BA PREMIER ECONOMY

[neilri2001 42]

Has anyone flown premier economy ( they call it world traveller plus ) with BA. Specifically how does it compare with EVA deluxe or China. The website gives the seat pitch at 38 inches which isn't bad but i can't find any info on seat width other than that the configuration is 2-4-2 as opposed to 3-4-3 in economy.

 

Thanks

 

Neil

[Bigmike 0]

I have used that class once Sydney,Bangkok the return trip I received a business class upgrade. The seats have plenty of leg room and are a bit wider, you have upgraded movies and the screen is built into the armrest.

Bigmike.

[stevemcm 1]

When BA first introduced World Traveller Plus it was on certain transatlantic routes. They were boasting of the bigger seat pitch (34"), not very good when most asian airlines and Air New Zealand use this in Economy. It was after they first introduced it on an asian route (LHR - HKG) that they realised it was inadequate compared to the competition and they slowly upgraded their aircraft to a 38" seat pitch. Be careful not all aircraft heve been upgraded and the class is not available on all routes. The cheapest LHR - BKK return fare I have seen in this class was over 1000 GBP!! The only advantage BA have for flights to BKK is that you can have a free shuttle to LHR from regional airports not as good as it sounds because long haul departures leave T4 and shuttles arrive at T2 or T1 as a result especially since 11/9/2001 BA insist on allowing 4 - 6 hours at LHR to transfer to T4.

 

Stevoh

[Basil Brush 0]

I have travelled twice this year from Australia to the UK with BA. First trip in economy. The second time I tried the World Traveller Plus deluxe economy.

 

The first leg, Sydney to Singapore I was upgraded to Business Class which was very nice. The rest of the trip was in WTP.

 

38 Inch pitch is a little better than the economy but not as good as i thought it would be. Probably ruined now that i've been in business class.

 

Food is exactly the same as the economy passengers.

 

No express checkin or any different treatment to flying economy which I think is just plain wrong.. I paid about twice the price of a discounted economy ticket for not a lot more. The leg rest that they show you in photos were no good. I'm 6 foot and using the leg rest, my calfs were not supported at all.

 

I've come to the conclusion that if i've got money to burn then Business class is great. But I would rather save the money and fly economy and spend the cash where I will be rewarded with good food and good service... like Pattaya

 

Cannot comment on other deluxe economy but i've heard good things about Eva.

 

Hope this helps

 

BB

[Niall 0]

Expensive (typically £1500 LHR/BKK) and absolutely sucks.

 

Seat slightly bigger but thats it. Same check in, food, shitty attitude from the staff (what is there problem?) as economy.

 

For £1500 you can usually fly full business class on a decent airline, China Airlines for example via Amsterdam usually £800 including feeder flight from any UK regional airport.

 

If you MUST fly this way then ensure you get on the Qantas aircraft (they code share with BA) as the staff do not seem to have the BA sneer.

[Bigmike 0]

I don't think that Qantas have that class of seat because if you book it you end up flying BA..

Bigmike.

[neilri2001 42]

Thanks for the advice. I will stick to EVA for my trips to Thailand but i might give world traveller plus a go for my trip to Beijing as there are no cheap business fares from the uk to china ( unless anyone here knows different ).

 

Neil

[wagger 0]

just got off world travellor plus yesterday.... not impressed at all! i don't know why but the seats just feel wrong, found it real hard to sleep and the food is just ok basic stuff, they pretty much leave you alone all the time. I really think EVA evergreen delux is much better and i'm sure it will be cheaper than the BA prices!

 

i won't be choosing ba again if it weren't for the points!

[Eneukman 1]

I've treated myself to BA's World Traveller plus for my flight to Bangkok in November. Including my flights between Edinburgh and Heathrow, the total cost came to a bit over £1,000 though that was after a 10% discount as a shareholder. The 2-4-2 configuration should be better and should give more leg room etc but I'll report back on this once I'm in Pattaya.

 

The return flight arrives at Heathrow at about 5.30 in the morning and I'm booked on the 7.00 shuttle to Edinburgh so can't see how they say you need 4 - 6 hours to transfer from Terminal 4 to Terminal 1 . My luggage will be checked through to Edinburgh at Bangkok and all I have to do is to pass through security and Passport Control. All in all, it should only take around 40 minutes or so.

 

Alan

[jimmac 66]

I can't comment on other airlines upgraded economy, like Eva, as i've never flown in them. But I have flown in BA's World Traveller Plus as well as just World Traveller. If your choice is between those two, there is no doubt plus is a necessity. I've flown BA economy from London to South Africa and back and it is the most cramped cattle class I've ever experienced, worse than any charter I've ever flown. Plus is quite comfortable...the 8 across seating on a 747 compared with 10 across in regular economy gives you elbow room and a 38 inch pitch is fine. The food is regular economy food.

 

So, if your choice is regular or Plus on BA, there's no choice. You need Plus to survive. But if your choice is between BA and another airline, I would advise you to look around and read the experiences of other board members and compare comfort and price.

 

Alan, I have arrived at T4 from Toronto, connecting to a shuttle to Glasgow. You will need every one of your 90 minutes to make the connection. It is not a quick or pleasant connection.

[jacko 8,778]

I have used the BA Plus quite a few times. Seat pitch is tolerable and the in-flight entertainment was OK. I got my standard aisle seat, but if I hadn't getting in and out would have been difficult.

My major dissatisfaction on 2 out of 3 trips on the BKK-LHR legs was the number of kids causing rather a lot of noise in the bulkhead seats infront of me. I guess they had got their sleep on the Sydney-Bangkok leg and the Bangkok boarders be damned....parents seemed oblivious.

 

I used air miles, had good through connections at LHR, but I would not say that the Traveller Plus was good value. Biz class is never available on miles and that price is just silly!

[monkeyman 1,597]

I really don't think that Evergreen Deluxe has any serious competition in its class. Cheaper and better all round. I wouldn't use anything else.

 

be seeing you

monkeyman

[CheshireTom 1,377]

monkeyman,

 

If you live in the regions then, IMHO, the China Airlines Dynasty Class upgrade option via Amsterdam beats EVA in every respect except perhaps the 2 a.m. departure on the return leg. If you live in the LHR catchment area it is obviously a different scenario.

 

Tom

[bigmofo 0]

tom. i used to always fly man to amsterdam or manchester to dubai iam from n.wales and manchester airport is about 1 hour an hour and a half tops.the last trip i flew from heathrow direct with thai air imho it is better from heathrow a lot quicker for only a couple hours more in a car if you fly from man you have to check in 2 hours before. wait in amsterdam for connection or wait in dubai for 4 hours. and if you fly from manchester make sure you allow a lot of time for the connection to bangkok.we were delayed for 2 hours in manchester due to bad weather,they did not have time to load the bags on to china airlines flight to bangkok we got of the plane and had to leg it for the connection this has happened once to me and twice to my uncle and mates.so when booking make sure you take the earlier flight from manchester to ams the travel agent you book with will probably book it not taking into account of any delays.my uncle always takes an earlier first leg flight now even though he has to stay in amsterdam a bit longer.obviously if i was further north i would fly from manchester but imho much less hassle going direct i hate the length of time it all takes it would be nice if pattaya was a couple of hours away.when i go back in november iam flying evergreen deluxe with two mates,but my uncle and a few more are flying from manchester they still prefer man they like the break they are flying emirates and will stop in dubai but for me i would rather get there.tom iam looking to reserve my seat with eva ir deluxe as iam 6 foot six i could do with a seat with no one in front of me how do you know or find out which type of plane i will be on to give them the number of seat i wish to reserve.do they fly certain planes on certain days or is it pot luck. cheers tom good luck

[Duffabboy 0]

BA to dear - End of

[monkeyman 1,597]

monkeyman,

 

If you live in the regions then, IMHO, the China Airlines Dynasty Class upgrade option via Amsterdam beats EVA in every respect except perhaps the 2 a.m. departure on the return leg. If you live in the LHR catchment area it is obviously a different scenario.

 

Tom

Tom

 

Always ready to try something new. In what ways is it better? And how does proximity to LHR figure in the equation?

 

be seeing you

monkeyman

[CheshireTom 1,377]

monkeyman,

 

The China Airlines deal is a business class upgrade including lounge access at AMS and BKK, full business class meals and drinks service, seating upstairs and they have Thai stewardesses. The only difference with full-fare business class is that you only accumulate economy class mileage and you only get economy class baggage allowance.

 

The proximity to LHR view is that if LHR is your local airport then, understandably, you are likely to prefer the direct flight. If you fly from the regions you have to change flights somewhere - it doesn't make any difference if it is LHR or AMS (or Zurich, Dubai or Doha for that matter).

 

Regards,

 

Tom

[bigmofo 0]

british airways are the worst airline i have flown i do not understand how they make money.they are expensive and sevice is terrible nothing like china or thai stewardess.i once booked with quantas as they have 34 inch pitch witch for me is essential compared to most 32 inch.but flying from heathrow i was thrown on a ba flight i only had a few drinks one when they come round with trolley about 1 hour into flight another with my first meal,i then rang the bell and asked for a drink she said i have had enough, fucking slut.i know some people drink to much you do see the odd asshole on a flight to much to drink and very rude to staff.but refusing drinks when i had only had a couple that to me can cause air rage of course i accepted it even though i wanted to slap the bitch.however on the return i was with quantas which were excellent more leg room and the aussie staff were first class up and down all the time with fruit drinks and water etc not like ba after the first meal you hardly see them and when you ring and ask for something they look put out by your request.about an hour into flight i asked for bacardi and coke the chap came back with a plastic glass full of bacardi a big can of coke and a glass full of ice and said if you want another one give me a shout even got a bottle of good aussie wine to take home.the steward said the best folded blankets would receive a bottle of wine or champers,i did not even use ny blanket so took it out of wrapper and handed it to steward in pristine condition the lady next to me was trying to fold hers neatly and did not get a bottle she grassed me up to steward who just said so what look at size of him i am not taking it back when i was getting of the plane i told steward about the difference in quality all around compared to ba he said we get alot of complaints about ba especially when you have booked quantas he told me quantas have set days when they fly from heathrow so you can make sure you dont get ba.quantas should not of merged with ba but obviously its all about money.maybe i was unlucky with ba staff maybe she was on the rags.but i will never fly ba again can get cheaper and better elswhere.