Review of British Airways flight from London to Lyon in Economy

MY british airways analysis throughout 2012-2019

Hello Everyone and welcome to this first flight back home, a routine that was about 7 years long.

I usually left from Heathrow, I had to go to the funerals of someone close to me, so it was a last minute flight and I did enjoy the cheaper fares from gatwick (BA opens also a route to Lyon from Gatwick in the winter for the Ski season).

You may have noticed I lived for a good couple of years abroad.
I have kept some pictures, emails and documentation of the flights throughout the years, and I have been flying on the same route, at identical periods (Christmas, Summer holidays, Easter…).

I thought I could do something different, instead of posting FR sporadically I am suggesting to pick up one flight per year, so that we are able to compare and note the evolution of the product offered by BA.

My aim is here to analyse the evolution of service legacies have offered over the years. 

For the 2012 report it is HERE
For the 2013 report it is HERE
For the 2013 incident report it is HERE 
For the 2014 report it is HERE 
For the 2015 report it is HERE 
For the 2016 report it is HERE 
For the 2017 report it is HERE 
For the 2018 report it is HERE 
For the 2019 report it is HERE 

At the time, the fare included (for free):
A checked in luggage in the haul
A cabin luggage 
Seat selection
Complimentary meal and drinks (incl alcohol) 

For the quality and level of service detailed above, the average price ticket I paid of a SINGLE flight on the LYS - LHR is:
£56 for 2012
£49,6 for 2013 (including a flight redeemed with Avios)
£57 for 2014 (including a flight redeemed with Avios)
£65 for 2015 (including a flight redeemed with Avios)
£50 for 2016 (including a flight redeemed with Avios)
£52 for 2017 (including a flight redeemed with Avios)
£17 for 2018 (including 3 flights redeemed with Avios) - hence the lower average ticket price
£94 for 2019 (including a flight redeemed with Avios)

the first of 7 years long series of flights

Now let's have a look at the report itself

Avios Miles earned with this flight: 250
Status earned: 5

I had this amazing return flight for £89!! Can you imagine this fare nowadays including a luggage+food+selection of food?

I booked my flights on the BA website directly. 

The flight was operated on an A321, I think the only time to this day I flew on the longer version of the A320 family.

at london - heathrow airport

I arrived with the piccadilly line tube system at the terminal 1/2/3 station.

After wlaking through a long corridor, you could walk outside and enter the terminal.

The famous Virgin Atlantic corner associated shade of red..

The checkin counters are located just on the entrance which is super convenient.

I went to check in my luggage and made sure the boarding pass I printed was ok. You can make fun of me but I never flew on regular basis prior to this point!

I was a good 2 hours before the flight so time for spotting from terminal 3. And what a spotting! Really different than LYS, LGW or STN!

The food court of the T3.

onboard the a321

There were no boarding zones, just business first.

Aircraft: Airbus A321-231
Registration: G-EUXG
Engines: 2x IAE V25200
Age: 18 Years
Layout: Y218

The seat were thick, wide, made out of leather, with a thick armrest and headrest, and reclining.

This was the norm back in the day… and it feels like it is some sort of Business seats for 2021 standards..

The safety video was displayed on the cabin screens, the old and dear one:

And off we went taxiing.

Are you ready to see the catering??

Free booze, free snacks and refill free and not even asked for it, they offered it! 
And all that for two passengers. 

So here are my biscuits, glass of water and Gin-T 

Now flying above France

As usual let's have a look at the magazine..

With of course some article about the London 2012 Olympics games

Love this picture!

and the extend of the domestic network, which is similar as nowadays, except Flybe was still a franchine of BA (formerly known as BA Connect)

at lyon - saint exupery airport

I don't have that many pictures I am afraid but the one I have are interesing… I didn't even remember Emirates had some A340-600

I waited for my dad to pick me up upstairs, It was alwaus super cold at the arrivals.

Bye bye Lyon airport!

This flight is the very first of a long list of flights with BAW, and look I even kept the British Airways Executive welcome email!