SOOO Dull... · BRITISH AIRWAYS Economy Class A319 🇮🇹 Rome - London 🇬🇧 Wrapping Up Routes & Hubs!

[@AmolNimbalkar]

So far I have traveled with BA a few times both on their wide bodies and also their single aisle aircrafts. Never once I felt the service was upto the mark. My recent trip to LHR from BLR on their newest A350-1000, about a few months to a year old, resulted in having a broken seat in business class both ways. Also, the tray table had wine stains and the linen had hair and particles on it. The food and the general cabin service was extremely subpar, if that’s a quantifiable level. The service on Finnair’s A321 for the two hours between LHR-HEL was exponentially better than the almost 9.5 hours on BLR-LHR both ways combined. Additionally, I have noticed that their service to North American routes is comparatively better than their service on LHR to Asian destinations. BA had such a chance to be THE airline of choice given the geographical advantage LHR has but I think the complacency killed that possibility, I could be wrong of course. As usual, great content Kevin!

[@tfft]

Thanks very much 🙏🏻

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

So happy to see the next 5 videos back in the description, which is odd since I watch each and every video you publish anyways….😅 Now I can continue watching the review 😆 Thank you 🙏🏼

[@tfft]

Just trying to... shall we say make some things a bit less regimented and cookie cutter, this list included. Leaving a few details out of each as this new list does kinda scratches that itch for me.

[@DeniseSommerRoque]

@ AGREED!

[@normanmcleod7169]

Thoroughly enjoyable and informative series. Thank you.

[@MattBlankenshipPhotography]

Always until the end! Nicely done as usual Kevin!

[@davidperry3257]

“You can’t buy class or common sense!” Kevin, thank you for saying what needed to be said. Thanks for keeping it real!

[@sahidzmn]

6:53 I recommend these gentlemen a leisure trip to turkey 🥰

[@tommykay7427]

Thank you som much Kevin for this series. Very entertaining and educational!

[@jasongarufi8187]

I liked your reference to Imperial at the beginning of the video and that passenger place the fake Versace bags their just to such off.

[@fish4penguins]

I'm BA crew and all short haul flights over an hour have a buy on board service. For example I've done a buy on board for Edinburgh which is pretty much bang on an hour flight time. Either catering messed up and didn't load the buy on board trolley or your crew were just very lazy!

[@tfft]

I’d thought so, but there weren’t even menus at the seats and no mention of it. Question for EDI service though, for buy on board is there a cart rolled? Or is it just on request only? (My 2nd flight was the latter).

[@fish4penguins]

@@tfft The buy on board service is always done from a trolley that we bring down the aisle with all the food and drink in it. Strange that there were no Highlife Cafe (BA loves fancy language like that lol) menus in the seat back pocket they are usually always there. There is also the option to pre-order food and drink which will be hand delivered but most people don't know that so we rarely have to do it.

[@pennybaxter4]

My brother is crew too he’s been online for 22 yrs and just goes through the motions , galley if possible away from pax

[@yoycz]

@8:14 yeah he was definitly looking after Number 1. Noticeable uptick in this sort of behaviour on planes, trains and buses post COVID

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Last year, my brother and I had four flights with BA. The airline screwed-up two of them. This year? I had four flights booked. In the first week, it cancelled two of them. (Refund paid in two days, credit for that.) The carrier's a mess - an 'airline of last resort'. Good review. Exceptionally, have a 'full Subway', for enduring a trip with an 'airline of last resort'. Normal marking will be resumed next week. P.S. EasyJet and Tui crews, on a flight like that, would have been selling food, drinks and duty-free for the duration of the cruise.

[@tfft]

As I was expecting from them. On this flight not a hint of BOB. On the next flight they mentioned it but just once and you needed to seek the crew out for it. Sounds like they need a Frontier style commission policy for their crew lol

[@shakesnbake]

8:12 Airplane etiquet is going out the window!! I always hate the BA A319 - it's like they forgot about it when they did the upgrades.

[@tfft]

The A380s would like a word 😂

[@davenorth2903]

I fly BA when I need one world points, but that’s about it. Good review Kevin.

[@tfft]

Same! lol

[@AshleyWare-q7m]

What I can't understand flying under 4hrs in business class in Europe dealing with the same seats as the back 🤷. What a waste of money

[@tfft]

To be fair I think it's safe to say most passangers in a business class seat on a flight like this are connecting to a long haul flight.

[@artemnikitin6069]

@@tfft Or traveling on a business and the price was paid by a company. Also, usually upgrades from Economy to Business are pretty cheap (like 50-70 Euro) and they come with things like Fast Lane for security and other features that might be more valuable than the seat itself

[@AshleyWare-q7m]

@@artemnikitin6069 I completely understand your views but from Australia 🇦🇺 and comparing. Paying a business class seat which is an economy seat I personally don't understand

[@yeehaw9460]

Usually the increased baggage allowance, more status points, lounge access, priority checking/boarding.

[@Thijs-g4l]

It is a different business model as in the US where status holders are upgraded and nearly always all J seats are occupied. Statusholders obtain their status in the US most often via credit card fees so they are pre-financing their “free” upgrade. The airline already gains that J seat turnover via CC fees. And that isn’t the case in Europe so airlines will have to squeeze the most turnover of the seats. Therefore the flexibility between the J and Y cabin is crucial to optimize the occupancy of every seats and simultaneously maximize the turnover. Shortly said: just a total different turnover. Plus the American J customer doesn’t always get lounge access, DL is notorious about that. Plus on short flights, there is nearly no catering. So in that perspective is a US J seat also a waste of money.

[@ogalienman]

Last time my mum and I flew with BA (ATH - LHR), they charged us twice for buy on board because the first payment "hadn't gone through", so they charged the card again, only for the original payment to have gone through as well afterall.. Anyway, they gave us a £50 e-voucher in compensation which seemed pretty generous, but then it didn't work when we tried to use it to book another flight (LHR - NCL)... I seriously hope that airlines start just refunding purchases if they were mistakes, its really disapointing coming from a long-term BA fan I have to say.

[@tfft]

My favorite buy on board story was with Breeze. The charge didn’t come through until 96 days after the flight. I thought it was fraud, disputed the charge and cancelled the card. 2 weeks later my bank told me they suspect it’s a legit charge. It was.

[@ogalienman]

@@tfft Wow that's... Shocking.. How can it possibly take that long for a payment to go through?? 😂😂

[@woutergijs5246]

⁠@@tfft😂 funny

[@jimhearsonwriter]

8:20 Good job there wasn't a sky marshal on the plane, as you straight-out murdered that joker on your row.

[@vontaylor472]

Good morning Kevin and everyone🖐🏼🖐🏼

[@BenRadford22]

The plane your on is one of British Midlands old aircraft. There are much nicer and comfy seats on the BA bought A320s!

[@shehebehsuebwisshgauwbevsjs]

Yep RIP to the executive club ;(

[@tfft]

Can't believe they couldn't just wait for the holidays to be over lol.

[@shehebehsuebwisshgauwbevsjs]

@@tfft Think it was deliberate... Very few journalists working over Christmas period so far less scrutiny

[@tfft]

News cycles these days last like 12 minutes for wars, let alone airline frequent flier programs lol

[@DerkDerglass]

Sounds like you got the full BA experience

[@Raprada]

6:05 I could roughly imagine how short these seats are knowing how low the window on the A320 is

[@plasmaturkey48]

"Full service?" on BA? Kevin, it's not even February, let alone April 1st!

[@kaypotter2867]

Wow, 2.5 hrs is a domestic flight from Brisbane to Melbourne in Oz. Incidentally, you'd be the Thong Guy in our language 😅

[@toniblackmore3016]

Nailed it! Flying BA these days feels like dinner with an ungracious host, except you can’t make your excuses and leave:).

[@cheapercharlie]

Well played.

[@asirisilva266]

No food in a full service flight!?

[@tfft]

Well... an oat bar... lol

[@tugboat6313]

Just got off BA 969 in Club Europe. Broken seats. Torn leather. Staff that couldn't care less. BA really is average at best

[@cheapercharlie]

0:18 - 0:23 you are a prophet.

[@tfft]

Aren't we all lol

[@johnathankain8033]

BA simply isn't a full service airline now for Economy Passengers. (BA does offer buy on board, so thats not very accurate ).

[@tfft]

They generally do, yes- but it wasn’t offered on this flight- not even a menu at the seats. My next flight had a menu but only offered by request.

[@alifasworld253]

I love Air Arabia ❤

[@tfft]

🥈 And the runner up for the most relevant comment of the day is...

[@k9killer221]

I don't care because BA is, along with QF is on my shit list, but I do believe the points system/status at BA has been radically changed for the worse.

[@rwrae72]

Can't understand the decision NOT to have Buy On Board!

[@tfft]

Same here.

[@LibertaliaExplorer]

13:15 😄

[@woutergijs5246]

BA has reached the bottom. Nothing left to scratch away anymore.

[@ishaanrevankar492]

Surprised to see Emirates and Cathay Pacific at 6 while Scoot at 7 and AF at 9 😂

[@tfft]

If you've seen my five Emirates videos, you'd probably rank it lower lol

[@ishaanrevankar492]

@tfft Had already seen Emirates but didn't knew Cathay would make it at 6

[@Nick_stephanos2]

“Gucci” bag but back in 22C

[@cheapercharlie]

You noticed that also 👍

[@gustalez]

Proof that Thule > Gucci! lol

[@tfft]

Every day of the week!

[@heronlim8462]

Ouch on that passenger experience. Also, why the regulatory-heavy EU folks allow 'Euro-business class', I will never know.

[@tfft]

As in... they should require 2 x 2 recliners? or that a British carrier shouldn't use "euro"...? lol Genuinely don't understand.

[@davenorth2903]

No question it’s horrible value, but never gonna be “regulated” out of existence.

[@AshleyWare-q7m]

Maybe the high speed train could be cheaper and more business class

[@tfft]

That would require high speed trains to actually provide a faster experience than flying though lol

[@heronlim8462]

@@tfft as in why not 2x2 recliners.

[@ShumonM]

The meteoric decline of BA continues.

[@djlondon7956]

But BA is an economic success as a business. Unlike other very large airlines I might name.

[@Kenjikah]

Did you not get the memo? BA lost it years ago. They are as bad as American Airlines, who they married. But then again, every time I land in Heathrow, I'm shocked how bad that airport is, but there is a silver lining, it was sold. Maybe the new group will fix up the airport? Maybe they should either hire a new CEO or sell it.

[@tfft]

Fixing it would require expanding it and we all know where that road leads lol.

[@djlondon7956]

Highlife Café buy on board should normally have been available? Also it's possible to pre-order food for your flight via Highlife Shop online. In both economy and business classes. Hope this information is of use to some in future. 🎉

[@thisisit2082]

Did it ever occur to you Kevin, that you ars just too tall. 😜

[@TheStarsInHisHead]

It's really sad what BA has become.

[@AliSiddiqui458]

5:53 gyaaaatttt

[@Adnan71584]

I got better food on my flight from Colombo to Chennai

[@semsemeini7905]

I flew the same route. You get nothing. Iberia is worse. The seats don't even recline. Flying in Europe is even worse than the USA. At least you get a beverage. ITA still offer a beverage. BOAC had I believe a horrific Comet One crash departing Rome in the early 1950s. British Airways snacks are disgusting. Not worth giving them out. Unedible. On long haul BA are better than American or United. But I prefer Virgin.

[@ansett7272]

Poor service BA in 2025. Bring back BEA British European Airways IATA code BE Number 1 in Europe 1960's early 1970's with Tridents and quality service where passengers come first. Full complementary onboard hot meals and drinks. How the industry has deteriorated over time. Backward facing seats was unique on the Trident. Good old times now long gone. British quality as it was at the time but sadly no longer today. Ansett 727.

[@ersincoskun2459]

TK gave you a hot meal, BA gave you small bottle of water with a oat bar and you rate them both a 6 ? I know which airline I'd rather fly within Europe TK has a proper business class recliner without a middle seat and hot meals from the first row to the last. TK deserves a minimum 7 if not a 8.

[@tfft]

Rating are based on all flights I’ve published of each airline on the channel…

[@ThePearson1945]

To be honest, British Airways is a low-cost airline, and their products are awful 😖 Cherry 🍒 on top BA is now changing their frequent flyer tier !! Simply stay away. There are many other options available.

[@tfft]

When it comes to long haul, I'd disagree.

[@327bricks2]

Hate the new system they announced. Totally ruined BAEC

[@ChuckConnNYC]

BA and AA ruined one world for me Then came IAG and they ruined BA/EL/IB Now the BA program is useless (the other IAG to follow) Not sure why they think this will do anything for their bottom line will help, by my god do they need to focus on the fundamentals (like not losing bags or delaying flights)

[@wicked_smaaht]

Fake Gucci does not translate into class or common sense. It's not that I am saying real Gucci translates, either.

[@tfft]

Well, I presumed most knew that real Gucci translated directly to less common sense 😅

[@magnustan841]

Many seriously need to be thankful they get to travel and see the world at all. People were reacting like a relative had died or their hopes and dreams were shattered after reading the changes to Executive Club. I don’t know the programme at all and am I’m sure it was great because a fair few people I’m aware of that have OneWorld status, maintain it through BA. That said, just move onto another programme, that will send the right message to BA rather than s***ing all over them in every forum, every form of media and writing open letters to the CEO saying he’s the biggest d****** to ever live and should be removed from his position. Better yet, fly like 70% of the population, who don’t have access to first class lounges on Economy tickets, gain some bloody humility. So much of the world cannot afford to fly and and developing countries have to settle with budget airlines.

[@tfft]

Who crawled up your butt? All of my flights for the entire year are booked. Booked in part to maintain my BA status. Now, I genuinely cannot figure out if my flights will qualify me for a damn thing. We’re not talking about Monopoly money here. I have 2 Patreons in the exact same position as me. If you booked a hotel for your vacation and the resort emailed you and said “hey! Just an fyi, we don’t have the room you booked anymore. We can’t refund you and we don’t really know what the new category will be but hopefully it won’t be a tent…” I imagine you wouldn’t be thrilled.

[@ishaanrevankar492]

The Big 3 US carriers have far better regional buisness class products than whatever crap the Europeans have in their regional flights tbh.

[@tfft]

Each offer the least they can get away with. Personally I think it's only a matter of time before the US carriers offer a similar product.

[@Canleaf08]

The big 3 do not give you lounge access. You might have a better seat, but you can’t buy lounge access at Delta.

[@cheapercharlie]

On my 1 hour, yes only an hour flight, TAP flight MAD-LIS in biz I received a generous pour of wine and a very tasty meal on board plus the TAP shared lounge in MAD was better then expected.