Hi, and thank you so much for the positive feedback 🙌 I try to keep it as honest as possible and record the whole experience good or bad 😁 Thank you for the sub and have a great weekend
Great tip, it’s definitely a route I will look at as the value for 1st is fantastic. Even if flying through on the way to Asia though I will make sure we have a long connection and will pay for the lounge. Thanks again for the tips. Great channel
Hi PC, thank your for the positive feedback 🙌 Enjoy Al Safwa, it really is a beautiful space! Ps don’t forget to raise a toast to me 🍾🔥😂 Thank you for watching and take care 😁
Good video, thank you Mark. I enjoy business class long haul as love the space and comfort. Do you know how often they fill the middle seat in business class, is it just emergencies like catch up on cancellations after a storm or the Nats disaster with air control. Is it probably just a few times per year. Thank you
Hi TBH, they very rarely fill the middle seat.. I’ve experienced it once when a flight got cancelled and they needed to get customers home but it doesn’t happen often thankfully 😂 Thanks you for watching and have a great weekend 😄
Just looking at prices for december on the lhr IST route and they are coming in at £244, compared to £106 Economy standard (that includes 1 23kg BAG) however the business class ticket includes lounge access approximately £50, fast track security £15, extra 32KG bag £80. So when you add it up, if you paid for all theses things and your economy ticket, it would be £251. The Business class seat is £6 less than economy. Then you have the Tier point and avios difference too. You seem to like to slate BA but you really aren't giving the full facts. What was the economy price on the day you travelled? The price I have quoted is for the 1st of December 24. or on the 9th September £293 Business or £126 Economy (plus the extras = £271, then of course you can add the bubbles etc) so at worst it is £22 more expensive to fly Business. prices quoted are from 25th May 2024.
Hi Dos, the prices I used were from BA’s website. I haven’t made them up out of thin air. 🤷🏻😂 Obviously, if you have the flexibility to look through a whole year, then of course you can find cheaper options on other days. But guess what? Most people that fly business class can’t do that as they are normally traveling for work and have to get from A to B on a certain date. Either way, the seat for a four-hour flight is awful in comparison to what some other airlines offer. The gent that boarded behind me wasn’t some made-up actor that I paid to say what he did… he was a genuinely disappointed customer that I managed to catch in the moment.
That American guy is not wrong, but he's a rookie. Just blocking the middle seat in economy to create a BC is exactly what they do in his own country too.
It’s not, domestic business class in the US has dedicated, larger seats and on some transcontinental services they have lie flats on narrow bodied jets. I flew for BA for over 30 years so have some knowledge of this and I agree, club Europe is a big disappointment. It always has been but BA don’t have dedicated cabin, just a movable cabin divider.
Great vlog, we are flying BA to Lanzarote in Club Europe and I think it would work out cheaper to book 3 seats and leave the middle one free with the price we have paid.
Hi Nick, that’s a great idea 😂 Spend £50 on food at Pret and I bet you’d have a far better experience 🙌 Thank you for watching and have a great weekend
Last time I was in that IGA lounge,it was so full,I had to do 2 or 3 circuits before I got a seat-no orchestra that day...then I went to board my BA flight...enough said
@@tradingplaces787 yeah it can get so busy,it almost feels unhealthy Clt admirals is another avoid for the same reason Btw,theres no alcohol in the IST domestic lounges or on domestic flights,even down to Bodrum,did you know that? Holiday vibes have to wait 😂
I once flew DUB > LHR in "business" because I had points expiring December 31st and I wanted to visit some friends, cost me €60 on top of my points, which was the only good thing about it, however this was mid-December 2013 and both lounges were empty. Got decent meals in both lounges which made the €60 spend worth it, once I got on the plane I knew that was the end of the "nice" stuff.
An informative and enjoyable video, as always! You're right that business class lounges feel a little bit more like all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants on a busy weekend, due to passengers paying for access. Admittedly, I did the same the past few summers when flying through Stansted with Jet2. Stansted is a shockingly overcrowded airport, so I paid for lounge access each time I flew from there -- and the lounge was only marginally quieter. Interestingly enough, the best lounge access I've had in terms of a quiet, relaxing space is with Canada's national railway company, VIA Rail. If you book first class, the major stations have lounges that are genuinely calming and pleasant. While they don't serve food, except for some fresh fruit, they provide hot and cold beverages, and you're served a nice meal on bone china and full bar service once on the train.
Hi Chris, thank you for positive feedback 🙌 I’ll have a look at VIA Rail to see if I can get over there and do a review it sounds fabulous 😁 Thank you for watching and have a great weekend 🙌
BA is generally charge more on one way ticket. Perhaps you could book return and probably cost the same as one way or even cheaper. However, if OW tier point is not something you after, you’d better off with other airlines with proper J class product.
You think that's bad? When I worked for BA in the late 90's, Club Europe was five abreast, 3 + 2. Fly TK. It's a real business class experience from London to Istanbul.
While I totally agree that it is a disgrace on charging this much money for CE (essentially, you’ve got a £700 meal), there are rarely free CE seats on this route. We allow BA to charge us this extraordinary price for little incremental service (vs. the economy seat)
Hi Da480, you make some great points and I totally agree. On this flight the whole CE cabin was full so why would BA change anything 😂 Thanks for the comment and have a great weekend 🙌
Business class baggage allowance business class catering business lounge priority security and boarding... BA used to operate 767 wide bodies on this route now sadly gone... if you don't want to fly BA fly TK or other operators ... Business or domestic first in the states is usually full of upgrades and very poor catering and doesn't even give lounge access unless you also have status.... Economy seats behind the over wing exits have less room an no recline... 222
Hi Richard, you make some great points 😁 I sadly never got the chance to try the 767 but it sounds way more enjoyable than the 320’s that are being used atm If only they would put the Dreamliner on this route 😂🙌 Thank you for watching 😁🙌
@@tradingplaces787 Did they say you can just go through or need to "check" you in? I just remember about a year ago going, it said for priority pass to speak to them (may have been a different airport).. Queue wasn't there, though. It was a good lounge, only went once. Liked the duty free shop, had a free massage. Managed to have an apple tea (hard to get this in Istanbul apart from tourist spots lol)
Thing is as bad as it is, every European airline has this, BA, Aer Lingus, ITA Airways, KLM, TAP, Air France, Lufthansa etc. so I think the problem is less the seat and cabin, more the ridiculous pricing
I too was disappointed when I booked a Business Class seat for myself and daughter from Manchester to Valencia a few years ago. The Business Class seats were exactly the same as economy; just a spare seat in between us. We just got a few 'free' drinks and meal. I was also really disappointed with the Business Class lounge in Las Vegas when I flew back to Heathrow a few weeks ago. It was very small, used by other airlines, and they ran out of certain drinks and not much food on offer.
Hi Jane, I agree this seat is a huge letdown. I’m taking my measuring tape next time to measure the dimensions so I can compare it to Ryanair’s economy seat 😂 Thank you so much for watching and have a great weekend 😁
This type of seat offering suits European airlines well as it's so flexible, but not the passenger. Maybe appropriate for short hops of an hour or so but a 4 hour flight, it's totally unacceptable for the money paid. Catering is contracted out, maybe local tastes in seasoning???, but fish can be a tricky option at altitude, I'd never go for it. Money could have been spent better elsewhere I think. Thanks for the Google flight tip though.
Hi Garry, You make some excellent points. If customers continue to choose BA, there might not be an urgent need to upgrade the seats. Whenever I book Club Europe, the cabin is usually full, so the demand must be high for some reason, although it surely can't be the seat that's attracting them 😂 Thank you for watching, and have a great weekend 😁🙌
@@bladeds100Turkish business class is double the price on this route. BA regularly have 12 rows of Club on this route. When I flew IST-LGW on TK they had one solitary bottle of Champagne. If BA did that there would be a riot in the sky.
Short and not so sweet! 😂 I feel the same about BA Business Class. The seats are bad unless your in Row 1. The service could be better too. Hope you are well buddy 👍 😊🎉
I would like business lounges to try and retain their exclusivity and not allow people who are not travelling business class to buy entry. Otherwise the experience gets diluted. As an Australian and Qantas enthusiast, I have always been impressed with British Airways and travelling on either of those two airlines usually elevates the experience but the Club Europe seats really are not up to scratch in today's highly competitive business market.
Hi jjjddd, I agree with you 👍 I think they should up the entry cost for anyone who’s travelling economy and buying their way in. This would reduce demand whilst still making a profit, the higher price would also make the lounge feel more exclusive and it would be far less crowded. Thank you for watching 😁
Only Turkish airline offer decent business class seat for European flight but then there double I'm price as well, Manchester to Islamabad with BA is £500 return where as Turkish is 1k , economy on BA is 250 and Turkish is 400 I'm economic
I knew what was coming when I read the title of this video. My friends did the business class to Tenerife. I did want them! They just wouldn’t be told. We always go on the Tui Dreamliner, and pay the extra for premium seats. BA really need to up their game. You paid a lot of money for that seat. Definitely not worth it all! Have a great weekend.
Hi Tina, You make a great point about the premium seat on Tui’s Dreamliner… I didn’t realise they flew them to Tenerife 🤷🏻😂 It would be a great review comparing the two seats along with prices, etc. BA v Tui 🏆🙌 Thanks for the info 👀👍 Have a great weekend and thank you for watching 😁
They don’t have one. 🤦 Generally, Tui offers cheaper flights. For instance, I checked prices to Tenerife last night: Tui: £100 BA: £275 I suppose it really comes down to whether you prefer saving cash or earning extra points and benefits for spending more.
BA been ripping off passengers since I first flew Club Europe in 1998. They just shift that blue curtain back depending on how many BC seats they sell. Uncompetitive product. Food often dire and a huge contrast with Club World which is a good experience but far behind the ME carriers. Fly cattle and buy a Lounge pass for longer CE journeys
Hi Sandip, I didn't enjoy this flight at all, but it was interesting to hear other passengers voicing their disappointment about the dreaded Club Europe seat. The cabin was completely full again, so as long as demand remains high, I don't see BA changing it anytime soon 🤦 Thank you for watching and have a great weekend 😁
For the cost that looked pretty poor, not a good experience having to start your journey in a 'public' business class lounge. Crew seemed good but the presentation of the food looked poor and obviously it tasted as bad as it looked. Personally I wouldn't pay that amount of money for a longish short haul flight, I would sit in exactly the same seat in the back (appreciate the middle seat may be occupied) take my own food and save hundreds of £s, or perhaps using some Avios to upgrade to CE . BA certainly need to do something better in CE on these 3+ hour flights.
Before i learned about club europe club world, i thought all business class was lie flat or at least had prem econ legroom. The one time i booked ist-lhr for my parents they got a club europe so i thought BA ran club world on peak periods, but even when i looked for a flight during peak periods you still get club europe. such a shame
I’ve flown BA many times in all cabins around the world since they became BA ,and they used to be global leaders .. now they’re smug , self satisfied , over priced and really offer a below par product in my recent experiences .. even the famed cabin crew seem to be either nice and really good or rude and offer poor service , and nowadays they spent whole flights talking amongst themselves, and often ignore many passengers..my days of flying ba are hopefully done.. happily there’s usually other options available.. usually cheaper and better too . 🙏
Hi, I’m a BA fan normally, but using this seat for a 4-hour flight is a crime against humanity. 😂 I totally agree with you that the crew can be hit or miss, and sometimes it does feel like it’s a constant race to the bottom with service and meal offerings on board. The one positive over the last couple of years is the new Club Suite seat, which I think is really nice and worth a try 👍
Just a wee bit of a contrast from Qatar Airways first class! 😂 I'm not really a fan of BA Club Europe, I've seen some trip reports where it is excellent but sadly your experience was mediocre. The meal presentation wasn't good and things could be made to feel more premium by little improvements such as serving the nuts warm in a bowl rather than in a plastic packet. Would you rather have the quiet serenity of the QR first class lounge or be serenaded by three musicians on entry to the IGA lounge- that's my question to you.
Hi Mr, It certainly was back to reality with a bang 💥😂 The thing that gets me is that BA have the bare face cheek to actually call it business class on their website. If it was labelled just Club Europe, most customers who didn’t know what that seat type was would more than likely check to see what they were likely to get and would highly likely change their mind about booking it 😂
Hi Alan, they were very similar to the economy seats that you find on Ryanair, Jet2 etc Overall a huge let down for 4 hour business class flight 🤦 One to definitely miss if ever offered again 😂 Thank you for watching 😁
Wait until you review the rest of eurpean airlines small body business class flights and find out that British Airways is actually one of the better ones and cheapest.
Hi Kevin, I agree 👍 I think on any flight longer than 3 hours BA should either change the Club Europe seat or use one of their long haul aircraft on at least one of the daily rotations Thank you for watching and have a great week 😁
I would point out that the screenshot in the video showing this £851 one-way fare is for a LHR-IST flight and therefore does not relate to the IST-LHR flight that you travelled on. It is also not in line with the current one-way pricing available. You must have made a big effort to find this very high fare on a no doubt heavily booked flight to use it for the video. Typical youtube flight reviewer cost inflation.
Except for TK (and randown A321Neo flights by TP, EI, etc), what BA offers is standard for European business class. The plusses are on even the shortest flights, and there is some type of food or light meal and lounge access versus in the US, 'first class' on domestic flights doesn't come with lounge access (except for a few transcons), and pretty much you have to fly at least 2-2.5 hours or more to get a meal. I will say BA has really upgraded the Club Europe meals in the last year or so. Good luck with the channel!
Hi Doug and thank you for the positive feedback🙌 I totally agree with about the race to the bottom over in the US, I just want BA to be more like the airlines in the Middle East but I think it’s definitely wishful thinking 🤦😂 Take care and thank you for watching 😁
I say this every time I see one of these reviews, never ever pay cash for Club Europe. It just isn't worth it. Disappointing that BA offer their normal Club Europe offering for what is quite a long flight. There are a few routes where you can get their flat bed this should really be one of them. As usual, I would only be redeeming AVIOS for this flight. I would gladly put up with a busy lounge if the flight only cost a few quid plus AVIOS.
Hi, you’re definitely right 👍 I honestly think that’s why the Club Europe cabin always seems full It can’t be because people are booking it for the seat 😂 It must be purely Avios demand as the cash prices that BA charge for such a poor seat and overall service just don’t make any sense. Thank you for watching and have a great weekend buddy 😁🙌
BA are providing the same shit service now to Cairo and Amman - An A320 with standard CE cabin, or should I say Economy cabin. Back in the day when I used to visit Cairo flying 'up front' it was a 747-400 with proper Club World cabin AND First Class.
You got a good dealt then 👍 BA prices change a lot but the price was advertised on various dates over the next couple of months at the time I flew 👍 Thank you for watching 😁
@@tradingplaces787 looking at tomorrow one way in business class $344. It’s $600 for Monday (still nowhere near £850) and the. $300-$400 for the rest of the week, I suppose when you do the click bait one way fully flexible fares you will come up with ridiculous figures. It’s like when people say would you pay £10k for BA First, I’ve got 10 days All inclusive for 2 people in the Caribbean flying first via the USA and 4 days in New York over New Year flying First including Times Square Hotel for £11k… BA always has a sale on.
@@tradingplaces787 looking at tomorrow one way in business class $344. It’s $600 for Monday (still nowhere near £850) and the. $300-$400 for the rest of the week, I suppose when you do the click bait one way fully flexible fares you will come up with ridiculous figures. It’s like when people say would you pay £10k for BA First, I’ve got 10 days All inclusive for 2 people in the Caribbean flying first via the USA and 4 days in New York over New Year flying First including Times Square Hotel for £11k… BA always has a sale on.
Hi Colin, Yeah, I agree completely. I think a Dreamliner would be ideal for this route. The 767 would be great if only we could bring them back-a proper blast from the past! 😂🙌 Thank you for watching 😁
@@tradingplaces787 I used to fly around Europe on the BA 767's loads. When I worked I travelled throughout Europe, Eastern Europe & Russia, and the 767 was used alot on the Moscow & Budapest runs ( where I ended up living for 3 years ). I also flew to Rome, Amsterdam, Athens, Cyprus and Frankfurt on the 767. The Club Europe cabin was good on them, with comfy leather seats, and the 2 3 2 layout - which was nice. Oh the memories..................
BA Club Europe is just rubbish - only benefits are the tier points and fast track. The Galleries lounges are always heaving at T5 these days, continental lounges are VERY hit and miss ( that's if there IS one BA use), and the CE cabins are ridiculous for the money. I only ever use avios for CE tickets, to pay cash for one would position me adjacent to vomiting. PS Whenever I have travelled to Istanbul I use Turkish and get on the 777 or A330 service where you DO get lie flats and the inflight catering and lounges are without doubt among the best out there.
Hi buddy, totally agree 😂 How did u get on over in San Francisco? Was First as good as it looks 👀 Did you do the Concorde Lounge and try the new champagne 🍾?
@@tradingplaces787 Ah you remembered!! - yeah we had a really lovely travelling experience, The Concorde lounge is still as is ( fabulous ) but without the LPGS :(, it's now Lanson, NOBLE Brut Vintage 2005. Same on the plane along with Hattingley Valley Blanc de Noirs 2018, and Lanson, Le Rose Brut NV...............................They were all very nice though I must say. Overall the experience and product were much better than our previous trips in First to South Africa, India, and the Far East. The FA's were top-notch this time, must have all been legacy staff as they were really professional. The catering this time was the best I have seen in First in the last few years too. And of course, the A380 is my fav flying carpet in this day and age. We have been flying First since 1999, and 10/15 years ago the service was superb - they still have a ways to go to get back to where they were in those days. Looking forward to our next trip now in September.......Santiago de Chile for a week staying at the Mandarin Oriental, BA First in the 787-9........14 hours, best get a good book. ( fyi we almost always use Avios for our tickets as we run our own company so channel truckloads of expenses through our Amex A/c - since we got back from SFO 3 weeks ago we have bagged another 100K Avios - back in the day we used to fly Concorde using Air Miles!! I kid you not!! I have been blessed I really have Mark. )
I sat reading that with a huge grin on my face 😂🙌 It sounds amazing and I totally agree about the A380. It’s such a comfortable ride, and you instantly miss it the second you step back on an old 777. I can’t believe you’re off to Santiago! I’ve had my eye on that one for a while now and hopefully will do a review on it in June/July 🙌 Fantastic to hear you had a great time 🤩
@@tradingplaces787 Oh Mark yeah do that - review Santiago before I go then you can give me the low down and pointers for when I go!! FYI when we are stitching a trip together and I am looking at flight options, if a BA flight has a B777 shown as the equip' I immediately shout out ' Old Banger Alert' 'Old Banger Alert'...............for some reason I have never liked the 777.
Friday night is about a Mark video to look forward to! Wonderful filming, including of Istanbul airport. I like the musicians too. As for Club Europe, oh dear. I don’t like speaking ill of BA but those seats look awful. The whole experience looks like a slightly glorified Economy trip but at a Business price. Your cod didn’t look great at all! In the old days, travelling business meant you were given an armchair in the sky with dinner served on plates and wine in crystal goblets. Oh dear, I’m not impressed. I wonder how Turkish business class compares for the same route?
Hi Richard, Thank you for watching and for your positive feedback 🙌😁 Yeah, the Club Europe seat was a bit of a letdown. I’m a huge BA fan myself, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend this one 🤦 The Club Europe cabin was full though, so the demand must be high, which I find strange as overall it’s a pretty poor seat 😂 As for the cod, let’s just say it definitely wasn’t the catch of the day. 🎣😂 Have a great weekend Richard and take care 😁
The American needs to calm down. His First class in the US is hardly great; often with limited food and no lounge access. Nothing on the website is hidden that this is how business class is done in Europe. This is common knowledge too. Just a complainer for the sake of it.
@tradingplaces787 I used to enjoy flying with BA. Its the last 20 years that I found standards have slipped. The economy model is appalling and basic, the business/club on long haul is bearable but expensive and first is excellent, but you'll pay for it.
Business class on BA….your avin a laff… £850 for that. I think there extracting the p**s. Embarrassing to say the least. Seats look like they have just been taken out of Ryanair.
Hi Eric, it was a huge letdown. I don’t know how they get away with advertising it as business class 🤷🏻 Thank you for watching and have a great weekend 😁
![British Airways First Class Overnight Flight Review [2024]: Is It Worth the Splurge?](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/y3asr3fYxe4/mqdefault.jpg)
![British Airways First Class Overnight Flight Review [2024]: Is It Worth the Splurge?](/img/tr.png)
Hi Mark, thanks for sharing. Yes the seating not great but the lounge and food looked ok. However, that "trio", would've done my head in! 😊 👍
Happy to stumble upon your channel (and now subscribed lol) :) appreciate the down to earth reviews, keep it up! Best wishes…
Hi, and thank you so much for the positive feedback 🙌
I try to keep it as honest as possible and record the whole experience good or bad 😁
Thank you for the sub and have a great weekend
Great tip, it’s definitely a route I will look at as the value for 1st is fantastic. Even if flying through on the way to Asia though I will make sure we have a long connection and will pay for the lounge. Thanks again for the tips. Great channel
Hi PC, thank your for the positive feedback 🙌
Enjoy Al Safwa, it really is a beautiful space!
Ps don’t forget to raise a toast to me 🍾🔥😂
Thank you for watching and take care 😁
Good video, thank you Mark.
I enjoy business class long haul as love the space and comfort. Do you know how often they fill the middle seat in business class, is it just emergencies like catch up on cancellations after a storm or the Nats disaster with air control. Is it probably just a few times per year. Thank you
Hi TBH, they very rarely fill the middle seat.. I’ve experienced it once when a flight got cancelled and they needed to get customers home but it doesn’t happen often thankfully 😂
Thanks you for watching and have a great weekend 😄
Nice video I agree business class lounge should be a calm chill place before the flight that why I use them
Hi Gregg, thank you once again for your comment and positive feedback 🙌😁
I fly regularly and your videos show the reality I enjoy watching.
Just looking at prices for december on the lhr IST route and they are coming in at £244, compared to £106 Economy standard (that includes 1 23kg BAG) however the business class ticket includes lounge access approximately £50, fast track security £15, extra 32KG bag £80. So when you add it up, if you paid for all theses things and your economy ticket, it would be £251. The Business class seat is £6 less than economy. Then you have the Tier point and avios difference too. You seem to like to slate BA but you really aren't giving the full facts. What was the economy price on the day you travelled? The price I have quoted is for the 1st of December 24. or on the 9th September £293 Business or £126 Economy (plus the extras = £271, then of course you can add the bubbles etc) so at worst it is £22 more expensive to fly Business. prices quoted are from 25th May 2024.
Hi Dos, the prices I used were from BA’s website. I haven’t made them up out of thin air. 🤷🏻😂
Obviously, if you have the flexibility to look through a whole year, then of course you can find cheaper options on other days. But guess what? Most people that fly business class can’t do that as they are normally traveling for work and have to get from A to B on a certain date.
Either way, the seat for a four-hour flight is awful in comparison to what some other airlines offer.
The gent that boarded behind me wasn’t some made-up actor that I paid to say what he did… he was a genuinely disappointed customer that I managed to catch in the moment.
That American guy is not wrong, but he's a rookie. Just blocking the middle seat in economy to create a BC is exactly what they do in his own country too.
Hi, those are rookie numbers 👏
Wolf of Wall Street ?😂
@@tradingplaces787 Must be, I can't remember, but Wolf of Wall St is one of my favourite movies. Along with The Big Short.
It’s not, domestic business class in the US has dedicated, larger seats and on some transcontinental services they have lie flats on narrow bodied jets. I flew for BA for over 30 years so have some knowledge of this and I agree, club Europe is a big disappointment. It always has been but BA don’t have dedicated cabin, just a movable cabin divider.
Great review but the live music in the lounge would do my head in 😂
Hi Karl, I really enjoyed it, but have terrible music taste 🤦😂
Have a great weekend buddy 😁🙌
@@tradingplaces787 😂 You too, have a good one 👍
Karl P to Karl P: I didn't like that music either, I couldn't identify what it was also.
@@tradingplaces787 I still listen to ABBA.
Great vlog, we are flying BA to Lanzarote in Club Europe and I think it would work out cheaper to book 3 seats and leave the middle one free with the price we have paid.
Hi Nick, that’s a great idea 😂
Spend £50 on food at Pret and I bet you’d have a far better experience 🙌
Thank you for watching and have a great weekend
Last time I was in that IGA lounge,it was so full,I had to do 2 or 3 circuits before I got a seat-no orchestra that day...then I went to board my BA flight...enough said
Hi, it’s absolute bedlam isn’t it 😂
Thanks for sharing and take care 👍
@@tradingplaces787 yeah it can get so busy,it almost feels unhealthy
Clt admirals is another avoid for the same reason
Btw,theres no alcohol in the IST domestic lounges or on domestic flights,even down to Bodrum,did you know that? Holiday vibes have to wait 😂
I once flew DUB > LHR in "business" because I had points expiring December 31st and I wanted to visit some friends, cost me €60 on top of my points, which was the only good thing about it, however this was mid-December 2013 and both lounges were empty. Got decent meals in both lounges which made the €60 spend worth it, once I got on the plane I knew that was the end of the "nice" stuff.
Hi Richard, wow 2013?
So we’ve now had 11 years of the same sh@t different day 😂
Thank you for watching 😁
An informative and enjoyable video, as always! You're right that business class lounges feel a little bit more like all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants on a busy weekend, due to passengers paying for access. Admittedly, I did the same the past few summers when flying through Stansted with Jet2. Stansted is a shockingly overcrowded airport, so I paid for lounge access each time I flew from there -- and the lounge was only marginally quieter. Interestingly enough, the best lounge access I've had in terms of a quiet, relaxing space is with Canada's national railway company, VIA Rail. If you book first class, the major stations have lounges that are genuinely calming and pleasant. While they don't serve food, except for some fresh fruit, they provide hot and cold beverages, and you're served a nice meal on bone china and full bar service once on the train.
Hi Chris, thank you for positive feedback 🙌
I’ll have a look at VIA Rail to see if I can get over there and do a review it sounds fabulous 😁
Thank you for watching and have a great weekend 🙌
BA is generally charge more on one way ticket. Perhaps you could book return and probably cost the same as one way or even cheaper. However, if OW tier point is not something you after, you’d better off with other airlines with proper J class product.
Hi, I agree and you make some great points 😊
You think that's bad? When I worked for BA in the late 90's, Club Europe was five abreast, 3 + 2. Fly TK. It's a real business class experience from London to Istanbul.
I can only imagine 🤦😂
Thanks for sharing Tim 😁👍
@@tradingplaces787 Very welcome. I flew as crew for over forty years and I'm delighted to be out of it. Enjoying your channel.
While I totally agree that it is a disgrace on charging this much money for CE (essentially, you’ve got a £700 meal), there are rarely free CE seats on this route. We allow BA to charge us this extraordinary price for little incremental service (vs. the economy seat)
Hi Da480, you make some great points and I totally agree. On this flight the whole CE cabin was full so why would BA change anything 😂
Thanks for the comment and have a great weekend 🙌
Business class baggage allowance business class catering business lounge priority security and boarding... BA used to operate 767 wide bodies on this route now sadly gone... if you don't want to fly BA fly TK or other operators ... Business or domestic first in the states is usually full of upgrades and very poor catering and doesn't even give lounge access unless you also have status....
Economy seats behind the over wing exits have less room an no recline... 222
Hi Richard, you make some great points 😁
I sadly never got the chance to try the 767 but it sounds way more enjoyable than the 320’s that are being used atm
If only they would put the Dreamliner on this route 😂🙌
Thank you for watching 😁🙌
I believe you can skip the queue if its marked on your ticket as business class
Hi, I was told I had to line up like everyone else.
Tbh the staff on the entry desks looked really stressed so I wasn’t prepared to argue 😂
@@tradingplaces787 Did they say you can just go through or need to "check" you in? I just remember about a year ago going, it said for priority pass to speak to them (may have been a different airport).. Queue wasn't there, though. It was a good lounge, only went once. Liked the duty free shop, had a free massage. Managed to have an apple tea (hard to get this in Istanbul apart from tourist spots lol)
Thing is as bad as it is, every European airline has this, BA, Aer Lingus, ITA Airways, KLM, TAP, Air France, Lufthansa etc. so I think the problem is less the seat and cabin, more the ridiculous pricing
hi Thomas, we seem to have a pandemic of bad business class seats in Europe 😂
Thanks you for watching 😁
I too was disappointed when I booked a Business Class seat for myself and daughter from Manchester to Valencia a few years ago. The Business Class seats were exactly the same as economy; just a spare seat in between us. We just got a few 'free' drinks and meal. I was also really disappointed with the Business Class lounge in Las Vegas when I flew back to Heathrow a few weeks ago. It was very small, used by other airlines, and they ran out of certain drinks and not much food on offer.
Hi Jane, I agree this seat is a huge letdown.
I’m taking my measuring tape next time to measure the dimensions so I can compare it to Ryanair’s economy seat 😂
Thank you so much for watching and have a great weekend 😁
This is all advertised if you bother to do your research!
This type of seat offering suits European airlines well as it's so flexible, but not the passenger. Maybe appropriate for short hops of an hour or so but a 4 hour flight, it's totally unacceptable for the money paid. Catering is contracted out, maybe local tastes in seasoning???, but fish can be a tricky option at altitude, I'd never go for it. Money could have been spent better elsewhere I think. Thanks for the Google flight tip though.
Hi Garry,
You make some excellent points. If customers continue to choose BA, there might not be an urgent need to upgrade the seats. Whenever I book Club Europe, the cabin is usually full, so the demand must be high for some reason, although it surely can't be the seat that's attracting them 😂
Thank you for watching, and have a great weekend 😁🙌
If people both to do there research, no need to either fly this route with BA!
@@bladeds100Turkish business class is double the price on this route. BA regularly have 12 rows of Club on this route. When I flew IST-LGW on TK they had one solitary bottle of Champagne. If BA did that there would be a riot in the sky.
@@tradingplaces787This route is return catered from London. Food would have been made at Do&Co in Hatton Cross.
@@markusx22 I meant just fly economy.
Short and not so sweet! 😂 I feel the same about BA Business Class. The seats are bad unless your in Row 1. The service could be better too. Hope you are well buddy 👍 😊🎉
Hi Buddy, short and very unsweet 😂
Not a great experience tbh but hopefully back with a bang soon 😁🙌
Thank you for watching and have a great weekend
@@tradingplaces787 Thank you, have a great weekend too 😊
I wish I had seen this before I bought the ticket in business class(((
I would like business lounges to try and retain their exclusivity and not allow people who are not travelling business class to buy entry. Otherwise the experience gets diluted.
As an Australian and Qantas enthusiast, I have always been impressed with British Airways and travelling on either of those two airlines usually elevates the experience but the Club Europe seats really are not up to scratch in today's highly competitive business market.
Hi jjjddd, I agree with you 👍
I think they should up the entry cost for anyone who’s travelling economy and buying their way in.
This would reduce demand whilst still making a profit, the higher price would also make the lounge feel more exclusive and it would be far less crowded.
Thank you for watching 😁
Only Turkish airline offer decent business class seat for European flight but then there double I'm price as well, Manchester to Islamabad with BA is £500 return where as Turkish is 1k , economy on BA is 250 and Turkish is 400 I'm economic
This is really common but for everyone in the back; Europe does this for business very much normally. It’s business. It’s normal.
I knew what was coming when I read the title of this video. My friends did the business class to Tenerife. I did want them! They just wouldn’t be told. We always go on the Tui Dreamliner, and pay the extra for premium seats. BA really need to up their game. You paid a lot of money for that seat. Definitely not worth it all! Have a great weekend.
Hi Tina,
You make a great point about the premium seat on Tui’s Dreamliner… I didn’t realise they flew them to Tenerife 🤷🏻😂
It would be a great review comparing the two seats along with prices, etc.
BA v Tui 🏆🙌
Thanks for the info 👀👍
Have a great weekend and thank you for watching 😁
What is the Tui loyalty club like?
They don’t have one. 🤦
Generally, Tui offers cheaper flights. For instance, I checked prices to Tenerife last night:
Tui: £100
BA: £275
I suppose it really comes down to whether you prefer saving cash or earning extra points and benefits for spending more.
BA don’t need to up their game as the Club Europe product is extremely popular.
BA been ripping off passengers since I first flew Club Europe in 1998. They just shift that blue curtain back depending on how many BC seats they sell. Uncompetitive product. Food often dire and a huge contrast with Club World which is a good experience but far behind the ME carriers. Fly cattle and buy a Lounge pass for longer CE journeys
Hi Sandip,
I didn't enjoy this flight at all, but it was interesting to hear other passengers voicing their disappointment about the dreaded Club Europe seat. The cabin was completely full again, so as long as demand remains high, I don't see BA changing it anytime soon 🤦
Thank you for watching and have a great weekend 😁
For the cost that looked pretty poor, not a good experience having to start your journey in a 'public' business class lounge. Crew seemed good but the presentation of the food looked poor and obviously it tasted as bad as it looked. Personally I wouldn't pay that amount of money for a longish short haul flight, I would sit in exactly the same seat in the back (appreciate the middle seat may be occupied) take my own food and save hundreds of £s, or perhaps using some Avios to upgrade to CE . BA certainly need to do something better in CE on these 3+ hour flights.
Hi, and thank you for your comment.
I totally agree with you all of your points 👍😊
Everyone knows A321 BA is 3/3. Take it or leave it
Hi, the passenger behind me clearly didn’t which was the whole point of my video 🤦😂
Thank you for watching and have a great weekend 😁
Before i learned about club europe club world, i thought all business class was lie flat or at least had prem econ legroom. The one time i booked ist-lhr for my parents they got a club europe so i thought BA ran club world on peak periods, but even when i looked for a flight during peak periods you still get club europe. such a shame
I’ve flown BA many times in all cabins around the world since they became BA ,and they used to be global leaders .. now they’re smug , self satisfied , over priced and really offer a below par product in my recent experiences .. even the famed cabin crew seem to be either nice and really good or rude and offer poor service , and nowadays they spent whole flights talking amongst themselves, and often ignore many passengers..my days of flying ba are hopefully done.. happily there’s usually other options available.. usually cheaper and better too . 🙏
Hi, I’m a BA fan normally, but using this seat for a 4-hour flight is a crime against humanity. 😂
I totally agree with you that the crew can be hit or miss, and sometimes it does feel like it’s a constant race to the bottom with service and meal offerings on board.
The one positive over the last couple of years is the new Club Suite seat, which I think is really nice and worth a try 👍
Just a wee bit of a contrast from Qatar Airways first class! 😂 I'm not really a fan of BA Club Europe, I've seen some trip reports where it is excellent but sadly your experience was mediocre. The meal presentation wasn't good and things could be made to feel more premium by little improvements such as serving the nuts warm in a bowl rather than in a plastic packet. Would you rather have the quiet serenity of the QR first class lounge or be serenaded by three musicians on entry to the IGA lounge- that's my question to you.
Hi Mr,
It certainly was back to reality with a bang 💥😂
The thing that gets me is that BA have the bare face cheek to actually call it business class on their website. If it was labelled just Club Europe, most customers who didn’t know what that seat type was would more than likely check to see what they were likely to get and would highly likely change their mind about booking it 😂
Damn charging £728 for that flight is a disgrace!
Hi Ligsy, I agree and thank you for watching 😁
I agree business class really ought to have better seats. Whether as much as full lie flat I don’t know but they are practically economy,
Hi Alan, they were very similar to the economy seats that you find on Ryanair, Jet2 etc
Overall a huge let down for 4 hour business class flight 🤦
One to definitely miss if ever offered again 😂
Thank you for watching 😁
TK with better catering and seats..is the best European airline..by far.
Hi, I haven’t tried TK yet so can’t comment 😂
Thank you for watching and have a great weekend 😁
Turkey isnt in Europe!
They loaded one solitary bottle of Champagne on our flight to London.
They should use a 787 on a route like this with proper business class seats.
Totally agree 🙌
I’m sure they would fill it as well 🛫
Wait until you review the rest of eurpean airlines small body business class flights and find out that British Airways is actually one of the better ones and cheapest.
Another BA plane he could get on instead, its a 4 hours flight not heading back across the pond.
Hi, sometimes you just need to get off the plane 🤷🏻😂
One of the longest trips within Europe so it should really be better than that .International Premium Economy is far superior to European Business.
Hi Kevin, I agree 👍
I think on any flight longer than 3 hours BA should either change the Club Europe seat or use one of their long haul aircraft on at least one of the daily rotations
Thank you for watching and have a great week 😁
I would point out that the screenshot in the video showing this £851 one-way fare is for a LHR-IST flight and therefore does not relate to the IST-LHR flight that you travelled on. It is also not in line with the current one-way pricing available. You must have made a big effort to find this very high fare on a no doubt heavily booked flight to use it for the video. Typical youtube flight reviewer cost inflation.
Thanks for your input Ben 😁👍
@@tradingplaces787 Everything about BA Club Europe is a disgrace especially the seat pitch and the meal.
Except for TK (and randown A321Neo flights by TP, EI, etc), what BA offers is standard for European business class. The plusses are on even the shortest flights, and there is some type of food or light meal and lounge access versus in the US, 'first class' on domestic flights doesn't come with lounge access (except for a few transcons), and pretty much you have to fly at least 2-2.5 hours or more to get a meal. I will say BA has really upgraded the Club Europe meals in the last year or so. Good luck with the channel!
Hi Doug and thank you for the positive feedback🙌
I totally agree with about the race to the bottom over in the US, I just want BA to be more like the airlines in the Middle East but I think it’s definitely wishful thinking 🤦😂
Take care and thank you for watching 😁
I say this every time I see one of these reviews, never ever pay cash for Club Europe. It just isn't worth it. Disappointing that BA offer their normal Club Europe offering for what is quite a long flight. There are a few routes where you can get their flat bed this should really be one of them. As usual, I would only be redeeming AVIOS for this flight. I would gladly put up with a busy lounge if the flight only cost a few quid plus AVIOS.
Hi, you’re definitely right 👍
I honestly think that’s why the Club Europe cabin always seems full
It can’t be because people are booking it for the seat 😂
It must be purely Avios demand as the cash prices that BA charge for such a poor seat and overall service just don’t make any sense.
Thank you for watching and have a great weekend buddy 😁🙌
BA are providing the same shit service now to Cairo and Amman - An A320 with standard CE cabin, or should I say Economy cabin. Back in the day when I used to visit Cairo flying 'up front' it was a 747-400 with proper Club World cabin AND First Class.
Who pays £851 ? I’ve paid £487 for 3 return Club Europe journeys.
You got a good dealt then 👍
BA prices change a lot but the price was advertised on various dates over the next couple of months at the time I flew 👍
Thank you for watching 😁
@@tradingplaces787 looking at tomorrow one way in business class $344. It’s $600 for Monday (still nowhere near £850) and the. $300-$400 for the rest of the week, I suppose when you do the click bait one way fully flexible fares you will come up with ridiculous figures. It’s like when people say would you pay £10k for BA First, I’ve got 10 days All inclusive for 2 people in the Caribbean flying first via the USA and 4 days in New York over New Year flying First including Times Square Hotel for £11k… BA always has a sale on.
@@tradingplaces787 looking at tomorrow one way in business class $344. It’s $600 for Monday (still nowhere near £850) and the. $300-$400 for the rest of the week, I suppose when you do the click bait one way fully flexible fares you will come up with ridiculous figures. It’s like when people say would you pay £10k for BA First, I’ve got 10 days All inclusive for 2 people in the Caribbean flying first via the USA and 4 days in New York over New Year flying First including Times Square Hotel for £11k… BA always has a sale on.
No need to book it then!
To which cities?
Give me Turkish Airlines economy instead!
Hi, you’re probably right tbh.
I bet the food is just as good if not better. 🤦
@@tradingplaces787 It' so much better plus luggage included!
BA are having a laugh. Bloody awful for the fare charged. I’ve flown this route when they used the 767 and that was better.
Hi Colin,
Yeah, I agree completely. I think a Dreamliner would be ideal for this route. The 767 would be great if only we could bring them back-a proper blast from the past! 😂🙌
Thank you for watching 😁
@@tradingplaces787 I used to fly around Europe on the BA 767's loads. When I worked I travelled throughout Europe, Eastern Europe & Russia, and the 767 was used alot on the Moscow & Budapest runs ( where I ended up living for 3 years ). I also flew to Rome, Amsterdam, Athens, Cyprus and Frankfurt on the 767. The Club Europe cabin was good on them, with comfy leather seats, and the 2 3 2 layout - which was nice. Oh the memories..................
Surely nobody actually expect a lie flat bed in European business class. All airlines are the same.
The chap in front of me did 😂👍
Turkish Airlines offer long haul lie flat Business Class on their London Flights
BA Club Europe is just rubbish - only benefits are the tier points and fast track. The Galleries lounges are always heaving at T5 these days, continental lounges are VERY hit and miss ( that's if there IS one BA use), and the CE cabins are ridiculous for the money. I only ever use avios for CE tickets, to pay cash for one would position me adjacent to vomiting. PS Whenever I have travelled to Istanbul I use Turkish and get on the 777 or A330 service where you DO get lie flats and the inflight catering and lounges are without doubt among the best out there.
Hi buddy, totally agree 😂
How did u get on over in San Francisco?
Was First as good as it looks 👀
Did you do the Concorde Lounge and try the new champagne 🍾?
@@tradingplaces787 Ah you remembered!! - yeah we had a really lovely travelling experience, The Concorde lounge is still as is ( fabulous ) but without the LPGS :(, it's now Lanson, NOBLE Brut Vintage 2005. Same on the plane along with Hattingley Valley Blanc de Noirs 2018, and Lanson, Le Rose Brut NV...............................They were all very nice though I must say. Overall the experience and product were much better than our previous trips in First to South Africa, India, and the Far East. The FA's were top-notch this time, must have all been legacy staff as they were really professional. The catering this time was the best I have seen in First in the last few years too. And of course, the A380 is my fav flying carpet in this day and age. We have been flying First since 1999, and 10/15 years ago the service was superb - they still have a ways to go to get back to where they were in those days. Looking forward to our next trip now in September.......Santiago de Chile for a week staying at the Mandarin Oriental, BA First in the 787-9........14 hours, best get a good book. ( fyi we almost always use Avios for our tickets as we run our own company so channel truckloads of expenses through our Amex A/c - since we got back from SFO 3 weeks ago we have bagged another 100K Avios - back in the day we used to fly Concorde using Air Miles!! I kid you not!! I have been blessed I really have Mark. )
I sat reading that with a huge grin on my face 😂🙌
It sounds amazing and I totally agree about the A380. It’s such a comfortable ride, and you instantly miss it the second you step back on an old 777.
I can’t believe you’re off to Santiago! I’ve had my eye on that one for a while now and hopefully will do a review on it in June/July 🙌
Fantastic to hear you had a great time 🤩
@@tradingplaces787 Oh Mark yeah do that - review Santiago before I go then you can give me the low down and pointers for when I go!! FYI when we are stitching a trip together and I am looking at flight options, if a BA flight has a B777 shown as the equip' I immediately shout out ' Old Banger Alert' 'Old Banger Alert'...............for some reason I have never liked the 777.
Embarrassing for BA. Turkish Airlines is vastly superior.
Correct. Nice 2-2 config with comfy recliners. Way better than any European “business class”.
Hi, when comparing apples for apples on this route I 100% agree with you 👍😁
Proof of the rising cost and declining quality of everything.
I totally agree Neil 👍
Thank you for your comment and have a great week 😁
European airlines are garbage, let’s face it. I’ve flown this route in BA so called Business class and it’s basically a joke.
they lost the plan in 80's & 90's and aint no coming nack mate !!!!😊
Friday night is about a Mark video to look forward to! Wonderful filming, including of Istanbul airport. I like the musicians too. As for Club Europe, oh dear. I don’t like speaking ill of BA but those seats look awful. The whole experience looks like a slightly glorified Economy trip but at a Business price. Your cod didn’t look great at all! In the old days, travelling business meant you were given an armchair in the sky with dinner served on plates and wine in crystal goblets. Oh dear, I’m not impressed. I wonder how Turkish business class compares for the same route?
Hi Richard,
Thank you for watching and for your positive feedback 🙌😁
Yeah, the Club Europe seat was a bit of a letdown. I’m a huge BA fan myself, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend this one 🤦
The Club Europe cabin was full though, so the demand must be high, which I find strange as overall it’s a pretty poor seat 😂
As for the cod, let’s just say it definitely wasn’t the catch of the day. 🎣😂
Have a great weekend Richard and take care 😁
The American needs to calm down. His First class in the US is hardly great; often with limited food and no lounge access. Nothing on the website is hidden that this is how business class is done in Europe. This is common knowledge too. Just a complainer for the sake of it.
It amazes me that people are surprised by how truly awful BA are. Dreadful airline.
I’m normally a big fan of BA 😂🤦
Not on this occasion though.
Thank you for watching 😁
@tradingplaces787 I used to enjoy flying with BA. Its the last 20 years that I found standards have slipped. The economy model is appalling and basic, the business/club on long haul is bearable but expensive and first is excellent, but you'll pay for it.
How do people not know what plane is flying the route they have booked?
What a colossal rip off 😢
Club Europe can feel like that with some of the prices that BA charge 😂
Thank you for watching and have a great week 😁
Typical American
Lol this entitled baby
Thanks for watching again John 🙌
It’s great to know you’re a big fan of my channel 😂
Business class on BA….your avin a laff… £850 for that. I think there extracting the p**s. Embarrassing to say the least. Seats look like they have just been taken out of Ryanair.
Hi Eric, it was a huge letdown.
I don’t know how they get away with advertising it as business class 🤷🏻
Thank you for watching and have a great weekend 😁