Nice video Phil! I did one of the BA 787s on the Frankfurt runs in April. One of my flights turned into an A321neo, but one remained a 787 Dreamliner. I flew economy class and I still enjoyed it thoroughly! I did get a free upgrade on a BA 777 flight to Madrid in March 2019 to the First Cabin (as Club Europe) which was a beautiful experience itself!
I did the BA A380 trip in business from LHR to Frankfurt in November 2021 when BA were reintroducing the 380 into service, the upgrade was 5,000 avios on top of the regular fare also having the lounge access at LHR made the trip extra special, but the icing on the cake was being allowed to visit the flight deck when we landed at Frankfurt and being allowed to in the 1st officer's seat...Just amazing Thank you BA
That is outstanding on all fronts! I guess they were training routes for the pilots to get certified. Just WOW! Thank you for your comment, it's apprecaited Phil
@@mygreygapyear Thanks Phil I believe the flights were classed as crew refreshment for the 380 on the flight I was on there were 66 passengers all on lower deck but for those who wanted it there was a guided tour of the aircraft en route to Frankfurt.
Thanks for your comment, it was a great experience. It felt a bit like as soon as we were in the air and I got a look at the seat, I was scoffing my lunch and then we landed. It just wasn't long enough Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate your support Phil
Fantastic find there ! Our business (club Europe) flight last week was brilliant. Your advice on transit through the process was invaluable. The Gatwick lounge was fantastic, 3hrs spent filling our face and watching the planes take off 😊 Loved business so much we’re off the Paris in Feb 24 hopefully at least bay Bronze status in 24. I do think 1st would be wasted on me though especially the food I’m very picky the wife however would be in her element !
I'm so glad you had a great experience. I love that you made full use of the lounge in Gatwick, I really like the business lounge there. Have a fab trip to Paris, let me know how it goes. Thank you for your comment and continues support, Phil
Good on ya for getting that upgrade! Always great to receive a premium seat for next to nothing, something I'll miss as I've begun to downgrade my status levels at all the major alliances. POOOKE!!! - Red
That’s a real luck out! You got flubbed from economy! I’m flying back from GCM tomorrow and there’s a great upgrade offer from WTP into CW. it’s a four class 777 where first is not sold so I’m considering upgrading for the off-chance we get a first seat. Otherwise we’ll just be stuck in the middle of the old club world cabin. Perhaps not worth the risk!
Grand Caymen, nice. BA don't have many routes that have a first cabin anymore. I know Barbados does and I think Bermuda does, but I don't know about Grand Caymen. If the deal is good then probably worth going for, the space, service, food and drink will be significantly better in business. Let me know how you get on. Have a great flight and thanks for your comment, Phil
Thank you again for your kind words of encouragement, it is appreciated. That would be nice wouldn't it, to get into the Concord Room, unfortunately the front desk staff are ice cold, I think they have to be 😊
Lovely! What a superb upgrade! A few years ago I managed to get a couple of first class tickets to Moscow using reward saver - probably the only time I’ll ever be able to experience it. The avios cost wasn’t too horrific. I think they’ve pulled that route now but similar wide body Euro flights are worth watching out for. One thing that struck me was how you don’t get to see many other people at all, from check in through security to the lounge and in the seat. As a people watcher I didn’t like that aspect!
Nice one, missed out on a club long haul wide bodied seat a few years back flying to Madrid unfortunately booked on the earlier flight which was standard club Europe & the plane would have been its maiden flight too all lovely & fresh 😕 Have to agree on the parking at T5 just went to book the business long stay for 1 day this weekend & nearly fell off the sofa at the price £60 😳 ridiculous I parked for 2 weeks this April in the same business long stay & it was only ( I say only with a sigh) £130 💁🏼. I did look into this & by extending the length of stay & it seems they absolutely have your pants down for the first day then gradually tapers off the longer the stay it almost as if they see you as a business customer even though it’s the weekend & your most probably a Joe Public & charge accordingly thinking you can claim the VAT back or put to expenses. If we can we prefer to fly Gatwick as the car park is cheaper & I prefer the BA lounge to T5 although when I reach gold status this month I may prefer the 1st lounge at T5. One thing which I think is as good as getting that free upgrade is spotting a business class seat when booking a flight for less money than a economy or premium economy seat have encountered this several times always makes me chuckle business for £100 or economy for £150 🤔 let me think about that for a nanosecond 😂
Thanks for your comment. I've heard a lot about these Madrid flights and I think I'm going to have to check them out. £60 for one day is crazy, I daren't even think about costs in the short stay. I haven't seen a business flight for less than Economy but then I haven't really been checking, but I will now! Thanks for the tip, Phil
I had that version of First on a trip to Cape Town. I think it’s pretty dated these days. As you say, very little storage space, which on a long-haul flight is a pain. But hey, for what you paid, it’s great!
I agree with you, it did feel a bit dated compared to the other first class videos I've seen. It was great value and a free upgrade to boot, so can't complain 😊 Thank you for your comment and support, it's appreciated Phil
You were certainly very lucky not only to be given a complimentary upgrade from Euro Traveller to Club Europe without apparent reason when travelling at a low revenue reward ticket fare but having been so upgraded to then be allocated a seat in the First Class cabin in preference to real Club Europe passengers. I wonder why?
Thanks for your comment. I was extremely lucky, my good fortune is no great mystery really, but there were a few contributing factors. Firstly it was a full flight (I mean rammed with angry Germans shouting at staff because they couldn't be sat together), I imagine it had been oversold so someone had to get bumped up. So then it's a case of who to bump, I am a Gold status holder with BA and I had bought a number of cash flights and holidays in the last 12 months and this is often a key factor for upgrading (I booked 3 economy tickets with BA in 2023 and got upgraded twice). So then the question of where to put me. This was a rare BA widebody in Europe (probably for freight but could be a qualification flight for pilots). It might be that the seats in First were initially blocked so passengers weren't able to book them and they opened up when I was upgraded. Or they were only available to BA Gold Status holders. Or the other passengers preferred the club suite product behind us and booked those seats. I obviously wasn't upgraded to First, I was upgraded to Club Europe, all the seats were technically Club Europe seats and received the same service so there wasn't a mechanism (I imagine) to "bump" a club Europe passenger into "First" because there wasn't a "first class" ticket on the flight. They may have been unimpressed if they'd booked a Club Suite and been given a non suite seat. Those are my thoughts but I'd love to hear your thoughts. I hope you enjoyed the video, thanks for commenting and supporting the channel. I have a video of a genuine "BA First Class" trip to Barbados coming up, it cost me a bit more than £17.50 though. 😊 Thanks again, Phil
Thanks for your comment, that really is a great flight to take, one that I need to do one day soon. Good luck with getting the premium seat and I hope you have a fantastic trip.
Nice one! I believe BA operate a widebody to Madrid daily, to complement the daily Iberia widebody service too. How did you manage to get the upgrade from booking in the Eco cabin to Club? Thanks!
Thanks for the comment and the tip, I'll be looking for that BA widebody. I got bumped up because it was a completely full flight. I probably got picked because I have status and I have no idea why they assigned me a seat in the first two rows. Thanks again, Phil
@@mygreygapyear Iberia widebody before I found UA-cam, when I only blogged.. signol.blogspot.com/2013/09/easyjet-v-iberia-j-madrid-daytrip.html?m=1 my only experience of the BA widebody was immediately before this one: m.ua-cam.com/video/V9_GUrbb5-c/v-deo.html
Thanks for the parking hack not for everyone I know but with airport parking prices what they are I for one like the idea. Parking at Gatwick for a couple of nights is becoming more expensive than the flight. It is a joke!
Nice review keep them but I honestly don’t think there is that much difference between the new club suites & first maybe a bit more personal attention . Just back in a ATH-LHR-MAN CE I do wish BA would at least give a bit extra leg room
I agree, a slightly better seat is called for but they fill club all the time so I guess they feel they don't need to. I flew in Euro Traveller on Sunday and Club was 9 rows. And your right since they upgraded the business product they are very similar, in club you get Cote de Rhone, in business its chateauneuf-du-pape, Johhny Walker Blue and so on, but very similar except the price Thanks for your comment Phil
There's NO WAY I would leave my car in Hayes.....................esp in a supermarket car park. The place is a total shit hole rampant with crime. I do have a new BMW X3 but even if I had a 10 year old VW Golf I'd be reticent.
Well I proper laughed out loud when I read that, I would have spat out my cornflakes, I love it🤣. I probably should have said that my car is a beaten up old Astra Diesel and that I'm now parking outside the congestion charging zone tells you all you need to know. I hesitate to tell you where I'm parking now but it is much safer that the Asda Hays idea 😊. There are some that are on regular peoples drives, so if their neighbours cars are safe then yours should be too. Thanks for your comment, brightened my day Phil
Thanks for your question, no not quite. It was a widebody (long haul configured) plane on a short haul flight, so there was only two classes of ticket, European Traveller (Economy) and Club Europe (business). I booked economy and selected a seat in the Premium Economy cabin. The flight was completely fully booked, every seat taken and I was moved up to Club Europe. The seat I was assigned was in row two which is in the First Class cabin of this four class aircraft. So I got a First Class "seat", not first class. A bit clickbait I admit, but I fess up and explain in the video. Thanks Phil
Nice video Phil! I did one of the BA 787s on the Frankfurt runs in April. One of my flights turned into an A321neo, but one remained a 787 Dreamliner. I flew economy class and I still enjoyed it thoroughly! I did get a free upgrade on a BA 777 flight to Madrid in March 2019 to the First Cabin (as Club Europe) which was a beautiful experience itself!
I did the BA A380 trip in business from LHR to Frankfurt in November 2021 when BA were reintroducing the 380 into service, the upgrade was 5,000 avios on top of the regular fare also having the lounge access at LHR made the trip extra special, but the icing on the cake was being allowed to visit the flight deck when we landed at Frankfurt and being allowed to in the 1st officer's seat...Just amazing
Thank you BA
That is outstanding on all fronts! I guess they were training routes for the pilots to get certified. Just WOW!
Thank you for your comment, it's apprecaited
Phil
@@mygreygapyear
Thanks Phil I believe the flights were classed as crew refreshment for the 380
on the flight I was on there were 66 passengers all on lower deck but for those who wanted it there was a guided tour of the aircraft en route to Frankfurt.
looks brilliant hope you enjoyed it
Thanks for your comment, it was a great experience. It felt a bit like as soon as we were in the air and I got a look at the seat, I was scoffing my lunch and then we landed. It just wasn't long enough
Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate your support
Phil
Fantastic find there ! Our business (club Europe) flight last week was brilliant. Your advice on transit through the process was invaluable. The Gatwick lounge was fantastic, 3hrs spent filling our face and watching the planes take off 😊
Loved business so much we’re off the Paris in Feb 24 hopefully at least bay Bronze status in 24.
I do think 1st would be wasted on me though especially the food I’m very picky the wife however would be in her element !
I'm so glad you had a great experience. I love that you made full use of the lounge in Gatwick, I really like the business lounge there. Have a fab trip to Paris, let me know how it goes.
Thank you for your comment and continues support,
Phil
Wow, outstanding deal! Looks a real treat
Thanks for you comment and support, it's appreciated. It was a great experience and the value was unbelievable.
Good on ya for getting that upgrade! Always great to receive a premium seat for next to nothing, something I'll miss as I've begun to downgrade my status levels at all the major alliances. POOOKE!!!
- Red
Thanks for your comment, you got to love a cheeky free upgrade.
That’s a real luck out! You got flubbed from economy! I’m flying back from GCM tomorrow and there’s a great upgrade offer from WTP into CW. it’s a four class 777 where first is not sold so I’m considering upgrading for the off-chance we get a first seat. Otherwise we’ll just be stuck in the middle of the old club world cabin. Perhaps not worth the risk!
Grand Caymen, nice. BA don't have many routes that have a first cabin anymore. I know Barbados does and I think Bermuda does, but I don't know about Grand Caymen. If the deal is good then probably worth going for, the space, service, food and drink will be significantly better in business.
Let me know how you get on. Have a great flight and thanks for your comment,
Phil
Spot on again Phil. Did you fancy trying to blag your way into the Concorde Room on the basis that you were technically in a First Class seat 😊
Thank you again for your kind words of encouragement, it is appreciated.
That would be nice wouldn't it, to get into the Concord Room, unfortunately the front desk staff are ice cold, I think they have to be 😊
Lovely! What a superb upgrade!
A few years ago I managed to get a couple of first class tickets to Moscow using reward saver - probably the only time I’ll ever be able to experience it. The avios cost wasn’t too horrific. I think they’ve pulled that route now but similar wide body Euro flights are worth watching out for.
One thing that struck me was how you don’t get to see many other people at all, from check in through security to the lounge and in the seat. As a people watcher I didn’t like that aspect!
Thanks for your comment, Moscow sounds awesome, it was on my bucket list, but I don't know if that will happen in my lifetime ☹
Nice one, missed out on a club long haul wide bodied seat a few years back flying to Madrid unfortunately booked on the earlier flight which was standard club Europe & the plane would have been its maiden flight too all lovely & fresh 😕
Have to agree on the parking at T5 just went to book the business long stay for 1 day this weekend & nearly fell off the sofa at the price £60 😳 ridiculous I parked for 2 weeks this April in the same business long stay & it was only ( I say only with a sigh) £130 💁🏼. I did look into this & by extending the length of stay & it seems they absolutely have your pants down for the first day then gradually tapers off the longer the stay it almost as if they see you as a business customer even though it’s the weekend & your most probably a Joe Public & charge accordingly thinking you can claim the VAT back or put to expenses. If we can we prefer to fly Gatwick as the car park is cheaper & I prefer the BA lounge to T5 although when I reach gold status this month I may prefer the 1st lounge at T5.
One thing which I think is as good as getting that free upgrade is spotting a business class seat when booking a flight for less money than a economy or premium economy seat have encountered this several times always makes me chuckle business for £100 or economy for £150 🤔 let me think about that for a nanosecond 😂
Thanks for your comment. I've heard a lot about these Madrid flights and I think I'm going to have to check them out. £60 for one day is crazy, I daren't even think about costs in the short stay.
I haven't seen a business flight for less than Economy but then I haven't really been checking, but I will now!
Thanks for the tip,
Phil
I had that version of First on a trip to Cape Town. I think it’s pretty dated these days. As you say, very little storage space, which on a long-haul flight is a pain. But hey, for what you paid, it’s great!
I agree with you, it did feel a bit dated compared to the other first class videos I've seen. It was great value and a free upgrade to boot, so can't complain 😊
Thank you for your comment and support, it's appreciated
Phil
Your videos are very high quality for such a small UA-camr. Glad I found you in my recommendations 😊 your voice is very calming.
Thank you for your kind feedback, I really appreciate it.
Phil
Quite the incredible short flight... how will you cope with Low Cost?! thanks so much for sharing.....👍
Thanks for your comment, no I am not looking forward to my next flight with Ryan Air 🤣
You were certainly very lucky not only to be given a complimentary upgrade from Euro Traveller to Club Europe without apparent reason when travelling at a low revenue reward ticket fare but having been so upgraded to then be allocated a seat in the First Class cabin in preference to real Club Europe passengers. I wonder why?
Thanks for your comment. I was extremely lucky, my good fortune is no great mystery really, but there were a few contributing factors.
Firstly it was a full flight (I mean rammed with angry Germans shouting at staff because they couldn't be sat together), I imagine it had been oversold so someone had to get bumped up.
So then it's a case of who to bump, I am a Gold status holder with BA and I had bought a number of cash flights and holidays in the last 12 months and this is often a key factor for upgrading (I booked 3 economy tickets with BA in 2023 and got upgraded twice).
So then the question of where to put me. This was a rare BA widebody in Europe (probably for freight but could be a qualification flight for pilots). It might be that the seats in First were initially blocked so passengers weren't able to book them and they opened up when I was upgraded. Or they were only available to BA Gold Status holders. Or the other passengers preferred the club suite product behind us and booked those seats.
I obviously wasn't upgraded to First, I was upgraded to Club Europe, all the seats were technically Club Europe seats and received the same service so there wasn't a mechanism (I imagine) to "bump" a club Europe passenger into "First" because there wasn't a "first class" ticket on the flight. They may have been unimpressed if they'd booked a Club Suite and been given a non suite seat.
Those are my thoughts but I'd love to hear your thoughts. I hope you enjoyed the video, thanks for commenting and supporting the channel. I have a video of a genuine "BA First Class" trip to Barbados coming up, it cost me a bit more than £17.50 though. 😊
Thanks again,
Phil
Nice one...
Thanks mate, appreciate it
The perk of having Gold status!
Thanks for your comment, Gold status does indeed have its perks 😊
I’m flying with Iberia later this summer to Madrid on a widebody. Hoping to snag a premium seat.
Thanks for your comment, that really is a great flight to take, one that I need to do one day soon. Good luck with getting the premium seat and I hope you have a fantastic trip.
Nice one! I believe BA operate a widebody to Madrid daily, to complement the daily Iberia widebody service too. How did you manage to get the upgrade from booking in the Eco cabin to Club? Thanks!
Thanks for the comment and the tip, I'll be looking for that BA widebody. I got bumped up because it was a completely full flight. I probably got picked because I have status and I have no idea why they assigned me a seat in the first two rows.
Thanks again,
Phil
@@mygreygapyear Iberia widebody before I found UA-cam, when I only blogged.. signol.blogspot.com/2013/09/easyjet-v-iberia-j-madrid-daytrip.html?m=1 my only experience of the BA widebody was immediately before this one: m.ua-cam.com/video/V9_GUrbb5-c/v-deo.html
Wow!
I know right. BA haven't flown widebodies in Europe since (that I know of)
Thanks for the parking hack not for everyone I know but with airport parking prices what they are I for one like the idea. Parking at Gatwick for a couple of nights is becoming more expensive than the flight. It is a joke!
Thanks for your comment, much appreciated. I agree with you, when parking is more than the flight something is wrong.
Nice review keep them but I honestly don’t think there is that much difference between the new club suites & first maybe a bit more personal attention . Just back in a ATH-LHR-MAN CE I do wish BA would at least give a bit extra leg room
I agree, a slightly better seat is called for but they fill club all the time so I guess they feel they don't need to. I flew in Euro Traveller on Sunday and Club was 9 rows.
And your right since they upgraded the business product they are very similar, in club you get Cote de Rhone, in business its chateauneuf-du-pape, Johhny Walker Blue and so on, but very similar except the price
Thanks for your comment
Phil
You are welcome
Gareth
The higher the status the luckier you get it seems. Nice one. Another enjoyable post
It does seem to be, thanks.
I would be smiling too...!!
😊 I look proper smug in that photo, don't I
Thanks for your comment, as always it is appreciated
Phil
@@mygreygapyear Nothing wrong with that... result!!
There's NO WAY I would leave my car in Hayes.....................esp in a supermarket car park. The place is a total shit hole rampant with crime. I do have a new BMW X3 but even if I had a 10 year old VW Golf I'd be reticent.
Well I proper laughed out loud when I read that, I would have spat out my cornflakes, I love it🤣. I probably should have said that my car is a beaten up old Astra Diesel and that I'm now parking outside the congestion charging zone tells you all you need to know.
I hesitate to tell you where I'm parking now but it is much safer that the Asda Hays idea 😊.
There are some that are on regular peoples drives, so if their neighbours cars are safe then yours should be too.
Thanks for your comment, brightened my day
Phil
So you booked regular economy and they upgraded you to first? Wow, that was a great treat and amazing value.
Thanks for your question, no not quite. It was a widebody (long haul configured) plane on a short haul flight, so there was only two classes of ticket, European Traveller (Economy) and Club Europe (business). I booked economy and selected a seat in the Premium Economy cabin. The flight was completely fully booked, every seat taken and I was moved up to Club Europe.
The seat I was assigned was in row two which is in the First Class cabin of this four class aircraft. So I got a First Class "seat", not first class. A bit clickbait I admit, but I fess up and explain in the video.
Thanks
Phil