BA Manchester to Heathrow Business Class
Discussion
Ive booked this flight, return. Never done anything other than economy before and haven't flown at all since before Covid. The info from BA is super unclear as to what business class actually entails over economy,.and what specifically is available.on this route. Has anyone flown this route who can advise?
I cant even work out if this is Club Europe as it wasn't mentioned at all during the booking process. I think there might be a lounge open to us at Manchester, but theres some stuff on line about it closing or moving. I assume there will be a lounge at Heathrow and possibly fast track security?...
I cant even work out if this is Club Europe as it wasn't mentioned at all during the booking process. I think there might be a lounge open to us at Manchester, but theres some stuff on line about it closing or moving. I assume there will be a lounge at Heathrow and possibly fast track security?...
Unless it’s for pennies more than a STD fare I can’t really see the point ?
You’ll get the Fast track / Priority Check in and a slightly bigger seat..The lounges are currently a temporary affair as they are moving to T2 later in the year..you’ll maybe get a snack but the flight is around an hour so not really long enough to warrant the extra cost IMO.
You’ll get the Fast track / Priority Check in and a slightly bigger seat..The lounges are currently a temporary affair as they are moving to T2 later in the year..you’ll maybe get a snack but the flight is around an hour so not really long enough to warrant the extra cost IMO.
hmg said:
Unless it’s for pennies more than a STD fare I can’t really see the point ?
You’ll get the Fast track / Priority Check in and a slightly bigger seat..The lounges are currently a temporary affair as they are moving to T2 later in the year..you’ll maybe get a snack but the flight is around an hour so not really long enough to warrant the extra cost IMO.
Seconded. You’re flying out of Manchester which (by most airport standards) is an absolute dump. The lounges there are all garbage and are regularly being shifted around because of various ‘renovations’. You’ll get the Fast track / Priority Check in and a slightly bigger seat..The lounges are currently a temporary affair as they are moving to T2 later in the year..you’ll maybe get a snack but the flight is around an hour so not really long enough to warrant the extra cost IMO.
On board, you’ll get a coffee in a porcelain cup and a scone/cake/sandwich depending on the time of day. You’ll be at cruising altitude for no more than 30/40 minutes.
Unless someone else is paying for it (poor buggers), I really wouldn’t bother.
It's normally a few rows at the front with no one in the middle seat and just a curtain separating oneself from the plebs 
Certainly not the 2 plush leather armchairs as seen in the ad convincing you to upgrade from economy.
Certainly wouldn't bother on the short hop but when the upgrade falls to £100 on my trips to Tenerife, I pay up, as there is a good lounge at one of the satellite terminals at LHR, where you can have a massive cooked English, a serve yourself bar and tranquility.
Bigger luggage allowance and a supposedly quick security lane.
As the flight is 4.5 hours, time to get a bit tipsy and eat a decent lunch without getting your creditcard out.
Certainly not the 2 plush leather armchairs as seen in the ad convincing you to upgrade from economy.
Certainly wouldn't bother on the short hop but when the upgrade falls to £100 on my trips to Tenerife, I pay up, as there is a good lounge at one of the satellite terminals at LHR, where you can have a massive cooked English, a serve yourself bar and tranquility.
Bigger luggage allowance and a supposedly quick security lane.
As the flight is 4.5 hours, time to get a bit tipsy and eat a decent lunch without getting your creditcard out.
Did this earlier this month as part of a longer Business class trip to/from Denver.
Basically you'll get (over economy)
- Use of the Club checkin lane at the airport
- Fast track at security
- Use of the lounge at MAN - although it's a temporary one as BA are due to move to T2 in the near future so they're in a weird kind of old gate area downstairs in T3. Decent enough though with a view of the runway, our kids and my missus said they enjoyed it.
- Priority boarding at the gate
- Once on board you have bit more space as they block out the middle seat, you'll also get a really fast service of drinks/food, we were early morning so it was a bacon butty and a glass of champagne
I think you get more baggage too but as ours was long haul I can't comment on that for Club Europe
Enjoy mate.
Basically you'll get (over economy)
- Use of the Club checkin lane at the airport
- Fast track at security
- Use of the lounge at MAN - although it's a temporary one as BA are due to move to T2 in the near future so they're in a weird kind of old gate area downstairs in T3. Decent enough though with a view of the runway, our kids and my missus said they enjoyed it.
- Priority boarding at the gate
- Once on board you have bit more space as they block out the middle seat, you'll also get a really fast service of drinks/food, we were early morning so it was a bacon butty and a glass of champagne
I think you get more baggage too but as ours was long haul I can't comment on that for Club Europe
Enjoy mate.
Edited by Andy_290 on Sunday 31st August 17:11
croyde said:
ICertainly wouldn't bother on the short hop but when the upgrade falls to £100 on my trips to Tenerife, I pay up, as there is a good lounge at one of the satellite terminals at LHR, where you can have a massive cooked English, a serve yourself bar and tranquility.
B gates lounge FTW Andy_290 said:
croyde said:
ICertainly wouldn't bother on the short hop but when the upgrade falls to £100 on my trips to Tenerife, I pay up, as there is a good lounge at one of the satellite terminals at LHR, where you can have a massive cooked English, a serve yourself bar and tranquility.
B gates lounge FTW 
Andy_290 said:
Did this earlier this month as part of a longer Business class trip to/from Denver.
Basically you'll get (over economy)
- Use of the Club checkin lane at the airport
- Fast track at security
- Use of the lounge at MAN - although it's a temporary one as BA are due to move to T2 in the near future so they're in a weird kind of old gate area downstairs in T3. Decent enough though with a view of the runway, our kids and my missus said they enjoyed it.
- Priority boarding at the gate
- Once on board you have bit more space as they block out the middle seat, you'll also get a really fast service of drinks/food, we were early morning so it was a bacon butty and a glass of champagne
I think you get more baggage too but as ours was long haul I can't comment on that for Club Europe
Enjoy mate.
This!Basically you'll get (over economy)
- Use of the Club checkin lane at the airport
- Fast track at security
- Use of the lounge at MAN - although it's a temporary one as BA are due to move to T2 in the near future so they're in a weird kind of old gate area downstairs in T3. Decent enough though with a view of the runway, our kids and my missus said they enjoyed it.
- Priority boarding at the gate
- Once on board you have bit more space as they block out the middle seat, you'll also get a really fast service of drinks/food, we were early morning so it was a bacon butty and a glass of champagne
I think you get more baggage too but as ours was long haul I can't comment on that for Club Europe
Enjoy mate.
Edited by Andy_290 on Sunday 31st August 17:11
I am a big fan of BA European club/business as it often costs a modest amount over and above the standard fare and in contrast to the budget carriers I get to fly at vaguely sensible times of the day. My sons are happy to go to Ibiza on the 5AM flight from an airport Ive never heard of on an airline Ive also never heard of however Im happy to pay a bit extra
When you add the price of a hold suitcase and breakfast in T5 sitting on your hand luggage as there are no seats left in Giraffe in lieu of a bit of lounge luxury the price differential is modest at best especially when you chuck in fast track security and priority bags at the other end
The onboard perks are modest to say the least but a glass of champers, decent food and a vacant seat between me and the missus arent to be sniffed at
Cheers
EDIT: if you are really just flying from MAN to LHR then totally get the train as the airport is a lot less convenient for central destinations compared to Euston. Having said that an Avanti first class ticket is probably a lot more expensive, a lot less reliable and has a lot less decent champagne and snacks
Edited by numtumfutunch on Sunday 31st August 22:33
I did that flight a lot a few years ago. About twice a month. Heathrow does have a lounge and you can get breakfast, or other food depending on time of day. Often the cost was near the same and it is handy to get a seat up front when getting off. No kids but often stern looking business people, often women, with laptops open but reading celebrity gossip.If you can choose business is nicer .
As an aside I once sat next to a young woman , an overseas student , on the return journey back to London. She was about the age of my daughter at the time. She told me about 10 mins before landing she was very frightened of flying and asked if she could hold my hand for the landing. Felt a bit odd but she was quite frightened. You don't get that in regular class so I always booked business after that.
As an aside I once sat next to a young woman , an overseas student , on the return journey back to London. She was about the age of my daughter at the time. She told me about 10 mins before landing she was very frightened of flying and asked if she could hold my hand for the landing. Felt a bit odd but she was quite frightened. You don't get that in regular class so I always booked business after that.
blueST said:
My flight is not until November and there seems to be rumours BA will have moved to T2 by then, so maybe I'll get to go in a shiny new lounge.
I’ve done that route many many times. It really isn’t worth paying extra for business and wouldn’t do so myself. The only reason I fly it in business is because the onward tickets are in business or first so BA include the feeder leg in the same/closest class (which can itself be a PITA as if it’s full they don’t give you the option to slot into Std - something that saw MrsLT stuck at LHR for hours on a recent trip back from the US).Which brings us to the lounge: BA use MAN as a feeder to Heathrow.. The lounge has been crappy for years and there’s zero incentive to improve it much as it won’t drive much in the way of additional business. Sure, a new one will be fresher but it certainly won’t be anything super fancy.
The only time I’ve ever used MAN - LHR instead of the train was when the trains have been on strike or lines shut due to engineering works… the extra travel time/cost to get to/from the airports makes it unpleasant.
As for row 1… refuse it, even if it’s available, at the time of booking/check-in. Overhead locker space taken up by crew kit.
It's Club Europe
You get
Fast track security
Group 1 Boarding
2x 32kg checked bag (double check your booking to confirm!!!)
1x cabin bag
1x backpack
Lounge access
In flight meal
Alcohol
Middle or isle seat with middle blocked off (Tray table on middle seat. Newer jets 321 neo etc don't have the table over middle seat)
Priority checked bag (In theory it's first off the plane as it's loaded right at the door)
The extra baggage allowance alone can often be worth more than the fare difference from Econcomy / easyjet to Club Europe.
The seats are also slightly wider than the back of the jet (especially on the 320 neo)
You get
Fast track security
Group 1 Boarding
2x 32kg checked bag (double check your booking to confirm!!!)
1x cabin bag
1x backpack
Lounge access
In flight meal
Alcohol
Middle or isle seat with middle blocked off (Tray table on middle seat. Newer jets 321 neo etc don't have the table over middle seat)
Priority checked bag (In theory it's first off the plane as it's loaded right at the door)
The extra baggage allowance alone can often be worth more than the fare difference from Econcomy / easyjet to Club Europe.
The seats are also slightly wider than the back of the jet (especially on the 320 neo)
Edited by smallpaul on Friday 5th September 00:06
The lounge BA use at Manchester isn't in any way amazing, but it's perfectly serviceable and achieves the objective of not having to sit in the general airside area, with some food and drink available if you want it. It is, basically, fine.
But yeah, Manchester airport can be a bit of a zoo. Also you will almost certainly get to enjoy "boarding" that actually means "let's send everyone through to all stand in a queue in the corridors".
The irritation with Club Europe is that the seat is identical to the economy seat, just with no-one sat immediately next to you. So the amount of knee room etc is no better.
Arguably if you either don't need the aspects that business class provides an uplift in, or have sufficient status to get a lot of them anyway, economy and choosing an exit row seat for more legroom is "better".
But yeah, Manchester airport can be a bit of a zoo. Also you will almost certainly get to enjoy "boarding" that actually means "let's send everyone through to all stand in a queue in the corridors".
The irritation with Club Europe is that the seat is identical to the economy seat, just with no-one sat immediately next to you. So the amount of knee room etc is no better.
Arguably if you either don't need the aspects that business class provides an uplift in, or have sufficient status to get a lot of them anyway, economy and choosing an exit row seat for more legroom is "better".
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