BA First vs Club
Discussion
Just in the process of booking some filghts for myself and the mrs to New York in a couple of months' time.
Was planning on using a companion ticket and miles and going Club World return but surprisingly there is availabity in First on the way out.
The choice :
I think it's probably not worth it, but having never done First, I'm not exactly sure what I'm missing - Anyone with experience of BA First care to offer a reasoned argument of why I should just press the button and do it?
Was planning on using a companion ticket and miles and going Club World return but surprisingly there is availabity in First on the way out.
The choice :
- 2 tickets Club World return is £700.
- 2 tickets Out First - Return Club World is £1550 spending slightly fewer miles bizarrely..
I think it's probably not worth it, but having never done First, I'm not exactly sure what I'm missing - Anyone with experience of BA First care to offer a reasoned argument of why I should just press the button and do it?
Not worth it IMHO.
Better food and wine (and champagne, which you can start drinking before takeoff
), but the seat configuration isn't otherwise that much more comfortable than Club World. If anything, I prefer Club World window seats as they offer better privacy than First, which are not as enclosed.
Haven't flown First in a few years though, so don't know if they've rolled out new "private suites" like Emirates have?
Better food and wine (and champagne, which you can start drinking before takeoff
), but the seat configuration isn't otherwise that much more comfortable than Club World. If anything, I prefer Club World window seats as they offer better privacy than First, which are not as enclosed.Haven't flown First in a few years though, so don't know if they've rolled out new "private suites" like Emirates have?
The important thing is knowing which version of Club you are flying. The difference between club suites & new 1st is not a large as the older club & 1st.
I've flown both versions of each. If you've never flown 1st its a nice experience though I think 400/ea is a bit steep for the it. I'd often take the upgrade option when it was around 250.
From Heathrow the prime difference is you can use The 1st Wing which is at the far right of T5. Its a separate checkin & security area from the rest of the terminal. Its generally quicker & disgorges you straight into the lounges, rather than walking a mile past all the shops. 1st gets you the Concorde Room which is better than the business class lounges in terms of ambience/food/drink.
On board there is not a lot of difference in the seat for 1st & Club Suites. A little more space but thats it. They should escort you to your seat as opposed to "you're down there on the left". Food & drink is a bit better in 1st. Service should be better though sometimes its questionable.
If you are only going to do it once then go for it, a daytime flight is best, but it's bit of a short hop to be honest.
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I've flown both versions of each. If you've never flown 1st its a nice experience though I think 400/ea is a bit steep for the it. I'd often take the upgrade option when it was around 250.
From Heathrow the prime difference is you can use The 1st Wing which is at the far right of T5. Its a separate checkin & security area from the rest of the terminal. Its generally quicker & disgorges you straight into the lounges, rather than walking a mile past all the shops. 1st gets you the Concorde Room which is better than the business class lounges in terms of ambience/food/drink.
On board there is not a lot of difference in the seat for 1st & Club Suites. A little more space but thats it. They should escort you to your seat as opposed to "you're down there on the left". Food & drink is a bit better in 1st. Service should be better though sometimes its questionable.
If you are only going to do it once then go for it, a daytime flight is best, but it's bit of a short hop to be honest.
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Their A350 and some 777s have Club Suites which are enclosed, the rest of the fleet are the original 'ying yang' shape.
I've not done BA First, but if the price difference was £400 then I'd give it a shot. Managed to snag a couple of goes on Emirates First and it was a fun experience.
I've not done BA First, but if the price difference was £400 then I'd give it a shot. Managed to snag a couple of goes on Emirates First and it was a fun experience.
As previously mentioned, you get access to the Concorde Lounge (as opposed to the First Class Lounge which is full of gold card members) which offers much nicer food and - importantly - wine. On board there's a bit more space -not a massive upgrade over the latest club suites but it is better and, again, food/wine/service is definitely to a higher standard.
I'd probably be tempted at £400, especially if you haven't done it before - helps if you sozzle the plonk!
I'd probably be tempted at £400, especially if you haven't done it before - helps if you sozzle the plonk!
Used to fly both club and first regularly LHR-JFK and vice versa, when the gap between club and F was a little bigger, pre club-suites with doors. There is still a gap, although it has closed somewhat, but nevertheless F is still a step up from club and worth it on a longer daytime westbound flight. Absolutely not worth it on a shorter overnight eastbound, and not really worth is on a daytime eastbound either.
The personal space, the significantly better and more personal service, the PJs, and being able to dine on demand (although RIP the bistro menu) with the buddy seat are the biggest perks above club.
When I say dine together, I mean they set the table for you both with proper tablewares and glasses, sitting opposite one another, and serve you together at your pace, and will keep you topped up for as long as you wish to remain there. It's a nice way to while away a flight together, and as the often half decent wine, bubbles (Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle) and other drinks flow freely, it can be very fun, and is far more than just a tablecloth. Note that the 787 cabin doesn't have a buddy seat, so pick your aircraft carefully.
Since the 747s went you also don't have a window in the toilet on the left hand side in the F bathroom anymore either. Little things I miss the 747s - being in 1A/K or 2A/K in the nose, being ahead of the pilots, being able to see forward ahead of the plane while on the runway or on approach is a great memory that has sadly gone for good. The 777 F cabin is not anywhere near as nice an environment as the 747, but the service is still (usually) great, and it is the service that makes F all the better. I can tell you that my most memorable flights have been made all the more special by the crew in F - being presented with a bottle of decent champagne and a menu signed by all of the crew, including the Captain and FO, addressed to us on a special occasion really was a nice and unexpected touch.
The CCR is nice enough, as is the CCR dining room. With no status, the first wing is a nice perk, although having to walk through the other lounge to get to the CCR is a bit of a chore and could be confusing for those not used to it. Being escorted to your seat is always a nice touch, as is having the riff raff held back on landing until the F cabin have disembarked (useful at JFK if not resident!).
£400 extra is about the max it is worth as an experience and I've paid that before as an upgrade cost for one sector. As you've not had that experience before I'd say do it and absolutely make the most of it (enjoy the lounge, possibly a spa treatment, and some light pre flight dining, then choose to eat together 3, 4 or whatever hours into the flight suits your stomach, then have the bed made up for you for a nap). Enjoy!
The personal space, the significantly better and more personal service, the PJs, and being able to dine on demand (although RIP the bistro menu) with the buddy seat are the biggest perks above club.
When I say dine together, I mean they set the table for you both with proper tablewares and glasses, sitting opposite one another, and serve you together at your pace, and will keep you topped up for as long as you wish to remain there. It's a nice way to while away a flight together, and as the often half decent wine, bubbles (Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle) and other drinks flow freely, it can be very fun, and is far more than just a tablecloth. Note that the 787 cabin doesn't have a buddy seat, so pick your aircraft carefully.
Since the 747s went you also don't have a window in the toilet on the left hand side in the F bathroom anymore either. Little things
I miss the 747s - being in 1A/K or 2A/K in the nose, being ahead of the pilots, being able to see forward ahead of the plane while on the runway or on approach is a great memory that has sadly gone for good. The 777 F cabin is not anywhere near as nice an environment as the 747, but the service is still (usually) great, and it is the service that makes F all the better. I can tell you that my most memorable flights have been made all the more special by the crew in F - being presented with a bottle of decent champagne and a menu signed by all of the crew, including the Captain and FO, addressed to us on a special occasion really was a nice and unexpected touch. The CCR is nice enough, as is the CCR dining room. With no status, the first wing is a nice perk, although having to walk through the other lounge to get to the CCR is a bit of a chore and could be confusing for those not used to it. Being escorted to your seat is always a nice touch, as is having the riff raff held back on landing until the F cabin have disembarked (useful at JFK if not resident!).
£400 extra is about the max it is worth as an experience and I've paid that before as an upgrade cost for one sector. As you've not had that experience before I'd say do it and absolutely make the most of it (enjoy the lounge, possibly a spa treatment, and some light pre flight dining, then choose to eat together 3, 4 or whatever hours into the flight suits your stomach, then have the bed made up for you for a nap). Enjoy!
Edited by GCH on Tuesday 28th November 17:18
ecs said:
Their A350 and some 777s have Club Suites which are enclosed, the rest of the fleet are the original 'ying yang' shape.
I've not done BA First, but if the price difference was £400 then I'd give it a shot. Managed to snag a couple of goes on Emirates First and it was a fun experience.
Don’t think you can compare BA first and business with Emirates!I've not done BA First, but if the price difference was £400 then I'd give it a shot. Managed to snag a couple of goes on Emirates First and it was a fun experience.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/12/13/first-cla...
See here for the reason in price for going one way in 1st
See here for the reason in price for going one way in 1st
Others have said it but if the plane has the new suites First is probably not worth it on a relatively short flight. If it's yin-yang then do go for First, IMO, although personally I'd probably only bother on the way back (to get some sleep) and not on the way out.
In the air, BA First is really not that special. The Concorde Room is pleasant, but I'm not sure how much difference it really makes. If you want a real F experience, fly via CDG on La Premiere (Air France). That's a whole different thing.
In the air, BA First is really not that special. The Concorde Room is pleasant, but I'm not sure how much difference it really makes. If you want a real F experience, fly via CDG on La Premiere (Air France). That's a whole different thing.
964Cup said:
Others have said it but if the plane has the new suites First is probably not worth it on a relatively short flight. If it's yin-yang then do go for First, IMO, although personally I'd probably only bother on the way back (to get some sleep) and not on the way out.
In the air, BA First is really not that special. The Concorde Room is pleasant, but I'm not sure how much difference it really makes. If you want a real F experience, fly via CDG on La Premiere (Air France). That's a whole different thing.
That requires you experiencing CDG though. There is no part of that experience which should, could or even can be recommended. CDG is the Grimsby of international airports.In the air, BA First is really not that special. The Concorde Room is pleasant, but I'm not sure how much difference it really makes. If you want a real F experience, fly via CDG on La Premiere (Air France). That's a whole different thing.
GCH said:
There is certainly a word beginning with 'F' when associated with anything involving CDG or air france, and it isn't 'First'
Try it. They escort you past everything, both ends. No actual experience of CDG at all apart from the parking. Same at (in my case) MIA, which is also a truly awful airport, although they don't have their own lounge there, sadly.964Cup said:
Try it. They escort you past everything, both ends. No actual experience of CDG at all apart from the parking. Same at (in my case) MIA, which is also a truly awful airport, although they don't have their own lounge there, sadly.
Are you sure that's for every passenger in that cabin, and not just for you because of your status with that airline?I ask because my boss used to get exactly the same treatment when flying Virgin Upper - none of the rest of us did, even though we had what appeared to be the same tickets.
I've done it a few times and took my family in First to NYC on Avios which they loved.
As said whilst the specific plane/suite makes a difference, First is always better than Club and should be experienced at least once if you get a chance. It's definitely better to get it on the day flight than a night flight, as you benefit from hours of more space and better food/drink, whereas the beds are only marginally better and it'll be a poor nights sleep on a plane either way.
As said whilst the specific plane/suite makes a difference, First is always better than Club and should be experienced at least once if you get a chance. It's definitely better to get it on the day flight than a night flight, as you benefit from hours of more space and better food/drink, whereas the beds are only marginally better and it'll be a poor nights sleep on a plane either way.
BA usually offer the option the spend more or less miles on Avios redemptions which will change the cash element of the fee. In your case, if you increase your Avios spend for the First class flight to match what the Club spend is then your cash cost should reduce perhaps making the decision easier for you.
I think flying First is worth it if using Avios. The First class wing and Concorde room are worth experiencing at least once if you can. The Club lounges are often overcrowded.
The First cabin is much smaller and ratio of crew to passengers is much better than club so the service is (in theory) better. One problem with BA First is that they do not have any crew teams specifically trained for First so from a service point of view it doesn’t stand up to some of their competitors.
I think flying First is worth it if using Avios. The First class wing and Concorde room are worth experiencing at least once if you can. The Club lounges are often overcrowded.
The First cabin is much smaller and ratio of crew to passengers is much better than club so the service is (in theory) better. One problem with BA First is that they do not have any crew teams specifically trained for First so from a service point of view it doesn’t stand up to some of their competitors.
omniflow said:
Are you sure that's for every passenger in that cabin, and not just for you because of your status with that airline?
I ask because my boss used to get exactly the same treatment when flying Virgin Upper - none of the rest of us did, even though we had what appeared to be the same tickets.
There are only four seats in that cabin, and yes - it's part of the offer. When I last flew, there were only two of us, so we had one side of the plane each; they put the second seat on each side into its bed configuration and we each used "our side" of the plane like a suite. I've not flown one of the actual suite/apartment offers (Quantas et al), so this still stands out for me. The food was predictably excellent, as was the wine list and the service. Mind you I think full fare is something like 20k EUR return, so it should be. I hasten to add that I upgraded from business at the last minute, as any sensible person would...I ask because my boss used to get exactly the same treatment when flying Virgin Upper - none of the rest of us did, even though we had what appeared to be the same tickets.
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