About 10 minutes after we got there the gate manager came on the PA, and in the most sheepish way possible announced that there was a problem with the plane. The farms are actually in ocean coves and so forth. (Photo: Live and Let’s Fly) Finally there’s the newest version, unique to the 787-9. So wait, is this trip report from October when you left your pants behind? It was pretty decent for an onboard coffee — it had a nice taste and froth that was about as good as you would ever get on a plane. Die First-Klasse von British Airways ist Ihr Ticket zu außergewöhnlichem Komfort und tadellosem Service in unserer elegantesten Umgebung. 2X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. BRITISH AIRWAYS FIRST CLASS FLIGHT, A380 - London Heathrow to San Francisco. Basically, the flight attendants did the bare minimum and nothing more. Krug, Bollinger, Dom Pérignon, Billecart Salmon rosé. I took the opportunity to enjoy some more of British Airways’ world class entertainment selection. please advise—my wife and I have an upcoming flight from Heathrow to SFO—we presently have 2A and 3A—have heard row 1 is a bit weird because of the unused stairs to the second level…what are the best 2 F class seats on the BA 380? It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. For some reason, the BA app wouldn’t allow me to check in for either flight, so I couldn’t head straight to security. Nobody cares about Ford’s trips back home or what Tiffany thinks about her main course. The flight attendants seemed miffed to have to serve at all. And I think the comment about Heathrow being clever was pure snark. There is ample personal storage and accents like retractable honeycomb blinds and an elegant reading lamp that give it a luxurious feel. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). They are just all really bad writers, you’re a Picasso man, please let your canvas stand alone. I last transited in December, so not sure if the layout has changed since then. Please check your email to confirm your subscription. The worldwide fleet in BA are generally outstanding and represent the classic BA service. Once short of the runway we were number three for takeoff, and less than five minutes later we were cleared to taxi into position on the runway. I find British Airways is usually pretty slow to get the actual meal service started, and this flight was no exception. ), left me feeling really positive after this flight. The seat featured the standard tray table, which folded out and then doubled in size and then was large and sturdy, with way more than enough room for working, even on my 15-inch laptop. You get a more spacious first class cabin than on other BA aircraft. No wifi (Yet). After a struggle, got to the point about not having afternoon tea available when I decided I’d had enough and got bored. I was seated in 3A, a window seat, which offered even more space than usual, due to the distance between the edge of the seat and fuselage. British Airways has configured their A380 in four classes of service: First, Club World (Business), World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy), and World Traveller (Economy). British Airways first class menu and champagne, Geri explained that I could eat what I wanted when I wanted, so I commented “well all I really want is the afternoon tea, that’s half the reason I fly British Airways.” Unfortunately she informed me that British Airways recently eliminated afternoon tea on flights to the west coast, and are instead offering a full meal before landing, due to “customer feedback.”, I was sort of devastated. I ordered a gin & tonic. The main cabin crew member who looked after me, Samantha, could not have been more attentive, and was fascinating. Any advice re seating? I’ve been by the salmon farms in the Shetland Islands. We had a beautifully smooth landing, and from there it was a short five minute taxi to our arrival gate at Tom Bradley International Terminal. British Airways first class lunch — fresh seasonal salad, British Airways first class lunch — autumn chicken broth with pearl barley. This lounge is reserved for British Airways first-class passengers and Concorde Room card holders — look for a full review coming very soon as part of TPG UK‘s plan to review every lounge at LHR. British Airways A380 first class cabin before landing in Los Angeles. I do not miss the afternoon tea service, as you can still request scones but also get a more substantial meal. The First Class cabin is located on the plane’s forward lower deck, immediately behind the cockpit. It was another 30 minutes after the drinks were served before the table was set for lunch. Great review as always Lucky! After that I browsed the entertainment selection, which I find fairly lackluster on British Airways. However, for some reason CBP don’t, and this can add to delays for those who don’t travel often to the USA. BA offers a dining-on-demand service in first class, and the crew asked what I wanted from the menu and made it clear that I could have it whenever I desired. Seats … She was an avid diver with a doctorate in zoology and marine biology which was a refreshing change from some of the younger, more inexperienced mixed-fleet crew. Upon waking up I ordered another cup of coffee, and decided to get some work done on my laptop. I always love the fun of these underground pathways, which are usually completely empty! A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Some say 2A+3A, some say middle seats. However, if BA get the service right, and they truly did on this flight, the new soft-product additions really can shine, and it made a real difference to my experience. Along with the cabin-service manager, Brian, and the rest of the crew, they really brought the flight to life. Still, I know it would have been excellent and was pining for this as a bed on the way home. Your trip reports are completely amazing and are light years better than everyone else’s in the industry, in fact I think it’s one of the things that separates you from the ever growing pack of people imitating you and trying to make names in the points and miles industry. Was it comfortable around the shoulders? I found the food on both legs awful, and not fine dining what so ever. It was a good bit of fun. I’ve actually had medium to medium rare steak my last three flights on BA. Security was as quiet as usual and, apart from a random liquids test, was quick and painless, with no lines. Cappuccino was next up. Once the meal was done they told me to let them know when I wanted my bed made. are really bad and feel completely forced, like you are trying to introduce them as the next great thing. I reached the door and was greeted with an incredibly warm welcome. She was professional but also playful, which I appreciated. Your email address will not be published. Much like a reverse herringbone business class product, the seats are angled towards the windows and have ottomans. This fare was ex Milan and included an upgrade from business class to First by using a gold upgrade voucher which you get when you earn 2500 tier points. I know that is not saying much, because the American carriers have gone so far downhill this past decade. I second the comments above about “UK”, too. Andrew had the beef, which looked, well, well done. No turn down service and the bathroom was dirty, with feces in the toilet (after two visits, they were still there) and no amenities in the bathroom. I flew the previous first-class product a number of weeks ago and had a fantastic experience, so I was eager to try the new soft product, which launched on March 31 and rolled out across the fleet within a matter of days. The meal service was done 75 minutes after it started. Aside from the miles required, flights to/from London are subject to … Good bye First class ! I know Brits and Americans have different phrases they use, but I really had no clue what the point of this guy’s announcements were. Though I will say that the catering on my flight was surprisingly good. Help us fund therapy sessions for black women and girls, What You Need to Know About Airline Partnerships & Alliances, The Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates & Policies, The news, resources, & information you need. British Airways first class lunch — warm nuts and gin & tonic, British Airways first class lunch — warm nuts. I joined the Group 1 line, and after about 15 minutes, they announced that the cleaners had taken longer than expected on board, and we should expect to board soon. See also: British Airways A380 Premium Economy LAX – LHR Trip Reportby Rocky First Class Seat Review On The BA A380? Our departure was delayed a bit due to the miscommunication at the gate. Oder erleben Sie die Rundumerfahrung unserer 3D-Kabine. We fly only international business and first and as everyone knows, the asian carriers offer superior service. I’ve called British Airways first class the world’s best business class, though after flying their business class recently I also realized just how much better their first class is. At this point the captain came on the PA and explained that President Obama was inbound to Los Angeles, which was causing indefinite holding for the time being. We only had to hold for about 20 minutes, at which point we were cleared for our final descent. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The meal they now serve in place of the afternoon tea is too much food. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Lucky, Once I had the chance to settle in, one of the first class flight attendants, Geri, came by to introduce herself. Also new were the Meridian noise-canceling headphones, which looked smart and came in a cool, First-branded case. British Airways first class pajamas & amenity kit. As we taxied the safety video played. I’m really confused as I can’t work how else you would say it apart from shed-jewel! If you’d prefer to book with AA, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is offering a sign-up bonus of 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, meaning you could earn quite a large chunk of the miles you’d need to book this flight through American just with the bonus. We flew BA first A380, and it was a good business class experience. Midfleet are very keen but less professional. I’ve flown British airways 4 times in the past month long haul and I can’t help think about your BA posts when the captains make an announcement and say we will be arrive on SHED JEWEL !!! No Wi-Fi was available on board, not a good look on a modern aircraft in this day and age. Once at Terminal 5 we had to queue for security, which took quite a while. There is no county in England called Devonshire. So I was just about to say: nothing much to complain about, and I’d definitely take this over AA. This site is for entertainment purposes only. British Airways first class lunch — focaccia. It was such a shame that, due to the configuration of the cabins, BA gave the use of the cavernous bathrooms upstairs to Club World passengers, though I did manage to sneak up there halfway through the flight. While first class on the BA 747 or 777 truly does feel like a glorified business class product on other airlines, I was impressed by BA’s A380 first class seat/suite. My advice is fly other carriers – other airlines business cabins are way better than the service we received on BA. Also there’s an infamous, massively long FlyerTalk BA thread about jam or cream first that is hilarious. I’d just like to know if I’m alone in thinking the shower cubicles at the Concorde Room are some of the worst shower facilities ever. A moving map was provided, but no tail cam. The cabin is extremely sleek, especially once the mood lights are turned on. The brand-new bedding, pillow and thicker mattress really made a difference and made the bed very inviting. Landed in san diego on 747 in F. This was a real dissapointment. We pushed back just after 4:40PM, and began our taxi to the departure runway. Wondering…. There were no overhead bins down the middle of the cabin, compounding the airy feel. I believe BA is opening a dedicated fast track security lane at LHR T5 just for First class passengers (and possibly OWE), but not sure if this will be available for transfers as it will run from the F check in area through to the lounge complex entrance. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. If you look at the top of the post there’s an index with the entire trip report. Ben: I share an interest in this question: please advise—my wife and I have an upcoming flight from Heathrow to SFO—we presently have 2A and 3A—have heard row 1 is a bit weird because of the unused stairs to the second level…, also, you’ve previously said the 777 is better than the 747 but do I understand correctly that you think the A380 is the best of all—-. I just flew BA (first class) from London to Seattle. While “taxi onto position and hold” is the standard internationally. The A380 cabin is unlike the 747 First cabin because it does NOT taper in. For main course, I took the roast cod loin and pancetta. The food at the Concorde lounge was just bin worthy, I would only pay for BA if they happened to be much cheaper than other carriers. I’ve never seen anyone specifically call this out, but it is a real low point for the Concord Room that, while overrated – yes – is a perfectly fine place to while away a couple of hours. This comes from someone who says the words “line up and wait” over a radio at least 200 times every work day. The long rumoured First Security line on L5… older than some of the mould in The Concord showers. Depart: 4:15PM Once there we had to wait a few minutes for the bus. Since the first class seat on the A380 is the most spacious on offer with BA, we chose not to have a bassinet and I slept alongside my son instead. The PJs were a real improvement over the last ones, although a negative was there was still no pocket on the bottoms. Putting the space on offer to the test whilst the bed was made, I could confirm that it was even possible to practice some yoga. Some UK citizens do need reminding. The A380 will replace some of BA’s Boeing 747-400 planes that are being retired and fly on high demand long-haul routes such as London to Los Angeles and Hong Kong. From the gorgeous glassware and crockery to the comfy new bedding and pyjamas (the old ones were a bit thin and itchy), it was all positive. (—> Review BA FristClass in der A380) Eure British Airways Flüge könnt Ihr hier direkt buchen She also snuck us a couple of brownies from the midflight snack selection, when she found out how sad we were about the lack of afternoon tea. I am never one to say no to first class or an A380, so I pushed the button. This is a CBP requirement, other countries accept BRITISH as country of birth / residence. I’m curious what feedback they received to indicate the change. The menu read as follows: Again, I was quite sad to see that British Airways no longer serves afternoon tea, though apparently they felt it made sense to add a second meal for “competitive reasons,” given the length of the flight. @Ole, “line up” is a phrase in the American ATC communications script. While there’s a Fast Track lane, a lot of passengers at Heathrow are eligible to use it, so the line still took about 20 minutes. The seat extended into a fully flat bed with completely unrestricted and wide legroom — perfect for me as I tend to move around quite a bit while sleeping. Just spent 3 hours in transit at the fantastic La Premiere salon last Thursday. I did find that being in the back of the cabin was a bit brighter and noisier than if we’d been in the front, so I would consider sitting farther in the front next time on an overnight flight. This led to a further conversation about afternoon tea etiquette, and in particular about whether you put the jam or clotted cream on the scones first. He explained that our flight time was a shorter than usual 10hr30min, so he anticipated we would still arrive in Los Angeles on “shed-jewel.”. Service is excellent ! I love British Airways’ slippers, as they’re quite sturdy, more than those offered by any other airline I’ve flown. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. They might put down England, Scotland, Wales or Northen Ireland, Glad you enjoyed the k-ampagne. The Points Guy will not sell your email. I may be wrong, but I sense the government metrics for time taken getting through security may not cover transit passengers. Indeed, under the current offer, these 70,000 miles could be bought for £1,000, which, although a significant sum, is obj… The male kit contains products by The Refinery, which is a subset of Aromatherapy Associates. @Lucky I think you have started a saying, http://www.headforpoints.com/2017/06/10/how-does-british-airways-first-class-compare-emirates-etihad/, If you'd like to participate in the discussion, please adhere to our commenting guidelines. If you’re low on BA Avios, there’s currently a 30% bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards. For international first class I find the headphones to be cheap and uncomfortable — American has far superior Bose headphones in business class. It was every bit as delicious as it looks. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. A lot of us Brits feel very strongly about being “English” / “Scottish”. 2) The gray blanket and pillows look kind of cheap for international first-class. Booking a British Airways flight like this is relatively easy to do with miles. 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