British Airways has been busy on the quiet, with the Boeing 777-300ER’s being introduced and now the first Boeing 777-200 has been retrofitted with some new things internally.
For those in World Traveller (Economy Class) and World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) is where the major improvements are with the seating from the 777-300ER’s moved in – these include the dreaded lighter seats. In addition the New BA First product will also be rolled out on these birds.
For those who wish to be entertained, the old “GMIS” rolling In-Flight Entertainment System is also to be scrapped, with a new AVOD (Audio/Video On Demand) style system by Thales being installed.
It’s going to be some time for this refit programme to run, with G-RAES being the first aircraft to be upgraded. The current plan is to complete the refit in Spring 2013, with 18 birds to be upgraded. Those 777-200’s which have a AVOD style IFE system already installed will be merely “refreshed” rather than having a full refit.
Still – it’s good to see British Airways upgrading its fleet and the internal experience which we all have to go through…
You say “dreaded lighter seats”. Having flown the 777-300ER (77W), the new seats in WT+ are excellent and very comfortable – they feel suitably padded and aren’t too firm. Not sure what is ‘dreaded’ about them!
The real bonus is getting rid of GMIS. Useless system.
Getting rid of GMIS is the best idea out of the lot.
The lighter seats (and slimline seats) just don’t agree with me (and my back sadly) as I’ve found the in the lighter seats I need more support in the small of the back. Which is why the “pillow” and “blanket” end up as back support for me.
The real sad thing is that the blankets – which were fleece-like and very comfortable – when introduced are, a year on, beginning to show their age … BA could do well with ensuring they were kept up.
G-RAES has been refitted which other aircraft are done and which one is next