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Mini Open Skies Report
January 2014
Open Skies is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in the business traveler world, but the company itself has gone through so many transitions from all business class to two kinds of business class (Biz Bed and Biz Seat), and then towards the more traditional three class (Biz Bed, Prem Plus, and Economy). It has also changed ownership a few times, unless British Airways has its hand on it. Of course, the Biz Seat/Premium Plus product has suffered greatly since I last flew it, and to basically summarize it, Premium Plus is really a slightly upgraded version of British Airways’ own World Traveler Plus product. It is no longer a business minus, but more an upgraded economy product.
January 11, 2014
BA 8004 EWR-ORY Lv2030 Arr1000 Boeing 757-200ER Winglet F-GPEK “Lauren”
Ironically, I flew all three current Open Skies Boeing 757 after this trip, and F-GPEK was one of the birds transferred from British Airways, and had a different configuration than then one promoted on the website. It had a smaller Biz Bed section and for those who loved planes, F-GPEK does not have double over-wing window exits, but a pair of smaller exit door behind the wings. It does not feature the spacious Row 7 exit seats and all seats are pretty much the same, and Row 7 is actually bad because it does not have windows. Here are a few cabin shots!
The seats are still what mainly set Open Skies apart from World Traveler Plus, even the new ones featured on renovated BA planes and the new fleet of 787s, 77Ws or A380s, and the seats are wider and have more legroom and recline.
Seats in full recline position
However the seats are pretty wore out and the F/A had to manually recline my seat, as the “recline” button has long given in. The leg rest also does not want to stay up, and the plane looks very tired. It is clear that these planes are used heavily. This picture will possibly tell you that the plane needs some helps.
The bathroom situation is also pretty bad because of the location of the four bathrooms. Two bathrooms are located all the way up front and the F/As did not allow Prem Plus passengers to use them until the last hour of the flight, when the line was ridiculously long in the back. Two bathrooms behind the Premium Plus cabin are to be shared between Premium Plus and economy passengers. The plane was designed for an all business class configuration, so the original location of the bathrooms makes more sense. However it is a major issue when it transited the current three class cabin configuration. Considered our flight was not full in Premium Plus and economy cabin today, I can’t imagine on a 100% full flight situation.
In terms of amenities, both BA and Open Skies used the same premium economy amenity kit, along with noise-cancelling headsets and a fleece blanket. However Open Skies uses a nicer pillow and a full-sized bottled water was pre-placed at each seat before takeoff.
Catering wise – Open Skies unfortunately has adopted most of British Airways’ World Traveler Plus catering standard, and Open Skies does not even have printed menus. However, they don’t have them before, so you can’t expect them re-introducing them. The only difference is that Open Skies still uses glasses and real cups for the main meal service, and on WT+, you only get glasses when you ask for wines. Dinner is also served without a pre-meal beverage service! I guess it was designed to allow more rest time. Tonight’s dinner feature the same old green salad featured in all BA WT+ and WT meals, as well as cinnamon apple cake. Another difference is that there are more choices of warmed bread rolls for Open Skies Premium Plus passengers, and the meal tray has a slice or packaged Tillamook Cheddar Cheese. Entrée choices are Chicken Tikka Masala or Macaroni and cheese with broccoli – both are typical British Airways fares, but I just don’t understand why Indian food is served on a flight that is not flying to or from India. I was hungry so I ate it all, but that Mac & cheese was pretty bad.
January 2014
Open Skies is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in the business traveler world, but the company itself has gone through so many transitions from all business class to two kinds of business class (Biz Bed and Biz Seat), and then towards the more traditional three class (Biz Bed, Prem Plus, and Economy). It has also changed ownership a few times, unless British Airways has its hand on it. Of course, the Biz Seat/Premium Plus product has suffered greatly since I last flew it, and to basically summarize it, Premium Plus is really a slightly upgraded version of British Airways’ own World Traveler Plus product. It is no longer a business minus, but more an upgraded economy product.
January 11, 2014
BA 8004 EWR-ORY Lv2030 Arr1000 Boeing 757-200ER Winglet F-GPEK “Lauren”
Ironically, I flew all three current Open Skies Boeing 757 after this trip, and F-GPEK was one of the birds transferred from British Airways, and had a different configuration than then one promoted on the website. It had a smaller Biz Bed section and for those who loved planes, F-GPEK does not have double over-wing window exits, but a pair of smaller exit door behind the wings. It does not feature the spacious Row 7 exit seats and all seats are pretty much the same, and Row 7 is actually bad because it does not have windows. Here are a few cabin shots!
The seats are still what mainly set Open Skies apart from World Traveler Plus, even the new ones featured on renovated BA planes and the new fleet of 787s, 77Ws or A380s, and the seats are wider and have more legroom and recline.
Seats in full recline position
However the seats are pretty wore out and the F/A had to manually recline my seat, as the “recline” button has long given in. The leg rest also does not want to stay up, and the plane looks very tired. It is clear that these planes are used heavily. This picture will possibly tell you that the plane needs some helps.
The bathroom situation is also pretty bad because of the location of the four bathrooms. Two bathrooms are located all the way up front and the F/As did not allow Prem Plus passengers to use them until the last hour of the flight, when the line was ridiculously long in the back. Two bathrooms behind the Premium Plus cabin are to be shared between Premium Plus and economy passengers. The plane was designed for an all business class configuration, so the original location of the bathrooms makes more sense. However it is a major issue when it transited the current three class cabin configuration. Considered our flight was not full in Premium Plus and economy cabin today, I can’t imagine on a 100% full flight situation.
In terms of amenities, both BA and Open Skies used the same premium economy amenity kit, along with noise-cancelling headsets and a fleece blanket. However Open Skies uses a nicer pillow and a full-sized bottled water was pre-placed at each seat before takeoff.
Catering wise – Open Skies unfortunately has adopted most of British Airways’ World Traveler Plus catering standard, and Open Skies does not even have printed menus. However, they don’t have them before, so you can’t expect them re-introducing them. The only difference is that Open Skies still uses glasses and real cups for the main meal service, and on WT+, you only get glasses when you ask for wines. Dinner is also served without a pre-meal beverage service! I guess it was designed to allow more rest time. Tonight’s dinner feature the same old green salad featured in all BA WT+ and WT meals, as well as cinnamon apple cake. Another difference is that there are more choices of warmed bread rolls for Open Skies Premium Plus passengers, and the meal tray has a slice or packaged Tillamook Cheddar Cheese. Entrée choices are Chicken Tikka Masala or Macaroni and cheese with broccoli – both are typical British Airways fares, but I just don’t understand why Indian food is served on a flight that is not flying to or from India. I was hungry so I ate it all, but that Mac & cheese was pretty bad.
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