Trip Report: London City to New York JFK BA1 All Business Class A318

Full review at lux-traveller.com/2020/britis...
London City to New York JFK BA1 All Business Class A318 Trip Report.
British Airways' Airbus A318 all business class service, from London City Airport to New York JFK, the famous BA1, has finally stopped flying, after 18 years shuttling between the two financial hubs.
As a retrospect, we look at what turned out to be one of the very last flights, on BA1, as we take a Trip Report from British Airways London City to New York JFK.

[@skiparkcityut]

Seriously impressed by the amount of drinks you downed. Helps you never had to wait with such a great crew to passenger ratio

[@strafrag1]

As a retired airline employee I must say that this was one of the best flight reviews I have ever watched. Too bad this flight is no longer operated by BA. I'd have loved to have taken it. Cheers on a job well done.

[@biminipenn]

Tell me why is this route no longer in service? :(

[@phoebeockenden7422]

@@biminipenn covid sadly I wanted to go on this flight ✈️

[@biminipenn]

@@phoebeockenden7422 very sad indeed. Jfk is my local airport and I remember seeing that little a318 there sometimes..

[@sdale6885]

i have, both ways, and you missed a treat, also 3 crew for less than 30 passengers!!!!!

[@indyracingnut]

FINALLY!! A flight reviewer with alcohol and food-centric videos! This guy knows what we REALLY want on a flight review!!

[@MCFC-OK-]

IMO i come to flight reviews for the overall experience and not just the food

[@Jbwedman]

Wow, a flying pub.

[@kateoloughlin8774]

Jan Bert Wedman 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm Rolling in laughter. Airbus: A flying Pub. Kind regards Kate 👱‍♀️💕

[@charleee787]

This is the first video of yours I’ve seen and I must say, I adore your style of filming and straightforward yet interesting description. Thanks for your hard work

[@hotelgulf]

I remember Concorde used to park at the same gate position as the A318. EVERYONE looked at it from the Airtrain. Lovely.

[@ddavidone6538]

Concorde flew out of London City? I never knew that

[@hotelgulf]

@@ddavidone6538 - at JFK my friend. Concorde could never land at LCY.

[@mangokin9948]

One of the absolute best flight reviews I have seen. The voice and explanation is very good and easy to understand! Keep the good work!

[@scottgraham4683]

Lovely food and drink-centric review. Reminds me of the Chennai and Hong Kong flights I used to take, they don't let you on if you're deemed drunk, but will happily keep filling your glass to the point you need carrying off! I remember one flight to Chennai getting a bit bored of the cocktails etc and asked the nice stewardess for a can of London Pride. Her response was priceless "Oh we haven't got any of those up here, I'll have to go back to World Traveller and get you some". Off you go then.

[@blotski]

I broke my golden rule of never watching flight reviews for business class flights. Tediously irrelevant to all but a few and there are so many of them ....... OK, I'll shut up. I'm glad I did because this was a fantastic review. You're a natural. Except for the fast-mo take-off. Never do that! And what an interesting flight in an A318 from London City.

[@TawanMomo]

sad to hear that this flight is gone for good, would've love to fly it once

[@geoffrakes886]

i like the way how you reference to things where you camera us just filming out the window

[@steve-marsh]

What a fantastic trip report, thanks so much for posting!

[@wolfbein]

This is so 2019. And from what I can tell the last flight was in March 2020. In fact for me the non-pandemic aspect of this video eclipses whatever else is going on. Who knows if we will ever go back to this.

[@angloengland559]

The most important city in Europe to the most important city in America, whatever else we get back to, at least we can assume this will be one of those that will remain

[@jamesbong7852]

@@angloengland559 - would that be the same 'self proclaimed' most important city in Europe that is currently being vacated by big business to errrrrm Europe?

[@henryhunter1773]

This seems like an amazing flight! It's a shame it's no longer available.

[@bobfotoples6950]

Obviously filmed WAY before CCOVID. Should've been posted when it was filmed.

[@kevinmccavanagh2460]

Watch load's off flight reviews.. Your bringing a breath off fresh air to these blogs.... Well done u 👏🏻👏🏻🎉🎉🎉

[@shaynesealy7268]

London City Airport to Shannon Ireland is actually northwest. Not northeast like he says. But great video.

[@pennybaxter4]

I knew this service was going to end pre - covid and I was lucky enough to travel on the ba001 service on April 25 2019 There was 15 passengers onboard and I knew two of them both pilots , plus in Shannon airport I bumped into an old friend that worked there . The best thing about ba was this service ! the Gatwick based crew were lovely and it was 2 flights I’ll never forget Best wishes Philip .

[@OnThaMove]

What a treat of a review! Loved it.

[@ollylewin]

Personally I think it's amazing they fly that little critter over the big pond! What an amazing service!

[@janeingram7331]

That was wonderful. I never heard of the A318 but it would be worth to fly from and to London City. I wouldn't mind the stopover in Shannon. Terrific. Thank you for showing this.

[@UncleDavid5077]

Frrr that’s my first time seeing such a small plane travel to New York jfk that’s like 8 hours I mean if it was a A330 or b777 then ok but this

[@30rickal1]

I enjoyed your reference to Idlewild Airport, the original name for JFK Airport......brought back a lot of memories.

[@stevensfo3]

This video was great but it made my liver ache.

[@pauljordan4452]

At least seven drinks were consumed.

[@jacobstein1555]

Best flight reviewer on KZbin!!!

[@FreeScot67]

I flew this flight and it was amazing. BA lost my luggage between Glasgow and LCY which took a week to arrive in NY. Lots of memories though, refreshed from your video. Many thanks!

[@patthewoodboy]

some baggage handlers dont give a shit and its hard to find out who they are 🙂

[@cllrdavidmacdonaldind4626]

I don't know what is more incompetent. The fact your luggage got lost between a direct flight between two UK cities on a single plane or the fact it took a week to get your luggage to you in NY. Pitiful.

[@kuocdo1010]

Thanks for amazing video and clear voice.

[@andrewdales8136]

Great video. Liked your dry humour which made it fun as well as informative. Not jealous in the least, well maybe just a little bit. Take care and keep safe.

[@AnotherExcusetoTravel]

I really enjoyed watching this! It's a real shame this service is being cut.

[@josephmachila2925]

The service was so amazing, nice video.

[@chrise438]

....I bet the price was anything but amazing! 😆

[@tonybeam]

I did the journey once in each direction. It was absolutely wonderful.

[@MrAcook61798]

It would be most helpful to know the cost of the flight. Thank you.

[@justinjones914]

Quality... Best aviation review on KZbin. Couldn’t have done it any better. Try Saudi Airlines next if you would! Cheers!

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

He certainly had a lot to drink. Was he able to walk unaided when he got to New York?

[@saramarie6813]

That’s what I was wondering 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

[@loungeindex]

But of course - if you read the full article, rather than the edited highlights in the video, you'll see I was just tasting each drink, with plenty of water. I had four more flights to catch across the US, and then to Australia when I arrived in JFK, so I was decidedly sober!

[@trav1949]

That was my thought 😂 I would’ve chugged up the lot 😂

[@jamesbong7852]

They also provide passengers with Zimmerframes on arrival.

[@db3827]

I love the way he mix business flight and drinks. Tasting all the carte.. the best way of flying

[@Ingens_Scherz]

The food (and booze) looks absolutely sensational on this extraordinary service. Though I do reckon the first person I'd be visiting in NYC after a blowout like that would be a cardiologist.

[@fifthof1795]

Love the way you can guage the speed via the ground shadow on the Shannon take-off.

[@hawksboy4200]

Amazing video and British Airways Airbus A318 nice seat all first class or Business Class!

[@RuiPlaneSpotter]

Nice Flight 👍🏼✈️

[@mynorescobar3015]

For a No Frills flight, this was excellent with lots of Food and Spirits, great Video.

[@kevinmccavanagh2460]

Amazing review.... Glad to see a blogger using all the facilities #ie# the bar lol 😂 Outstanding

[@airlinetraveller]

Awesome video of this fascinating route =D

[@fozzy9212]

Great shots of the wing.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

That looks like it was early on the train with the sun shining. Very nice.

[@rogerredding5269]

Love it 😊 a flying pub 😂 thanks for sharing this 😊

[@Siminfrance]

Very entertaining to watch, thanks :)

[@2010gtoner]

I would love to have a spin on that wee robin of a plane across the pond looks class, great vid ...How much did this cost?

[@jeffhardylysia]

Pleasant, informative, very British review. You've earned a subscriber:)

[@worldtraveler84]

Going hard on the drinks! Love it!

[@egorvelichko2473]

Hello!) When was this trip made ?) Thx a lot for video )

[@krisgakakrisqu0717]

Big plus for your narration!

[@scottmallory298]

I can relate to how fast US Customs clearance is in Shannon, and how slow it is in JFK. I took over 4 hours a couple of years ago

[@byromania]

It would've been nice to include the full unedited takeoff from London City. It is such an interesting departure, so it was a disappointment to see it as a hyper-lapse sequence.

[@steveluckhurst2350]

That's available elsewhere.

[@nate7906]

Same

[@georgestiros4392]

i love this thx

[@slimjim2526]

It’s a real shame they stopped this service and scrapped these planes during covid they was only 12 years old probably had another 20 year service in them and it was a trip I was planning never to be replaced shame

[@peteconrad2077]

These aircraft were highly utilised and were coming to the end of their service life by 2020.

[@ericgriffin6698]

Great report, ...

[@tarabottogino]

Awesome trip!!!

[@checocr]

Love the narrative...

[@rockrunride]

Superb video.

[@jeffkramer9511]

Nice video! Your drinking prowess is impressive! If I mixed and matched like that, I'm afraid I would be in the loo for half of the flight!😆

[@kateoloughlin8774]

🤣🤣🤣 Jeff: I thought the same thing. Kind regards from Ireland Kate. 👱‍♀️💕

[@chadvader93]

this service is perfect user oriented by BA. Especially the refuel at Shannon which sounds first a loss of time but will in the end gain you time by not crossing the immigration in NYC

[@kevjq2435]

Fantastic video, thank you ,I dare say you where a little tipsy on arrival 😀

[@floben2039]

Loved it... So much alcool With such élégance^^

[@ricoelgordolocosabor4173]

Great review! Excellent liver-training experience... how many drinks he got? Did someone counted? 🍸👍

[@tommyd5238]

The food looks nice but surprised you didn`t need some Gaviscon after that lot !

[@dagg_liam]

What a great trip to take, just stumbled on this video. It's on my to do list. Can one join the flight in shannon?

[@thegrandmuftiofwakanda]

It was an interesting idea.

[@stuartessex4535]

Loved it! How very British. First video I have seen of yours and enjoyed your style. Was wondering however, did the leaflets in the cabin include an application form for Alcoholics Anonymous! lol. Food looked great, so sad that I think BA1 has been discontinued......

[@Djsj1313]

This video made me want to drink lol but seriously it was a great video I thoroughly enjoyed it

[@frankdenardo8684]

I like to put this on my bucket list.

[@OtakuAviators]

Just read BA is unfortunately stopping this flight and getting rid of the A318. :-(

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@OtakuAviators oh no

[@OtakuAviators]

Frank Denardo I know.. :-(

[@Thursdaym2]

Once flew 1st class to Mauritius with BA ( got upgrade ) the menu and wine choice was wonderful. Had champagne whilst the peasants😋 were still boarding. Been an easyJet flyer ever since.

[@gugu20051]

Best voice over

[@ElIsrolak]

I hate to fly on narrow body planes, but if I had that list of drinks, maybe that could help a lot, this is one of few reviews with the food and alcohol at a nice and detailed explanation

[@morganjones2944]

Damn they have a 2011 operating software on then iPads

[@colmfitzgerald1712]

Good video and I'm sure someone else might have said this but Ireland is the same time as the UK - not one hour behind!

[@carlobosdachin2673]

cool and fascinating BUT.. what about ocean's turbulence on an A318?? I think you feel it waaay more than on a triple 7..

[@tariqsiddique4561]

Nice video 👍

[@OtakuAviators]

Very interesting and informative trip report! Crossing the Atlantic with an Airbus A318 is definitely a one of a kind experience. I believe BA has now suspended this service from LCY to JFK?

[@tomstravels520]

Yes

[@OtakuAviators]

Thomas Mortimore thx

[@johntreacy1981]

I can see my house at 14.33 :) Flying over Miltown Malbay and Spanish Point, Co. Clare.

[@skylineXpert]

I wonder If the service will carry on IF BA order the a220-100

[@Springbok314]

2x2 seating? BA flight number 1? Ode to Concorde I suppose but I would be annoyed if I had a window with someone next to me. Probably unlikely but it should be single seats on each side.

[@blakelockridge6145]

So sad this flight no longer exists…. It was such an experience to do a transatlantic on board a 318…

[@bunna65]

How did you get allowed in you must have been hammered all the drinks you had 🍺🍹🍸🧉🍷🥂😂😂

[@Bleckman666]

The Brewdog "Speedbird 100" is a nice nod to the fact that the 2 A318s operating this route were BA1 and BA2... AKA "Speedbird 1" and "Speedbird 2" ( Inherited from the Concorde no less!)

[@steveluckhurst2350]

Shame it's the usual brewdog pish.

[@bradtrainline]

32 passgeners and only buisness class.Thats a dream plane

[@ScottAdventures]

7:29 since when do you go Northeast from London to Shannon? Oops! Great video notwithstanding!

[@JoeT83]

I was just about to say this...I think someone got lost haha

[@philipwebb960]

Northeast is the long way.

[@TripReportaviation]

awesome trip report, looks like a special experience. How much did you pay for this flight? Do they stop forever, or they just wait until COVID-19 is over?

[@smoothflying]

sadly it will not fly again anymore... a318 together with 747 have already been retired marking the end of BA1.

[@smoothflying]

@Doc Bar yes sadly.....

[@davskol]

Refuleing at Shannon? Sounds like the SU, IL62 and IL 86 flights to north and south America.

[@pauli6043]

Forget the alcohol consumption...this is a great way to travel! Comfortable and high level of service. Never been to Europe and did not know there was a London "city" airport!

[@mundlkalli4396]

what was the price ???/ thank you !

[@gerrymccartney3561]

Hope you avoided the after flight headache.

[@DarkFalconAnimations]

When was this filmed?

[@harrygatto]

Last time I flew on BA1 it was a Concorde.

[@ze700]

1.55 looks very much like Lol Tolhurst and Roger O'Donnell from The Cure.

[@hoopsheavenpa]

Didn’t BA1 used to be the Concorde route?

[@divox9pqr]

You described the landing as spirited, I took that to mean a turbulent one?

[@jimakcelik6486]

Love British airways ❤️

[@supersonicbird11]

BA has the best wine list , compare that to Delta and its quite startling :/ same money & or pts required - love the afternoon tea on WB flights In J / F R was to short 4 tea , but the Pol Roger - Sir Winston Churchill and Le Grand Dame rose made up for it as well of course as the speed. Nice vid - Thanks

[@bahardin3992]

KZbin algorithm brought me here. I know this route has been discontinued but just asking. The return flight JFK to LCY, was it direct or still need to transit at Shannon.? Considering JKF can accommodate a fully laden fully fuel aircraft ( it's runway of adequate length), there is no need to stopover at Shannon, right? So, immigration and passport control for non British is done at London City? Just asking.

[@peteconrad2077]

It went direct.

[@jslim8151]

how long that it takes?

[@gaffe863]

how do you book this flight?

[@petros.cy24]

is the return flight direct JFK to LCY or it again stops at Shanon?.

[@tomstravels520]

It went direct JFK-LCY