Guests in F?

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spiggy_topes

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I'm booked on a transatlantic BA flight in F at the end of the month. A colleague of mine is on the same flight, but probably in Y. Am I likely to be able to invite him up to the front of the plane for an hour or so?

Any feedback or advice gratefully received.
 
A couple of years ago my wife and I had to change our plans and come back from Europe in a hurry. We were both booked in F but only one seat was available so my wife flew in F and I flew in J, actually just two rows behind her. Everytime i came to visit her and sit on the ottoman to talk I got glares from the FA's, like..."what are you doing here", though they never asked me to leave. They knew I was her husband and just two rows behind in J (and had paid for an F ticket, though they probably didn't know that). Point is, depends on the crew but they don't like interlopers hanging around the F cabin. And of course cabin crew can ask a passenger to return to their seat/cabin at any time. 15 minutes for a drink and a chat would be okay as long as you are not disturbing other passengers. I would say that an hour would be overstaying his/her welcome. Speaking as a passenger, as long as people are quiet, it doesn't bother me, though it does bother some people.
 
Unlikely, but depends on the crew. Ettiquette is for the pax in higher cabin to visit the lower cabin. The ottoman's are designed for 2 pax both already in F, not for someone to self-upgrade.
 
Thank you all for your kind advice - better to ask here than get an embarrasing knock-back on board.

On reflection I won't mention the possibility of visit up-front. At least I should be able to get my colleague past the lounge dragons and into the F lounge at Gatwick with a WP card. (He's an academic and academics always go as cheaply as possible, so this kind of thing is a big thrill...)
 
OTOH being non-presumptive and considerate, by going back to the lower cabin to visit (at a suitable time - ie not during meal service) the FAs may (if you are lucky) work something out for you both. ;)
 
KiwiFlyer has a good idea - keep going back and wait for an FA to ask. However, I think they would have more sympathy with a spouse or offspring than a business colleage.

I don't know what config the BA aircraft run, but on Qantas to/from London I have often hung out at the downstairs bar area between business and economy with other passengers, occasionally from further back. Since you would be going downwards, why not have some time with him there.

Remember that airlines justify their premium offerings by removing things they could easily do further down the pecking order. Think of tables on trains.
 
spiggy_topes said:
At least I should be able to get my colleague past the lounge dragons and into the F lounge at Gatwick with a WP card.

My experience, and that of others is of a nicer class of lounge dragon in LGW. Shouldn't be a problem, as long as you smile, are polite etc etc:) ...
 
Mr_Gimlet said:
but on Qantas to/from London I have often hung out at the downstairs bar area between business and economy with other passengers, occasionally from further back. Since you would be going downwards, why not have some time with him there

Be careful also not to overstay there. Some crew may also ask you to move as in first. Ideally don't touch anything from the bar and you'll be able to extend your visitng time.
 
Hi I am not tying to be a pain in the rear end, but as a person who pays for a first class seat and enjoy the peace for my long haul, it's a pain when people come in and out who are not meant to be there.

last year I had the trip that I would like to forget, a couple one in F and one in J she arrived with a baby and he went to the J with two other children they spent the night coming back and forward swapping seats so one could look after the child who was awake all night, and the other went to sleep with the older children, he ate in first then she came back and ate, it was all wrong they told the Flight attendant that this was their plane and they did it in the hope that there would be a spear F seat so there child could have room to play, and they could swap back and forward.

on my return home I talked to Qantas and was given a $4000 AUS voucher for the pain these people caused, every one on that flight where pissed off the flight attendant did the best he could, it was selfish people who made for a most unenjoyable flight.
If you want to spend time with a friend then spend it with them in their class not first. The other thing you could do is take them in to the first Class lounge at the air port now that a real treat.

please do not think i am a travel snob i am not.:p
 
Hi I am not tying to be a pain in the rear end, but as a person who pays for a first class seat and enjoy the peace for my long haul, it's a pain when people come in and out who are not meant to be there.

on my return home I talked to Qantas and was given a $4000 AUS voucher for the pain these people caused, every one on that flight where pissed off the flight attendant did the best he could, it was selfish people who made for a most unenjoyable flight.

$4000???? Thats a lot of cash.
 
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I don't know about the meanies at BA - but my partner and I were on a QF flight with me in F and he in J on the A380 - asked nicely and he was more than welcomed to come down so that we could have dinner together. And the CMO came by and we had a great chat for some time. So my recommondation: Go for it - well worth asking!
 
last year I had the trip that I would like to forget, a couple one in F and one in J she arrived with a baby and he went to the J with two other children

Gads Wayne - what flight was that - I have a feeling you and I might have been on the same flight because this has happened to me as well - mind you, I just blanked out the pain of it all and didn't t bother complaining and get such a great compensation.

2nd mind you - quite different from two adults simply sharing dinner together......
 
2nd mind you - quite different from two adults simply sharing dinner together......

I have to agree, there’s a big difference between the two stories.

Personally, if it’s just dinner (you could bring your own from J) with a partner or a quiet chat, I don’t see the problem. It shouldn’t impact on anyone else in the cabin.
 
I have to agree, there’s a big difference between the two stories. Personally, if it’s just dinner (you could bring your own from J) with a partner or a quiet chat, I don’t see the problem. It shouldn’t impact on anyone else in the cabin.

I think the FAs are happier on QF to have the meal served downstairs - less OH&S worries with a Pax carrying tray, glasses etc - as I said, they happily laid the large F tray out for both of us, made sure the glasses were both filled - and the there is very very little (if any) diffrence between the meals served in F and J, anyway.
 
Like everything travel related, the 'rules' and the reality on the day vary greatly and there's no harm in asking the CSM or your F flight attendant if it's okay for your friend to visit.

I've been in the situation on BA where 4 of us were travelling in F and another 2 in J, and after checking with the FAs the passengers in J came and joined us for drinks and a chat for a couple of hours. On the day it was quite a light load in F (only 2 other pax) which no doubt contributed to the opportunity.

Moral of the story is that you shouldn't be afraid to politely ask the FAs on the day and let them make the call - just be prepared for a 'no'.
 
Yes true there is a big difference in my story, you are all right. However the policy with QF is that passengers in First may enter any of the of the other class cabins, however other classes cannot enter first this is there rules.
I have no problem with a person coming in to the first cabin if it's during the dinner service but when it's time to sleep then it's time for them to go.
I have another story re people in first, on a trip from JFK to London I was in BA first and at the Concord club lounge with my wife, there were only 5 others in the lounge a husband and wife and their 15/16 year old daughters and what seemed to be a nanny, ever time the girls got up the nanny went with them.
On departing the husband and wife went in to F and the girls with nanny went the other way to J.
My wife went in to the toilets to change in to her flight PJ's, and did not lock the door the man walked in and very apologetically left no big thing.
we had dinner and then off to sleep, when I woke I noticed that there where now two extra people in the cabin asleep, I asked the flight attendant if we had stop to pick up more people, she said no with a smile and informed me that it was the daughters of the couple, one had felt unwell and they had asked if they could come up and sleep there. I said to the flight attendant that I did not know you could do that and would try it next time I travelled with my son, who would be in J, she then told me that BA never says no to the Saudi royal family.
From now on I will book as crown prince Wayne of Australia. And if only I had know who he was I would have asked for 30 camels and 20 goats as compensation for him seeing my wife's underwear.
 
I have another story re people in first, on a trip from JFK to London I was in BA first and at the Concord club lounge with my wife, there were only 5 others in the lounge a husband and wife and their 15/16 year old daughters and what seemed to be a nanny, ever time the girls got up the nanny went with them.
On departing the husband and wife went in to F and the girls with nanny went the other way to J.
My wife went in to the toilets to change in to her flight PJ's, and did not lock the door the man walked in and very apologetically left no big thing.
we had dinner and then off to sleep, when I woke I noticed that there where now two extra people in the cabin asleep, I asked the flight attendant if we had stop to pick up more people, she said no with a smile and informed me that it was the daughters of the couple, one had felt unwell and they had asked if they could come up and sleep there. I said to the flight attendant that I did not know you could do that and would try it next time I travelled with my son, who would be in J, she then told me that BA never says no to the Saudi royal family.
From now on I will book as crown prince Wayne of Australia. And if only I had know who he was I would have asked for 30 camels and 20 goats as compensation for him seeing my wife's underwear.


Nice story. Forget the camels and goats. Ask for gold. Its much easier to carry around and you don't have to feed it :D
 
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