British Airways, Club Europe Milan/London review.
We have said it many times, flying in business for intra-EU flights makes little sense since seat and space are [...]
British Airways
Oneworld
LIN
We have said it many times, flying business for intra-EU flights makes little sense since seat and space are the same as when flying economy, the only difference being that the middle seat is left vacant.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- A321neo
- Class:
- Club Europe
- Treat:
- Lin - Lhr
- Book
Obviously, this argument does not apply to a positioning flight, that is, when flying one leg to a hub and then departing to an intercontinental destination, as was the case here.
Reservation
This flight was part of an itinerary that took me to Dubai, via London, with British Airways. The cost of this route should have been 140k Avios and about €600 in airport taxes.
As already explained the fees charged by British Airways for its flights premium are significant, especially compared to the fact that I had found an incredible rate for business at less than 1,300€.
Thanks to this route, I was able to immediately obtain the Bronze status in the loyalty program of the British company, as well as accumulating enough Avios to be able to take a free flight from Milan to London in economy.
Check-in and boarding
Arrival at Linate is always convenient, parking lots are incredibly close to the terminal, and in a period of low traffic like this, parking your car even on the ground floor is not a utopia.
Between construction and forced routes due to Covid-19, access to the terminal building is from exactly the opposite side of the terminal. Immediately upon entry, the temperature of people entering the facility is checked.
Upon arrival I see a single very long queue to what I at first thought was the Police check of self-certifications, I find out instead after a couple of minutes that it was the check-in queue for my flight.
Let's say I would have expected more organization, many passengers were asking for clarification on which queue should be done between business, economy or simple baggage drop off.
After about twenty minutes the situation normalized, but procedures did not speed up because of all the bureaucracy associated with moving into this new normal.
In my case, the attendant had to look up all the info for my final destination (Dubai) and check if all the requirements were met. Multiply that by a plane that was flying completely full and it is easy to see why everything was slow.
All passengers are also given a form to fill out and hand in at the time of boarding.
At the moment the only area for passport control at Linate is on the ground floor, which means that you will reach the plane by bus and not by finger. Unfortunately, I have not had the ability to test facial recognition since it is currently only available on Alitalia's Linate/Fiumicino.
Another misfortune: the British Airways lounge at Linate is closed, understandable having only one flight a day. Shutters are also down for the independent lounge operated directly by SEA, to which I would have had access because of my priority pass.
Gate attendants explained several times that boarding procedures would be conducted by rows, with no priority access for business and frequent flyer passengers.
The mode is simple, starting with the middle rows and then moving to the ends, an orderly choice although as always it is the people who have to listen and respect what is being communicated, and unfortunately this is not always the case.
Cabin and service
Flight BA589 was operated with an Airbus A321neo, in standard configuration i.e., 3 seats on each side, with Club Europe, the business class, passengers enjoying the free middle seat.
Unlike the choice of Lufthansa, BA has equipped these aircraft with WiFi connectivity and power outlets.
The A321neo is very quiet compared to the previous generation and this translates into a better quality of travel. This is the only direct flight from Milan to London that "survived" Covid-19 and travel restrictions and of course it was full.
In such cases, having the seat next door vacant is a relief.
I was seated in window-side 6F and was able to enjoy, a few minutes after takeoff, the spectacle of the snow-capped Alps peeking above the clouds.
Food & Beverage
British Airways recently announced that starting in mid-January will restore service in premium classes, eliminating the gourmet box which in recent months has replaced the traditional service with ceramic plates and glassware. BA has been much criticized for this choice; the company justified itself by citing reasons related to Covid-19, but it has been refuted in fact by almost all the other companies that have never stopped service for the customers from the front of the airplane, such as Lufthansa or as Emirates which has already returned to the pre-crisis standard by midsummer.
In any case, the product offered is of quality I was pleased with both the sandwich and the iconic chocolate mousse for dessert, as well as the decent availability of wine and champagne even for a flight of less than two hours.
Upon arrival in London we were connected to the terminal from the finger and this led to the procedure of disembarking in rows, called and checked by flight attendants. An invention favored by Covid-19 that we sincerely hope will remain with us even when everything is back to normal.
IFE and Wifi
Obviously no screen, but as mentioned aircraft equipped with WiFi and ability to browse the official BA magazine for free by connecting to the aircraft's WiFi.
For a flight lasting less than two hours, the proposals were the social package, with the option of using popular messaging systems, or surfing for an hour or the entire flight.
Strange how for short flights, BA offers the option for the entire flight, while for intercontinental flights the offer becomes to MB.
In conclusion
I would not spend mail the cost of the ticket or even use 17,500 Avios required for this flight, however, I must admit that the experience was positive.
Pro
- Comfortable seat
- Wi-fi
Against
- The gourmet box, does not make business class