LH vs BA (best of a bad bunch)?

[pangwen]

Hi everyone,

I'm 75% through booking my European trip (got the flights there and back), but there is a leg in the middle that I was hoping some of you might have some experience with.

I am flying TXL->LHR in Y, and the only two (direct) choices appear to be BA or LH. BA is a bit (8 Euro) more expensive than LH, but will earn QFF points. The LH flight won't earn points (unless I join M+M). Reading online, it looks like both have pretty poor reviews (maybe only whingers post online ). Does anyone here have any first hand experience with both and can recommend one over the other?

I did check other airlines, but they were either much more expensive (especially airlines offering indirect flights), or used out of the way airports (I'm not keen on going to Stansted or Gatwick for a saving of a couple of bucks, especially as the place I'm staying at is towards the west of London).

Thanks!

 

[Daver6]

Recently flew LH from Manchester to Munich in whY. Short flight in a A320. Was actually pretty impressed. Aircraft (or at least the interior was really new. Seats are new super slim ones that don't recline. Got a hot meal and and choice of alcoholic beverages.

Also flew BA Munich to LHR. Tired looking aircraft, no meal, just a rubbish snack. Only benefit of BA was lounge access.

In short though, for the lousy few points you get, I'd go LH over BA, unless you can get lounge access with BA. Then it might be worthwhile.

My 2 cents. YMMV

 

[A330]

Flew TXL-LHR on a BA A319 in July. If you can bag one of the Club Europe seats behind the curtain then legroom is 34". Food for 11am departure was a bag of "coughtail assortment" crackers/nuts and a drink. Bonus is BA serve free alcohol all day, not just after 4pm like QF.
For discount Y you won't earn many points but at least you get SC's. TXL is pretty boring to wait in so lounge access would be handy.

 

[pangwen]

Thanks Daver, A330. I ended up booking with LH because I don't have access to OW lounges, and having a meal on board sounds good. I'm about to hit DJ Gold, but that won't help over there..

 

[Robert Qld]

I've had pretty decent experience with LH but load up the iPad because TXL is terribly boring as somebody previously noted.

i suggest signing up for an Aegean Airlines Frequent Flyer Programme if you don't have a Star Alliance account already, just to suck up and direct any stray Star Alliance points you earn.

Chose the cheese over the meat when given choice of sandwiches (just personally) lol ;-)