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Bits: amazing deals at InterCon New York, BA cuts Philadelphia, inside Cathay’s Gatwick A350

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News in brief:

Stupidly cheap deals at InterContinental New York Barclay

I reviewed the newly reopened InterContinental New York Barclay back in July.  Situated just around the corner from the Waldorf-Astoria and in front of Grand Central Station, the hotel had just emerged from a two-year top-to-toe refurbishment.

Unfortunately, things have not gone well.  Whilst the rooms are perfectly OK, the internet is awash with complaints about staffing and especially the treatment of elite status members.  This now seems to be having an impact on rates.

In February, you can book the Barclay for as little as $103 per night.  You can see this rate for Friday 10th February for example, or Friday 24th.  It is, of course, low season but on the same night the InterContinental Times Square is $221 per night.  The Holiday Inn Express on Fifth Avenue is $150 – almost 50% more than the Barclay.

To put this rate in perspective, Ambassador members will get 2 x $20 vouchers to spend in the Barclay bar, so that is 40% of your expenditure back already.

If you want a cheap weekend break next February, I recommend a brand new five star hotel in New York.  You can check out pricing via the Barclay home page here

InterContinental New York Barclay lobby

British Airways halves Philadelphia services

British Airways announced yesterday that it is dropping one of its two daily services to Philadelphia from 27th March.

The 17.15 departure (BA69 / BA68) will be cancelled.  The 12.45 departure will continue to operate, as will the daily American Airlines service.

If you have a booking to Philadelphia in the diary you should take a look to see if you have been affected.

Cathay A350-900

Inside Gatwick’s Cathay Pacific A350

At the start of September, Cathay Pacific launched its new service from Gatwick to Hong Kong.

What makes this interesting is that the airline is using a brand new Airbus A350 on the route.  This article from thedesignair.net is very detailed and is based on a tour of the aircraft.

It looks impressive and, for regular Hong Kong travellers, a good excuse to avoid Heathrow – especially as the new Cathay Pacific lounge in Terminal 3 is still not open!  Remember that, as a oneworld partner, you earn Avios and British Airways tier points on Cathay Pacific flights.

Category

British Airways and Avios, Cathay Pacific and Asia Miles, IHG One Rewards

Comments (97)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Gavin says:
    27 Sep27 September 06:09

    Just taken my first Cathay flight of about 3.5 hours in their regional business class on a 3-class plane. Simply incomparable to Club Europe and a better experience too than Club World. I imagine it would be superb on an A350!

    • Simmo says:
      27 Sep27 September 08:50

      Did Bangkok – Hong Kong the other week.
      Simply amazing! Agree compared to Club Europe or even Club World; better seats, better lounge, better food, amazing service!

      Not sure how the European carriers can get away with the product they offer!

      • Brian says:
        27 Sep27 September 09:07

        I thought the Cathay lounge in BKK was nothing special, apart from the fact that it was much quieter than BA’s, I wouldn’t compare it that favourably. Perhaps there is more than one lounge there?

        • Barium Meal says:
          27 Sep27 September 13:02

          If you like Chinese food, then it is much better as it is prepared for you there and then. If you are into interior design then it is better – and was designed by an well known Australian designer. (It was the Qantas lounge originally I think??). Try the JAL Sakura lounge nearby to compare – apart from some OK (and I mean just OK) sushi it is pretty basic.

        • AndyR says:
          27 Sep27 September 16:48

          When do visit as I think they refurbished it last year? I don’t think BA have a lounge in BKK anymore.

        • Will says:
          27 Sep27 September 20:06

          Agree, it’s comfortable and modern. Decent bar but the food is acceptable, nothing more.

          I think once you’ve passed through HKG and tried the wing or the pier all other lounges are up against it.

          Qantas F lounge in LAX offers great food, am very fond of it.

          Also the Cathay CDG lounge that raffles wrote about once is a real unexpected treat if your on a short haul.

          Not been to the posh Qatar lounge yet. Would like to try it.

      • James67 says:
        27 Sep27 September 16:49

        For intraAsia flights TG trumps all other careers on most routes. If you know what you are doing you even get to fly F for reasonable J fares. But I’m a huge fan of Air Asia so mostly now just fly them on flights up to 4h and save the cash and miles. I trust Air Asia on time keeping more than all other Asian carriers put together.

  • Rod says:
    27 Sep27 September 06:29

    I think there are very few business class products worse than BA’s at the moment. Certainly within Oneworld the BA offering is very very poor, the worst of the lot.

    • Daz says:
      27 Sep27 September 06:58

      Agreed. Their business model is definitely worn out and in need of repair. I don’t think I’ve actually paid for a BA flight, only Avios.

      • Worzel says:
        27 Sep27 September 07:12

        Well, having just taken two BA CE redemption flights Mrs Gummidge and I enjoyed the experience. The food etc on board was very good and the cabin crew brilliant-especially when dealing with a young guy “topping up” with on board refreshments!

        The downside was checking in at LHR T5 which took too long, and as for Fast Track Security…………..!

        Up to BRS in a couple of weeks and it’ll be done in less than half the time!

        • Danksy says:
          27 Sep27 September 09:47

          I’ve flown from BRS 4 times in the last 6 months..and have been through the new security arrangements on the last 2 occasions. .even though busy we were through in 10 mins.

          Shame there aren’t many avios earning opportunities from there!

          • Alan says:
            27 Sep27 September 11:20

            We flew from BRS a couple of times in August and, as you say, the new security area is excellent.

        • RIccati says:
          27 Sep27 September 14:36

          Is that the role for (BA) crew, to distribute what’s left out of the refreshments among hungry kids as in the summer camp?

      • Tilly71 says:
        27 Sep27 September 08:33

        And Taxes?

    • Nick_C says:
      27 Sep27 September 15:40

      I can only assume many people who fly in J only fly BA and have nothing to compare it with. I pay to fly J on AA when there is a sale, but I wouldn’t pay for J on BA. We got a free upgrade from WT+ on a recent flight home from Montreal on the 787. Even with low expectations I was underwhelmed. It was a nice comfortable seat and I got some sleep, but being used to AAs 77Ws and A330s, BACW felt more like a very good premium economy. The high density, lack of storage space, lack of privacy, are poor.

  • Hugo says:
    27 Sep27 September 06:54

    I took the Cathay A350 back from HKG-LGW last week (not knowing it was a new route!) – cant afford J for my hols without avios so was in the back but I have to say the J seats looked amazingly spacious (and the layout reminded me of BA’s F ironically…)

    Economy was so so:
    – seats werent as comfortable as those we got on LHR-HKG
    – IFE screen was bigger+better
    – bigger windows made for easier “leaning sleeping”

    The plane really is a lot quieter than other longhauls though, and I slept the best 6hrs I have ever had in economy (had 3 seats with my gf :D)

    • flyforfun says:
      27 Sep27 September 12:41

      Interesting. I’m booked on it in December and looking forward to it even though it’s only 1 sector of 4 I’m flying. This will be my 3rd multi sector with Cathay to Australia in 12 months and after the first trip Cathay was my go to choice. There standard Y was so much better than other’s I’d flown on, but I must admit, hearing that they are planning to make there 777s 10 abreast soon mean I would seek out the A350 as my choice.

  • Daz says:
    27 Sep27 September 07:16

    In relation to the IC Barcaly. You can throw money and expensive designs out of the window if your service is below par. It amazes me that in a customer facing industry how many hotels get service and loyalty membership so wrong.

    There is many a swanky hotel I will not be returning to because of service.

    • YL says:
      27 Sep27 September 11:45

      Stayed 2 nights at IC Barclay in August, I think it is possible the worst IC I ever stayed in terms of service…
      However, I must admit, if the price is so low, I may return….

    • RIccati says:
      27 Sep27 September 14:38

      It’s not uncommon for the unloved NYC hotels to be priced in low $100s.

  • Hunter says:
    27 Sep27 September 07:28

    Mid June rates seem to be $400+ per night… 🙁

  • zsalya says:
    27 Sep27 September 07:42

    ICB: At Christmas is from USD196

    But remember the lack of sockets mentioned in Rob’s review

  • Concerto says:
    27 Sep27 September 07:47

    Thank you very much, that ties perfectly with when I’ll be in New York. I was resigned to spending a pile of points, but not at those prices! I actually went for a room in a slightly more expensive bracket (Superior King for $119). Don’t forget there will be quite a bit of tax to add to these prices.

  • Simon says:
    27 Sep27 September 07:54

    Do people actually go to NY for the weekend? Coupled with the T7 immigration experience it doesn’t look to me that you’d get much time there, even if you left the UK on Thursday evening on a red-eye.

    • Tim says:
      27 Sep27 September 08:12

      Take the BA001 from LCY, and you skip the T7 immigration queues because you do it in Shannon!

    • Leo says:
      27 Sep27 September 08:17

      People go to NYC for the weekend all the time. Me included.

      • Raffles says:
        27 Sep27 September 08:23

        I did Cape Town for a weekend once. As long as you take Thu or Mon off work then these work fine.

        When I was in NYC this year I only did 2 nights in the Barclay. Got to the hotel about 11pm, had all the next day and – due to overnight flight back and 4pm check out – basically all the next day as well. You can cover a lot of ground in that time and adding a 3rd night makes it positively leisurely.

        You need to have been before though and to have a hit list of things to do.

    • Nick_C says:
      27 Sep27 September 15:29

      Last time I flew into JFK T8, the APC kiosks were working and it took about 20 minutes to clear immigration. A better experience than my last trip into LHR T5.

      • Alan says:
        27 Sep27 September 15:44

        With Global Entry it took <2 min to clear immigration – if hand baggage only you're through customs shortly after too. Wish it was that quick when returning to the UK!!

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