Anyone used the BA Business Class Aircraft from The City

[srebbe64]

My Taxi driver was telling me about a new BA Business Class only aircraft that flies twice a day from The City Airport to JFK. Anyone got any experience of this service (good or bad) as I do a fair but of travel to the USA and was wondering about giving it a go?

[Puggit]

Saw a review in a newspaper (I think the Mail...) where they did a head to head with standard Business Class from LHR.

The City plane can't carry enough fuel to get to JFK, so stops at Shannon to top up. This gives the opportunity to clear US Immigration in Ireland, meaning a clear run once you arrive in the States.

The reviewer had problems with a tech fault at City, otherwise they would have beaten the JFK by at least an hour in time.

The plane is only an A318 - so only 2 engines... But apparently plenty of space on board (32 seats).

Different Review

[sneijder]

I heard that it only went ahead because Barclays guaranteed to book 40% of the flight before the credit crunch, don't know how true that is though.

All the equipment is brand new though.

[CVP]

Been looking for flights for my mother to come and see us. Looking into this I was getting quotes of only 1k each way which I thought was very good value compared to business class from LHR. Defintiely worth investigating and they were showing a lot of availability when I looked

Chris

[jamoor]

This is a seriously cool service, never knew it existed, it would be perfect if they could do this at a big airport and have a direct flight, saves mingling with the masses at your destination.

[sneijder]

I think the whole point is to get the city boys to their plane in the quickest time possible.

Silverjet tried some thing similar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverjet but that all went west, but not literally if you catch my drift.

Doing an all business flight for the public from a big airport would be absolute suicide for an airline right now.

[hidetheelephants]

Puggit said:

The City plane can't carry enough fuel to get to JFK, so stops at Shannon to top up. This gives the opportunity to clear US Immigration in Ireland, meaning a clear run once you arrive in the States.

It can carry enough fuel, it just can't do so from LCY without failing to take off and exploding in a ball of flamey death at the end of the runway; it's too short.

[bobthemonkey]

hidetheelephants said:

Puggit said:

The City plane can't carry enough fuel to get to JFK, so stops at Shannon to top up. This gives the opportunity to clear US Immigration in Ireland, meaning a clear run once you arrive in the States.

It can carry enough fuel, it just can't do so from LCY without failing to take off and exploding in a ball of flamey death at the end of the runway; it's too short.

Hence the return journey is non-stop.

You also get in air wifi with 'broadband' internet via satellite.

I don't know if it was Barclays, but yes, the City have booked 40% of the flights in advance. In fact I believe BAs launch of the service was dependant on the bulk buy to make the venture viable.

[texan]

Very well written and detailed review here:

http://continentalclub-welcomeonboard.blogspot.com

[anonymous-user]

The real upside is clearing US Immigration at Shannon. It means you arrive as (effectively) a domestic flight, and walk straight off the plane out of the airport. Very useful if (like me) you've landed at JFK right behind a couple of other 747s and have to stand in a queue to clear customs for > 45mins.

'Spose useful if you work at Canary Wharf. I don't.

Oh, and flights are assigned BA001 - BA004; the flight numbers previously used by Concorde.