The first ‘densified’ British Airways A321 – G-MEDN – is back from the hanger and is ready to fly!
(EDIT: This article has been edited to reflect the fact that the super-thin Recaro seats have not been installed.)
If you are travelling on Thursday, keep an eye on the following flights (list courtesy of Flyertalk):
LHR-GLA BA1474 0740
GLA-LHR BA1479 0955
LHR-NCL BA1332 1215
NCL-LHR BA1333 1425
LHR-GLA BA1488 1655
GLA-LHR BA1495 1915
This list only applies to Thursday. The plane is likely to be flying to entirely different cities on Friday.
It turns out this aircraft has NOT been fitted with the new super-thin seats. This will only be installed on new deliveries.
USB and standard power sockets have been added. That is the good news.
Here’s the bad news, as per cabin crew rumours online:
Total A321 seating goes up from 205 to 218 (I’m not sure exactly how that works with 13 extra seats instead of 12 but I quote directly from BA’s Investor Day presentation)
The rear toilets have been moved. Smaller, thinner toilets have been built into the back wall of the aircraft.
Two additional rows of seating are added
No duty free, as there is no space for the trolley (although today the aircraft is on domestic routes)
There will be no waste facilities or potable water supply at the rear of the plane, due to the need to free up space to fit in the loo. This means that all waste will be carried through Club Europe for disposal at the front, and all requests for free tap water will require a trip to the Club Europe galley.
The Club Europe wardrobe will remain but will also be used for general storage of medical equipment and may not be available for coats
If you find yourself on this aircraft today (registration G-MEDN) please take some photos and send them over!
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About Head for Points
Loos might be small but I bet they are still wider and with greater pitch than the new seats. They also come with privacy so they are undoubtedly the best seats on the plane, reserved for GGL only.
As somebody who does circa 50 European flights a year price is exceedingly important to me.
I would always prefer BA but after them Easyjet, Jet2, Norwegian and then Ryanair.
In my experience more and more employers are insisting on staff travelling at the lowest price and Easyjet have done well by frequent flights to the most important destinations.
Frankly BA can’t survive on the ‘posh boys’ flying as not enough of them to generate the revenue needed since the LCC’s seat costs are so much lower.
The constant bashing of BA on here is sad as I believe they are doing a pretty good job in an exceedingly tough market place. If BA don’t take the sort of action they have they will not be flying within Europe.
Other legacy carriers such as Lufthansa, KLM/Air France have set up LCC’s to compete.
Just a quick note as I get off the phone with Virgin Atlantic: Their customer service is fantastic.
I <3 dealing with Virgin!!! And I loathe having to contact BA – or whoever BA are outsourcing to…
ABBA
No recline is a positive step in my book. Nothing worse than someone that reclines into your lap. So inconsiderate.
Might appear uncomfortable and terrible pitch but reckon these seats might work out better tbh.
At the Boeing factory in Everett we were asked to test different cabin interiors and were surprised that we all choose the thinnest seat, with the least leg room.
Even the largest passengers were happier that seats didn’t recline. The fact they are adding wifi and removing the recline to me is a plus.
Adding more seats in theory will keep prices lower and increase their profits.
When I get 2+ hour trains I make sure I do not have to ever use the toilets on a train because they are gross. Toilets on a plane are also something of last resort.
None of this is an issue to the average traveller. And those of us on here who tier run and fly via Doha with Qatar can easily be bought with avios or a few glasses of champagne.
I think BA have got the right idea with most things and they will continue to make huge profits
Staffer told it’s a fair stretch to service the extra passengers on the shorter flights and the space taken from aisles makes traditional trolley service at back not possible.
On other matters recently experienced potential new ground instructions from certain airports on safety when loading which means unloading rear luggage storage hatch ( to avoid tipping !!) before letting passengers off. Given it’s hard to stop people at moment getting up when planes still moving that’s going to be a joy to experience…
Ps many of changes made in club last few years have been reversed so what odds free tea and coffee returning in econ…
A321 – G-MEDN = Armageddon