British Airways

I have flown British Airways only twice; from Michigan to Venice Italy and back this past month. On both flights, I was booked in a middle seat on both flights from Chicago to London even though I specifically reserved an aisle seat for the trip back from London to Chicago. My reservation appears nowhere on BA website, and only on my credit card transaction can I see the fee charged to me. My only checked luggage was delayed going to Italy from London, and coming back from London. It might be like a black hole sucking up all the luggage in England or something.
Worst. Airline. Ever.

I have flow on British Airways to and from Great Britain several times over the past year, part of it being an extended study program for school. Nice cabins, and so far no delays worth writing about. I was quite happy with the service from the crew and they have never been rude or short for any request.
Price point was very reasonable for a premium airline!
When I travel to Europe again, I will book with BA.
Thanks BA for your service!

I had a great flight to and from LHR from ORD. Smooth air, nice service and a comfy seat in Economy Plus. Had a great experience and will certainly fly BA in the future.

By far the worst experience on BA. I am a AA Platinum member so I am not a naïve flyer…
Flew biz class from ORD to Madrid via Heathrow. BA managed to misplace our bags on BOTH the flight out and back. Both times lost luggage. The biz class seats were just a strange layout. Not ergonomic at all. My husbands video screen and my chair broke on the way from Heathrow to ORD. This is a NEW plane, folks (777). If the inside integrity of the plane is already malfunctioning, it does not give me a ton of confidence on what’s going on inside the mechanics…
Horrible experience. Luggage issue both ways was a complete hassle.
BIG fail BA.

British Airways delivers good service and impeccably turned-​out flight attendants (the various US airlines could learn a thing or two in this department). However, their telephone customer service when calling from the US is TERRIBLE. Extremely long wait times and the system cut me off multiple times when connecting me from the automated prompts. When I finally got through to a person, after about 8 calls at different times of day and nearly 30 minutes on hold, he was abrupt and barely civil. And I have One World Emerald status… but evidently the magic only works on my home airline (American).

I have traveled British Airways for years and have enjoyed it completely. However, they seem to have moved their call center to the UK, and ever since then it has been literally a nightmare getting through to an agent on the telephone from the USA. Sometimes there are issues that can’t be dealt with online, so it is necessary to call. It takes me usually 45 minutes waiting for someone to answer, and often it just disconnects on its own. What a horrible experience… EVERY SINGLE TIME. I have tried emailing and writing letters but all I get back is a litany of excuses. I am at the point where I am just about to give up on BA. Utterly disappointing and frustrating.

Ok I’m a new convert to BA and been flying them consistently for a year. Most of my flights are the shorter ones so the planes are smaller and not impressive but that’s to be expected. British Airways for the long haul (US to the UK) is nice and takes good care of their passengers. The food isn’t bad for airline offerings and they at least offer more than one white… how chardonnay became standard for anything is beyond me. UGH. I appreciate they do have clean facilities, typically good crews and good customer service that far exceeds the typical British standard which is nothing to write home about. My first few flights I did experience some of the cattiest flight crews ever. Perhaps their previous trip was bumpy however no need to let your passengers know. Since those early days last year I’ve experienced much nicer crews.
The area that British Airways could improve is the perks. I haven’t found there to be that many advantages to being a loyal customer. Perhaps the current financial state of the world has influenced this status. Anyway coming to BA from another competitor I haven’t found there to fewer advantages of being a loyal customer to British Airways. Avios are the only points that add fast. There are never any kind of double tier point sales or bonus offers.
Loyalist are rare these days and when businesses recognize this it’s a doubly good thing for all involved. Above a good experience clients want incentives to return, especially frequent travelers like myself. British Airways, to fly… to serve and if they’ll just add some more perks this American Southerner would be an even happier flyer, ya’ll.

Hello there, hotties.
By far the best airlines ever… now perhaps this was because it was our (husband and I) first and only experience flying business class… or perhaps it was that the blonde flight attendant had the most exquisite, perfectly tied blonde bun I’ve ever seen… my husband and I are still talking about it… or perhaps it was that we managed to go 48 hours without paying for food and drink during our layover and time on flights and at airports, as we were able to take advantage of the departures lounge (from Chicago O’Hare to London), Arrivals Lounge (London), and the Departures Lounge (London to Paris). Lounge hopping at its finest.
The O’Hare British Airways Terrace Club, I think it’s called? Anywho, it’s for people who have Business Class seats or other perks (there is a separate First Class Lounge at O’Hare). They have several bottles of wine, liquor, and beer/​water/​juices, etc. for self-​service in refrigerators not to mention an award winning (not sure if it won any awards) buffet which includes cod cakes, cooked to order tacos, and pasta, among other cuisines. The taco chef… found enjoyment that I asked for Ketchup for my husband —(Heinz, it was, no worries… this is always a concern as one of the few times I ever see Ryan, the husband, mildly pissed, is when a restaurant does not offer Heinz… other times include not having the double stack at Wendy’s for 99 cents or not putting croutons in a salad) – , stating that not many folks there request that… we had a good, too good, laugh about that and he delivered on the Ketchup. The endearing taco chef and I experienced a connection… at least I thought it may have been something… Moving on.
The London Arrivals Lounge offers Serenity Bathrooms (attempted the serenity bathrooms with no success. we envisioned them being like those heavenly masseuse places where you go for «serenity» or a «massage» and come out feeling more at ease and fulfilled, than initially anticipated).sounded sexy… among a good selection of breakfast and lunch foods (i.e. croissants, meats, cereal.). No alcohol here, folks. However, a great variety of non-​alcoholic beverages (if there is such a thing) and opportunities to receive 15 minute spa treatments, which we did not take advantage of, were available.
London Departures Lounge for Club Europe Customers was quite crowded in the front section near the food, and the Heineken may have been 80 percent foam, but who cares? When there’s ample Jack Daniels, wines galore, and Grey Goose, what else do you need?.. :)
Need to mention that the airline attendants from our initial and by far longer flight from Chicago to London (~7 hours) were very nice even off the flight… ok, I am only talking about perfect bun, that was the only person my husband sought out to talk to in the airport for assistance, and she of course perfectly delivered. K Grade: A+
Ryan’s Commentary: I don’t think an airline could be run any better. The lounges were a free-​for-​all, in the most positive of ways. Who needs bartenders? They just slow you down. The business class seats were incredibly comfortable. The selection of movies included award winners like «The Artist,» which is sooner than I was able to get it from Netflix. Upon arriving on the aircraft, we loved the champagne greeting, even though I was on the verge of being over served. self-​served, that is. After the movie, I could not pronounce the name of the English Whiskey I was drinking, but perfect bun kept it coming. Even though I was unable to fall asleep, the lay flat seats on British Airways could not have been more comfortable. I’m pretty sure the only thing I complained about were the lounges being somewhat difficult to find, but in a way that made it feel more exclusive… plus I was happy to have an excuse to talk to the perfect fun, as she picked up her baggage. British Airways: R Grade: A+
Thank you, British Airlines! We hope we have the distinct pleasure of flying with you, in the near future. Time to start saving up our credit card reward points again!

British Airways is seriously the best airline I’ve ever been on. Period. I was traveling from Italy to Chicago and it was honestly the best flight I’ve ever had. The food was great, the service was awesome, great seats, tons of movie and tv options for long haul flights, they even upped my cabin (I like to think its because I spent a grand on the ticket but w/​e the reason was, awesome!).
The next time I travel to Europe I’ll be booking with them, I’ll never make the mistake of booking with anyone else again.

British is pretty standard for a European carrier– free drinks, friendly staff, decent food, relatively on-​time service, and modern planes. If you can get a decent fare, do it.
I would warn about Heathrow and the knee-​jerk British airport security. It seems this is the only nation more likely than the US to apply some completely ridiculous standard for what can or can’t be carried on. Just hope that when you fly through London you’re lucky enough to do it a long time after the last «terrorist activity,» or you could end up not being able to bring ANY carryons on board. For this reason alone, I’d take an Air France flight instead.

Never before have I received such great service on a flight. not even in the pre-​911 past.
And I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I actually enjoyed my in-​flight meals. I always order vegetarian meals (give them 24 hour notice!), and everything I’ve had from them has been quality. You even get dessert!
At first, I had a beef with them for not allowing seat selection when booking the ticket. Whatever though, if they want me to do it within 24 hours of flying, and I still get a window or aisle seat, all is well.
The last time I flew with them, and I had the misfortune of getting my wallet, all cash, credit cards, etc. stolen (NOT on the flight), and I missed my flights coming home. Unlike my original carrier, Alitalia, they were able to book me on the next flight out of Rome without raping me financially.
These guys are my first stop when looking into overseas flights. I look forward to flying with them again, and coming from someone who hates to fly, that says a lot.

Okay, I’ll admit it, I am a frequent traveler. Flew British Airways for the first time to London after years of faithfully flying American.
Yikes.
Let’s start with them departing Terminal 5. I’m curious why, once you go through Security, the only ‘shops’ you can find are two mobile carts. I’m not an airport shopper by any stretch… but y’know, it IS nice to have some visual stimulation around you if your flight is delayed. The lounge is cramped as heck and the dinner was indifferent.
I think BA service is without par, which is why I will keep the ratings at a 3 star. The problem I have on board is the business class cabin layout.
American, despite having the occasional mouse in the wiring system and dodgy seats, at least has a 2−3−2 seating structure.
BA, on the other hand runs it as 2−4−2. I could have sworn I pre-​booked an aisle seat, but found myself stuck in the centre. The seats are sleepers, which means (oh, joy!) clambering over someone’s legs to get out into the aisle. I am not particularly graceful, so someone was going to have very sore legs that flight. The sensation is extremely claustrophobic and I started to feel the panic rising. Asked to be switched to another seat and while not an aisle seat, at least I would not injure anyone.
I’m not large but I had a problem with the seats. They are narrower than those on American; I found myself holding my elbows close to myself all night. There’s also no real room for the nuts. And before your mind wanders away — I mean the ones you get with your drink! It becomes a bit of a delicate balancing act. It was just an uncomfortable flying experience, one I do not want to repeat in a hurry.
Switched right back to American for future flights.

British Airways is a much better experience than the U.S. carriers. There staff are much friendlier and more accomodating. They are also a lot nicer to those travelling with children. They always let you board first with children and they will assist you with extra bags and whatnot. The only downside is that Terminal 4 at Heathrow, where BA land is overcrowded and there is never a timely landing slot, so after a transatlantic flight you end up circling Heathrow.

For the best experience in flying to UK use BA
Firstly they depart from Terminal 5 at O’Hare, modern, cleaner, less people using it make for an easier transistion from check in to gate.
Of course the needless security is still at terminal 5 as with all the terminals. My son’s (14 months) cloth comforter which is a transparent piece of muslin was deemed to dangerous to stay with him and needed x-​raying! Still if you have family or friends seeing you off terminal 5 is the only place you can stay with then almost till the plane departs as the walk through security to the plane is short.
Once through I find BA to be a little more soothing, perhaps it’s a familiar thing? The planes are always clean and the flight crew really helpful and polite. I use American to go to London more than BA as the miles you accrue are better, but as a preference I think BA has it! They also are profitable and that makes me feel that they spend money on keeping the planes well maintained. Terminal 4 at Heathrow can be a nightmare but as I’m English I go through the fast lanes!!!