-
Hi, looking at booking the above. Trying to decide if it’s best to book CE or economy. We will also be using an old style companion voucher (Use or loose situation) and my wife insists we sit together (albeit a seat apart in CE) so will have to pay BA for the privilege, as only Blue. (We currently have approx 300,000 Avios with plans for a long haul next year somewhere in PE or CW)
Interested to get your thoughts.
Merry Christmas!
Well the first thing to do is price it up. I’ve lost track what you’d be paying on an old 241 voucher so see what the actual cost would be in Avios (and the cash component) for your dates and see how you feel about it. You could even share that with us.
Don’t let the tail wag the dog so if your preferred flight time is only available in economy then that is your answer.
I have a preference for club Europe if possible in that it is marginally less miserable than Economy. This is despite currently being Gold. If I were Blue (which I will most likely be in two years time) then the preference for Club Europe would be quite a bit higher. The lounge access makes hanging about for the flight less unpleasant. A bite to eat on the flight, more space, and slightly better treatment also makes life better.
So I’d book Club Europe but I am less price sensitive than I used to be. And I’d book it to be less miserable flying, not in the expectation of a premium experience!
Having just flown jet2 to/from Lanzarote, I’d go club. I was middle seat, Mrs K window seat each way. Jet2 is of course all economy.
Outbound (Boeing 373) I had a tall chap with long arms on the aisle seat. Cramped was not the word! Thankfully after takeoff there were enough spare seats for him to move to another row aisle seat so we had 3 seats between 2 of us otherwise it would have been horrendous.
Inbound (Boeing 757) it was full enough that the person next to me couldn’t move. Thankfully it was a slight lady, but even then there was much arms resting against arms and feet bumping feet. It was acceptable, but not great and she did manage to get some of her tea on me! I also had to get up to to stretch my legs a couple of times due to the cramped conditions.
Don’t underestimate the value of extra arm/leg movement space in club on a 4-5hr flight, more so than the meal/drinks service provided.
Extra legroom seats may make it more palatable in economy of course (we were unable to book these).
My ideal on this route as a couple would be Economy, exit row, either side of the aisle. It’s a long flight. If those seats aren’t available use your voucher and go Club.
Thanks for the comments!
Go for CE it’s only a few more miles and you’re using a voucher anyway. Lounge access and extra luggage if you need it.
I do a similar route with the family each summer in Club.
It makes a big difference if
– you travel peak: easy checkin and security is a big deal with a lot of luggages and kids
– you don’t travel light.I am neutral for BA lounges, I think, for me, LHR T5 Platinum lounge is better than BA
I’m with those advocating for Club, mainly since you’re Blue and can’t book the exit row seats in Economy without paying. Plus all the other benefits it confers like catering and lounge access, in conjunction with having a 241 voucher, that has to be a worthwhile upgrade. Granted, it might depend on how Avios rich you feel you are. The recent changes have been bewildering but IIRC you’ll have to choose the Avios + £1 option fare which isn’t great value, but feels tolerable when there’s two of you travelling (plus another £1 presumably). Cyprus is a long schlep and I wouldn’t want to do that in Economy while not sitting in an exit row seat. I believe seats behind the exit rows are a mere 29″ pitch which is starting to get claustrophobic.
Thanks for all of your comments. Went for CE, the only option was £50 pp and 35500 Avios point whilst using an old style companion voucher.
Thanks for all of your comments. Went for CE, the only option was £50 pp and 35500 Avios point whilst using an old style companion voucher.
Pretty sure I paid 50p plus a bunch of Avios in the Summer! Shows how times have changed.
Our Summer trip was LHR to Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv to Larnaca, all of 45 minutes on Cyprus Airways and then Larnaca to LHR on BA. The difference between LHR-TLV (one of BAs shortest long haul) and LCA to LHR (BAs longest short haul) was significant in terms of seating and food.
Nothing wrong with a bit of Groupthink, guys! 🙂
OK 4hrs is typical but that’s not exactly long, is it?
Simply weigh up the pros & cons vs the cost difference.
A lot of things make a difference, such as do you have a lot of luggage/ are you or your wife a right old fatty/ do you have a broomstick up your nether region about getting on and off first/ how’s the points or money situation.
For me it would just come down to a simple question: it’s going to cost me quite a bit more, say, £200 more for the 2 of us to fly Club (2-4-1), together, on a 4hr trip. Same seats as Economy but I might have some fat b’gr next to me in Economy & I’ll only have my dear sweet wife next to me in Club.
OTOH £200 gets us a lovely meal out in Larnaca – and 4hrs is only 4hrs, I could get a few drinks in and sleep 4hrs 🙂
I’ve had the misfortune of travelling to Larnaca on BA more often than I’d care to remember. It’s a long haul even in CE now – was at least manageable in the CE 767, row 1 in the A320 is OK and I once got a 787 which was brilliant as I got a load of work done.
Bear in mind that it can be pushing 6hrs on the way back with headwinds. I see it was booked at 5hrs 13mins on 24/12.
I’ve had the misfortune of travelling to Larnaca on BA more often than I’d care to remember. It’s a long haul even in CE now – was at least manageable in the CE 767, row 1 in the A320 is OK and I once got a 787 which was brilliant as I got a load of work done.
Bear in mind that it can be pushing 6hrs on the way back with headwinds. I see it was booked at 5hrs 13mins on 24/12.
Practically the same flight time as NY then.
Exactly. Just such a waste as it’s close on impossible to even open a laptop on that plane if you’re not in row 1, so it ends up being a wasted day for me. The 630pm departure at least takes the edge off but it’s not as if the f&b is exactly mind blowing…
Friend of mine who did this a lot for work used to go via Amman on Royal Jordanian – earns Avios and tier points and its a proper long haul aircraft to Amman.
Friend of mine who did this a lot for work used to go via Amman on Royal Jordanian – earns Avios and tier points and its a proper long haul aircraft to Amman.
I recall you mentioning that before but do wonder as to the accuracy of the story, given it now takes c. 18-24hrs each way with a night stop in Amman to do this. If you’re dragging yourself to Cyprus with any regularity, as much as the 5hrs on BA is a shag, I can’t believe spending 4-5 times longer and needing to overnight in Amman makes things better, or indeed offers a convincing cost advantage, either.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
