BA Business Class London-Catania
LGW-CTA (Catania, Sicily)
BA 2594
Club Europe (Business Class)
Seats 1DF
737-400
3:50P-8:00P (sked)
4:35P-8:45P (actual)
September 26, 2012
Our flight had consistently showed 20-25 minute departures delays as the inbound aircraft was running late.
With a now posted 4:15P departure from an ominous sounding gate 107, I decided to start the long trek at T-50.
Gate 107 is in a separate concourse/pier about a 10 minute snake like walk from the lounge. Interesting solution to the "how to get pax there and back" as apparently the designers never though of an underground walkway, instead opting to building a elaborate and expensive skyway over everything. And in order to make sure there was ample clearance for even the largest plane to pass under, this sucker is high and boasts some of the longest escalators I have ever seen.
Note: Old Google file photo not mine.
We actually had the "pleasure" of using this three times due to my unfamiliarity with LGW/BA systems and the inept lack of information from both LGW and BA. We arrived at Gate 107 at 3:35P to find absolutely nothing... no plane, no pax, no GA, and gate sign that had no destination/flight and simply read Gate Closed. The departure monitors in the pier list on that pier's flights an our flight is not listed. No BA personnel any where in sight to query as the other gates are EasyJet gates. OK, surely BA.com will tell me the correct gate. Wrong. Flight status on BA.com is useless as no gate info is provided. I figured the gate assignment changed during our trek. The only option was to walk back to the main terminal and find the correct gate. 10 minutes and we were back in the lounge where the gate agent confirmed that indeed the correct gate is 107, telling me that gate assignments are not posted to the public until just before boarding, and that we should go back to gate 107. Another 10 minutes and we are back at gate 107, where lo and behold there is an airplane and pax.
Boarding commenced at the posted departure time of 4:15P, with pre-boarding for Business Class. I use the term Business Class loosely as the front cabin on most European airlines' intra-Europe flights is ridiculous coach seating with an open middle seat. Give me a break. The only good seats on these planes are bulkhead seats. With my OW Emerald status, I had selected 2AC which other FTers had noted had the most bulkhead legroom. Whilst sitting in 2AC during boarding, it became clear that 1DF had at least 4-5" more legroom. With only 5 other pax in J and no one in 1DF, we moved over after boarding was completed.
Our original 2AC...
Much more legroom in 1DF...
Once we got going, it was an excellent flight with good service from our attentive Purser.
Although with only 7 pax, why the insistence on using the cart for everything? Is it that difficult to walk back and forth to/from the galley?
A menu specific for the Catania flight...
We both opted for the lamb, which was quite tasty. But again amusing to see dinner service from the cart, including the FA plating the meal from the aluminum container onto our plate in full view.
Although we touched down at 8:25p and pulled into the gate couple minutes later, the jet bridge wasn't working properly necessitating use of the popular European transport mode... the airplane shuttle bus. And of course, instead of being the first ones at passport control, we were near the end of the pack after the crowded buses disgorged everyone.
On the positive side, by the time we got to baggage claim, our checked bag was on the carousel and our driver was waiting for us.
Call me spoiled but the AA domestic First experience is so much better than Euro-fraud Business Class. Much better seating, better food, better drinks/nuts, better signage/information, inflight WiFi.
Next: Spectacular Taormina and the beautiful San Domenico Palace Hotel