British Airways - BAW > Reviews > British Airways - surprisingly good

Author's product rating:   

Food Quality	Excellent
Customer Service	Outstanding
Punctuality	Good
Space	Comfortable
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	very efficient, nice food, free drinks, good service
Disadvantages:	none that i found

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have only flown a few times in my life and never with British Airways. I have just been on honeymoon to Cyprus and the flights were with BA. The flight was part of the package booked so we had no choice in who we were flying with and also have no idea of the cost.

My experience of flying with them was great so I wanted to share it.

OUTWARD JOURNEY
+++++++++++++++++

We arrived at Heathrow at around 4pm for a 6.50pm flight. We were able to check in straight away, after queing for around 10 minutes. We had dressed smartly, as the travel agent said we might get upgraded as we were on honeymoon, but we would need to look smart. The flight was a Eurotraveller and it was completely full so we could not be upgraded to Business Class.

We requested legroom seats as my husband is 6'3" and this was granted. We went straight through to the departure lounge and then boarded as soon as we could.

When I got on the plane I needed to request a seatbelt extension as I could not do the seatbelt up. Then we hit a problem........

Apparantly you can not use a seatbelt extension in an exit seat as it could be dangerous! So the flight attendant had to move us and he explained that we could be separated. I looked sad and said "but we are on our honeymoon and do not want to sit apart" and off he went to sort things out. He duly came back and had arranged a row of 3 seats just for the two of us. He also got a seatbelt extension for me.

The drinks trolley came through about twice I think for a flight which was 4.5 hours long, but you could ring for drinks at any time. All drinks were complimentary, which I thought was great as I have always had to pay on previous airlines that I have travelled on. I stuck to water though as not to dehydrate and get a DVT!

Talking of DVT and legroom, we found the legroom to be plenty and there did not appear to be any extra room in the exit seats. The plane was an Airbus 320 with 3 seats each side and the exit seats did not have lots of legroom like some planes do.

INWARD JOURNEY
+++++++++++++++

This time we had to check in at Larnaca, again we had good swift service at the checkin desk and asked for seats that weren't near an exit! The flight was delayed by 30 minutes, this was explained that they had been late returning from London and that they had turned it around as quickly as they could.

We were pleased to find that the plane had 2 aisles this time and 7 seats in a 2-3-2 formation, which meant that we were sat together with nobody else beside us. The plane this time was a Boeing 767. The seatpitch was apparantly 1" more this time and again we had a comfortable flight.

FOOD
+++++

Both meals were very good. On the way out we had chicken and potatoes in a cheese sauce, with salad and greek cheese for starters, with a little chocolate pudding for desert, along with a breadroll and tea/coffee.

On the way back we had prawn cocktail for starter, with pasta and chicken, prifiteroles and a bread roll with tea/coffee.

Some of my food on the way out was still frozen and I could not eat the starter as it was rock hard. I could have complained but decided not to. The food was really tasty and very hot apart from the frozen bits!

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
++++++++++++++++++++++

On the flight out we watched the comedy channel, which was Friends, Frasier, My Family, The Simpsons and so on. On the flight back which is a little longer, we saw Charlie and The Chocolate Factory followed by the comedy channel.

The earphones were provided free and were in a sealed plastic bag and were then collected at the end of the flight. This again was superior to other airlines I have travelled with who charge you for the earphones.

TOILETS
+++++++

We did not use these ourselves but I did not hear any adverse comments from the people around us who did. I do not use them as being a larger person, it is not usually very easy or comfortable to use an airplane toilet.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
+++++++++++++++++

They were dressed very smartly and they were all very helpful, nothing was too much trouble and when I accidentally bashed one with my elbow, she apologised to me! We found them extremely helpful with our seat problem. The duty free sales were inobtrusive as was the serving of food and drinks. They brought blankets and pillows upon request and also provided lots of info to a passenger behind me whose daughter wished to be an air hostess.

BAGGAGE
++++++++

Unfortunately, one of my brand new suitcases was damaged on the way back. I reported this to BA, who logged it and gave me a reference number to give to Antler who make the Constellation suitcases. I have just telephoned them and they are sending me a new replacement suitcase of a higher value, in 2 days time. I don't think that sort of service can be beaten.

SUMMARY
++++++++

This review has been on British Airways only, not Heathrow. We were extremely please and satisfied with BA and we would definitely recommend them and we would fly with them again. The only thing that does annoy me and that is on every flight, is that people are able to recline their seats in front of you!!