To kick off the return journey of our journey to Geneva, we flew British Airways’ Airbus A319 enterprise class (sometimes called Membership Europe) on the 1hr20min flight from Geneva (GVA) to London (LHR).
Whereas intra-Europe enterprise class isn’t a lot to put in writing house about, I had a constructive expertise. The plane had energy ports and Wi-Fi, the crew was pleasant, and the meals exceeded expectations. What extra might one ask for on a brief flight inside Europe (since a greater seat is an excessive amount of to ask for)?
How I booked my British Airways enterprise class ticket
I booked the return portion of our itinerary from Geneva again to Miami utilizing American AAdvantage miles. Particularly, I ticketed the next in enterprise class for 57,500 American AAdvantage miles plus $90.90 in taxes and charges per particular person:
3/12 BA723 Geneva to London departing 6:35AM arriving 7:25AM
3/12 AA57 London to Miami departing 11:15AM arriving 5:10PM
It goes with out saying that this was a superb worth, even when it wasn’t essentially the most aspirational or glamorous redemption.
British Airways enterprise class lounge & boarding
Given our early morning departure, we had spent the night time on the Marriott Geneva, positioned close to the airport. We arrived at Geneva Airport at round 5AM, a lot early for our 6:35AM flight. We checked our bag and had been by way of safety in a matter of minutes, so had time to spare.
Whereas British Airways operates a lounge in Geneva, sadly the lounge solely opens at 5:45AM. Boarding for our flight was scheduled for five:55AM, and the gate is sort of a distance from the lounge, and also you additionally need to undergo passport management.
Sadly the one side of the lounge I can evaluate is the outside, and there’s not a lot to report there. 😉 You’d assume that the airline might open the lounge half-hour earlier, in order that passengers on all British Airways flights can truly use it. What’s the variable value of opening the lounge a bit longer?
Anyway, our flight was departing from gate C63, on the very finish of the terminal, so it was fairly a haul. Boarding began at precisely 5:55PM, as scheduled, 40 minutes forward of our departure time. Boarding was fairly orderly, with enterprise class passengers and elite members being invited to board first.
British Airways A319 enterprise class cabin & seats
British Airways’ Airbus A319s are outfitted with a complete of 143 seats, unfold throughout 24 rows in a 3-3 configuration.
As is normal on intra-Europe flights, enterprise class consists of economic system seats with blocked middles. This provides airways a lot of flexibility to regulate the scale of the cabin primarily based on demand (and it’s additionally why Europe doesn’t have a tradition of limitless area accessible upgrades for elite members, in contrast to in the US).
On this specific flight, there have been seven rows of enterprise class, for a complete capability of 28 seats. The enterprise class cabin was ~60% full, with 17 of the 28 seats occupied. Up by way of the exit row, the seats function 30″ of pitch, whereas behind the exit row, the seats function 29″ of pitch. So these in enterprise class (and generally these within the entrance of economic system) obtain marginally extra legroom.
I assigned us seats 7A and 7C, the window and aisle seat within the final row of enterprise class on the left.
I used to be happy to see that there was a tray desk on the middle seat, which is a helpful place to retailer issues with out utilizing your tray desk.
Apparently the seats throughout from us didn’t have that desk, presumably as a result of the crew knew the seats can be empty (although later within the flight I ended up sitting within the far window, in order that Ford and I might every look out the window).
Every seat boasted a typical tray desk, plus a literature pocket.
The seats additionally had AC and USB-A retailers, which I like to see, because it’s not as widespread on quick haul flights in Europe as you’d hope.
The overhead console had each studying lights and particular person air nozzles (which I’m all the time completely satisfied to see).
As I stated above, quick haul interiors inside Europe aren’t precisely thrilling, however between charging ports, okay consolation, and a tray on the middle seat, I used to be fairly completely satisfied. I additionally need to say that for a 23-year-old jet, I assumed the inside was in fairly good situation (I used to be flying on the A319 with the license plate G-EUPS).
British Airways A319 enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
British Airways gives Wi-Fi on its Airbus A319s, which nonetheless isn’t one thing you’ll persistently discover on airways inside Europe. You possibly can hook up with the Wi-Fi by opening your browser and typing in store.ba.com.
So far as Wi-Fi pricing goes, there have been just a few choices:
- You may purchase a messaging go accessible for the whole flight for £1.99
- You may purchase a streaming go for one hour for £4.99, or for the whole flight for £6.99
British Airways A319 departure from Geneva
Initially we had been making good progress on our departure. At 6:25AM it was introduced that boarding was full, which was 10 minutes forward of our scheduled departure time.
Sadly 5 minutes later, the primary officer introduced that Heathrow was experiencing delays, and we’d have to attend about 25 minutes for our slot. He additionally supplied an in depth clarification of our route for the flight — I discover British Airways pilots are all the time nice about being communicative, maybe virtually to an excessive. For instance, they even persistently make an announcement after you arrive on the gate.
The delay ended up dragging on a bit longer, and at 7:05AM we lastly started our pushback, at which level the crew carried out a security demonstration. Hello, Ethiopian Airways Airbus A350, headed to Manchester!
Then at 7:10AM we started our quick taxi. Hello, (presumably former at this level) Aeroflot Airbus A321, headed to nowhere!
Then at 7:15AM we had been cleared for takeoff on runway 22.
It was fairly a robust takeoff, and steep climb out. Despite the fact that it wasn’t the prettiest day, I nonetheless loved the views, as the realm round Geneva is gorgeous.
Whereas we hit a few bumps after takeoff, the seatbelt signal was turned off about 5 minutes after takeoff. The crew then closed all of the curtains, after which started the inflight service.
British Airways enterprise class breakfast
After takeoff, the crew handed by way of the cabin to first supply every passenger a meal. There have been three selections — a continental breakfast, an omelet, or a full English breakfast. Two issues:
- I respect how British Airways serves a scorching breakfast on most quick flights, as many different airways in Europe don’t
- I respect how British Airways has meal choices, as many different airways in Europe don’t (and never simply two choices, however three!)
We each ordered the omelet, which was fairly good. The egg dish was tasty, and it got here with a small cup of fruit, a heat croissant, and a blueberry breakfast bar. Given the size of the flight, I used to be impressed.
As soon as meals was served, the crew handed by way of the cabin with a drink cart. I had a cup of espresso and a nonetheless water.
British Airways A319 enterprise class bathroom
There was a rest room on the entrance of the A319 cabin, reserved completely for enterprise class passengers. The bathroom was fairly normal, and not less than wasn’t too tight, in contrast to bathrooms on most of the newer jets these days.
I additionally appreciated how there have been elevated toiletries, from The White Firm.
British Airways enterprise class service
There have been two flight attendants working enterprise class on this flight, they usually had been environment friendly and pleasant. What extra might one ask for on a flight of this size, the place there are fairly just a few individuals to serve?
British Airways A319 arrival in London
At 7:05AM London time (there’s a one hour time change, in order that’s 50 minutes after takeoff), the primary officer was again on the PA to announce that we had been at 37,000 ft, and that we’d be touchdown in half-hour. Moments later, we started our descent.
At 7:25AM the seatbelt signal was turned on, and at that time the crew ready the cabin for touchdown. Goodness, it certain wasn’t a really fairly day in London, not that that is stunning for a spring morning.
We ended up having a easy landing at Heathrow Airport at 7:40AM.
From there we had a 5 minute taxi to our arrival gate at Terminal 5.
We bid farewell to the crew, after which took the bus over to Terminal 3, the place our American 777 flight to Miami can be departing from.
Backside line
We had a stable flight in British Airways’ A319 Membership Europe enterprise class. Whereas the exhausting product is what it’s, all the things else was stable, from pleasant service, to a alternative of meals (together with scorching choices), to energy ports, to Wi-Fi. I’d fly British Airways Membership Europe once more in a heartbeat.
What’s your tackle British Airways’ A319 enterprise class?
