MrSleepy - 30/11/2011 14:21 GMT
My business travels primarily only take me around Europe, I only travel perhaps once a month (24 sectors a year), mostly in Economy and mostly (but not always) with BA. I’ve been lucky enough to have experienced a few Business Class long-haul trips for work, but to save costs these have been spread around various airlines (Etihad, Emirates, JAL, Korean Air, SAS and BA). I’ve only qualified for BA Silver once! It’ll likely be bronze for me as I seem to end each year with 400 to 500 TP.
So, after 10 years of collecting BA miles (Avios), I’ve decided I’m never going to collect enough miles to go a very long distance in a premium cabin and have therefore decided to cash them in.
I’ve therefore taken advantage of the new reduced Avios redemption rates and booked two tickets in First for my wife and I to JFK in a few months time. I am officially very excited!
I appreciate this may be a bit mundane to those of you who are lucky enough to travel in First regularly, but for me, I am thinking this could be a once in a blue moon (or at least another 10 years) experience! I am determined to enjoy it and make the most of it having spent all those hours cramped up at the back of an A320!
So, to the crux of this waffle. What do I need to know to ensure I get the MOST of BA first? Any advice is GREATLY appreciated. The BA website goes someway to explain what to expect, but it doesn’t explain all. I’d love to hear anyone’s advice.
In particular, How long before my flight can I access the Concorde Room? Do I need to book a table to dine? How long before the trip can a Spa Treatment be booked? (Is it booked through You First?). Should I just stay in the Concorde Room, or is the First Lounge worth visiting?
We’re booked on 747s. Ideally I’d like window seats, but are 2A and 2K too separate (row 1 is already taken (or blocked off?)). Are we better in 4 / 5 E+F?
Is the arrivals lounge in LHR worth visiting? Or should we just go straight home?
Anyhow, any advice is really appreciated. Thanks.
NTarrant - 30/11/2011 14:38 GMT
Not sure there is a time limit for going in the Concorde Room, but it is rather nice not having to go down the stairs and back up again having cleared securtity. You can dine when you like, but leave some room for the onboard experience.
2A and K are a bit distant, if you both like window seats go for 2 and 3A but if you want to chat E&F are probably best. Make sure you keep your PJ's too they are great and last years.
Personally, coming back on a night flight First is a bit of a waste, but it is more comfortable than Club from the point of view the bedding.
The arrivals lounge is a must I find coming back overnight, nice shower and if you didn't fancy anything much on the flight you can top up on breakfast, relax and read or watch the news.
Hope you enjoy, I'm not a regular F traveller but it is nice now and again.
VintageKrug - 30/11/2011 15:18 GMT
The advice below relates specifically to LHR T5 departures; some longhaul (SYD, BKK, SIN) depart LHR T3, so no Concorde Room is available there.
some key points:
Have your driver drop you off at the far end of T5 to avoid a long walk inside the terminal.
Ensure you use the First check in area (at the South End of Terminal 5), ensuring you request First bag tags both for your checked bags and a few spare tags for your hand luggage.
Head back towards South Security and select the Fast Track security line to expedite your passage through the x-rays.
After completing security at T5, turn right and speak to the Lounge Dragon at the pedestal guarding the White Door into the Concorde Room; your First boarding pass (or sameday inbound First boarding pass) will grant you access. This will avoid a very long walk!
After entering the Concorde Room, go immediately to the Elemis Spa and book a treatment. If Elemis T5A is fully booked, and only if your flight is departing from T5B, ask them to call and see if they have any space in that second Elemis Spa; once over at T5B you will not have time to return to T5A before you depart. DO NOT remove your underwear for treatments!
WiFi is available, and free, but you will need a password, which is usually displayed within the lounge, or ask any of the attendants. The current password is also available on BA's iPhone app.
You should note you have access to the Quintessentially Concierge Service 14 days either side of a First booking.
If you have time enjoy a pre-flight Shower, and ensure you ask for any nice freebie Elemis products on offer after your shower/treatment. The gurgling is normal!
If you have a long wait for a flight, consider calling YouFirst, the BA First dedicated telephone line in advance of your flight and booking one of the three "Cabanas" as somewhere more private to relax before you fly. You can see what this is on youtube - be not afraid, the burping drains are perfectly normal!!
If you have time, make full use of the 4 available lounges in T5A: Galleries x2/Galleries First Lounge/Concorde Room in T5 – with an F ticket you have carte blanche on access! It is not advised to sample the third Galleries lounge (situated in T5B) unless it is certain your flight is departing from that Concourse, as getting back to T5A through security can be time-consuming.
If you end up in T5C you can get a voucher for refreshments at the coffee stations there by showing your BP.
If it's breakfast time, enjoy a Bacon Butty in the Lounge. If you are there in the afternoon, try the traditional British Afternoon Tea (instead or as well )!
The lounge attendants can bring you champagne, or you can sidle up to the bar to be served; there is usually a choice of two or three vintage champagnes, one of which is normally rose. Do not tip. Ever.
Enjoy table service pre-flight dining at the restaurant all day long, the Burger is particularly recommended, as is the Eggs Benedict.
Check out the chairs in the Boardroom; these are genuine Concorde chairs upholstered in Connolly leather. And I'm not talking Billy Connolly, for the avoidance of doubt!
If you are interested in Art, check out the unique BA-commissioned pieces available in T5; it not called "Galleries" for nothing.
In the Concorde Room, above the artificial fireplace, is the excellent animated BA Coat of Arms "Pegasus & The Winged Horse" . It is also worth checking out "All the Time in the World" and "The Cloud" made of announcer board circles in the Lounge Lobby area; there's even a Damien Hirst in the Galleries First - see if you can locate it!
If you would like to go shopping, you can drop your bags with the person manning the Concorde left luggage area; they will be safe there. Remember your Boarding Pass for ease of re-admission!
If you have a specific high-end item (e.g. a Rolex) in mind, you can telephone the store direct, in advance and request an item be available. It is against the law to "pre-order" items into a Duty Free area, and shops cannot hold merchandise for a specific customer. But it cannot hurt to let them know what you are planning on purchasing. Staff can sometimes bring a range of options to the Concorde Room from which to choose. Don't forget your BAA Worldpoints loyalty card and BAA discount vouchers if making large purchases!
Get to the Gate reasonably early and use Priority Boarding. This is usually indicated by a sign at T5, but if there's no priority apparent, just head to the queue and have your boarding pass prominently displayed; having the First tags on your hand luggage helps here too.
You will be escorted to your seat by a crewmember. Rest up in your seat and enjoy the pre-flight drinkies.
HMRC (Customs) regulations prevent staff offering you anything except drinks on which Duty (tax) has been pre-paid which is why you are normally offered only water, champagne, OJ or a Buck's Fizz/Mimosa. It is against the agreed regulations for cabin crew to open the bar for other alcoholic items (such as G&T) and could get both BA and the cabin crew member into hot water, and lead to a significant (hundreds of pounds per flight and a serious fine which could total hundreds of thousands of pounds) additional tax bill for BA. So if the initial offering isn't to your liking, as for something else to be delivered immediately after take off to avoid embarrassment.
Your amenity kit (known as a BAg) will normally be given out before take off, along with slippers and your Pyjamas. The PJs are usually enormous, but do shrink quite a bit if washed! You can read more about the BAg at www.drharris.co.uk but note that many of the items are now provided by REN once again.
Make sure you get the PJs even on a day flight - keep room in your carry on bag for the BAg, slippers and PJs; they are bulky!
Immediately ask for a DVD from the selection (if your plane doesn’t have AVOD) to get ‘first dibs’ on what you want. Some have iPads now, instead.
Don’t be afraid to (discreetly) tell the crew it’s your first First if it really is – invariably they will spoil you rotten if you get a good crew!
Assuming you’re on a 747, and your a chap, do visit the loo for the window-while-peeing experience, though best to wait until airborne to avoid indecent exposure charges (!)
Consider using your buddy seat to dine opposite each other if travelling as a pair.
It's "Dine When You Choose" so don't feel you have to eat immediately, especially if you have already had a snack on the ground.
On current menus ex-LHR, the ‘Catch of the Day’ is invariably excellent
Keep room for some Pudding Wine; this is only available in F, and is delish!
If you have an "Old First" aircraft, you will need an Empower adapter to power your laptop; new First has UK/US plug sockets.
The noise cancelling headphones should be left on board the aircraft!
When you're ready to retire for the evening, as the cabin crew member (never flight attendant!) to make up your bed, while you change into your PJs.
If coming in to LHR make sure you make use of the Arrivals Lounge. You will need your Boarding Pass, so keep hold of it. Breakfast, shower and Elemis Spa treatments (note the Arrivals lounge closes at 2pm with breakfast disappearing from about midday). First passengers can eat in the table service Concorde Dining Room - Eggs Benedict again, but no champers as this lounge is dry.
You can request an "infinity bath" which the staff will draw for you (it is huge and takes several minutes (10-15) to fill up fully with T5's environmentally focussed plumbing.
It's tempting to get home after a long flight, but given your hot water might be off, and the fact you can mess up the bathroom in the lounge rather than causing a tsunami at home, it can be a wise choice to delay your driver by 90 mins and enjoy what's on offer. Plan ahead to have your toiletries - and a change of clothes - to hand, though!
And finally, a little perspective - don't expect too much; it's ‘only’ a seat in an aircraft and cannot deliver the Earth (well, hopefully not ), with the right mindset you should leave very satisfied indeed
MrSleepy - 07/12/2011 13:44 GMT
Many thanks all. I really appreciate your comments and advice.
