British Airways, you just have to show your Business Class or First Class boarding pass and in you go to enjoy drinks at the bar just and snacks available like cheese, crackers, various types of hummus and pita/tortilla chips. And since I am always early to the airport, that is just what I did.
What I didn't know was that BA's computer system crashed - again. Shortly after I checked in. When I finally went down to the gate, I was told people were still waiting inline to check in and check luggage because it had gone totally manual. One lady I spoke with waited 1 1/2 hours to get checked in. So much for Q&A of their new software conversion.
The failed system also impacted boarding, it was all manual, checking boarding passes against passports, then we had to wait while they reconciled boarding pass stubs with checked luggage to be sure people and corresponding luggage matched.
Once we were off, it was the BA I am used to. For the first time I flew on a 747 and I secured a seat on the top level. It was very nice, only 18 seats and they were not all full, so it was quiet and service was exceptional.
The secret to the pods is to either get an aisle seat so you don't have to climb over anyone OR get the last window pod facing the back of the plane which gives you easy in and out access without having to step over anyone while they are stretched out and sleeping. Personally I am an aisle seat person. I did learn from one lady in front that every time someone went to the restroom, the light shone in her face and followed by the "whoosh" of the toilet. She moved back with by me half way through the flight. I suggested she check out SeatGuru which gives you the best and worst seats based on the type of plane.
This was my plane. As you faced forward, I was on the left side of the top level last aisle pod. What I discovered is the top level is very quiet until the cabin crew makes breakfast for the flight crew. The other interesting thing was that the cockpit was open and I got to sneak a peak at the cockpit, which was really cool.
This is a BA Business Class pod. Very nice, very comfortable. Drawer for computer or other things (for me earphones, surface and various power cords), individual lights, adjustable tray and individual media center including movies, TV shows, documentaries, games and updates on where you are in your flight (your location marked on a map with a plane graphic).
I found the selection of TV/Movies rather wanting but part of that is because I stream movies on Amazon, so maybe it is, as I would say to others, a personal problem. The selection was split between European shows and US Shows and Movies, both "in theaters" and out on DVD. The sound was good on my headphones (sound dampening Bose) but I found it almost too loud and the next notch down was mute.
Dinner this time did not live up to what I had last time I flew with them. This was the starter, Maryland style crab cakes with a dill sauce and a mixed green salad with roasted tomatoes, croutons and sliced Parmesan cheese. The salad was good, but the crab cake was dry and a lot of bread with a hint of crab - must be why they said "Maryland style".
I had pecan encrusted fish with green beans and what was supposed to be creamy polenta and a stone ground mustard sauce.
The fish was really quite tasty and was not completely over cooked although it was more to the well done side rather than the medium side. The polenta was creamier once I added some butter. The green beans were barely cooked so they had a nice crunch and nice green color. Finally the mustard sauce. It tasted like a sauce thickened with corn starch to which not enough mustard was added, It was bland and very disappointing. Dessert was a a mango-chocolate slice which was very nice.
Overall the flight was nice. One thing I did notice was the 747 as a plane was noisier than the 777 I was on last time. Sound dampening headphones were a must just to drown out the plane noise.
When we finally got to London, we circled for a while, finally made it to a gate where we sat again since their systems once again were down.
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