British Airways announces First Class ‘soft’ cabin improvements, live from 31st March

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• krys_k says:

  7 Mar7 March 08:13

  Two years ago I travelled in F on the day that the First Wing opened and looks like my trip in F on 5th April may get the new improvements (and I think them all improvements) – thought the talking point of my trip would be travel in a hard Brexit environment. Await to see how the improvements transpire – I for one much preferred the old PE style kit bags in BA J that I could put shoes into on subsequent trips than the improved tiny amenity bag.

• Gavin says:

  7 Mar7 March 08:48

  Bedding – a welcome improvement
  Bag – back to the stupid square design which is useless (go back to soft anya hindmarsh bag with tower bridge/flying boat)
  New a la carte menu – we’ll see… bring back the bistro options!
  Loungeware – anything would be better than those baggy shapeless pj’s of old
  Cutlery/glassware/crockery – who cares
  Personally BA should focus on
  1) not running out of LPGS or not having any (last 4 first flights)
  2) making sure the cabin and seats are clean and working properly
  3) ensuring enough food loaded so first pax get their first choice every time
  4) crew are given the right tools, products and training to live up to the marketing hype

  Didn’t they do an afternoon tea a few years ago as their second meal???
  And isn’t Elemis the club skincare – this doesn’t seem a step up???

  • Nick_C says:

    7 Mar7 March 09:11

    … and fixing the seats on the 789 so they actually go properly flat!

  • Rob says:

    7 Mar7 March 10:42

    Back in the days with there was a 2nd meal ….

• Ian says:

  7 Mar7 March 08:54

  Earrings on a Pig

• Liam J says:

  7 Mar7 March 09:12

  No use having bedding at all when the crew set the temperature so high.

  • Neil says:

    7 Mar7 March 11:50

    LOL but so flipping true. I thought it was just my flights

  • Lady London says:

    7 Mar7 March 17:22

    that’s called “the cosh”. aiming to feed you then overheat you so you will fall asleep and not be demanding of service.

    Having said that, flight from Seattle was blissfully cool without being cold.

    • Shoestring says:

      7 Mar7 March 17:40

      that’s why they are also very happy to serve you as many drinks as you like in the first couple of hours, they aren’t stupid and don’t want you ring bells through a LH journey

      even on SH in the good old days (BA Economy), ordering drinks in 3s or 4s was much easier on the cabin crew than you calling them back to your seat later: ie ‘a couple of G&Ts please, some red wine for the food, a beer in case I get thirsty and a whisky to settle me down after the meal if that’s not too greedy, thanks’ was always fine in my experience.

    • Cat says:

      7 Mar7 March 22:03

      Yes, the downside of “the cosh” is that, if you’re a woman of a certain age, the external temperature and the internal temperature combine to make a hell furnace that you will never get to sleep in…

  • Alan says:

    10 Mar10 March 16:04

    Agree – had to ask for cabin temp to be turned down on a few flights – the crew normally say I’m not the first one to ask! Thankfully it did then settle a bit. I really don’t get the logic though, I find it much more difficult to sleep if hot and lets face if if you’re cold it’s far easier to put on a blanket, etc. to warm up!

• Paul Stevens says:

  7 Mar7 March 10:09

  >> If you are a ticketed First Class passenger, of course, you should immediately leave Galleries First and head across the corridor to the Concorde Room!

  Is this accurate? I’ve only been to the Concorde Room four times but I prefer the first lounge – it’s a lot quicker to get a full can of beer rather than half served in a tiny glass and another 20 minute wait for the rest of it.

  • Rob says:

    7 Mar7 March 10:38

    I agree to a point. I am not a big Concorde Room fan.

  • Alex Sm says:

    7 Mar7 March 10:53

    I was about to raise the same point. Why so prescriptive? Why wouldn’t people be able to explore things at their own leisure and pace and see the best of both worlds, especially if they don’t happen to travel through these facilities very often? My partner and I – when we were flying to Singapore in First on 2-4-1 voucher for the first and maybe the last time – went to the Elemis spa which is next to Galleries First, then had a drink at the bar serving BA own brands of spirits, explored Galleries First a bit and only then moved on to Concorde Room for a dinner. Is it not a good way to do that?

    • Lady London says:

      7 Mar7 March 16:58

      You mean you actually got an appointment at the Elemis Spa?
      If so they you must be the first person I’ve seen on here who ever reported actually being able to get an appointment.

      I’ve lost count of the number of times I tried when I had status or was flying in eligible classes/routes. Never being able to get one of the promised Elemis spa appointments that was never available no matter how early or late I tried, was one of the reasons I was happy to let my British Airways status drop. They just weren’t gearing up in any way to deliver the promised benefits. If you put your head around the door of the spa while you were having breakfast, there was always a maximum of about 1 therapist and 5 treatment stations apparently unmanned…. it was like they didn’t intend to provide the promised service.

      • Daz says:

        7 Mar7 March 17:47

        My wife had an appointment booked when we last flew First to Japan in the autumn. To say she wasn’t impressed by the crap attitude of the assistant and her pal would be an understatement. My wife was that unimpressed by it she’d rather I give her a massage😬, this is not good.

        So to sum up it’s not worth getting of your chair for, drink more bubbly.

      • Matt says:

        7 Mar7 March 18:06

        Every time I’ve flown J or F from T5 or JFK, I’ve always had a spa treatment. Never had any luck at T5 arrivals though. The facials are perfectly pleasant and a lovely way to start a trip away.

        So many of you moan moan moan about BA. If you don’t like then don’t fly them!

      • Daz says:

        7 Mar7 March 18:50

        Matt……I have an opinion and I’m entitled to it if I spend good money on a product as is my statutory rights. So politely mind your own business.

      • Octopus says:

        7 Mar7 March 20:12

        Both times that I have flown in F from T5 I’ve managed to book a spa treatment, I don’t think I will bother next time though

      • Alan says:

        10 Mar10 March 16:05

        I’ve managed it 3 times recently when flying in F – had to pre-book though as soon as the diary opened!

      • Alex Sm says:

        13 Mar13 March 22:52

        Yes, both my partner and I had treatments, he had Deep Clean Aviator Facial for Men and I had Muscle-Ease Power Back Massage.
        Yes, you have to book T-28 as soon as it opens (similar to T-355 rule on most popular Avios routes)

  • Neil says:

    7 Mar7 March 11:49

    Nailed it in one – It’s over hyped but the Champagne is nice

  • Mzungu says:

    7 Mar7 March 14:58

    I was going to ask a related question – although we’ve flown F a couple of times (thanks HfP!), next month will be our first time from LHR. I was planning to head straight to the Concorde Room, but I understand that there are alternative routes to get there. Bearing in mind that F is a surprise for Mrs Mzungu (she thinks we’re going J), is there a ‘best’ way to get there? I guess once you’ve checked in at the F wing, it’s obvious to go through security, into Galleries First, and onto the CCR? Is CCR adjoining Galleries First – the article says “across the corridor”?

    The alternatives seem to be starting from the Fast Track security I think?

    Sorry for all the basic questions!

    • bsuije says:

      7 Mar7 March 15:48

      If you want to keep it a complete surprise until the last possible moment, use J check-in and fast track at normal security lanes. Then head towards J lounge on the same side as F lounge (never can remember if that’s north or south), I.e. up escalators by Fortnum & Masons. And just remember to get off at the right floor (1st?). Concorde room would then be on the right, and F lounge will be to the left.

      Just depends on how busy the airport is and whether you would therefore value the separate First check-in and security…

      • Genghis says:

        7 Mar7 March 15:54

        If you wanted to do that, surely it’d be better to go through South security and then through the old Million Pound Door to the CCR? I’d just use the F wing, however.

      • Lady London says:

        7 Mar7 March 17:00

        +1 Defo use the First Wing, if you’ve got access. They’ve done a good job of it. That’s the time to let Mrs. Mzungu into the surprise.

        Would work for me!

      • Cat says:

        7 Mar7 March 20:30

        Same for me – the First Wing is just a serene delight, compared to the alternative, that would be an excellent place to announce the surprise.
        Book spa treatments at T – 28 days. It’s always worked for me.

    • Mzungu says:

      7 Mar7 March 19:20

      Just got back to this – thanks everyone for all the replies/suggestions. I agree that using the First Wing makes perfect sense – no point in delaying the surprise by a few minutes, and missing out on the First Wing to do it!

      • Robert says:

        7 Mar7 March 20:06

        If your using First Wing for the first time then I would agree that is the best place to spring the surprise, BA have done a great job at making the bag drop and security process feel less stressful, and for most times of the day I’ve gone through it’s very quiet. Enjoy the CCR cocktails & champers!

        In response to another comment regarding the Spa treatments, it’s important to note they aren’t fully Spa trained staff, it is basic and in a seated position, I would recommend booking the massaging chair, it’s incredible! Just my opinions of course.

• sohan says:

  7 Mar7 March 12:04

  Anyone know what Newark is like for First Class back to LHR on BA? Looks like there’s no premium security but is there a decent lounge or a meal? JFK was great.

  • Anna says:

    7 Mar7 March 15:09

    We were there about 6 years ago, it was a reasonably quiet and pleasant J lounge with a separate restaurant where you could have a sit down meal if you were on a late flight. As I recall there were 3 or 4 choices for each course and the food was decent but not spectacular.

    • Robert says:

      7 Mar7 March 15:36

      It has a nice separated dining area for F ticket holders only. Nothing as nice as JFK obviously but if your closer to New Jersey it’s a no brainer. If your flying before end of March you’ll be on the 787-9 with the smallest F cabin, after that they’re pulling those jets off most current routes and first is missing to EWR on the 787-8 worse luck.

      • Jimbob says:

        7 Mar7 March 18:16

        Do you know which planes they’ll be using after March? I’ve booked to fly to Newark in June 1st Class.

        Flight currently showing as a 787, is this likely to change?

  • Michael C says:

    7 Mar7 March 16:37

    Hot meal section cordoned off/behind some perspex from club part.

    All a bit limited, dark and small.

    On the other hand, the airport is a breeze for immigration/tranport to & from.

• David Cumming says:

  7 Mar7 March 12:51

  Anybody have a copy of the current First Wine List?
  When i traveled first last time, November 17, it was really good. Hate to think that it’s been completely changed….

  • Mark2 says:

    7 Mar7 March 14:02

    =1

  • Shoestring says:

    7 Mar7 March 15:57

    You can find these things on the FT threads

  • Nick_C says:

    7 Mar7 March 16:14

    Dec 18:-

    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bu2bprj6vm77cdb/AACD6bOCn-sZ4XT0S06NPWm8a?dl=0

    • David Cumming says:

      9 Mar9 March 08:01

      thanks!

  • Robert says:

    7 Mar7 March 20:35

    seems to differ between 777 and 787 in June. You can use the BA website or seatguru to check aircraft types on your date of travel.

    Wines I had in F last month differ slightly from Nick’s December offering, possibly due to route. I had 3 whites; Pernand-Vergelesses 2015 Burgandy France, the infamous Villa Maria New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Gruner Veltliner 2016 from Austria.
    Reds the same except I had Chianti Classico instead of Rolland and Galarreta, both the same vintage. Desert wines are both good at altitude.

  • Yorkieflyer says:

    8 Mar8 March 08:25

    Morrisons.co.uk 😬

• Jeff says:

  7 Mar7 March 13:52

  Is BA’s LHR-LAX on 747 departing (10:30am – ish) deemed a day flight? ie No sleep expected on an approx 12 hour flight so no sleep kit supplied?

  • Mark2 says:

    7 Mar7 March 14:07

    I have requested and received a sleep suit on a day flight.

    • Jeff says:

      7 Mar7 March 18:58

      and the bedding also?

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