British Airways PE

[Chrisd26]

Hi

I am considering British Airways PE Sydney to London return end of June for about $4500 versus Qantas for around $7,000.

What are your thoughts on BA PE?

Thanks

Chris

 

[simongr]

Not worth the money. Mind you QF at $7000 is steep. You could get a J fare on other carriers for $5-6K. I am in J on QF on a sale fare for $7K...

 

[MarcB]

I've not flown them - but I'm seeing ex-BNE BA PE for around $3500 end of June. Had a friend book this last week (end June to end July trip) and with the BUPA discount, it was around $3k. Given it's QF to SIN or HKG, I'd say it's a no brainer at that price - QF Y is coming in at $2500 for the same time. Plus if you connect to the right flights, you can get the new 777 ex-SIN.

 

[RWJ777]

I've not flown them - but I'm seeing ex-BNE BA PE for around $3500 end of June. Had a friend book this last week (end June to end July trip) and with the BUPA discount, it was around $3k. Given it's QF to SIN or HKG, I'd say it's a no brainer at that price - QF Y is coming in at $2500 for the same time. Plus if you connect to the right flights, you can get the new 777 ex-SIN.

I have done BA Y+ SYD-LHR through SIN on a similar price, just before they shifted to the 777s. I have to say, it was pretty bare bones. What's made it worse was a mechnical fault that required that we queue for hours to wait for a hotel room to be allocated. F and J were looked after first, fair enough too. But Y+ and OW Emerald got their rooms at the same time, hours later, as the backpackers on discount Y fares. Not very good.

So I guess what I'd say is that you get what you pay for -- and in BA Y+ not a thing more!

 

[Dalescott]

For me this goes to the augment about PE versus Asian Airline Business class. We are flying with Royal Brunei Airlines in June to London cost $3900 (from Melbourne). I think the cheap Asian Business class is always better than the PE, I have used both and there is no comparison PE to J.

 

[NM]

BA PE is better than BA Y

 

[ReLoad]

Don't do it. Simple really.

In the list of PE carriers BA's PE is lacking any sort of premiumness.

Go in J or PE on an Asian carrier. Total no brainier.

 

[Katie]

BA PE is better than BA Y

Hmm, true, but barely. It has been a few years, but the only difference to Y was legroom, and 2-4-2 config vs 3-4-3 config. When we last did Y+ on BA, it was the same food as Y. A bit spoilt since trying QF Y+.
However, we moved from Y to Y+ after boarding QF52 the other night. Didn't see the Y+ menu, but what was on offer for the dinner ex-SIN seemed to be the same meals as Y. Not the same plates or wines tho.

 

[ftm]

Also agree that for that price you should save some decent $ and go Business on an alternative Asian carrier. China Southern Business is a step up, particularly in the hard product and will be thousands less.

Malaysia Airlines has regular J fares sub $6000. Have a look around...

 

[benlight]

I couldn't imagine paying $4.5k+ return to Europe for PE on any airline. (The most I've ever paid is a little under $3k, and that was with a guaranteed upgrade to J with miles. Most recently I paid $1.4k for PE on BA/QF from BCN-LHR-SIN-SYD-HKG-SYD-SIN-LHR-BCN!)

Once you're prepared to pay around $5k, you can generally fly in J if you're a bit creative with your routing -- flying to somewhere in Asia first to take advantage of a cheaper J/F fare to Europe from there, flying to a European city other than London, or by choosing a cheaper Asian carrier. Entering some random dates at the end of June at ba.com, I notice you can also fly J outbound (on Cathay Pacific and BA) and PE inbound (on BA) for about $5.5k, which might be another option.

BA PE on the 747 is atrocious, with many cabins being so old that they're in a state of disrepair, so make sure you avoid it if you can. BA has a newer PE product on their 777-300ER, which looks to be substantially better although I'm yet to try it for myself.

Also, take a look at the 15% discount code 'GOURMETBA' for ba.com: The 2013 Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards

 

[benlight]

When we last did Y+ on BA, it was the same food as Y.... Didn't see the Y+ menu, but what was on offer for the dinner ex-SIN seemed to be the same meals as Y. Not the same plates or wines tho.

BA has offered a choice of one of two J mains in Y+ (on flights into/out of London) for some time now, but I believe the starters and desserts are still the same as Y. Not that the BA J mains are anything to look forward to, mind you...

 

[Andyzx]

BA16 /15 SYD-SIN-LHR-SYD is now on the the new 777-300's, WT+ is substantially better than the prior product. I have not flown it but have seen the seats and they do seem (visually) better.
For those negative prior posters were probably on the 747?? and I would have to agree were not as good as Q Y+ product. There are some TR's on other websites for the WT+ on 777-300's.
From what I have seen the 777-300 is flying each day out of SYD without substitution for other a/c.
Food and service is better, I like the idea of the J mains, if you have lounge access to the new Q lounge in SIN that would be great. You arrive and depart from LHR T5 which if you are connecting onward makes life a lot easier. T5 lounge (BA and OW only, no Q Club access) is fantastic for the departure.
For half the price and /or 15% discount I would (and will soon) do it, unless you like Chinese food!

 

[travellerqff]

this was on sale for AUD$1999 a few months back. Including stopovers in Singapore if you wanted

 

[pblackm]

My experience was about 3 years ago. I flew SYD/JFK in J. then waited in the BA lounges (both coughpy) for about three hours and flew to LHR and onward to Jeddah in PE. Syd/LHR was in a 747. Run down cabin, broken footrest. Y meal. However, I was so tired that I actually slept for a change. Landed near to the new Terminal 5 - and that was not a great experience until we finally de-planed.

Did a day stay at the LHR Hilton then caught the 6pm-ish BA flight to Jeddah. Whilst trying to work out which locker to use for my carry-on, a FA informed that I could sit in any seat that I wanted, as I was the only PE pax on that flight. It was only day 4 of BA's direct service to Jeddah.

I must say that I enjoyed the peace and quiet. Dinner was a hoot. Much rumbling, then two trollies and four FAs appeared to serve me! We all had a laugh. I think that cabin was in much better repair than the previous night (it may have been a 777).

A few days later after Kuwait, I flew BA to Boston, PE again. cannot remember details of that flight, except that the Kuwait Gold Lounge did not like the look of my QF Platinum card, and even though showing them the Emerald, they had to call a Manager before I could be let in. I was amused as in a part of the world where people know their precious metals, so the old brown tinted platinum card drew suspicion.

I have since flown QF PE since then, and must say that it is a significantly better product. But any PE beats Y.

 

[GCC]

We've booked WT+ on BA 15 / 16 11/12 for family trip SYD - LHR - GLA return in early July this year. At around $3300 each in peak season it was good value IMO. We are having stopover in Sing both ways so in 777 SYD - SING & return and 744 SING - LHR. The older plane for the long is a bit of a concern but arrival / departure times suit us better.

As WP I get Y+ SC's plus priority check in, Sydney F lounge and the new Sing lounge. The biggest issue I have is that due to the BA lounge rules I can't guest the family in at LHR (wife & 3 YO daughter = 2 BA guests ).

There were no J fares or QF Y+ fares on offer for anything even close to $4000 when we booked. My expectations aren't high - a more comfy seat than Y and a smaller quieter cabin. Nice food or good service will be a bonus.

I flew WT + YVR - LHR about 5 years back, and it wasn't that bad. Sure QF Y+ is far superior on the A380 and refitted 744's, but QF Y+ on a packed older 744 isn't that great. There are mixed reviews of the CX Y+ product, and the price is much higher.

$4500 seems too high though. When I booked, the Y+ fares on some legs of the trip were over $1000 more than the deep discount fares on offer at the time, so make sure you search using flexible dates to see whether there are cheaper options. I have also read that if loads are light there are good offers to upgrade to J when you do OLCI.

 

[ozmille]

I flew WT + YVR - LHR about 5 years back, and it wasn't that bad. Sure QF Y+ is far superior on the A380 and refitted 744's, but QF Y+ on a packed older 744 isn't that great. There are mixed reviews of the CX Y+ product, and the price is much higher.

I have not flown QF Y+ that much but I thought there was only 1 Y+? What is the difference between old Y+ and new Y+ on QF? My parents are asking about it for their next trip down under and trying to find some good options (would love to get them in J though).

 

[GCC]

Y+ on the A380 is on upper deck so feels a world away from the main Y cabin below. Food / beverage and service all good IME. I haven't traveled on the reconfigured aircraft though, which some argue has "devalued" the Y+ cabin.

Y+ on refitted 744's has same new seats IFE etc as the A380 and I assume same service, but the overall A 380- experience with airflow, quiet etc would not be there. Nor would the sense of separation from Y, they are just behind you through a curtain.

I don't know if and how many older 4 class 744's are still flying without the refit, or where they fly to. Old seats, old IFE etc.

The A380 Y+ is more a "business minus" experience, if your folks are used to long haul Y they'll appreciate it. But as others have posted in this thread there's a whole other argument about flying on other airlines in J for about the same as QF Y+.

 

[Katie]

Y+ on refitted 744's has same new seats IFE etc as the A380 and I assume same service, but the overall A 380- experience with airflow, quiet etc would not be there. Nor would the sense of separation from Y, they are just behind you through a curtain.

The sense of separation from Y is little different to the old 747s. Seats I think are the same - I think there's only been one type of QF Y+ seat so far? The refurbed 747s on QF are perhaps better than non-refurbed as you have a devoted loo for Y+, and don't have to trudge back through economy to get to the loo (they were orignally shared). I also like the cut-out aisle at the back of the galley to make it easy to get from the G,H,J & K seats to the loo, which is in front of the A & B seats.
I haven't done Y+ on an A380, but can only presume service is the same.

 

[GCC]

The new seats came in with the A380. Can't remember exact details but although not radically different they are a little wider, recline further and have the footrest built into the base of the seat. For me, Y+ on A380 felt almost like a different class again Y on the older (ie 4 class) 747.

 

[HansGolden]

The value of BA PE/WT+ is cheap Avios upgrades to biz.