AFF Review: British Airways 787 Club World (SIN-SYD)

[AFF Editor]

British Airways 787 Club World Review (Singapore-Sydney) is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

British Airways 787 Club World Review (Singapore-Sydney)

We review British Airways' older Club World Business Class product on the Boeing 787-9 from Singapore to Sydney.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[AIRwin]

The electronic notice on the screen about early check in at the SATS Premier Check-in Lounge did not mention Oneworld Emerald though?

 

[AFF Editor]

The electronic notice on the screen about early check in at the SATS Premier Check-in Lounge did not mention Oneworld Emerald though?

Correct, it didn't. I mentioned Oneworld Emerald as it's equivalent to BA Executive Club Gold, but I would be interested to know whether they would allow Qantas Platinum members to use the early check-in. As I was flying J on this occasion I didn't need to ask.

 

[sqrt()]

I'm surprised BA don't already use the -8s and -10s which already have Club Suites on BA15/16. They're in a very small minority not running 1-2-1 on SYD-X-LHR, right? Doesn't seem competitive at all. Even AI has fewer seats per row in J on their -8s.

 

[levelnine]

It's sad when you can get better redemption values on QantasLink economy class flights (2.5c+ per point) than BA business class flights (2.3c per point in this case) due to the high surcharges.

 

[Gladstone Tim]

So breakfast was a choice of two bread products?

 

[drron]

We are on BA 16 on Monday. As Mrsdrron doesn't do backward facing seats and side by side not great for couples we are flying first class.

 

[Gladstone Tim]

We are on BA 16 on Monday. As Mrsdrron doesn't do backward facing seats and side by side not great for couples we are flying first class.

You are a very considerate, selfless man, drron!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm surprised BA don't already use the -8s and -10s which already have Club Suites on BA15/16. They're in a very small minority not running 1-2-1 on SYD-X-LHR, right? Doesn't seem competitive at all. Even AI has fewer seats per row in J on their -8s.

I don’t think they’ve started the -8s yet. The refurbs are slated for October onwards IIRC.

 

[sqrt()]

I don’t think they’ve started the -8s yet. The refurbs are slated for October onwards IIRC.

Ahh, I saw the seat plan on Aerolopa but it looks like it's been made before it actually rolls out.

 

[SYD]

We are on BA 16 on Monday. As Mrsdrron doesn't do backward facing seats and side by side not great for couples we are flying first class.

The old BA club seats are perfect for couples that still like to look at each other and talk to each other! .

Not so great when some random is there looking at you until the awkward moments are ended by the FA running down the aisle pressing the privacy screen buttons.

Plus, I actually don’t mind facing backwards - the best “window” seats these days are often facing backwards (including the coveted QSuites!).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ahh, I saw the seat plan on Aerolopa but it looks like it's been made before it actually rolls out.

Oh! Well… if it is it is the first one or two. Not enough to run the SYD service daily.

TBH at mattg said in the article, the ying-yang seats are actually pretty comfortable! Just lack privacy on takeoff and direct aisle access for some seats.

 

[SydneySwan]

I took BA15 from Singapore to Sydney in CW on September 15 and these comments in particular resonated;

"The cabin crew were all lovely and meant well, but just seemed a bit disorganised. I also couldn’t help thinking there were simply not enough crew to serve the number of passengers on board.

By the time I finished dinner, there were less than five hours until landing so I was keen to go to sleep. It took ages to find a crew member to clear away my table, and I ended up making the bed up myself."

My dinner started to arrive after 75 minutes and I regarded that as way too late. I had seat 12K which is a backward-facing window and I felt pretty invisible. No-one took my dinner order and my pre-ordered drink only arrived with dinner - I expected it before.

An announcement was made apologising for the fact that no menus were available in CW and then less than a minute later I was given a menu! I was not asked if I wanted to be woken for breakfast and slept through it anyway which Í was fine with given dinner had restricted possible sleeping time quite considerably. I slept well on the flat bed but those window seats have no storage area at all.

This flight was the last leg of an OWA so I felt lucky to be allocated 12K given I would have had to pay for a pre-allocated seat as I am only LTS. I share the OPs sentiments regarding BA having availability when QF didn't.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the BA lounge in Singapore.

 

[drron]

Well I put a curse on our Monday flight. Have already had a message that our flight will leave 3 hours late. Seeing it usually arrives 9 hours before its SYD departure I looked up BA 15. Friday’s departure left LHR 21 hours late and will arrive in SIN 21 hours late tomorrow morning.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well I put a curse on our Monday flight. Have already had a message that our flight will leave 3 hours late. Seeing it usually arrives 9 hours before its SYD departure I looked up BA 15. Friday’s departure left LHR 21 hours late and will arrive in SIN 21 hours late tomorrow morning.

And here’s me *hoping* for a delay on my QF flight to London next week!! 630am is waaaay to early to arrive. Would much prefer 930!

 

[Sprucegoose]

By the time I finished dinner, there were less than five hours until landing so I was keen to go to sleep. It took ages to find a crew member to clear away my table, and I ended up making the bed up myself."

If no-one clears my meal tray I get up and take it to the galley - I always make my own bed. When I fly it's just like being at home.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the BA lounge in Singapore.

Having low expectations will do this!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Well I put a curse on our Monday flight. Have already had a message that our flight will leave 3 hours late. Seeing it usually arrives 9 hours before its SYD departure I looked up BA 15. Friday’s departure left LHR 21 hours late and will arrive in SIN 21 hours late tomorrow morning.

FlightAware is a great investment!

 

[Walloper]

IMHO you have been exceedingly nice about a very shoddy J seat and even shoddier cabin service on BA. It is the absolute worst in the air.


.

 

[Happy Trails]

I tried it once about 13 years ago.
Swore never again and I never did.

 

[Flashback]

There are very few seats (if sitting at the window) that you won't disturb the passenger next to you trying to get out, essentially only those at the rear of each section as you're up against the wall. All others include having to step over someone to get out (had to do it many times on a recent flight that was downgraded).

Sounds about right for the meal, it's why I usually try and sit further to the front if I do want to eat before going to sleep as service can be slow. Further forward goes earlier.

BA crew will never make your bed up for you, so if you did sit there waiting you would have still been doing so once the plane landed