Query on BA Premium Economy

[Flying Senior]

I have found a good fare for BA Premium Economy -SYD- LHR, and am wondering about the quality of the seating, in flight service etc. Any comments/help appreciated.

 

[opusman]

I have found a good fare for BA Premium Economy -SYD- LHR, and am wondering about the quality of the seating, in flight service etc. Any comments/help appreciated.

By all reports* it's not that great; basically a bit more legroom and that's it. Not up to QF Y+ by any stretch.

(*unless it's changed since the last review I read of it)

 

[Flying Senior]

Thanks opusman. Yes I had read some rather bad reviews but wanted to get some more opinions

 

[paxman]

the chairs are newer since I last flew them and look more comfortable than the first gen perhaps?

I couldn't fault the service though, French champers from bus and very attentive crew.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The champagne thing is interesting... I didn't know it was officially offered as part of the WT+ service. There are apparently some bottles of sparkling wine loaded into the economy and economy+ carts which can be requested.

If champagne is now a regular offering that would be a nice service addition.

Back to the original poster... what prices are you seeing for premium economy? It's not generally a good deal, as with a little flexibility in your travel plans you can probably fly business class for not much more.

 

[yohy?!]

BA PE is fine, catering is < than QF but they make up for it with more generous drinks selection and service, IFE is so so probably at a TG/MH standard

New PE seat is fine, good pitch/adequate padding - 777 cabin is quiet, access to toilets a little bit of a pain having to go back to Y but most just duck the curtain and use the J ones without issue

last time i flew SYD-SIN scored an op-up to J on a very cheap PE sale fare as a WP so that was nice

 

[Flying Senior]

The price is $3796. Would it be possible for you MEL_ Traveller to be more specific on the particular business flights for less, I would appreciate it

 

[Flying Senior]

Thanks yohy. Is your review based on a flight to LHR?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The price is $3796. Would it be possible for you MEL_ Traveller to be more specific on the particular business flights for less, I would appreciate it

This was alluded to in the other thread 'which airline'... but basically involves flying Australia to Singapore in economy (your choice of airlines, but probably recommend Singapore Airlines), followed by a separate ticket on Sri Lankan Airlines from Singapore to Europe.

From Singapore, business class return fares (which include a full flat bed on the Colombo-London sectors), are around $2400. The transit in Colombo is just a couple of hours.

In your case I'd be choosing someone like Singapore Airlines for the Australia-Singapore sector... the midnight departures from Australia arrive into Singapore around 6am. The Sri Lankan flight departs SIN at 0950am. Of course you'd have a business lounge to wait in during that time, and even if baggage can't be checked in all the way through from Australia, it can easily be arranged once on the ground in Singapore without having to collect bags or clear immigration.

The trade-off is that you will be flying on two separate tickets. I'm not so concerned about the outbound connection in SIN (three hours should be more than enough), but on the return you'd want to make sure you leave enough time in case there is a delay on the flight form Colombo to Singapore.

Taking a singapore airlines flight for say $1000, plus the Sri Lankan flight, will give you a total cost under British Airways' premium economy, and the long hauls will be very comfortable.

 

[Flying Senior]

This was alluded to in the other thread 'which airline'... but basically involves flying Australia to Singapore in economy (your choice of airlines, but probably recommend Singapore Airlines), followed by a separate ticket on Sri Lankan Airlines from Singapore to Europe.

From Singapore, business class return fares (which include a full flat bed on the Colombo-London sectors), are around $2400. The transit in Colombo is just a couple of hours.

In your case I'd be choosing someone like Singapore Airlines for the Australia-Singapore sector... the midnight departures from Australia arrive into Singapore around 6am. The Sri Lankan flight departs SIN at 0950am. Of course you'd have a business lounge to wait in during that time, and even if baggage can't be checked in all the way through from Australia, it can easily be arranged once on the ground in Singapore without having to collect bags or clear immigration.

The trade-off is that you will be flying on two separate tickets. I'm not so concerned about the outbound connection in SIN (three hours should be more than enough), but on the return you'd want to make sure you leave enough time in case there is a delay on the flight form Colombo to Singapore.

Taking a singapore airlines flight for say $1000, plus the Sri Lankan flight, will give you a total cost under British Airways' premium economy, and the long hauls will be very comfortable.

Thanks so much. Will look at this option now.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A bit more expensive - but $4600 will get you finnair all the way on the same ticket (ie no stress with missed connections or baggage), business class, from Australia to London (return). This uses Qantas services to get to Singapore.

 

[knasty]

The price is $3796. Would it be possible for you MEL_ Traveller to be more specific on the particular business flights for less, I would appreciate it

Wow almost 4 grand for PE? I'd do what Mel traveller suggests. If you're going in a couple I would either spend a bit more and go business, or save a lot and fly economy on an airline which uses aircraft with 2 seats by the windows eg. Finnair and save half the.$$$ as you'll arrive in similar shape anyway.

 

[Flying Senior]

Thanks will def look at Finnair

 

[Flying Senior]

Thanks for your help. Looking at Finnair

 

[Colin 2905]

Is SQ's PE intro price ($3487 for SYD to LHR, return) any good to you, or are the dates wrong? (10th of August to the 30th of November)

Given that Mrs 2905 can no longer tolerate Y for more than a few hours (and I'm not far behind her!), anything out of Australia will have to be PE (or better) for us from now on. Our last trip to the UK / Europe and back was PE with QF; about $4000 each, ex-CBR.

I'll definitely have SQ PE on my short list next time.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for your help. Looking at Finnair

finnair is advertising business class specials, all the way from Australia, for $4600 to London. the flight from Australia will be on Qantas. However I seem to have trouble finding fares at that level... they seem to be defaulting to the $7000 plus range.

if you can find dates for $4600, definitely a cracking deal. And all on the one ticket so protected in the event of any misconnects.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is SQ's PE intro price ($3487 for SYD to LHR, return) any good to you, or are the dates wrong? (10th of August to the 30th of November)

Given that Mrs 2905 can no longer tolerate Y for more than a few hours (and I'm not far behind her!), anything out of Australia will have to be PE (or better) for us from now on. Our last trip to the UK / Europe and back was PE with QF; about $4000 each, ex-CBR.

I'll definitely have SQ PE on my short list next time.

as discussed above, for the same price as SQ's PE you can fly economy to Singapore connecting to full business class ex SIN. while the initial flight is in economy, the full flat beds of business class for the long hauls makes PE a little less attractive in terms of value for money.

 

[Flying Senior]

Thanks for that. Will look at that also

 

[Colin 2905]

fly economy to Singapore

Whilst I could probably endure it, there's no way that Mrs 2905 could. And exit rows for her are not an option.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Whilst I could probably endure it, there's no way that Mrs 2905 could. And exit rows for her are not an option.

There are several alternatives... use points to get business class to SIN, take advantage or Scoot Biz Class (pretty cheap), jetstar 'business' or even SQ's premium economy for the connection.

With SQ's lead-in prices of $1582 for premium economy to Singapore, you can connect with business class and still only come in around $100 more than SQ's PE through-fare all the way to london.

$50 each way for a full flat bed for 12 hours is potentially worth it.