Coach class - A reality check on life (British Airways in general)

Member Name: cteasdel

Product:	British Airways in general
Date:	20/04/02 (143 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lounges, checkin, service

Disadvantages: seats, passengers

LHR-SFO BA285 26July 2002

This flight is going to be a reality check, for the first time in a good few years I am not sitting in the first 5 rows of an intercontinental flight. I have even skipped business class, economy plus and am checked into 31c in economy.

Check in was smooth as I cheated and used the First class check in as normal with my BA Gold card. On check in I was given an upgrade to WT+ but declined it as it was a middle seat and I wanted an aisle. Is this going to be a decision that I am going to regret on an eleven hour flight to SFO

I went straight to the BA lounge and took a seat in the downstairs ?First Lounge? had some toast, yogurt and orange juice. I then read a paper watched the news and started on this rant.

To be continued??????..

Boarding was quick and efficient as far as the BA staff where concerned, I was selected to have my laptop bag checked by airport security, also my shoes where removed and checked over.

My initial impressions of an economy seat where not too bad, until the oversized selfish German baboon in front of me sat down and played with every light, seat control, arm rest option available too him. He also thought it fun to through is wait back and forward in the chair.

We sat on the ground for 2 hours before we could depart as there had been a traffic accident on the motorway and 2 of the 3 pilots where running late. During this time the Cabin Service Director made every announcement, demonstration possible to while away the time. Soon after take off the cabin crew started the drinks service, as no Krug champagne and warm cashew nuts are available in economy I choose to have nothing.

The baboon in front of me has decided to have another spell of is rock backwards and forward again making it difffffficcccult to type, maybe his medication is running low.

Soon after the 2nd drinks run the meal service started, the crew start at the front of World T
raveller Plus an at the back of economy and meet in the middle 30-32 and this is where they run out of food options, yep this is where I am sitting so as I don?t like Salmon no lunch for me? I am really regretting not taking the upgrade because I could get an aisle seat.

After Lunch was cleared it?s the normal rat run of people going to and from the bathroom and other people standing up and getting in the way of everybody. At this point the crew carried out the duty free sales dodging the masses in the aisles. I decided to purchase a set of the Sony Noise canceling headphones so I can listen to the movies and block out the engine noise associated with sitting just behind the wing. 7.5 hours to go and counting???.

The duty free bar did not have one set of headphones on the entire aircraft so I was forced to put up with the engine noise and listen too the guy sat next to me movie also as he must have had a hearing problem having it so loud.

A few hours sleep and a couple of hundred pages of my book and the second meal was served. It consisted of 1 cheese and tomato, one egg and one ham and mustard sandwich followed by a orange cake. This was also accomplished by a free bar service and tea and coffee. I also noticed at the rear galley snacks where available during the whole flight.

Nothing more to comment on as we landed on time after making up nearly 2 hours flying time! Hell the captain must of burned some fuel for that to happen.

I had my bags ready as soon as the door was opened and made it to immigration quickly and choose the WRONG line. It took 1 hour to line up as over 75% of the people in front of me made mistakes on their landing cards despite been show a video on how to do it onboard the aircraft. Once I came out of immigration my bag was waiting for me.

Thanks BA for getting me to SFO safely and on time. It was a learning experience and a reality check. If I only did this kind of trip once a year
and didn?t know about life up front then I may have even disembarked the aircraft with a smile.




The landing process at SFO was the normal standard of chaos and
On a scale of 1 to 10

Check in 8/10
Boarding 9/10
Cabin Cleanliness 10/10
Seat comfort 5/10
Friendliness / professionalism of staff 8/10
Annoyance of passengers around me 11/10
Value for money 10/10 ( how else can you travel for $0.06 per mile and get feed, watered and watch a few movies)
Willingness to travel in economy again 0/10

Summary: