Am starting to cover a new region - everything from Africa to Middle East to Eastern Europe.
Considering I am LTG with BA then there are definitely a few things to consider in terms of current status versus availability of oneworld carriers on my patch.
Last week flew EK down to DXB. Had a choice of BA or EK but BA only has two flights now (no doubt to serve the loyalists and route deals) and was expensive versus EK (and QF). No status for me on EK but chose them on price and everything was just better including seat, food, IFE (massive difference). I also flew on the dreaded 10 across EK 777 from DXB to IST and that too was better in every respect.
From IST I flew to LHR on Turkish (in Y) as needed a later flight. Notwithstanding that IST is 3rd world in every respect the on board service was way ahead of BA.
Looking longer term, I will choose EK as just a much better place to be in the region than BA, Qatar or other choices. EK's FF scheme is not great especially as I am lowest tier and get no bonus, boarding etc. But why should I put up with BA who fly tired out planes with lousy IFE and hopeless food.
Please don't try and say that EK is bound to be better because it is their home base etc, we are talking about the on board experience here.
Finally, the thread says almost as I recently flew VS to LAX. Outbound upper deck Y on the 747 which was better experience than BA as was upstairs, food was better and so was the IFE. Coming back was the A340-600. Nice plane but horribly cramped down the back. I wont fly on the A340 again so BA manages to scrape a minor victory versus a charter configuration flight
Considering I am LTG with BA then there are definitely a few things to consider in terms of current status versus availability of oneworld carriers on my patch.
Last week flew EK down to DXB. Had a choice of BA or EK but BA only has two flights now (no doubt to serve the loyalists and route deals) and was expensive versus EK (and QF). No status for me on EK but chose them on price and everything was just better including seat, food, IFE (massive difference). I also flew on the dreaded 10 across EK 777 from DXB to IST and that too was better in every respect.
From IST I flew to LHR on Turkish (in Y) as needed a later flight. Notwithstanding that IST is 3rd world in every respect the on board service was way ahead of BA.
Looking longer term, I will choose EK as just a much better place to be in the region than BA, Qatar or other choices. EK's FF scheme is not great especially as I am lowest tier and get no bonus, boarding etc. But why should I put up with BA who fly tired out planes with lousy IFE and hopeless food.
Please don't try and say that EK is bound to be better because it is their home base etc, we are talking about the on board experience here.
Finally, the thread says almost as I recently flew VS to LAX. Outbound upper deck Y on the 747 which was better experience than BA as was upstairs, food was better and so was the IFE. Coming back was the A340-600. Nice plane but horribly cramped down the back. I wont fly on the A340 again so BA manages to scrape a minor victory versus a charter configuration flight