Back in action, Up to the top: British Airways 098 YYZ-LHR in Club World

Part 8 – Toronto to London Heathrow in Club World

Back into action, Back to the Back Up to the Top – To Chicago with American Airlines, American Eagle and British Airways

LHR-ORD, ORD-YYZ-LHR

Index:

• Dodging the Sword of Damocles (The Introduction)
• To Heathrow, T3 Lounges
• AA99 London Heathrow T3 to Chicago O’Hare T5
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• One Time Exception: A Loop Around the Loop
• To ORD, Chicago AA Lounges
• AA4008 Chicago O’Hare T3 to Toronto Pearson T3
• The Hell of Toronto Airport, and an unexpected dinner…
• BA098 Toronto Pearson T3 to London Heathrow in Club World – THIS SECTION
• Homeward Bound
• Colour me…

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Part 8 BA098 Toronto Pearson International T3 to London Heathrow T5
British Airways, Club World, 63J/K Boeing 747-400 – 8th April 2013
3556 miles flown, 35 Tier Points, 7106 Avios earned.

 

The Pictures:

• http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/2013/04/11/ba098-toronto-pearson-t3-london-heathrow-t5-in-club-world-1.html
• http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/2013/04/12/ba098-toronto-pearson-t3-london-heathrow-t5-in-club-world-2.html
• http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/2013/04/13/ba098-toronto-pearson-t3-london-heathrow-t5-in-club-world-3.html

I headed aboard to greet the crew – who said someone is a bit happy (well I did get OpUp’d… I have an excuse for once!). I was then directed to the upper deck.

I was welcomed to the upper deck by the crew And found a surprise waiting – 2 adults and 3 children (1 sub-18 months) were already in situ and making one hell of a racket.

What did I say business class and me not mixing? I was having a flashback to my New York trip, and quietly hoped the children would settle down once in flight.

Seat

As I settled into the J seat, the passenger in the K seat was getting more and more annoyed at the children making a racket, and went to be reseated on the main deck. I took the hint and switched to the window seat and put the noise cancelling headphones on as BA offer gate to gate IFE.

They work – that’s all I’m going to say

Headphones

The view from 63J before the switch

63K – after I made the switch. I found the extra distance helped.

Preflight drinks were offered… and taken.

Well – it’s BA. What else am I going to drink?

As boarding was completed, a thunderstorm passed over Toronto Airport – with a full ground stop and delay announced from the flight deck.

A touch wet outside…

However, the children seemed to take this as a time to throw a headrest cover around. And did the parents do something? Only when prompted by the crew.

Menus were handed out and offers were taken for those who wanted food – and for those who wanted breakfast. People were also warned that both services can take tube and impact their sleeping time. I went for dinner (as I skipped through most if the one on the ground) and if I was awake at breakfast to have breakfast.

Menu:

Eventually, loading was completed, and pushback commenced. There was a bit of delay after the pushback, but we begun a long taxi to 06L, where the 747-400’s RB211’s powered for the the short journey over the pond.

Taxing out

The 747 made a nice climb into the air, getting through the rough weather. I took it as an opportunity to flip the IFE system out. Whilst the IFE system about this unrefurbished Boeing 747-400 isn’t as extensive as the systems aboard the 777-300ER’s, it’s content is enough to suit me.

Top Gear – 50 years of bond. Shaken, not stirred (Aston Martin DB5 from Skyfall)

As Richard Hammond exuded about Bond Cars and the DB5 , dinner arrived. Now I went for the Parmesan Chicken. Of course, I had a couple of lactaids to assist – well better safe than sorry in my book.

The meal arrived on a tray – which considering this was a sleeper service makes sense as the flight is maximised for sleeping – not a full dining experience.

So I could say that I had the meal in the interests of my readers… But that would be a lie 😉

The chicken was of a reasonable sized portion, with salad, feta cheese and beetroot – Not a combination you’d think that goes together, but it seemed to go well as a light meal. The chicken itself was a bit tough to get into, but was quite flavoursome… and rather good for a late evening meal.

By the time I polished off the meal, I wasn’t in the mood for the Pear tart (and the amount of cream on it would had probably required another Lactaid or two,

I did accept a Kir Royale. Or two.

Kir Royale

With that – and the cabin already in darkness – I popped my seat into the bed position and drifted away to Richard Hammond trying not to sink a Lotus. The joy of watching programmes you’ve seen before is that you can mentally shut down without paying attention, whilst knowing the show inside out. Doesn’t make it any less entertaining.

And I had a pretty darn good sleep across the pond. Didn’t need the blanket, as the temperature was fine to me.

Lets speak of the seat before we go on – after all, it’s most of the reason why you’re paying the money to go Club World.

IFE at 63J

I found the seat to be comfortable in all phases of flight, without it being over-firm or over-soft. The privacy divider is a nice touch as it gives you a bit of peace and quiet on a service – whilst allowing the crew to carry out their service.

The seat is turns into fully flat seat and on the top deck, it’s arranged in a Ying-Yang format, with window seats facing in reverse and aisle seats (on the top deck) facing forward.

Seat controls

In bed mode

In relax mode

Yang seat – not my stuff on there I should add…

Forward view

IFE Controller

I woke up just before the lights came on, and it was time for breakfast. I therefore turned the seat from a bed back into something relaxing. The table was laid and a fruit plate arrived with yoghurt, coffee and orange juice

A good start – the fruit was fresh, and orange juice and coffee woke me up slowly. The Yoghurt was put aside 😉

Fruit and coffee

Soon enough, one of the flight attendants came round with the bacon rolls… And offered me two of them off the bat.

This – I like 😉

The bacon roll itself was a little dry, but the bacon tasted of bacon and not burnt, rubbery or anywhere in-between.

Of course, to be entertained, I hit the IFE system and found the boys from the small rouge one were playing

It’s cold outside, no kind of atmosphere, I’m all alone – more or less… let me fly far away from here… fun fun fun… in the sun sun sun…

As cruising continued I started to raise the window as a few people already had done so..

A rare view for me…

Looking at the amenity kit, it hasn’t changed since I flew Club World… and that’s a good thing. Inside the bag are all the usual things

Again – useful contents and they work. Speaking of amenities, the small room is pretty much that… a small room, decorated with a flower and Elemis toiletries

Soon enough the plane began its decent to Heathrow, as the bright of the day turned into the murk of a “spring” morning in the United Kingdom.

The crew buttoned down the top deck and the plane descended through the English countryside, landing on 09L and bringing an end to this journey

Of course it didn’t stop the male of the family unbuckling his seatbelt to get items from the overhead locker and being told a few times to sit down until the plane had come to a stop.

Sigh.

Finally, the plane docked at the B docks and the bongs went off. I got up and retrieved my baggage whilst the parents of the kids were organising themselves, and I headed to the stairway, thanking the crew.

Heading down the stairs.

Overall: A good performance on all round. The hard product is pretty good to me, with the seat comfortable both in bed and seat mode. The soft product was delivered well, and the crew did a great job delivering what I’ve started to expect of BA in any class – a polished service. Yes, the screaming kids did take the edge off an almost perfect flight, but after they settled down… the flight was relaxing… and did the job.

Next: Homeward Bound