW should be ideal 😉

Seriously; ignore the noise and stop dreading things; it is the job of premium-focused travel sites to obsess over relatively small differences. Your flight will be pleasant, just not as pleasant as Club Suite. Anywhere up near the pointy end on any type of seat in any airline is far better than anywhere down t’back no matter which airlines you compare.

ekposh wrote:

I’ve never flown old CW and I will be on my honeymoon to MRU using a 241 and Avios. As a result of all this, I am dreading it but I have also come to the conclusion that it will probably be totally fine and better than what I could have afforded cash which would have been Economy. All relative I guess.

I’m sure you will have a great flight. If you pick the middle pair in the 2-4-2 configuration, the seats are very private once meal service has ended and the dividers go up. You may be climbing over other people to get out, but at least you will have a choice of getting out to the left or right, which might be a bit easier than a window seat would be.

Old CW is more sociable for couples than CS. You will be sitting side by side (if you take the middle pair) and will be able to talk to each other easily. The middle pair in CS are so far apart that you can’t really have a conversation.

Just be aware that storage is limited, and you can’t easily access the overhead bins. Decide what you need with you in your seat, and put it in a small bag that you can take out of your hand luggage when you board. The only storage is down at floor level to the side, and you can’t access it when your seat is reclined. I’ve taken a small drawstring bag in the past for glasses and essential stuff.