A British Airways spokesperson has confirmed the airline will catch up with budget carriers by installing seats that do not recline - on services of up to four hours duration.
BA will fit non-reclining seats on its 35 new A320neos and A321neos, which should be in service later this year. The new seats will be fixed at a “gentle recline”, eliminating the possibility of passengers encroaching on the legroom of the people sitting behind them (they say....)
The news comes after BA already said it would add an extra two rows of seats to the new aircraft by reducing legroom by one inch.
A BA spokesperson said: “These changes will also allow us to offer more low fares to customers.” The airline also claims it will install at-seat power as well as onboard wifi.
A bulletin poster MFCC on the Flyertalk bulletin board lifts the lid on what is really in store for British Airways passengers.. This is what he/she wrote:
BA have begun training for Mixed Fleet (MF) and Established Fleet (EF) crews on the new NEOs (extended range option) entering service next year. I had mine the other week. A couple of bits:
- First 320N delivered March, first 321N delivered September
- All LHR 320 and 321CEOs to be retrofitted with new seating and SpaceFlex Galleys. The first refurbished 321C is in Prestwick being worked on now (first service provisionally the PMI on the 6th Jan).
- A319s are going to LGW as are Sharklet fitted A320s. Do not believe there are plans to refurbish these.
- Pinnacle seats (current) for the first 12 rows on 320C&N, and the first 14 rows on 321C&Ns. These will have both USB and a conventional plug socket
- New Recaro seats aft of Club which will just have USB power. These seats will not recline.
- 321Ns will have overwing exits and 3 main door pairs instead of current 4 door pairs.
- No video screens, life jacket manual demo every time and the life jackets will have tapes that clip and not a double bow to tie (yay!)
- Club loads will be capped on long flights due to limited available galley space. This won’t be a problem on short sectors as trays are smaller and no starters etc.
- There’s no waste bins or cold potable (drinkable) water tap at the rear, so all water runs and clear ins in ET will have to be made from the Club galley after they have completed their service.
- There are new ovens which are apparently the same as the 350. These give more options for cooking. For the Winter 2018 menu there may be M&S hot meals included in the BOB (buy on board) options, but this is yet to be confirmed.
- No duty free on any short haul flights, no space for the trolleys!
- Some changes coming to Club Europe service in April, this wasn’t elaborated on too much.
- BOB (Buy On Board) is here to stay, as is M&S. There are no plans to add free water/tea/coffee despite any rumours.
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