British Airways, anyone?
 

I'm flying to London on November 22 for my cousin's wedding and would like to book my flight no later than the end of next week. I was thinking of splurging on BA's Business class, but I'm seing bad reviews on the airline as a whole. Any recent BA flyers? I'll take the good, bad and the ugly. Thanks!

Considering the bad reviews, I'm wondering why you're thinking about using them? If you have good reasons, maybe the reviews matter less. In general, I avoid them because I'm often using miles and their fees make even FF flights unaffordable for me.

I've been using them for over 10 years now as they are the only airline that offers non- stop from my departing city to LHR. I've had no complaints in all that time. The most important thing for me is to get where I'm going ASAP and after years of stop- overs and plane changes taking from 3 to 5 hours, I 'm very happy with flying BA.

BTW. I have been flying business class most of the time. I don't really think there is a huge difference in airlines. Virgin Atlantic might be an option for me if they flew non- stop.

I think your biggest question is what options do you have in choosing an airline, and what things are most important to you. Will close in saying business class on BA is probably no better or worse than many other airlines. I've found people love to complain about airlines and, especially BA, but having flown several of the major airlines I haven't found significant differences.

I went business class LHR-Toronto a couple of weeks ago.

It was excellent - modern flat bed seats, great lounges, great wine, champagne and food. I found lots of good reviews online before I went, and no bad ones, so I wonder where you've dug those up?! ;0)

Are you seeing any airlines with good reviews?

WE've flown in BA Business (and First) a couple of times over the last few years thanks to a great 100,00 mile promotion on the BA credit card, so I have a little bit of experience with them. I think they have a solid Business product and from SFO-LON they are a whole lot better than United.

I travel with my partner so I like to have the center two seats facing the same way. If I was traveling alone I'd pick the window seat for more privacy. Yes you have to step across the person in the aisle seat if they're sleeping but the aisle seats are very open, which is why I wouldn't like them.

One thing to know is that many people prefer the upper deck, not just on BA, but it often books up in advance and BA charges to book ahead of time. Yes even in Business, incredible really.

Our last flight was very good with an excellent crew but we have taken flights where I thought it was pretty perfunctory. The crew, of course makes a huge difference whatever airline you're on. I'm not sure where you're flying from, what are the alternatives? Virgin seems the other option, I'd pick either over a US carrier depending of course on price.

One thing worth knowing if you're buying a ticket is that they offer a $400 AARP discount. The thing to know is that anyone of any age can be an AARP member so I'm not "aging" you with my suggestion.

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...aarp-discount/

Hope this helps!

Man_in_seat_61...I found a whole slew of bad reviews on Consumeraffiars. com/travel/airlines.

I have flown Boston-Heathrow-Boston in the past year, once in September and once in May. I flew premium economy over and regular coach on return. Had pleasant helpful flight attendants both times. No worse than some, definitely better than some.

I flew to SFO on BA last year. Economy out and premium economy back. Usual economy experience you get on any Transatlantic flight, except the food was actually really good, and had taste! Coming back was obviously more comfortable, and again good food (with real cutlery and glassware!). Staff are generally pleasant and helpful.

I can only imagine business class is even better, but I have absolutely no experience of it, on any airline.

Have flown them a few times. No complaints.

To give you some context, I suggest you research every other airline and see the number of complaints. My guess is that BA is no worse and no better.

As someone else noted, complaints about airlines are commonplace and usually about a specific, odd situation. The fact that you could find complaints about BA means nothing vis a vis its relative overall performance.

The website you used is inherently stupid and completely unreliable. Every airline gets horrendous reviews. What would your other options be, United, American, UScAir? All get crap ratings.

That's why none of the airlines participate in that website's self-promotional trickery it calls the "ConsumerAffairs Accredited Seal" program. Basically, the website is for b-tching about the airlines so all the airlines have universally told it to go bugger a tree.

Thanks for all your comments! In reading these I figured out my BA flight in BC from LHR to Chicago is a 747 (or 744). I had paid for choosing a seat and thought to check my November 1 return from Bordeaux, connecting in London. I had chosen 12J and found myself assigned 18J, probably just plane configuration, same location more or less as what I had originally chosen.

But, from tips gleaned here and in checking reviews, I made a call to BA (spoke to a very receptive rep in India) and was able to switch to 62J, a forward facing seat in that bizarre seating arrangement, upstairs on the jumbo jet which should be more on the quiet side and definitely less crowded. I've flown on United in the 80's back and forth to Hawaii on the 747 in that upstairs cabin and enjoyed those flights very much.

Again, appreciate the very helpful above feedback.

Thanks for all the comments. With my (new) AARP card (yes, I bit the bullet and signed up), BA gives you a nice discount, so I'm going with them.

We've flown First, Business and Premium Economy YVR - HR. Always great flight attendants. Ask me how much I hate Heathrow though!

Don't worry, you have one of the best seats on the aircraft! I fly lots for work and I count myself lucky if I manage to get a 60-something aisle seat. And I'd disagree with the 'no better, no worse' verdicts - In my view BA is definitely better than the US airlines ... Really good choice of films, the fOod is usually good, the seats are comfortable 180 degree reclinable. Staff are usually fine if perhaps less effusive than Americans. Have a safe flight and enjoy!

Last transatlantic flight, I flew business class and while a crowded section, the FAs were great. Love the seat beds and the food was pretty good.

I travel to UK about every other year, for the past 15 years. MOstly use BA or Virgin, but tried United. Hated United, as welltraveledbrit suggests.
Love Virgin.
BA is OK, but prefer Virgin.

Blacknight
Didn't mean to sideswipe your posting but I think the comments above show a variety of opinions regarding BA, enough of which are more on the positive side to reassure.

Thanks Germanabroad for your most welcome observations. I feel much better about my upcoming travel on BA, particularly because I traded miles and in addition to that, had to cough up the $600+/$130 seat fees. Outrageous - but as far as I'm concerned, worth it every once in a while to travel in style.

I like BA, even in economy class. Flight attendants are very good.

"All get crap ratings"

How many people have travelled 000s of flights and had really good experiences and then posted positive reviews. Very few.

How many people have the odd bad experience which devastated their lives for two days : lost baggage, missed connections, sitting on the Tarmac for hours and then post their experiences ... Most people.

The reviews don't show a balanced picture.

BTW we found BA to be horrible. Arrogant staff and shabby planes but compared with most American outfits they are fine.

To get 21st Century service you need to use Emirates or Singapore Airlines.