British Airways adds superior Do&Co catering on more long haul routes

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• Kevin Duck says:

  26 May26 May 12:58

  I am looking at using Avios + Lloyds upgrade vouchers to DXB in April next year.

  The BA site is showing the BA107 as operating with a 777.

  If I book it now, is it a fairly safe bet that it will be the A350 with Club Suites by then?

  Thanks

  • Rob says:

    26 May26 May 14:54

    No. The A350 flights are, in theory, already showing.

    • Kevin Duck says:

      26 May26 May 16:39

      Thanks.

      I’ve just checked the BA website again for the 25th April and the BA107 is showing as a 777.

      I’ll try again in a week or so and see if it changes

  • Anna says:

    26 May26 May 14:59

    I don’t know about the plane but I’m impressed by just how much CW and F availability is there for numerous destinations next April, especially over the Easter/Spring break period. I though I had done spectacularly well to get 3 x F award seats to Miami for the Easter holidays, but maybe people are really giving up on collecting avios after all the devaluations/Amex changes?!

    • Peter K says:

      26 May26 May 19:07

      Or maybe they are saving them for something special target than several flights a year like before.
      Interesting point you make!

    • flyforfun says:

      27 May27 May 10:38

      The plane is wonderful. I don’t know how better pressurised it is than the others, but I did an all A350 trip UK to Australia via HK and back in economy and came away with very little jetlag. I got none of the tired, red, irritable eyes I get on the 747 or 777. And it seemed to me very quiet. Good service and a comfortable Y seat (apart from not enough padding when the person behind you reached into their seat back pocket) made for a very relaxing experience.

• guesswho2000 says:

  26 May26 May 13:02

  OT and I’m not sure how many people make use of it, but Preferred Golf Membership (for Amex Plat cardholders) is going after 30/6. Enrol by 30/6/2019 to keep it until 30/6/2020:

  “*This benefit will no longer be available for new enrolments after 30th June 2019. All Cardmembers enrolled in this benefit by the 30th June 2019 will have access to the Preferred Golf programme until 30th June 2020, after which the membership will be cancelled.”

  • David says:

    26 May26 May 19:27

    Irrespective of the value assessment on this particular benefit (which will no doubt be valued by some, but not others) they must have some more benefits lined up to announce, otherwise the new card fee is an even harder sell

    • Rob says:

      26 May26 May 19:44

      Unlikely, or they would have put them in the glossy brochure. People will decide whether to stay or cancel on the back of that.

• Anna says:

  26 May26 May 14:46

  OT – Amex. A hotel mistakenly took payment from my SPG card for a booking made with points. I contacted Marriott and the payment was refunded (thankfully, it was £2k!), however there is now a “returned payment fee” of £12 on my Amex statement! is this normal? It was the hotel which was at fault for taking the payment in the first place.

  • Rooster says:

    26 May26 May 15:13

    Ask the hotel for the money

  • John says:

    26 May26 May 16:21

    A returned payment fee is what you get when your direct debit fails, for other cards at least. Are you sure that it’s related to this transaction? Why not ask Amex why you were charged this in the first instance.

    I don’t give real card details for award bookings to avoid this situation.

    • Anna says:

      26 May26 May 16:29

      I didn’t realise it was saved to my account 😬. I’ll be more careful next time. My DD went out as usual and there’s nothing else it could relate to.

• Don says:

  26 May26 May 15:06

  Whoop de doo, BArb has Do&Co. LOT have been using Do&Co for all their food for years. Even the short haul BOB sandwiches are Do&Co.

  It’s meaningful only when they have enough money to provide a decent product. That’s why the LHR lounge catering is poor. Pay them more and by magic it’s better. Turbot in the CCR? Absolutely, and as long as it fits in the microwave!

  • Rob says:

    26 May26 May 18:59

    Whilst obviously true, the fact is that the Do&Co stuff being delivered so far to BA is very good, it seems.

• Gh says:

  26 May26 May 15:13

  Bas advertising now features club suites yet they are a small minority of planes for years to come!!

  • Peter K says:

    26 May26 May 19:16

    Most companies advertise their best product.
    Look at car ads for example: Top spec cars shown, lowest prices quoted. Sometimes the car shown is “not available in all territories”.
    Hotel groups show their most desirable properties, though 90-95% of what is available is a far less interesting prospect.

    It’s not great, but it’s hardly just BA.

    • Rob says:

      26 May26 May 19:45

      BA was not planning to promote Club Suite for a while. BA has over 100 long-haul aircraft and it will be on 5 by Christmas, possibly 20 by the end of 2020.

• Jtz says:

  26 May26 May 15:56

  OT, rejected for virgins free card, should I wait a couple of months before reapplying or is there anything else I should do?
  Thanks

• Robman says:

  26 May26 May 16:28

  Off topic, is there a lounge at Palma de Mallorca airport I can use if I have a BA Gold care but only travelling economy?

  • Kai says:

    26 May26 May 21:00

    Don’t use this one – use VIP Formentor instead which has recently been refurbed. Although it’s not included in the oneworld list you can access it too as they are from the same contractor.

    • Robert says:

      26 May26 May 21:38

      Good to know – my wife, son and I will be going there soon! Thanks.

      • Robman says:

        26 May26 May 23:09

        Thanks everyone for advice.

  • Indiacharliepapa says:

    27 May27 May 10:18

    There are now 4 lounges at PMI with a new one having just opened at the A gates (non-schengen flights beyond passport control). I am based in PMI and fly weekly so have used them all. I generally prefer the one in D gates (mostly flights to mainland Spain) then C (also mainland and other shengen). Valldemossa is under the shops as you come into the main shopping area after security – take the escalator down to your left by hard Rock cafe then it’s behind you. The food is all identical (OK lounge fare, hams/cheese, baguettes/pastries plus a couple of other dishes on small plates – normally meatballs and a Russian salad). Drink selection is reasonable too. The worst one for ambience is probably the “new” A gates lounge, feels like a trucker cafe! I’d only go to this again as a last minute delay option.

• DaveL says:

  26 May26 May 19:19

  Very OT – well travelled HFPers, I wonder if I could ask for your travel advice. We’re visiting the other side of the globe in October, (all on avois/virgin points, of course – thanks Rob), stopping Aus (Sydney) for a few days before flying home. We only have five nights, and I’d like 2 in the city to explore a little, but living in London we like to avoid the cities too much whilst away, and would rather escape to see some nature for the other 3 nights. We’re happy to drive a couple of hours, but probably not much more. Could anyone recommend a nice beach area to stay, that is outside of the city? Is it good to head North to Central Coast or South to Wollongong, or would you recommend other areas? Options to use points (IHG, Marriott) would be a bonus.! TIA

  • Blue Mountains says:

    27 May27 May 00:59

    Not with a beach but definitely lots of nature and lots to explore at the Blue Mountains, just west of Sydney. If your heart is set on a beach destination, then have a look at the Entrance (Central Coast) and Toowoon Bay beach. Terrigal and Avoca beach are lovely too (Central Coast). Not many big chain hotels outside of Sydney but someone else might know more on that. Just bear in mind, aussie October is equivalent to europe’s April (where even in the mediterranean the sea is cold) and the ocean can still be on the chilly side. Have fun wherever you end up!

  • Louie says:

    27 May27 May 01:29

    Is the idea to sit on the beach or to go exploring? How much luxury do you like? Are you a couple or family?

    If you want real nature and a bit of adventure, I’d hire a motorhome and head south. One night visiting Jervis Bay (Hyams Beach is IMO the second whitest beach in Australia, good chance of seeing dolphins. Maybe stay at White Sands Caravan Park in Huskisson, dinner at the Husky pub), one night at Potato Point (Beachcomber Holiday Park, middle of nowhere, hundreds of kangaroos, maybe a goanna, another fantastic beach but more for bodyboarding or surfing), one night at Kangaroo Valley (free camp at Bendeela, wombats and more kangaroos). That would be a couple of hours driving each day though and it won’t be that warm in October unless you are lucky.

    If sitting on the beach all day is more your thing, I’d go north as it will be warmer. There are plenty of pleasant places on the Central Coast. Can’t help with hotels other than to say that Bells at Killcare has a great reputation but is not a budget option, nor available on points.

    Whilst in Sydney, do the BridgeClimb if you can. Expensive but worth it. If not, go up the top of the pylon on the south side, also excellent views of the harbour past the Opera House and out towards the Heads.

    • DaveL says:

      27 May27 May 18:06

      Many thanks both for your detailed replies. Super helpful. Would love to travel further and visit potato point etc., but I think maybe be for another time, with longer to spend travelling and staying at different spots. Given your helpful point RE weather too, we’ll likely spend a couple of night in the blue mountains instead. Can also redeem some Accor points there 🙂 Will check out harbour bridge climb too. Thanks again

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