Upon taking the bus on arrival from CDG, we were deposited in the main terminal where we had to take a series of stairs to get back to the connecting area and go through BA check-in and security. Thankfully the lines were not bad this time and I took advantage of the Fast Track lane that ironically seemed to take longer than the regular lane. A nice agent scanned my boarding pass and advised me that I could use the Galleries lounge at T5B. At security everyone was dumping their heavy coats and other items on the trays and that slowed things down a bit. I was starting to dread this experience that reminded me of security at U.S. airports with the minor difference that you had to scan your own boarding pass on the reader as you came to the front of the line to place your belonging on the trays.
After re-clearing security I did some last minute Christmas shopping.
When taking the tram from the main terminal to the B gates, there was a delay in boarding due to security personnel checking every single compartment of the tram. That took a couple of minutes and once this was finished, everybody was allowed to board. I don't know if this is a routine practice leaving to the satellite gates but when I took the tram the first time the other way around I did not encounter this procedure at all. When we arrived at the B gates, I saw a group of people running in a hurry attempting to make their connections. I just felt very fortunate that I was not one of them.
BA Galleries at T5B
I entered the empty lounge and was welcomed by the agent. There were just a few people lingering around and I decided to take a shower before my flight. The Elemis spa was located at the end of the hallway right by the business center. I waited for about a minute until an attendant appeared and invited me to use shower #5.
The shower room was compact with a toilet, a folded bench that can double as surface to place your light luggage and a shower. It was functional and very institutional looking with Elemis products and a radio dial that allowed you to change stations. Water pressure was great and I loved the ability to switch the settings between shower, body spray and hand held hose.
My boarding pass.
Entrance.
Business Center.
Spa showers.
This bench has a few loose screws.
Shower.
After that invigorating experience I explored the lounge and came across the hot buffet and salad station near the entrance.
I then made a turn inside and there was a soup, sandwich and beverage station.
Sandwiches consisted of Egg mayonnaise & sun blushed tomato, Tuna lemon and pepper mayonnaise, and Coronation chicken & spinach.
Beverages.
The big tub.
Seating areas.
My snack.
Leaving the lounge.
I then went to the gate and there was already a long line of premium passengers anxious to board. Gate agents boarded elderly and families with children first, followed by F, J and elites.
I came across a 787 before entering the jetbridge.
My plane.
Publications on the jetbridge.
I was greeted by the FA at the door and invited to go upstairs. I was lucky that when I checked in at 24 hrs. before my flight there were 3 empty seats that were still left on the upper deck. Of course, I grabbed the only window one left in the first row.
As I arrived on the upper deck there was another FA who greeted me and I asked if I could store my bag in the closet. She then unlatched it and allowed me to place my bag. The upper deck was full and people were settling down. I arrived at my seat and was glad to have 4 adjacent bins at my disposal, although due to the curvature of the cabin the first couple of them were smaller in size. The ying yang configuration felt strange when the divider was down and your neighbor is facing you. When the divider is up, the privacy is great. Another issue that bothered me is that most window seats (except for the EMERG EXIT and last rows) do not provide complete free access to the aisle. If the aisle passenger in the following row is sleeping, then you have to perform some acrobatics and jump over his/her feet. One misstep and it's disaster for both of you.
Cabin.
My seat.
The bins were dirty with marks. I forgot to take a picture of it but when I opened one of the bins, there was a streak mark left by some spilled beverage that was already dried. Apparently the bins are not cleaned very often.
Cancelling noise headphone and blanket were already placed on the seat.
Pre-departure beverages were offered and I had a glass of water.
Then menus were distributed, followed by amenity kits. There is a male and female version of these wash bags.
Wine list.
Dinner.
Amenity kit.
Finally we were ready for take off. The safety video was displayed and we were on our way to the runway.
Bye LHR.
Once we leveled off, a hot towel was offered with a round of drinks and nuts.
Kir Royale with nuts.
Then we experienced the first snafu in service. There was a long pause in between the first drink and the delivery of the appetizer. After 1 hr. and 45 min. after take off we still have not received our appetizers. I saw some passengers ask the FA if the meal was coming and she advised that it was on the way. I found this mildly irritating considering that this was a premium cabin and there were only 20 J seats on the upper deck on a nighttime flight.
A few minutes later the trolley came with the first course. The FA lowered the partition and handed me the tray over my neighbor. I chose the smoked salmon appetizer and it was very salty. This appetizer was beyond the normal saltiness that one would expect from such a dish. I dare to say that it was saltier than the Dead Sea.
The second snafu happened when I am skipped and was not offered a drink and warm breads. When I saw the trolley pass my row I rang the call button. The FA approached me from the partition at the end of my seat and apologized for the oversight, fetching me my glass of water and bringing the basket of bread right away.
I couldn't finish my appetizer and I thought that the salad with the spicy olives was not the best combination. Then I waited for the main dish and I opted for the fillet of beef. Alas this was no better since the portion was small and it was overcooked. At least the FA said enjoy your meal with a smile when it was delivered. She also asked me if I wanted mustard with the dish and when I confirmed this she followed with English or French. I assume that the English version would be the hot one with horseradish and the French one a Dijon, so I selected the English one and I was given a packet just like I was purchasing a hot dog from a cafeteria. At least offer me a small jar to make the presentation more dignified.
By now I thought that either the cheese course or the dessert would be the highlight of this failed dinner service. I asked for both and the FA complied with a smile. The cheese course looked lacking without any fruits whether fresh or dried. Even AA can do a better cheese course on their domestic transcon flights than this. The cheese and pepper flatbread to accompany the cheese was an unusual selection. Wouldn't it be better to serve just water crackers in order to appreciate the cheeses better? what was even more surprising to me was to serve cheese flatbread with cheese. The dessert was OK and tasted more like a cake than a tart. On a positive note, the hot tea went really well with it.
According to the menu chocolates were supposed to be served at the end of the meal but I never saw them. Perhaps a catering error.
The FA's distributed bottles of water and offered Duty Free before dimming the lights. I inquired about purchasing a set of playing cards that was not featured in the catalog and the FA went downstairs to inquire. She showed up after a few minutes with a set and made sure that my frequent flyer number was properly entered so that I can receive credit for my purchase. Kudos to her for searching and this almost made up for the meal snafu that I experienced earlier.
I noticed that on BA J there are no overhead lights so you have to use the little bulb that is attached to your seat which offers limited coverage in my opinion. I find that you need to position yourself at a certain angle in order to be able to read at all. I dozed off for a few minutes and afterwards decided to check out the galley downstairs for some snacks. I saw a tray with different beverages by the magazine area when I went downstairs and one of the FA's in the upper deck galley was approachable and chatty.
I made my way down and there was a loud couple who occupied this area for most of the flight. I think they were a bit tipsy to begin with. I also had the opportunity to make some small talk with the director who was a very nice gentleman and at the end he gave me his business card.
Raid the Larder
As one of my friends said, this is perhaps the best aspect of flying BA in J (provided that you are on a daytime flight. I've read that on nighttime ones the choices are very limited).
The engines seen from one of the windows in the lower galley.
I brought a container of vanilla Ice Cream Union to my seat and upon opening the lid some of the liquified ice cream spilled over my clothes and seat. I guess the dry ice did not do the trick because I noticed that a pack of it was placed in the container where I took it. Anyways I had a few sips of the ice cream and found it too sweet for my taste.
At around 1 hr. before arrival the afternoon tea started. Sandwiches and pastries were already on the tray and the FA passed with a basket offering warm scones. I thought that the presentation of this meal was cheap with the sandwiches wrapped in plastic. Also, the mini pastries seem frugal. Why not serve a high quality mini tart or pastry instead along with some sliced fresh fruits for those seeking a healthier alternative? Here is another observation. If EI manages to serve clotted cream in a little glass jar, why can't BA?
Beautiful sunset before landing.
Upon landing I took a shot of my neighbor's seat.
See more
Verdict
British Airways
6.6/10
Cabin8.0
Cabin crew7.5
Entertainment/wifi6.0
Meal/catering5.0
British Airways Galleries Club - 5B
7.5/10
Comfort7.5
Meal/catering7.5
Entertainment/wifi7.0
Services8.0
London - LHR
8.4/10
Efficiency7.5
Access8.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.0
San Francisco - SFO
9.9/10
Efficiency9.5
Access10.0
Services10.0
Cleanliness10.0
Conclusion
My first Club World experience on BA was somewhat disappointing. The seat is comfortable and private enough when partition is up, but when it is down and you face across your neighbor it feels awkward. Also, the majority of the window seats in this cabin do not offer complete free aisle access. It takes some juggling around to be able to step into the aisle when the aisle person on the following row deploys the footrest and is taking a nap. If you are in the main deck of the 747 in J, the window seats are located over the wings and your view is restricted.
The crew was smiling and friendly, but being skipped during the appetizer service and the slow meal delivery did not contribute to the overall score. I appreciate the help of one of the FA's in getting me a set of cards and getting back to me quickly on that.
The catering was a big let down. Too many things went wrong with this meal service as you can read from my report above. Inedible appetizer, overcooked beef, unusual pairings, no chocolates, melting ice cream, cheap second meal presentation, etc.
Entertainment needs to improve and the choices of films/videos are limited and not on par with other carriers like CX or even AF.
We departed 21 minutes late and arrived 16 minutes later. A minor delay in the big picture.
Good thing that my J ticket was deeply discounted and I was able to use some promotions to offset the cost. Next time I think I will just stick with Premium Economy.
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Thanks for sharing this return flight. Several aspects are disappointing, but seems to be an overall good flight. BA is not knows for having the best catering on-board. Luckily the offering in the lounge is better than most competitor carriers. the BA seats are definitely awkward when sitting next to a stranger, but great for couples.
Thanks so much for the lovely pictures. I don't enjoy the layout of seats in the business class. I don't know why they put them facing each other. I like my privacy and I don't want to seat in a plane facing a stranger, even the divider does not make me feel comfortable. I wish they just had the seats facing forward, but that's just me, maybe others like it this way.
I think when these seats came out the first time it was a novel concept in J, but the divider was even worse and consisted of just partitions instead of a solid wall, so actually they have improved over time. The best layout for J cabins is the one CX or the new AF have if you are traveling alone. If one had complete aisle access with these BA ying yang seats they would have been more forgiving.
Thanks for sharing this leg as well as the previous ones.
The lounge shower room doesn't look like a premium place. Food offer is decent, at least in quantity. ;)
I usually dislike BA premium cabins, and this upper deck business is no exception.
Was the first drink service with Out of Africa nuts brought to you by Robert Redford ? lol The rest of the meal is unsurprisingly under-average of what we could eat on other airlines business class. At least you got a taste of British cuisine ! ;)
According to the menu chocolates were supposed to be served at the end of the meal but I never saw them. Perhaps a catering error. -> Sometimes FA's laziness makes few catering errors. ;)
Catering at the lounge is indeed decent in terms of quantity, but the quality factor needs to be improved. Soups, sandwiches, salads and some curry with stews are not exactly haute.
Was the first drink service with Out of Africa nuts brought to you by Robert Redford ? lol - Unfortunately Mr. Redford was not present when delivering them, but probably he hand picked the nuts himself. :P
At least you got a taste of British cuisine ! - I feel cheated and don't think I received the full taste of British cuisine. No bangers & mash, faggots or spotted dick to conclude the meal? ;)
You might have a point about FA's laziness, but having a benevolent nature I always give people the benefit of doubt.
Thanks for your report ! The lounge looks good and the food offer is nice. The seat seems comfortable and offers privacy with a good IFE. I must say that that I agree with you on the catering that is not what I would expect in Business. The main meal is average to me and the snack prior arrival is a joke on a such a long flight. I can't understand why the sandwich is served wrapped in plastic , same for the mustard that you got with the main meal. It seems that your crew was smiling but as numero 2 said also a bit lazy.
At this point I think I would rate the catering of LH and BA at about the same level in J. With BA some aspects of their presentation are just awful like paper salt/pepper, wrapped sandwiches and condiments in packets.
The lounge looks nice but the showers seem to be close to those we can find in a cheap motel
The hot buffet could be in a cafeteria
I don't like the cabin configuration
One misstep and it's disaster for both of you. It depends on the both of you ;)
You don't have to be claustrophobic
The FA lowered the partition and handed me the tray over my neighbor Very pleasant ! So you have to see your neighbor during the meal
At least the FA said enjoy your meal with a smile when it was delivered Looking at the dish, I'm sure whe was joking at you
so I selected the English one and I was given a packet just like I was purchasing a hot dog from a cafeteria Frankly was the food really different ? lol
The cheese and pepper flatbread to accompany the cheese was an unusual selection. It was a Salt and Pepper dinner theme
Perhaps a catering error. Surely a FAs' casting error
As one of my friends said, this is perhaps the best aspect of flying BA in J Oh your friend likes to go to the (cheap) supermarkets : Cordoniu and so much delicious bites cand be found on the supermarket shelves
Afternoon tea... Not so much to write about ! Don't shoot the pianist
The lounge looks nice but the showers seem to be close to those we can find in a cheap motel - At least you can change the music station.
The hot buffet could be in a cafeteria - From a school or a prison?
I don't like the cabin configuration - It takes some getting used to. With time and frequency you might learn to tolerate it. ;)
It depends on the both of you ;) - With someone that has a disposition similar to yours it might result in a winning situation. ;) :P
You don't have to be claustrophobic - Maybe this was designed to appeal to closet lovers. ;)
Very pleasant ! So you have to see your neighbor during the meal - Not at all, right after she delivered the meal she raised the partition again.
Looking at the dish, I'm sure she was joking at you - You think? It's nice to find crew members with some sense of humor these days. :P
Frankly was the food really different ? lol - You are right. As a matter of fact I have received more satisfying meals from the local pizza or fast food joint.
It was a Salt and Pepper dinner theme - An experimental concept to enhance taste at 35,000 feet in the air. Doesn't BA claim that their catering chefs are working on enhancing the perception of how food tastes at high altitudes?
Surely a FAs' casting error - I am more forgiving and tend to give people the benefit of doubt. ;)
Cordoniu and so much delicious bites can be found on the supermarket shelves - You are missing the point my dear 007, the main thing is that there are plenty of diverse choices to satisfy all taste buds. ;)
Not so much to write about ! Don't shoot the pianist - The culprit is not the pianist but the catering dept.
A big thanks as always for your enlightening perspective.
the main thing is that there are plenty of diverse choices to satisfy all taste buds plenty of poor choices : I'm sorry but my taste buds wouldn't be satisfied with these choices lol
Thank you for sharing Adan. Well the vibe I get from this report is a disappointing experience. I really dislike this business class layout where BA is trying to scrape every inch of space possible. I much prefer TK's layout to this eventhough it's 2-3-2
I won't comment on the catering but the buffet does look quite inviting with lots of choice. See you for the next report!
Thanks William. I think this configuration is a bit inconvenient for the FA's during meal service since some of them pass the food over the partition risking an accident on the passenger seating by the aisle while other FA's use the partition at the end of the seat to deliver the meals.
The food at the lounge had a good selection, but I can not attest to the quality of the hot items at the buffet since I never tried it.
Overall, your trip left me with many buts regarding BA. It does not look as premium as its continental competitors. It felt as the FA were doing a good job, but there's so much they can do.
When reading the menu, my mouth was watering....but the series of Snafus left me sad about it. I can't imagine your disappointment.
I think the positives surpass the negatives with BA. It's not hard to attain elite status with Executive Club compared to other airlines and overall the staff both on the ground and in the air seem to be very professional. We all know that a great crew can sometimes make or break an experience.
As for the food, some improvements can be made. For example, I am not the only one who has complained about the saltiness of the appetizer and has waited close to 2 hrs after take off to receive the appetizer tray. Also, some elements in the presentation feel more Y than J like condiment packs and sandwiches that are wrapped in plastic.
The biggest but that I find with BA is the connecting experience at T5. I hate having to go through long lines and redundant checks again and in that sense it can be a big pain. As I said before, I find that other airports like MUC, ZRH or CPH offer a smoother experience.
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967 reviews
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20 Comments
Thanks for your comments.
BA is definitely not a good carrier to eat in J class.
The seat is comfortable but really awkward when sitting next to a stranger.
This flight seems to be an overall good flight with some disappointing...
Thanks for the great FR :)
Thanks.
The lounge shower room doesn't look like a premium place.
Food offer is decent, at least in quantity. ;)
I usually dislike BA premium cabins, and this upper deck business is no exception.
Was the first drink service with Out of Africa nuts brought to you by Robert Redford ? lol
The rest of the meal is unsurprisingly under-average of what we could eat on other airlines business class. At least you got a taste of British cuisine ! ;)
According to the menu chocolates were supposed to be served at the end of the meal but I never saw them. Perhaps a catering error. -> Sometimes FA's laziness makes few catering errors. ;)
See you for another report.
Was the first drink service with Out of Africa nuts brought to you by Robert Redford ? lol
- Unfortunately Mr. Redford was not present when delivering them, but probably he hand picked the nuts himself. :P
At least you got a taste of British cuisine !
- I feel cheated and don't think I received the full taste of British cuisine. No bangers & mash, faggots or spotted dick to conclude the meal? ;)
You might have a point about FA's laziness, but having a benevolent nature I always give people the benefit of doubt.
Merci.
The lounge looks good and the food offer is nice.
The seat seems comfortable and offers privacy with a good IFE.
I must say that that I agree with you on the catering that is not what I would expect in Business. The main meal is average to me and the snack prior arrival is a joke on a such a long flight. I can't understand why the sandwich is served wrapped in plastic , same for the mustard that you got with the main meal.
It seems that your crew was smiling but as numero 2 said also a bit lazy.
Thanks for your visit.
The lounge looks nice but the showers seem to be close to those we can find in a cheap motel
The hot buffet could be in a cafeteria
I don't like the cabin configuration
One misstep and it's disaster for both of you.
It depends on the both of you ;)
You don't have to be claustrophobic
The FA lowered the partition and handed me the tray over my neighbor
Very pleasant ! So you have to see your neighbor during the meal
At least the FA said enjoy your meal with a smile when it was delivered
Looking at the dish, I'm sure whe was joking at you
so I selected the English one and I was given a packet just like I was purchasing a hot dog from a cafeteria
Frankly was the food really different ? lol
The cheese and pepper flatbread to accompany the cheese was an unusual selection.
It was a Salt and Pepper dinner theme
Perhaps a catering error.
Surely a FAs' casting error
As one of my friends said, this is perhaps the best aspect of flying BA in J
Oh your friend likes to go to the (cheap) supermarkets : Cordoniu and so much delicious bites cand be found on the supermarket shelves
Afternoon tea...
Not so much to write about ! Don't shoot the pianist
See you for another report
- At least you can change the music station.
The hot buffet could be in a cafeteria
- From a school or a prison?
I don't like the cabin configuration
- It takes some getting used to. With time and frequency you might learn to tolerate it. ;)
It depends on the both of you ;)
- With someone that has a disposition similar to yours it might result in a winning situation. ;) :P
You don't have to be claustrophobic
- Maybe this was designed to appeal to closet lovers. ;)
Very pleasant ! So you have to see your neighbor during the meal
- Not at all, right after she delivered the meal she raised the partition again.
Looking at the dish, I'm sure she was joking at you
- You think? It's nice to find crew members with some sense of humor these days. :P
Frankly was the food really different ? lol
- You are right. As a matter of fact I have received more satisfying meals from the local pizza or fast food joint.
It was a Salt and Pepper dinner theme
- An experimental concept to enhance taste at 35,000 feet in the air. Doesn't BA claim that their catering chefs are working on enhancing the perception of how food tastes at high altitudes?
Surely a FAs' casting error
- I am more forgiving and tend to give people the benefit of doubt. ;)
Cordoniu and so much delicious bites can be found on the supermarket shelves
- You are missing the point my dear 007, the main thing is that there are plenty of diverse choices to satisfy all taste buds. ;)
Not so much to write about ! Don't shoot the pianist
- The culprit is not the pianist but the catering dept.
A big thanks as always for your enlightening perspective.
plenty of poor choices : I'm sorry but my taste buds wouldn't be satisfied with these choices lol
you're always welcome
I won't comment on the catering but the buffet does look quite inviting with lots of choice.
See you for the next report!
The food at the lounge had a good selection, but I can not attest to the quality of the hot items at the buffet since I never tried it.
When reading the menu, my mouth was watering....but the series of Snafus left me sad about it. I can't imagine your disappointment.
thanks for sharing, saludos!
As for the food, some improvements can be made. For example, I am not the only one who has complained about the saltiness of the appetizer and has waited close to 2 hrs after take off to receive the appetizer tray. Also, some elements in the presentation feel more Y than J like condiment packs and sandwiches that are wrapped in plastic.
The biggest but that I find with BA is the connecting experience at T5. I hate having to go through long lines and redundant checks again and in that sense it can be a big pain. As I said before, I find that other airports like MUC, ZRH or CPH offer a smoother experience.
Thanks.
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