To feel ripped off by BA?

[MatildaTheCat]

Recently DH and I flew short haul with BA. This is unusual as we normally go with EasyJet to Europe.

I have a seriously bad back and when I fly long haul I go in business class so I can recline and stretch out.

At check in I was offered the option to upgrade so DH said I should for the extra comfort. It was £125. So I did. We did use the club lounge for a while so got a free coffee and roll.

On board I was dismayed to find the seats and legroom are identical to all the other seats. The middle seat of three is left empty so the ‘extra room’ is actually an empty seat next to you. . I also got to ‘enjoy’ a revolting cooked breakfast while DH got to buy a nice M&S sandwich.

I think they should be completely clear about what they are offering here. Surely almost everyone equates business class seats as being bigger, more comfortable and with additional leg room?

I feel robbed.

Oh, and they probably gave away my credit card details, too.

That is standard BA short haul business. You will also have got more tier points and as much alcohol as you could drink?

Club Europe is a complete waste of time, unless you need the tier points. Particularly bad is the offer out of London City airport, where your upgrade buys you nothing of note - there is no business class lounge at LCY, and the aircraft is 2 x 2, so you don’t even get a free middle seat. I was offered (and declined) a meaninglessness “upgrade” for £79 when I flew from there last week. On the flight, there was no water on board, so no ability to wash hands in the toilets, and no hot drinks served.

I suppose I could have got pissed at 11am just for the sake of it. Don’t care about the points. I just think they should be clear about what you are buying.

Sorry but that is totally normal for short haul business. I generally think it isn't worth the extra!

Before I fly I always check what plane I will be travelling on to see if an upgrade is worth it. But it's well known shorthaul flights tend to be the small ones . Sorry but I think YABU

Business class on longhaul yes. But on shorthaul no airline offers huge reclining seats. Not in Europe anyway. I just thought that was common knowledge.

Your fault fir not checking ... shorthair business class is pointless.

We do short haul in business, we do it for various reasons, tier points - the higher up you are the more air miles you earn, meaning our long haul flights are in first or business paying tax only. Priority queue - less stress, quicker. Priority security. Champagne and nibbles in the lounge plus it’s quieter and less stressful. We can sit in a row together and have space for books, phones etc or put drinks and food in the middle to share. Quicker off the plane. Quicker getting luggage on arrival. I’m an anxious flyer so this makes it much easier for me as we fly a lot. If none of those things interest you and your only doing it for extra legroom I can see why it doesn’t work for you, but it’s does for enough people that they don’t scrap it due to lack of bookings.

Website is very clear on seat dims etc, though I do agree the new layout isn’t as good as when we had that inch or so more (claustrophobic)

OK the consensus is that IABU but I would still argue that business class seat would reasonably be expected to be larger and more spacious. Obviously not a fully reclining (coffin style) seat on long haul but not precisely the same as economy.

Still, I know now so I can join the ranks of those saying ‘this is common knowledge’. Back to EasyJet.

I find you do get extra leg room if you sit slightly at an angle as you don't have anyone sat next to you, however it isn't anything like long haul but it's pretty common knowledge. I fly business on BA shorthaul as check in is less stressful, priority security, much nicer lounges (at LGW and LHR anyway), champagne on board and because I usually travel with checked in luggage it usually comes off the plane first. I would say though that the recent changes to the food offering is poor in Club Europe. I usually eat in the lounge now instead of on the plane,

If you've ever flew short haul with BA before then you would have seen the 'business class' seats at the front, so generally it is common knowledge and most people know what they're getting seat wise.

For those who've never flew BA in Europe before I can understand why they may be disappointed when they board the aircraft.

I worked for BA for many years ... they are shit now, they've changed everything. Their club Europe is same as economy now plus some points and shit free food!
So YANBU!

Would genuinely never fly BA if another flight was available