Review of British Airways flight from London to Lyon in Economy

BA - British Airways

Flight taken on 15 December 2018

BA2618

London Lyon

LGW

LYS

11:35 01h 40m 14:15

Model Airbus A319

Class Economy

Seat XXA

MY BRITISH AIRWAYS ANALYSIS THROUGHOUT 2012-2019

Hello Everyone and welcome to this flight between Lyon and London, 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 cabin luggage

so free seat selection at booking, Complimentary meal and drinks (incl alcohol) and checked-in luggage no more!

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 FLIGHT REPORT ITSELF

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

For once I wasn't going to fly on an A320 but one old A319.

British Airways used to use its oldest units, still with the BMI seat and cabin configuration - from Gatwick - where a "leasure" kind of clientele is more observed - hence less demanding - allegedly.

at london - gatwick airport

I arrived at Gatwick airport from Blackfriars station with the Thameslink - which is by the way cheaper than the Gatwick Express from Victoria.

I went to the check in area to drop my luggage off, and you could see here the new and dedicated check in area to business customers.

Not sure why but together with my boarding pass, the staff gave us all some gatwick leaflet! Perhaps I was looking tired and confused?

Security is up the stairs.

and our boarding gate, at the south terminal.

onboard the a319

Aircraft: Airbus A319-131
Registration: G-DBCF
Engines: 2x IAE V25200
Age: 16 Years
Layout: Y144
Observations: Used to belong to BMI and was absorbed into BA's fleet after the merge.

A door instant for my friend Esteban!

The cabin was one of the oldest ironing boards.. ugh

Our neighbour… that is now gone…

I am reporting this flight that is just 3 years old and it feels like it was 10 years ago. Things definitely move fast in the aviation industry.

I wasn't in the best of moods for the reasons you know it seems like I didn't take that many pictures.

On cruise… Look at the pitch that is super tight.

Ready for the
complimentary

full

gluttony

service?

Tadaaaaaa!

Time for the magazine review

at lyon - saint exupery airport

Parking next to another A320Neo but due to Heathrow..

And finally to finish, some of my perks with the app

Display all

Product ratings

Airline

British Airways 6.1

Cabin6.0 / 10
Cabin crew9.0 / 10
Entertainment/wifi5.5 / 10
Meal/catering4.0 / 10

Departure airport

London - LGW7.0

Efficiency6.0 / 10
Access6.0 / 10
Services8.0 / 10
Cleanliness8.0 / 10

Arrival Airport

Lyon - LYS7.9

Efficiency8.0 / 10
Access7.0 / 10
Services7.5 / 10
Cleanliness9.0 / 10

Conclusion

We are going to see that the level of service has been going down over the years, but not the ticket fare, all in the name of the free market and the high competition.

The end of the complimentary service is an absolute no go for a legacy carrier in my opinion.

In 2018, on the LYS-LHR legs, I paid on average £17 for a single ticket, using three "free" flight redeemed with avios.
In 2017, on the LYS-LHR legs, I paid on average £52 for a single ticket, using a "free" flight redeemed with avios.
In 2016, on the LYS-LHR legs, I paid on average £50 for a single ticket, using a "free" flight redeemed with avios.
In 2015, on the LYS-LHR legs, I paid on average £65 for a single ticket, using a "free" flight redeemed with avios.
In 2014, on the LYS-LHR legs, I paid on average £57 for a single ticket, using a "free" flight redeemed with avios.
In 2013, on the LYS-LHR legs, I paid on average £49 for a single ticket, using a "free" flight redeemed with avios.
In 2012, on the LYS-LHR legs, I paid on average £56 for a single ticket (so £112 for return).

The new cabin was a bit more modern in terms of colours but the seats were less generous in terms of quality and pitch.
The cabin crew is a real plus, nothing too fancy but you know what you get on board BAW: no bad surprises of staff being grumpy (unlike AF at the time)
In terms of entertainments, there were a magazine, the screens in the cabin which were really strong for a 2012 product (I am not adding the Wifi criteria on my ranking)