Cheap(er) Business Class Flights

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Interesting discussion re EOS.

No doubt it looks like a very good offering.

Front of the line at JFK is pretty impressive mind you, do you think it was luck or EOS has an arrangement with JFK (which would be a first)!

I reckon the EK lounge at JFK must be of a pretty good standard.

Annoyed that BA's IFE is not the best in the world and you don't get BOSE.

Re connections via Standsted, that is a pretty valid point. However like you have said its well served by many of the budget airlines. How good are priority pass lounges though, especially when compared with BA lounges?

I would have to say Gatwick is very convinient in getting to the city, using Thamelink or Southern to get to Victoria. Heathrow is a nightmare.

I don't think any airline offers a business class service for flights within the UK (apart from BA going to Jersey!)

What about United, American Airlines, Continental, North West and Delta as major transatlantic airlines (I know most of them are in Chapter 11, but that is another story!)

mcgi6ah2

EK lounge at JFK is very good, countered by the EOS lounge at Stansted being realtively weak. Haven't used Priority Pass extensively, but it allows access to multiple lounges at many airports so you can take your pick. By way of example it allows access to Continental, Servisair, US Airways, Delta and Aviance lounges at Gatwick. It is not so good at JFK where it only covers terminals 1 and 7, but is marginally better than BA for covering UK airports (mainly through ServisAir).

United, American, Continental, North West etc are included in my definition of American Carriers, although none provide comparable services to EOS, BA or Virgin.

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mcgi6ah2 wrote:

EK lounge at JFK is very good, countered by the EOS lounge at Stansted being realtively weak. Haven't used Priority Pass extensively, but it allows access to multiple lounges at many airports so you can take your pick. By way of example it allows access to Continental, Servisair, US Airways, Delta and Aviance lounges at Gatwick. It is not so good at JFK where it only covers terminals 1 and 7, but is marginally better than BA for covering UK airports (mainly through ServisAir).

United, American, Continental, North West etc are included in my definition of American Carriers, although none provide comparable services to EOS, BA or Virgin.

No doubt priority pass is a good idea, however i've heard compliants about the quality of lounges on a number of occasions, especially as many of the lounges are contract lounges.

Sorry, my mistake re the carriers. Also, yep re service, however tell me any American carrier offering comparable services?

Also should note CX will soon be offering flights from LON to NYC.

mcgi6ah2

The quality of lounges varies widely with Priority Pass, but usually there is more than one choice. That said they tend to have less peaks of people going through them as they serve a variety of lower load airlines rather than BA lounges that are almost always busy at BA flight times (for obvious reasons). By way of illustration the EOS lounge at Stansted is a Servisair lounge and does not have any computer terminals, champagne or showers - only a couple of wine and beer options and toilets in the terminal building itself. To the credit of EOS, you are provided with free access to a room at the Radisson SAS with your flight pass and it is only a couple of minutes walk - but this is not included in Priority Pass membership.

I don't know of any American carrier that provides a comparable service, anyone else any thoughts?

A Cathay Pacific NY flight from London would be interesting - should think it will be somewhat cheaper as well given the non hub status of London for them. They only offer lie flat service in first class though.

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mcgi6ah2 wrote:

The quality of lounges varies widely with Priority Pass, but usually there is more than one choice. That said they tend to have less peaks of people going through them as they serve a variety of lower load airlines rather than BA lounges that are almost always busy at BA flight times (for obvious reasons). By way of illustration the EOS lounge at Stansted is a Servisair lounge and does not have any computer terminals, champagne or showers - only a couple of wine and beer options and toilets in the terminal building itself. To the credit of EOS, you are provided with free access to a room at the Radisson SAS with your flight pass and it is only a couple of minutes walk - but this is not included in Priority Pass membership.

I don't know of any American carrier that provides a comparable service, anyone else any thoughts?

A Cathay Pacific NY flight from London would be interesting - should think it will be somewhat cheaper as well given the non hub status of London for them. They only offer lie flat service in first class though.

The Radisson things sounds pretty good! However I'm presuming that is before security though.

I doubt any American airline offers comparable services :rolleyes: .

I do like CX mind you!! I found their seats pretty damn nice, didn't care they were not flat. They are wider than BA beds. However I found BA club world had better privacy than CX. CX service was much better though.

Now SQ on a LON - NYC route as well, that would be fantastic!

One last thing, wouldn't KLM be classed as a major transatlantic (or are we only concerned with direct LON-NYC carriers?)

mcgi6ah2

Radisson is designed for once you arrive at Stansted for freshening up just like normal use for shower facilities - you can probably use it before flight as well though.

Major transatlantics for the sake of this discussion would really be from London direct.

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mcgi6ah2 wrote:

Radisson is designed for once you arrive at Stansted for freshening up just like normal use for shower facilities - you can probably use it before flight as well though.

Major transatlantics for the sake of this discussion would really be from London direct.

Ah, rather like an arrivals lounge. I have to the say the BA one is very good. Molton Brown travel spa, shower, clothing valet service and hot breakfast!

However, still, I guess £ for £ EOS does seem like a very good offering.