BA Discussion

[Cossie]

When is a BA flight not a BA flight?

Booked a flight through the BA website from Gatwick to Barcelona, BA2049, picked this flight as it suited my situation best.

Web page did say it was going to be on a Vueling flight, but as I had a BA flight number I thought everything would be ok.

Wrong! Got to the lounge, they wouldn't let me as a WP. I showed them my Qantas card and my boarding pass with the BA flight number clearly printed on it, to no avail. Their reasoning was that it was a BA code share on a Vueling flight.

I do realise that I perhaps should have made further inquiries when I booked the flight and I know that some of you will say "serves me right" for picking a LCC. With hindsight I realise I should have caught the later 'proper' BA flight and got to my hotel at 8pm instead of 2pm.

Went off and had a mediocre breakfast and lousy cup of coffee, plane was delayed by 45 minutes and I only just (and I mean by less than a minute) made my connecting bus to Tarragona once I arrived at BCN.

Plane itself was an old 330-200, worn out leather seats and the smallest amount of leg room I've ever encountered in over 40 years of flying. I'm about 182cm tall and sitting straight, my knees were hard up against the seat in front, which fortunately was empty so I didn't have to worry about recliners.

Having flown Easyjet earlier this year, it is no contest as to who I will book with next time if I do have to fly a LCC. I'll be adding Vueling to Air Baltic and Ruinair as airlines I won't consider flying again.

Seeing as they wouldn't let me into the lounge, it will be interesting to see if I get any SC's or points, I won't be holding my breath!

 

[clifford]

Re: When is a BA flight not a BA flight?

BA has become my bete noir of airlines since they started revamping their short haul fleet (eg A320) to resemble chicken coops. Never been on an airliner with less pitch between seats. I agree that easyJet and Ryanair are much nicer.

They will certainly lose my business.

 

[Claudius]

Re: When is a BA flight not a BA flight?

Vueling is dreadful, it's almost as bad as Ryanair. I've always liked BA, but if you are going to LHR I recommend fly via HKG.
I like the Qantas product better though, Qantas J is excellent by any standards.

 

[amaroo]

Re: When is a BA flight not a BA flight?

Vueling is dreadful, it's almost as bad as Ryanair. I've always liked BA, but if you are going to LHR I recommend fly via HKG.
I like the Qantas product better though, Qantas J is excellent by any standards.

Only had two Vueling flights GRX-BCN and BCN-ORY - both were new planes with efficient crew. Classic LCC with a decent touch.

 

[robd]

"Euro Business", it's a class of its own. We're spoilt in Australia.

I don't know why I thought my BA J Club Europe flights were going to be on par with our local J offerings. Had this not been part of a 280k QFF redemption, I certainly wouldn't be putting my hand in my pocket to fly "J" class. I'd call it a poor PE offering at best.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'd call it a poor PE offering at best.

seat wise yes. But I'd say the other offerings well and truly match anything offered by Virgin or Qantas domestically.

 

[robd]

seat wise yes. But I'd say the other offerings well and truly match anything offered by Virgin or Qantas domestically.

You can't pre select a seat on BA without paying extra.

 

[serfty]

You can't pre select a seat on BA without paying extra.

Not in U class ... however, *O Emerald can select a seat on BA flights on a complimentary basis.