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Original poster

First experience of flying Business Class and …

124 replies

DuvetDownn · 28/02/2023 19:42

I just returned from a trip involving flights to LA and I flew there and back business class. It was my first time and it was amazing. My DH has flown Business Class many times with work and said one day we’d try it.
I have a flight next month to Singapore in economy and in a way wished I hadn’t tried it.

OP posts:
TrainTucker · 02/03/2023 23:03

To clarify. BA business long haul is called BA Club World.

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 03/03/2023 14:35

HundredMilesAnHour · 01/03/2023 19:04

Our flight this evening was cancelled and British Airways insist on flying us back via Philadelphia as there are no BC seats on direct flights tomorrow and the system point blank will not allow us to fly a "lesser" class even if we agree its OK.

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo You've been incorrect information. You absolutely can fly a lower class (i.e. be downgraded) if there are seats available. Check online what flights have seats (don't forget to check AA as well as BA) and call BA if you see availability for direct flights that you'd rather take. There's a risk they may refuse to change your flights if you've already agreed to the change via Philly but I'd recommend at least calling to ask.

Thanks, but woman in customer services wasn't budging!

Anyhoo, we got home eventually, but the much anticipated BC flat bed seat was used for less time as the flight from Philly is shorter than Orlando. And I did sleep! (I can never sleep sitting up)

Original poster
DuvetDownn · 03/03/2023 19:14

Otherwise we fly Premium Economy on Virgin, which is very similar to BA BC
I had a quick Google and it doesn’t look similar to me.

OP posts:
SecretPeston · 03/03/2023 23:21

DuvetDownn · 03/03/2023 19:14

Otherwise we fly Premium Economy on Virgin, which is very similar to BA BC
I had a quick Google and it doesn’t look similar to me.

You have to experience it rather than Google it.

We last flew Virgin PE just before the pandemic, perhaps things have changed since then - but in my experience it was just as good if not better than BA BC.

Milksheikha · 04/03/2023 04:39

Singapore Airlines BC is a clear leader for service and the food is incredible. Put your husband and kids in the back and treat yourself.

Original poster
DuvetDownn · 04/03/2023 08:48

Unfortunately I’ve missed the boat with upgrading now as it’s would be about 7k per person. Next time though I’ll get organised and book early. I’ve booked a similar economy seat to the photo attached and am curious to see what it is like.

First experience of flying Business Class and …
OP posts:
Morph22010 · 04/03/2023 08:56

TrainTucker · 28/02/2023 23:59

How do you not buy imported food?
pasta, rice, olive oil, tomatoes, apples, oranges, bananas, nuts etc

What do you eat?

Show quote history

Turnips!

CovertImage · 04/03/2023 10:03

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 01/03/2023 12:05

That's absolutely the way to go - buy things that you love and keep them indefinitely.

As I've said, if people want to disregard the environmental impact of their choices, there's not a lot I or anyone else can do to stop them, but I don't feel they should be rewarded for their choices when other poor choices have been outlawed (plastic usage) or disincentivized (sugar tax, tobacco etc).

Show quote history

You appear to have brought out a bit of defensiveness in this thread!

TrainTucker · 04/03/2023 11:49

SecretPeston · 03/03/2023 23:21

You have to experience it rather than Google it.

We last flew Virgin PE just before the pandemic, perhaps things have changed since then - but in my experience it was just as good if not better than BA BC.

Show quote history

BA club has a flat bed with a duvet, pillow etc
Virgin PE has a reclining seat. (like BA world traveller plus)

They are not comparable in any way and yes I have flown them both dozens of times.

Essexexile · 04/03/2023 12:58

We flew Virgin Upper once & I didn’t like the seats, they felt very claustrophobic to me but great service & the clubhouse is great!

Movinghouseatlast · 04/03/2023 13:05

The problem is that it is very hard to go back!

I flew First and Business for work and got a lot of points so have done a few business class flights for pleasure. I bloody love it. Last year I had to fly home economy as there were no Avios seats in business available. Christ it was awful, I felt really crammed in, my shoulders didn't even fit in the seat and I'm only small. First World problems I know.

Carriemac · 04/03/2023 14:04

americanexpress.com/en-gb/referral/cAROLMsXR0?XL=MIMNS

Here's a referral if you want to sign up for a BA American Express card

Carriemac · 04/03/2023 14:06

British airways American Express card , you get 26,000 miles if you spend 3,000 pounds in your first three months of membership I get 9,000

TrainTucker · 04/03/2023 17:53

Carriemac · 04/03/2023 14:04

americanexpress.com/en-gb/referral/cAROLMsXR0?XL=MIMNS

Here's a referral if you want to sign up for a BA American Express card

Go to headforpoints
Lots more options for referrals and they almost always have a bonus above a private referral

WhyIsBogdanSexy · 04/03/2023 18:06

We've flown first and business for a long time, back since it was the Star alliance scheme and we could fly with Lufthansa and Thai etc.

We've done BA first/business since it became avios and whilst it's good, it wasn't as good as either Lufthansa or Thai.

Lufthansa we flew through Frankfurt where there was a whole terminal dedicated only to First Class passengers. We had a butler who came and got us when it was time to go and the plane had been loaded with everyone else. They drove us out across the tarmac to the plane in a Porsche Grin

With Thai we flew through Bangkok and the terminal was superb, it has a spa so you can get treatments while you wait for your plane.

BA First was good for the Concorde lounge at Heathrow(I think?) Which was pretty nice. Good food.

Our goal is one day Emirates in First but that's a post-lottery option 😁they send a car to get you from home and drive you to airport and when you get there they have a special Emirates parking space.

Needless to say since we've had 3 kids it's now a caravan in Whitley bay, but still.

chipsandpeas · 04/03/2023 18:27

im doing long haul business with qatar at the end of the month going but economy coming back and i know already i will hate the economy flights but hey gotta just keep spending and get the avios up to get more upgrades

TrainTucker · 04/03/2023 19:01

WhyIsBogdanSexy · 04/03/2023 18:06

We've flown first and business for a long time, back since it was the Star alliance scheme and we could fly with Lufthansa and Thai etc.

We've done BA first/business since it became avios and whilst it's good, it wasn't as good as either Lufthansa or Thai.

Lufthansa we flew through Frankfurt where there was a whole terminal dedicated only to First Class passengers. We had a butler who came and got us when it was time to go and the plane had been loaded with everyone else. They drove us out across the tarmac to the plane in a Porsche Grin

With Thai we flew through Bangkok and the terminal was superb, it has a spa so you can get treatments while you wait for your plane.

BA First was good for the Concorde lounge at Heathrow(I think?) Which was pretty nice. Good food.

Our goal is one day Emirates in First but that's a post-lottery option 😁they send a car to get you from home and drive you to airport and when you get there they have a special Emirates parking space.

Needless to say since we've had 3 kids it's now a caravan in Whitley bay, but still.

The Concorde Room (CCR)
It is very dated- the toilets are shockingly poor and they haven't opened up the cabanas post covid. The Elemis spa also closed and didnt reopen.

They have LPGS and the breakfast is ok but the food is pretty poor.

The Cathay 1st Lounge in T3 is much better.

Original poster
DuvetDownn · 04/03/2023 19:26

I used to love the Virgin lounge in where you could have a free treatment such as a facial or nails done. I don’t know if they still offer that. I remember one good experience there when I demolished an amazing cheese board, was glowing from a half hour facial and my DH knocked back about 6 gin brambles.

OP posts:
BarrelOfOtters · 04/03/2023 19:33

Flew business class to LA and back on my last flight pre pandemic. It was heaven. And the lounges. First trip back to the States this week...economy...I'm looking at ways to upgrade on way back.

Off to Japan in September. Only if we go business class....

I've been spoilt.

Like the tip.about booking the business class from a hub...

WhyIsBogdanSexy · 04/03/2023 19:48

The Concorde Room (CCR)
It is very dated- the toilets are shockingly poor and they haven't opened up the cabanas post covid. The Elemis spa also closed and didnt reopen

That sounds pretty rubbish. Was 2018 when we were last there.

DH has flown Cathay, Etihad and Turkish and said Cathay was really good. He's never been a fan of AA, said even their business was basic, but I haven't experienced it.

TrainTucker · 04/03/2023 19:48

DuvetDownn · 04/03/2023 19:26

I used to love the Virgin lounge in where you could have a free treatment such as a facial or nails done. I don’t know if they still offer that. I remember one good experience there when I demolished an amazing cheese board, was glowing from a half hour facial and my DH knocked back about 6 gin brambles.

I used to get my hair cut in there every month and they did shellac nails. They even had a plunge pool at one point.

TrainTucker · 04/03/2023 19:49

WhyIsBogdanSexy · 04/03/2023 19:48

The Concorde Room (CCR)
It is very dated- the toilets are shockingly poor and they haven't opened up the cabanas post covid. The Elemis spa also closed and didnt reopen

That sounds pretty rubbish. Was 2018 when we were last there.

DH has flown Cathay, Etihad and Turkish and said Cathay was really good. He's never been a fan of AA, said even their business was basic, but I haven't experienced it.

I flew both BA and AA Club last week and AA Flagship 1st and AA Flagship club (its not called that but not sure its name)

AA was much better than BA

Buildingthefuture · 04/03/2023 19:51

Virgin PE is a world away from BA BC (literally no comparison on experience or cost!) but I prefer Virgin Upper to BA Business. We get most of our flights via rewards points and no, I feel no guilt about it, at all!

TrainTucker · 04/03/2023 19:53

BarrelOfOtters · 04/03/2023 19:33

Flew business class to LA and back on my last flight pre pandemic. It was heaven. And the lounges. First trip back to the States this week...economy...I'm looking at ways to upgrade on way back.

Off to Japan in September. Only if we go business class....

I've been spoilt.

Like the tip.about booking the business class from a hub...

Look at headforpoints and the BA thread on flyertalk for advice (teir point run thread but also any bargain flights get posted on there)

Leaving form Dublin or Budapest is much cheaper than LHR at the moment but it varies. I got some great prices from Amsterdam, last year and with KLM its as easier to hop to Schipol than LHR from our local airport.

WhyIsBogdanSexy · 04/03/2023 19:59

*I flew both BA and AA Club last week and AA Flagship 1st and AA Flagship club (its not called that but not sure its name)

AA was much better than BA*

That's really good to hear, I think DH is stuck on the old AA of 10 years ago which he didn't enioy.

The last few times BA has been nothing to write home about but they were 2016 and 2018.

We have 4 companion vouchers and masses and masses of miles to use so we need to get something booked soon. There's often good availability to Boston so might go with that.

We've never flown Virgin, but might try them Glasgow to Florida for our next trip there. They seem to have a very solid reputation.