travelling business class with ba

Simple Flying

British airways' business class seats: what to expect onboard.

One of several configurations may used depending on the aircraft type.

Like any typical full-service airline, UK flag carrier British Airways offers a comprehensive business class offering across its mainline fleet. Known as Club World, or Club Europe on short-haul aircraft, this product comes in various shapes and sizes depending on the exact aircraft and its seating configuration.

Club Suites have taken the offering up a level

Recent years have seen British Airways begin to overhaul its Club World offering with the introduction of a brand-new product known as the Club Suite. The most notable change this new seat has offered is the introduction of a four-abreast 1-2-1 configuration, with every single seat offering direct aisle access.

With first class cabins becoming a rarity in the world of modern commercial aviation, high-end long-haul business class offerings with low-density configurations have taken on greater importance. The introduction of the Club Suite, which features personal doors for additional privacy, 198cm (6ft 6in) beds, and 17-inch entertainment screens, according to BA , is the airline's way of joining this trend.

Trip Report: British Airways Boeing 777 Club Suite New York JFK to London Heathrow

However, as lovely as the new product is, it is yet to become a ubiquitous offering on British Airways' long-haul aircraft. According to aeroLOPA , it features on all of the carrier's Airbus A350-1000s and Boeing 787-10s, but only some of its 777-200ERs, 777-300ERs, and 787-8s. Meanwhile, none of its A380s or 787-9s have been fitted with Club Suites, although retrofits are planned for the coming years.

The older product

For British Airways' planes that don't yet feature the Club Suite, passengers in Club World must contend with a product that is sadly now rather outdated. On wider aircraft such as the double-decker Airbus A380, these seats are laid out in a staggered 'yin-yang' configuration with a 2-4-2 layout.

In other words, this setup features twice as many seats per row as the new Club Suite product. Furthermore, half of the seats face backward, and both the bed and entertainment screen are significantly smaller than the new offering. Specifically, these measure 183cm (6ft) and 12 inches, respectively.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here !

Of course, the same high standards when it comes to the onboard service of food and drink are still present. However, where possible, these older seats are best avoided from a comfort point of view. British Airways' 787s are slightly better in terms of their old Club World product configuration, with 'only' seven seats per row.

The short-haul offering is rather basic

BA's short-haul offering is Club Europe, and, like many European flag carriers, simply consists of a blocked middle seat . While this offers greater operational flexibility with varying business and economy loads, the comfort levels are obviously inferior to, for example, domestic first class in the US. That being said, Club Europe passengers do get better catering and baggage than their economy counterparts.

What do you make of British Airways' various Club World configurations? How many have you flown in? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

British Airways

British Airways Business Class Review: Is it Worth Paying More?

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 16/02/2024

I live in West London so British Airways is my immediate airline of choice due to its base at Heathrow. I feel like I know Heathrow Terminal 5 almost as well as I know my home sometimes. I fly British Airways often and am currently on silver status. To clarify, British Airways has never paid for any of my flights and I’m not even sure they know I write airline reviews.

I have flown Club World with BA quite a few times, so this British Airways business class review covers several business class flights, thus the number of meal photos you will see! I have also flown British Airways Premium Economy several times so I will compare BA business class with premium economy and British Airways with Virgin Atlantic upper class and premium economy.

British Airways Business Class Offer

British Airways Business Class is called Club World globally. Within Europe, on short-haul flights, business class on BA is called Club Europe. The big difference between the two is that Club Europe does not have flat beds. Instead, the seating is the same as you would find in economy apart from it being at the front of the plane and the middle seat is always empty.

In this review, I will focus on business class in Club World. I most frequently travel business class with BA when I visit the United States so this article covers long-distance flights between London and the West Coast of the United States.

The key features of British Airways Club World are as follows:

• Dedicated Check-in Areas at the Airport
• Security Fast Track at Heathrow, Gatwick, and JFK
• Additional Checked Bag Allowance
• Ability to book a seat at check-in at no extra cost
• Priority boarding
• Lounge Access
• Flat Bed Seat and all on-board amenities etc.

British Airways’s newer planes (Airbus A350-1000 and the Boeing 787-10) offer what is called Club Suites in business class. The key difference between Club Suites and Club World is a privacy door, direct aisle access for all seats and more storage area.

The Boeing 777-300ER and the Boeing 787-9 both have Club World Seats.

Checking In

Club World has separate check-in areas at both Heathrow Terminal 5 and London Gatwick. When you arrive at Heathrow Terminal 5 have your car take you to the end of the drop-off section as this is where the Club World check-in area is located. The check-in area is clearly marked but not closed off (First Class check in is closed off). Bag drop is normally very speedy at the Club World check-in at Heathrow Terminal 5.

Club World has a closed-off check-in area at London Gatwick which I like a lot. It definitely has a more premium feel vs an open check-in area where business class is merely a separate hopefully shorter queue.

Club World passengers can bring a cabin bag and a laptop or handbag on board. This isn’t that different from what a premium economy or economy customer can bring on board. However, on full flights economy, passengers often have to check their cabin bags. This won’t happen if you are flying Club World.

Checked baggage is a generous 2 x 32 kgs per person. This is 9 kgs per person more than premium economy (2 bag check-in as well) and economy (1 bag check-in), a substantial difference.

NB: If you are traveling on a connecting flight the luggage allowance is determined by the airline that operates the longest flight in your itinerary.

British Airway’s Club World Passengers receive security fast track at Heathrow and Gatwick and priority boarding.

British Airways Business Class Lounges

British Airways’s home in London is Heathrow Terminal Five. BA has two lounge options at Terminal 5: the north and south lounges. I personally prefer the south lounge as it is closer to many gates. This is also where the first-class lounge for British Airways is located.

The Club World Lounge is located at the top of the escalators. It is a large lounge with a nice view over the runway and airport. Best of all, a great and extensive food selection is generally available at the South Lounge at Heathrow. I am a huge fan of their breakfast, which would give many hotel breakfast buffets a run for their money. The lounge uses Union Coffee and the machines are good.

During the day there is normally an extensive range of different types of salads and warm food on offer. The big differentiator of this lounge for me is its extensive range of food. I have not seen many lounges offer this level or variety outside the Middle East. It is also possible to order via QR code from your seat in the lounge.

The downside of this lounge is that there are only a few toilets and they always seem to be busy. Getting a shower at the lounge is possible, but this needs to be booked via the QR code.

The business class lounge at Gatwick is similar but not as large.

The British Airways Club World Lounge in Seattle is a good size with some decent food but it is crying out for a refurbishment.

NB: British Airways also has an arrivals lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5.

British Airways Business Class Review: The Cabin and the Seats

There are three different cabin configurations for British Airways business class.

2 x 4 x 2 -A380 main deck -777-200 LGW -777-236

2 x 3 x 2 -A380 Upper Deck -787-8 -787-9

1 x 2 x 1 -A350 -777-200 -777-200ER -777-300 -787-10

Personally, I much prefer the 1 x 2 x 1 configuration as all seats then have direct aisle access. If you want to see the person you are traveling with then taking the two middle seats works well. If you end up with one of the middle seats and don’t want to see your neighbor, there is a handy privacy screen that is easily erected.

Club World seats convert into a 183 cm or 6 foot fully flat bed. They also have a fully adjustable headrest and lumbar support.

Club Suites have a whopping 198 cm or 6 foot 6 inches fully flat bed plus digital seat functionality to ensure your sitting time is as comfortable as possible. This is a vast improvement in bed length but only manages to bring BA into line with some of the major Middle Eastern and Asian airlines when it comes to bed length. For example, the flat bed on Cathay Pacific can be up to 205 centimeters.

There is extra storage space compared to Club World and even a little cupboard with a mirror. In my experience, most planes haven’t many mirrors outside the bathroom.

You might enjoy reading some more of my business class reviews: – Malaysia Airlines – Thai Airways – Iberia – Air France – Swiss Airlines

Even better the power area is to the side of the seat allowing for easy access. This is considerably better than the locations used by most airlines which generally require an extensive yoga position to get a fully charged phone.

In Club Suites there is also a nice little reading light that is easy to turn on and perfect for reading on your flat bed before heading to sleep.

You might enjoy reading my reviews of Delta Premium Economy and Alaska Airlines First Class.

I am a huge fan of British Airways Club Suites. I have always liked the British Airways Club World product but all the Middle Eastern airlines and many of the Asian airlines have a much better business class offer. With Club Suites, I now find BA comparable to the best Middle Eastern and Asian airlines. And as I am short I don’t mind that there are longer beds available.

British Airways generally serves two different champagnes: brut and rose. When I flew with them in early 2023 the champagnes were Heidsieck & Co Monopole and Bessarat de Bellfon. The white wines were a sauvignon blanc from Marlborough and a South African chenin blanc. The reds were a South African Pinot Noir and a South African cabernet sauvignon.

My meals were poached shrimp with cherry tomatoes, jalapeno peppers and saffron aioli followed by an excellent barbeque beef short rib with mashed sweet potato, sauteed spinach, carrot and broccoli. Dessert was pistachio mousse or chocolate coffee fondant and a selection of cheeses.

Headed in the other direction, I enjoyed a roasted British beef salad with broccolini, baby corn, carrots and horseradish cream. My main meal was braised beef cheeks with cheddar au gratin, french beans, broccolini, fire-roasted red pepper, asparagus, parsnips and beef jus. Dessert was British apple crumble or chocolate pudding and a selection of cheeses.

I find the lunch and dinner meals on British Airways business class to be of outstanding quality. However, the breakfast offers are generally quite average.

The Service

I really like the service of British Airways business class. I always find it very friendly but never too much. Having said that, I have lived in England for 20 years. The staff are generally quite jolly and authentic and I like this on my long flights.

As always, the farther up the cabin, you can sit, the better e.g. lower row number when it comes to service. The back row, of course, gets served last and is most likely to have a more limited offer of food and drink items.

The entertainment

British Airways Club World seats have a 12-inch flat screen. Club Suites has a 17-inch high-resolution screen; the difference is noticeable and enjoyable. I believe both versions of business class offer the same noise-cancelling headphones which are effective but nothing extraordinary.

I am a big fan of the British Airways in-flight entertainment offer but again I live in the UK. In August 2023 British Airways doubled the size of its entertainment library and they now offer more than 70 box sets. They also have channels for HBO Max, the BBC and Paramount Plus as well as others.

Evaluating the in-flight entertainment system is very personal, as what I love might be your worst nightmare. However, based on my experience, British Airways has one of the biggest entertainment offers.

The amenities

I really like the White Company amenities on offer with British Airways. The little leather-ish bags are a very handy size. Each one contains a lip balm, a very nice pulse point roller and moisturizer. The eyemask is good quality, as are the socks. The bags also contain a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a pen.

The pillow is actually a good size which can be quite rare in air travel. There is a slim mattress protector to place on the seat which I like and then a separate duvet that is very comfortable.

I have had very little luck with British Airways flights to and from the West Coast of the United States when it comes to wifi. The flights often go over Iceland, Greenland and Canada so I assume this is why there is generally not much wifi available during the flight.

Airline Comparisons

British airways business class vs british airways premium economy.

British Airways Club World is a big step up from British Airways World Traveller Plus, particularly with the new club suites offer. I find the British Airways Premium Economy offer to be much closer to economy versus the excellent Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy product.

It is definitely worth paying quite a big extra to upgrade from British Airways premium economy to business class. Personally, if business class costs up to USD$700 more than premium economy per leg I upgrade.

British Airways Business Class vs Virgin Atlantic Upper Class

I prefer British Airways business class to Virgin Atlantic Upper Class. Whilst Virgin has the best lounge product and the fab onboard bar, I do not like their “pod” sleeping configuration. I don’t like being that close to the next seat and I really don’t like being seated directly across from other passengers. Their Upper Class offers no privacy.

I prefer the standard British Airways Club World to Virgin Atlantic Upper Class. When you add the British Airways Club Suites offer, I would absolutely pay a few hundred dollars extra to fly with British Airways business class vs Virgin Atlantic.

British Airways Business Class vs Other Airlines

The standard British Airways Club World product is inferior to the standard offer on most of the Middle Eastern and Asian airlines like Emirates and Qatar in my opinion. However, combine Club Suites with the quality of their food and the strong in-flight entertainment offer and I think they are on par. If I was flying, say London to Australia I would not pay extra to fly British Airways vs Singapore or Qatar but I would see them as being on the same level.

British Airways Business Class Review in Conclusion

Overall I am a fan of British Airways Business Class, particularly when it comes to the Club Suite product. It is a major upgrade compared to the rather average British Airways premium economy offer. In my opinion, British Airways business class is better than Virgin Atlantic and the club suite offer is in line with the business class offers of the Middle Eastern and Asian airlines.

I covered most of the costs of all of the flights mentioned in this article. In some cases, the destination marketing organisations with whom I work subsidized part of the airfares. However, British Airways did not cover any of my airfares. This post does contain affiliate links. That means if you click through on some of the links in the article and make a purchase I may receive a small commission.

Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

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Review of British Airways Business Class

To fly, to serve. That is the tagline of the UK’s main carrier British Airways. It takes pride in offering reliable and friendly service while carrying the Union Flag to farthest flung corners of the globe. The airline’s Business Class, branded as Club World, was one of the first to offer flat-bed seats, and the carrier continues to evolve its premium product today.

Afternoon tea with scones, locally sourced menu ingredients, and even a beer made just for the airline are special British touches that set Club World apart from other airlines.

British Airways is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, meaning fliers can earn and redeem Avios points with its many partners. Conversely, members of other alliance member airlines can earn and redeem their miles with British Airways.

Airport experience

With primary hubs at London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports (and a smaller operation at London City), all British Airways flights pass  through  London.

Club World passengers have access to premium check-in desks and security access. Once airside, they will find large Galleries Club lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick airports with self-service bars offering cocktails, soft drinks, wine, and beer. They feature service desks for assistance with tickets, a wide selection of magazines and newspapers, workstations with computers and free Wi-Fi, and buffets with warm and cold food selections.

London-based Union Coffee, plus a wide variety of Twinings Tea and accompaniments, is no surprise for a British carrier. Travellers with Sapphire status on oneworld airlines can also use the Club World lounges when travelling in any cabin. Top-status Emerald members gain access to British Airways First Class lounge, even if travelling in Club World.

British Airways also operates an arrivals lounge for Business Class passengers flying into London Heathrow on long-haul flights. This is a great way to maximise sleep onboard and enjoy breakfast in the lounge after a quick shower or coffee. It is located past immigration and customs and is available between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m.

British Airways offers several branded lounges in airports worldwide, including Johannesburg, New York JFK, Philadelphia, and Washington Dulles. British Airways also has lounges in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Manchester in the United Kingdom. These offer similar amenities to their London counterparts, although they are less abundant. In some North American lounges like Philadelphia and Washington Dulles and the recently opened and impressive New York JFK British Airways Terminal 8 , pre-flight supper is available so passengers can sleep straight after takeoff. That is especially helpful on short red-eye flights to London.

In cities with no British Airways lounge, Business Class passengers have access to third-party facilities (often a oneworld partner) as they await their flight's departure.

Cabin & Seat

Being the pioneer of flat-bed seats in Business Class is a respectable feat, although other carriers have launched similar seats since its launch. Never one to rest on its laurels, British Airways developed a next-generation, flat-bed seat, dubbed Club Suite, that features a sliding door and all-aisle access. The new Club Suites are available on the airline's 13 Airbus A350-1000s, and British Airways is gradually introducing 12 Boeing 787-10s to the fleet by 2024, each featuring the new Club Suite. The airline's 43 Boeing 777-200ER fleet are shared between Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, with 28 based at Heathrow and the remaining 15 at Gatwick. None of the Gatwick-based 777-200ER aircraft is likely to feature the Club Suite. However, most Heathrow aircraft now feature the reconfigured Club Suite cabin along with most of the 16 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Meanwhile,  work on the Boeing 787-8s has commenced , with the Boeing 787-9 fleet to follow suit thereafter. No plans have been made to add the new cabin to the Airbus A380 fleet.

Club Suites are in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, which means seats face slightly away from the aisle. Couples will prefer one of the pairs of centre seats since there is a divider that opens for conversation. Solo travellers can choose any seat for privacy, although window seats are arguably quieter.

Club Suites are also divided into two cabins, with the majority in one forward section of Club World and then a mini cabin of 12 more seats behind that. Travellers may prefer that smaller cabin for a more intimate feel. Electronic consoles control the seat functions, and the ability to close a door makes you less likely to feel foot traffic passing along the aisle. It is a private suite, not unlike many First Class products. Doors can only be closed after takeoff for safety reasons.

The remainder of British Airways' fleet features the older Club World product, set in a 2-4-2 seating layout. Seats on the aisle are more exposed than those by the window. Window passengers must step over the feet of aisle passengers to get out. These do not have doors and are less spacious than Club Suites. If you want the latest Business Class product, you must fly a newly delivered aircraft or an older one that has been refitted. As it will take a couple of years before all aircraft feature Club Suites, it is always a good idea to check the seat map for the flight you are considering.

The older style of Club World seats alternate between forward and backwards facing, and every pair of seats features a divider that can be lowered to chat with a seatmate or to interact with flight attendants during meal service. This means that occasionally, the person in the aisle seat has food passed over their table, and when the divider is lowered, seatmates are facing each other rather than being side by side. It is an unusual setup but is fantastic for couples travelling together as it is much easier to chat with one another.

Not all tickets are eligible for advance seat selection. However, those purchasing flexible fares and travellers with Oneworld Alliance elite status can choose a seat at no cost in advance. Others must wait until check-in to be assigned a seat.

Solo travellers may prefer backwards-facing window seats in the last row of most cabins since there is no one to pass over when accessing the aisle.

Seat maps do an excellent job of showing which seats face forward and which look backwards. A storage drawer by your feet opens space for books, chargers, electronics, and other devices. A literature pocket is also near the ottoman, which folds down in front of the seat.

Electronic buttons control the seat functions in various positions, including the option to recline to a flat bed measuring 2 metres (6.5 feet long).

Waiting at each seat is a thick pillow and wrapped duvet blanket from The White Company, and a reading lamp provides multi-directional illumination. Power/USB outlets are available at every seat, too.

The  flight search on BusinessClass.com  includes images, videos, and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft. Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested before making your choice.

British Airways offers a lovely inflight service on fine china with printed menus explaining each course and where many ingredients originate.

Each course is delivered on a single tray, and plates and glasses are placed on linen-lined tables for a more restaurant-style experience. The use of service carts in the aisles is minimised, another welcome change, meaning there is less noise in the aisle and a more bespoke service atmosphere.

After nuts and a drink to start, the first course arrives with a salad and appetiser selection. A small silver basket for bread is a nice touch, and so is having both olive oil and butter.

Three main course dishes usually include beef, lamb, fish or poultry, and pasta. Dessert features a sweet option or a fine fruit and cheese plate of British provenance. Classic afternoon tea is available on select long-haul flights, and destination-inspired dishes will reflect the flavours of the regions, such as herb-grilled mahi-mahi fish on Caribbean routes.

While meals are not dine-on-demand, British Airways does provide passengers on red-eye flights a card to fill out and hand to the crew. This is a great way to expedite the pre-landing service and allow for maximum sleep. Passengers can customise breakfast options with continental choices or heartier English breakfast dishes. If they want a cup of hot coffee or tea before landing, with a pastry, that can be arranged, too.

British Airways is very generous regarding midflight snacks for those feeling peckish. Its Club Kitchen concept provides sweet and savoury snack options and allows guests to "raid the larder." A refrigerator features sandwiches, fresh fruit, and sometimes even ice cream in a separate freezer section that passengers can help themselves to midflight.

Before takeoff, flight attendants greet passengers with Champagne, juice, or water trays. They also deliver printed menus with details on the drink selection to follow. Several beer options are the norm, including BrewDog Speedbird 100 IPA, BrewDog JetStream and BrewDog Speedbird OG (new for 2023), crafted in partnership between BA and BrewDog, especially for the airline. There is a long list of spirits, liqueurs, and aperitifs on flights, including several cocktail recipes. Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds-backed Aviation American Gin is available on all flights. Mocktails are a fun surprise. Coffee from London's Union Coffee and an array of Twinings Teas round off the menu.

BA's Master of Wine has curated a new wine list – Tim Jackson has already elevated the wine service with fresh Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir offerings in Club World, with additional wines highlighting the airline's destinations rolling out during 2023. On the wine list, there are usually two colours of Champagne (Brut and Rosé), two whites, two reds, and one port. Before the main meal, an aperitif service comes with mixed nuts and a choice of beverage. With every course, top-ups are available as flight attendants serve each passenger as if it were a restaurant collecting their last plate and delivering the next course when they are ready.

Each Club World passenger gets a bottle of water, but the full menu of beverages is available anytime during the flight.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on which Champagne is served in Business Class and First Class on many airlines. We do our best to keep track of any changes but feel free to let us know if we missed something .

Flight attendants are formal yet friendly. It is the typical British-reserved service delivery you might find in a hotel or restaurant in the United Kingdom. Many passengers find that the crew adapts to each person's conversation and informality level throughout the flight. Show them that you like to chat, and they will chat. Show British formality, and they will return the respect.

On flights where a foreign language is spoken at the destination, expect that someone on the crew will be ready to converse in that native tongue. British Airways also has overseas-based cabin crew on many flights; Indian flights, for example, often have crew based in India, which helps with cultural service details.

A smart new uniform will be introduced to the BA flight crew in the Spring of 2023 for the first time in 20 years. Designed by British fashion designer and tailor Ozwald Boateng, the classy new outfits will reflect the airline's pride in their product.

Entertainment

Club Suites have a 43 centimetres high-definition in-flight entertainment screen with a wide selection of Hollywood movies and television programs, including box sets and a global music collection. Screens respond to touch but can also be adjusted via remote control. A sealed pack of noise-reducing headphones awaits passengers at each seat, though these aren't as noise-cancelling as they could be. Passengers can select entertainment options via the touchscreen or the practical handset.

Wi-Fi is available on most British Airways' long-haul fleet, with prices available for hourly service or sometimes for a package to cover the entire flight.

In addition to a wide selection of international newspapers and magazines available in the lounge and at the boarding gate, there are often more to enjoy inflight. British Airways also produces its own inflight magazine: High Life, and a business traveller-focused publication - Business Life.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi .

Amenities & Facilities

The White Company amenity kits are standard on British Airways and feature branded lip balm, hand lotion, socks, eyeshades, dental kits and a small pen. The bedding is also from The White Company and comes in the form of thick blankets and pillows and a mattress topper.

Hot towels are a nice way to refresh before each meal. On flights to certain Asian cities, Club World passengers receive slippers to wear inflight.

Families with infants can pre-reserve a bassinet on long-haul flights to use in Club World. Children can enjoy everything from cartoon and youth-themed shows to special toys and gifts to keep them busy.

Club Suite cabins have two lavatories with White Company products and baby change facilities.

Short & Medium Haul

British Airways' short and medium-haul flights typically operate with narrow-body aircraft offering 3-3 seating, featuring a Business Class product branded as Club Europe. The middle seat is blocked for extra comfort, and inflight service consists of hot or cold meals depending upon the length of the flight. Even on these shorter flights (including domestic services), the bar is open with selections including beer, wine, spirits, and Champagne.

For a limited time in 2023, some passengers can experience Club Suites, as the airline uses its wide-body aircraft on select European routes .

Sustainability

The airline is investing in the most fuel-efficient planes and focuses on all the ways it can reduce emissions in inflight and on the ground. Recycling programs in its lounges and inflight are another eco-friendly measure.

British Airways has a goal for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the carrier invests in carbon-neutral projects in many of the destinations it serves. On its flights, it has switched to bamboo alternatives instead of plastic stirrers, reduced plastic use for amenity kits and headsets, and serves water bottles made from recycled materials. The airline sends less than one per cent of non-catering waste to landfills. BA's new uniforms are made from more than 90 per cent sustainable fabrics from recycled polyester and only use manufacturers of the 'Better Cotton' initiative. The old uniforms will be donated to charities, recycled into children's toys or contributed to the airline's museum.

The airline also collects loose change (that sometimes may sit in a drawer rather than be spent) from passengers on its long-haul flights to support the non-profit organisation Flying Start. It supports less-fortunate children around the world. British Airways is also the first airline to build a waste-to-fuel plant converting everyday consumer waste to sustainable fuel.

A partnership with the Born Free Foundation has the airline advocating against the captivity of wild animals.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also score higher on flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft .

What We Love

• Airport lounges for Club World passengers offer ample food and beverage allowing passengers to dine pre-flight and maximise rest on short red-eye flights.
• There are many British touches from start to finish: bespoke beer, amenity kits from The White Company, and dessert cheese plates with regional cheeses.
• You will find flat-bed seats on every long-haul flight; British Airways was among the first global airlines to guarantee this benefit.

BusinessClass.com searches hundreds of travel sites at once to help you find the best premium travel offers for both flights and the finest hotels.

Is Business Class with British Airways worth it?

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British Airways Business Class Review: Solving a Problem Other Airlines Miss

May 10, 2019

Understanding Business Class in British Airways

British Airways Business Class Review: Flying Club World

I fly a lot. I mean, a lot . Here’s my review of British Airways Business Class, or as they call it, Club World.

New Club Suite – 2019

2019 Update:  BA have announced a new Club Suite for their A350 aircraft, which will be rolled out later in 2019. Watch this blog for updates. In the meantime, this BA Business Class Review is still up to date. .

 What is business class in British Airways?

The first thing to notice when dealing with British Airways is that there isn’t a straightforward division into Business Class, Economy and First.

Instead,  as with many business class flights with other airlines,  there are now divisions and subdivisions and these have been given names that (to a jet lagged and weary mind) can seem a little confusing.

So much so, in fact, that when I was offered an upgrade after take-off it took me a little while to respond. It wasn’t entirely clear whether it was an upgrade or a request for me to move to another part of the plane (and leave behind one of the best strokes of luck in consumer aviation terms: a window seat with an empty seat next to it and no-one else around!)

Luckily, however, the response to the pitiful question “would I be able to lie down?” was a suppressed smile and a definite yes and so I scrambled together my mobile office and walked beyond the curtain. (Side note – I’ve never seen people move so fast on a plane as the couple behind me did to take my place.)

British Airways Business Class Cabin Club World – a 4 2 2 arrangement

BA Club World = Business Class (Broadly speaking)

So anyway. With all that taken care of,  this review is going to discuss flying with British Airways Club World (business class in broad strokes.) That’s different to British Airways World Traveller (which is the standard economy seat when flying BA outside Europe.) I’m also going to have to skip the pre-flight details as I didn’t get to experience those first hand. But enough faff – here’s my review of my flight from Antigua to London Gatwick.

Completely private: sleeping and eating in the Club World Cabin

British Airways Club World Business Cabin Solves A Problem

With a 4, 2,2 arrangement, British Airways seems to have overcome the issue that troubles many business class flights: how to balance the requirements for those who want privacy with those who don’t.

Window and aisle seats are cocooned; the two middle seats open up to one another.

When travelling for work, I definitely want to cocoon myself as much as possible but if you’re on a romantic getaway or travelling with a young child then the central seats would definitely appeal.

The only slight snag on one of the aisle seats remains that the cabin crew will have to lean over you to pass the other passengers their meals or deal with any other queries they may have.

If your central passenger is a businessman who just wants to sleep, that’s not a problem. If it’s a young child, well, prepare to be disturbed.

British Airways Club World Seat

British Airways Club World Seat – Lovely and Flat

The British Airways Business Class seat itself is excellent – folding down to a fully flat bed with a footrest and everything in between. The architecture of the seat protects your head and feet from knocks as people walk down the aisle but the straight configuration leaves you with a slight question of where to put your knees if you sleep in the foetal position.

There’s a power supply (albeit in a tricky location), generous overhead storage, a slide out table with plenty of options and a fold out TV screen with world class entertainment. In addition to the space overhead, there’s a small storage drawer next to your seat for storing your laptop, books, newspapers and so on during the flight. It’s quite hard to reach with the table and TV screen out, though, and if you overfill it (ahem) you may find yourself with problems as you try to make the chair recline…

British Airways Club World Food

Served on white tablecloths, the BA Club World flight came with the best of British breakfasts plus the choice of an evening meal. Unlike on some other flights, passengers were left to take their time and enjoy their food. And while it may not rank as some of the best food on earth, it certainly ranks among the best to eat on a plane.

British Airways Business Class Review Summary

What i loved.

• Lying comfortably flat with most things I needed within reach
• Chirpy, friendly service
• Baggage allowance (always a good feature with British Airways)
• Option for privacy or conversation

What to know

• With an aisle seat, you will have staff leaning across you to deal with other passengers.

The Full Specs

For an interactive look at the facilities including a seat plan head over to the official British Airways page.

Read Other Business Class Reviews

• The Virgin Business Class Review – The Upper Class Suite  
• Cathay Pacific Business Class Review
• Royal Brunei Business Class Review
• And, of course, don’t miss our flight booking hacks. Yes, even for business class.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary upgrade on this British Airways Club World flight. As ever, as always, I kept the right to write what I like. Otherwise, there’s just no point…

Also, I break the tradition of using my own photos for  business class reviews.  It just seems a little mean and unnecessary to snap people while they’re sleeping. Unless of course I know them…Mwahahahaaha….

2 thoughts on “British Airways Business Class Review: Solving a Problem Other Airlines Miss”

The one downside about BA is that is it a dated and really poorly maintained product. I’ll be glad to see these cabins phased out over the coming years now the new BA Club World seats is confirmed to arrive from August 2019.

More space and more privacy seem to be the crucial selling points with a 1-2-1 configuration and sliding doors (something BA’s current First product don’t even offer!)

Space and privacy are definitely the priority for me (after lying flat!) I’m not too bothered about the food – for great food I can wait until I reach the destination ! (As long as there’s something to eat – and plentiful water.) Will be interesting to see the new product!

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Travelling Han

Exploring the world one small piece at a time!

British Airways Business Class: A Review

British Airways’ (BA) long haul business class is a tale of two halves, because it has two products in the market at the moment. Traditionally, its business class product has been referred to as Club World , but is currently being upgraded and rebranded to Club Suites . Initially BA had planned to finish the upgrade by 2025 but due to COVID this is more likely to be 2030 now. It means some planes have the old and some have the new.

In my opinion the old product is one of the worst products in the market, and the new product is one of the best so it’s really pot luck as to what you get. More planes have Club World than the new Club Suites so statistically speaking you’re more likely to get the worse experience.

I’ve reviewed both below so you can see the difference. I have flown multiple routes in BA business class, but this review uses photos from London Heathrow to/from San Jose, Costa Rica and London Heathrow to/from Hong Kong.

Overall Rating

• Club World – 5/10
• Club Suites – 8/10

At the Airport

Whichever option you’ve got, your airport experience will be the same. All BA flights route via London and BA has hubs in both Gatwick and Heathrow airports. I always fly out of Heathrow, and flying business means you get access to the Club World lounge. The lounges are always pretty busy but the food and drink available for free is really great quality. They normally have a choice of hot meals, an extensive salad bar and alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. They also have biscuit jars so that’s me sorted. Also on offer are showers and toilet facilities which are clean and well appointed.

Returning to London from other airports, BA has lounges in Geneva, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino (Europe), Boston, Chicago O’Hare, Newark, New York JFK, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington Dulles (USA), Cape Town, Johannesburg (Africa), Dubai and Singapore (Asia).

BA is also part of the One World Alliance , alongside Alaska Airlines, Fiji Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Royal Jordanian, American Airlines, Finnair, Oman Air, Royal Air Maroc, Iberia, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways and SriLankan. This means if there’s no BA lounge in the country you’re departing from, you will be able to use these lounges instead.

On the way home from Hong Kong for example, I was able to use the Cathay Pacific business class lounge which was very similar with what it offered to the BA lounges.

BA lounge score: 7/10

Cabin & Seat

This is where the two business class options are miles apart. Let’s start with Club World , the older product. There are 7 seats in a row in Club World – set up 2, 3, 2 – with the seats alternating backwards and forwards facing. It’s the weirdest layout ever because if you’re by the window you literally have to climb over the person in the aisle on the row behind you to get out, and if you’re in the aisle you have the other person’s food passed over you all flight. I hate it when that person is asleep and you’re trying to step over them, very awkward.

The Club World seats are also old and worn, they’re quite short. I’m 5’6 and can only just lie fully down so my 6’3 husband has no chance. The TV screens are also poor as they are just pull out ones, not touch screen and quite glitchy. The footrest is also stand alone and you have to pull it down.

The Club Suites on the other hand are wonderful. The layout is much better with only 4 seats in a row, simply 1-2-1, meaning loads more space, privacy and no awkward climbing as all open directly on to an aisle. All suites are forward facing. The suites are also contained with privacy screens (rather than just a plastic roll up screen as per the old product). The TV is built in so is much more seamless, and is all touch screen. There are lots of compartments for storage and the bed is longer. I honestly felt like I was in true luxury.

All products are The White Company. You are provided with a blanket and sheet for the seat, plus a toiletry bag including an eye mask, flannel, toothbrush & toothpaste, moisturiser, hand cream and lip balm.

You can tell what you’re going to get when you pick your seat based on the plane layout – just hope you see that lovely 1-2-1 layout.

Club World Cabin Score: 3/10

Club Suites Cabin Score: 9/10

Food & Drink

I don’t love any airplane food really, but BA’s is decent. On arrival, it’s a drink (orange juice or champagne) and a snack. There’s then a menu offering one or two meals depending on flight time.

Three main course dishes usually include beef, lamb, fish or poultry, and pasta. Dessert features a sweet option or a fine fruit and cheese plate. Classic afternoon tea is available on select long-haul flights, and destination-inspired dishes will reflect the flavours of the regions, such as herb-grilled mahi-mahi fish on Caribbean routes, and noodles on my Hong Kong route.

But what I love about BA business is its Club Kitchen concept which provides sweet and savoury snack options which guests can just go and get themselves. A refrigerator features cans of drink, sandwiches, fresh fruit, and sometimes even ice cream in a separate freezer section that passengers can help themselves to midflight, and those biscuit jars are back – the dream!

Food & Drink Score: 6/10

Flight attendants are formal yet friendly. It is the typical British-reserved service delivery you might find in a hotel or restaurant in England. I definitely noticed flight attendants switching their style depending on who they were talking to. Where a passenger was chatty, they were chatty back, and where they weren’t, they just got on with serving. I prefer not to chat so they didn’t really talk to me which was totally fine.

A new uniform has also been introduced, which I really liked. And a new inflight safety video has also been recorded which I thought was a massive upgrade on the previous version.

Talking of videos, the entertainment selection on flights is amazing. There are new releases of films, loads of TV boxsets and lots of games. I love a good mid air game of Boggle – ha!

Service Score: 7/10

Whichever business class option you get on your flight, prices are the same. Whenever I fly business, I am usually using my Avios points, which I collect during the year. I collect Avios pretty easily – via spend on Amex credit cards, on short haul BA flights, the weekly shop and as much other shopping as possible via the BA shopping portal, all hotel bookings via Booking.com, plus my husband’s work travel adds a chunk. Every year we earn an average of 400,000 Avios from the above.

Here are the points cost vs outright £ value of the two BA business class flights I’ve flown in the last 12 months and reviewed above.

• London Heathrow return to Costa Rica – I got an amazing deal here and paid £300 plus 75,000 Avios per person. Cash price would have been £3,700 per person. I’ve never seen such a good deal before or since this.
• London Heathrow return to Hong Kong – I paid £450 plus 140,000 Avios for myself. Cash price would have been £3,300.

It’s worth noting you can also book partner airline flights using Avios, my favourite of which is Qatar Airways . This is more expensive and always needs a change in Doha. I’ll be reviewing QA soon.

• London Heathrow to Male, Maldives – I paid £650 plus 212,000 Avios per person back in 2019. Cash equivalent would have been £6,800 per person.
• London Heathrow return to Phuket (upcoming this year) – I paid £500 plus 192,500 Avios per person. Cash equivalent is currently £4,330 per person.

As you can see BA is a cheaper business class option, both in cash value and points. I’ve seen other people talk about crazy Avios deals getting business/first class flights for 25,000 points but I’ve never seen such a deal!

Price score: 8/10

What do you think? Would you like to fly BA Business Class? If you’re interested, you can also compare it to my review of Qatar Airways Business Class Review . Stay safe and happy travelling!

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38 responses to “british airways business class: a review”.

I’m a sucker for first-class and business-class flight seat reviews, and I loved reading yours! I’ve yet to travel on business or first class, but this looks to be the dream! Looks like BA was a solid experience with good amenities and food along the way, especially for the long-haul flights!

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So glad you enjoyed it Rebecca, I love saving my points up each year and treating myself 🙂

You’ve given an extensive and thorough review of BA upper class service Hannah! Your photos are really helpful in showing the difference between the old and new. We’ve taken many flights on BA in all classes, and something usually goes wrong; lost luggage; mistaken seat assignments, even in first class, so we try to avoid them. However, our options were limited on an upcoming trip, so we’re booked in first class on a BA international flight soon, and hope we have a better experience than previous BA flights. Our experience with other airlines like Qantas, Icelandic, EasyJet, Finnair, American have all been great; fingers crossed that BA will come through this time.

Thanks so much – you’re right, BA have really gone down hill. We have also suffered lots of delays and lost luggage over the past few years. I really hope your upcoming trip runs smoothly 🙂

Sadly, they have. Maybe someday they’ll improve.

How interesting to see the differences between the two. We recently started getting access to the lounge at the airport and it has made all the difference in the travel experience for us. Now to fly business class and check out how much more comfortable of a flight that would be…great review Hannah 🙂

It makes such a difference doesn’t it – I wouldn’t pay the £ value, but when it’s on points it feels like such a nice reward to be able to treat ourselves 🙂

Very interesting Hannah, I’ve flown the old style BA Business Class but not experienced the newer Club Suites. We also use our Amex Cards as much as we can to buy things and then turn them into Avios points. Since BA axed flights from our nearest airport we have been travelling KLM more. I can’t understand why BA axed the three services a day into Heathrow as they were always busy both for passengers commuting to London and for onward connections.

I don’t know why BA did that – they have axed so many direct routes across the world post COVID so we are finding it harder to find flights with them. Thankfully, you can use their points on Qatar Airlines as well which gives good access to Asia with just a change in Doha. I’ve heard good things about KLM!

I’m with you on your thoughts on the old layout, that literally makes no sense! It’s a bummer when you spend all that money/points on an upgraded seat but still aren’t comfortable. The new club suites cabin looks like a good upgrade!

Yeah it was really weird – especially as you rarely know the person given you don’t think to book seats in different rows! I love the new upgrade though so just keeping my fingers crossed for more of those on planes going forwards 🙂

I’ve never travelled anything but economy so this is a level of luxury I can only dream of. Honestly, even the crappier of the two looks amazing haha! But I suppose it’s all about perspective and I can definitely see how the newer version is an upgrade over the old one. Looks like a much more comfortable way to travel!

Oh yeah, even the worse of the two is still really amazing to travel on. I love saving up my points all year and then treating us on our long haul holiday of the year 🙂

I’ve flown both business and first internationally, but as a regular user of economy, I’m up for even bad business class on a long haul flight. I can see the differences, though, and agree that the strange configuration would be weird and annoying. Sounds like they’ve gotten wind of that, too.

I agree totally, it makes such a difference to travel long distance comfortably (and without a stranger dribbling on your shoulder) 🙂

We’ve managed Premium Economy to/from Australia this summer. It’s no business class, but I’ll take what I can get. 🙂

That will still make a very, very long flight much more bearable!

It will, and we got seats in the front row of that section, so even better!

We’ve never flown business class before. We’ve thought about treating ourselves to see what the experience is like, but I’m afraid that it’ll just make it harder to go back to economy class. The seating for Club World sounds awful.

Oh yeah, once we did it for the first time, there was no going back. But I find with points and a good deal, it’s definitely affordable. I wouldn’t pay outright, and I’m lucky my husband gets so many points via work travel.

Not being international travelers, Mike and I would feel so spoiled by BA’s luxuries! Maybe someday we will get to experience one of the great lounges and a luxury flight. The food looks pretty good too.

i have never use this, but thanks sharing and great to know

I’ve only ever flown business/first class on short-haul flights and would love to experience it on a long-haul flight one day. I have an Avios account, but rarely collect points on it. I think I need to up my Avios points collecting game!

Ahh it’s so nice to have on a long haul flight to be able to sleep and be comfortable, especially if it’s an overnight flight. We collect Avios on everything via the shopping portal – it racks up quickly 🙂

Looks marvelous, and definitely the way to go! Thanks for sharing another aspect of your adventures, Hannah 🙂 Have a wonderful week ahead!

Thanks Phil – always love using my points to travel much more comfortably on a long haul flight 🙂

A very thoroughly done review, Hannah. Looks like there’s no shortage of motives for BA to upgrade and reimagine their old business class model. Saving points really pays off greatly, the savings are quite impressive! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Thanks Leighton – yes I love being able to use my points to make such big savings and travel long haul much more comfortably 🙂 Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.

Never seen such a lovely and thorough review before. Food looks tempting. Really hope your message reaches them and they can do some constructive changes.

So glad you enjoyed it, thank you for reading 🙂

[…] is where Qatar stands apart from the likes of British Airways. The business class Q Suite Cabin is truly […]

I realise that the ying-yang club world design was not everyone’s cup of tea. However apart from having to step over another passenger’s legs unless you got one of the end of cabin rows I always enjoyed the rear facing seats and the light grey interior. I find the new club suites cabin with the deep blue seating rather dark and the high rectangular design somewhat claustrophobic. Agreed there is more space and much better storage but I find the bed when fully reclined has a central cross ridge. Result I don’t sleep so well as I did in the club world suites. Perhaps they will ‘bed in’ with more use. Innes Stephen

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Stephen – I agree actually that the cabin is darker, but I just couldn’t get over climbing across a stranger’s legs when they were asleep!! If you get an end row though I agree, sleep was easy and the seats very comfy. I hope you manage to adjust to the new layout and colours with a few more flights. Thanks again for taking the time to comment – have a great Sunday.

Once you travel business won’t go economy long haul ever again. To me the worst seat is virgin a 330. Faces inwards. Other than seat prefer Virgin upper class vs club world.

Hi Hannah, l am glad to have come across your blog, l put in the question “is it worth booking club on a day time flight to Tokyo leaving Heathrow 9 am” and got your review, which is great learning, I booked a flight to Tokyo in premium, as normally BA offers upgrades at a lesser cost (which l have for the outbound) while return is still at £1600 additional pp . Not sure if Amex Companion vouchers are usable to upgrade??. You told us of a difference club Suites makes and l will certainly be checking seat configuration to decide. Thank you

BA club suite is alright. Although, I don’t fine it comfortable when seat lie flat to bed. It is narrow to even turn while sleeping. When I fly with Qatar Qsuite in my fast years, I have realised that there are much better hard and soft product other OW airline could provide for my journey. BA is great when travel intra Europe, but definitely not long haul for me.

Hi… just upgraded to business for flights to and from LHR.. it’s 1-2-1 configuration. For a couple, do the two middle seats make more sense, or the seats across the aisle from each other? I haven’t seen them in person yet and can still change. Do the middle ones have a sliding wall or something so we can chat? Thanks!!

Hi, that’s amazing and I’m sooo pleased you got that lovely 121 cabin, perfect! Yes the middle two make sense for a couple and there’s a screen you can have lowered for the flight so you can chat etc. Have an amazing flight! 😊

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About the author

Hi! My name is Hannah, I’m a travel blogger from the UK who fits travel around a full time (and full on) job. In this blog I share my adventures around the world and hopefully help you to find some inspiration for destinations, things to do or places to stay. Thanks for stopping by – stay safe and happy travelling.

You can also follow me on Instagram!

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Best Ways to Book British Airways Business Class With Points [Step-by-Step]

Spencer Howard

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Table of Contents

A look inside british airways business class, how to fly british airways business class using points, great british airways business class redemptions, how to earn enough miles for british airways business class, when should you search for award space, what makes british airways a great redemption, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Based in London, British Airways operates flights to most parts of the world. They fly tons of routes to and from the United States, which means booking a business-class flight is pretty easy.

If you’re flying in business class, be aware of the aircraft on which you’ll be flying since the business class cabin layout varies. Let’s dive into the details of what to expect from British Airways’ business class product, and how you can earn and redeem miles to book it.

British Airways’ international business class product, which they call Club World, doesn’t get amazing reviews from people who are accustomed to luxury travel. However, their business class seats are consistent across their fleet.

Regardless of aircraft, you can expect a lie-flat seat that is a bit narrow. Unfortunately, while window seats have the most privacy, they do not have direct aisle access. Aisle seats have the reverse issue as they have very little privacy.

The cabin layout varies quite a bit depending on the aircraft. Many business class cabins on British Airways are arranged in a  2-4-2 layout. This means the middle section has 4 seats flanked by 2 seats across each aisle.

Here are the business class cabin layouts for the British Airways fleet:

Once on board, you can enjoy some champagne before takeoff and throughout the flight, if you wish. The food in business class isn’t going to blow you away, but it’s a solid meal.

To help you get comfortable, you will also be provided a nice amenity kit by Elemis.

The fun doesn’t just start on board, though. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll have access to priority check-in and priority boarding once it’s time for your flight.

While you wait for your flight, you can relax in one of the British Airways business class lounges or a Oneworld partner business class lounge. You’ll be able to enjoy a nice meal, free Wi-Fi, and perhaps a shower while you wait.

If you are flying into London Heathrow (LHR), you will also have access to the Arrivals Lounges so you can grab a bite to eat and freshen up before a day visiting the city or your upcoming business meeting.

Hot Tip: Read some of our writer’s reviews of  British Airways Boeing 747 Club World from London to Dubai, British Airways Boeing 777-200 Club World from St. Lucia to Grenada, and British Airways A380 Club World from London to Madrid.

As a member of the Oneworld alliance , British Airways has plenty of ways to book business class flights with miles and points. They also partner with Alaska Airlines , which provides another great way to book award flights.

Perhaps the biggest drawback to booking flights on British Airways is the taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges you’ll be hit with when flying in and out of the United Kingdom.

While some airlines don’t pass on the carrier-imposed surcharges on award tickets, British Airways does. Flights from the US are now hit with charges of $700-$1,000 each way.

Additionally, you will have to pay the British Air Passenger Duty when departing the UK on a flight over 2,000 miles if you’re flying business or first class. This fee is £150 (roughly $198).

Hot Tip:  To avoid this massive fee, you can begin your journey from another European city such as Dublin or Amsterdam.

Keep this in mind when using British Airways’ Travel Together Ticket — you will be required to pay the fee for both passengers.

British Airways Executive Club

Probably the easiest way to book flights with British Airways is through its own loyalty program, the  British Airways Executive Club . You’ll notice British Airways refers to “Avios” when you book award flights; this is the name of their mileage currency (rather than the more commonly used “miles”).

British Airways uses a distance-based award chart (see above) for its own flights. British Airways flights are individually priced based on the distance between origin and destination and what class of service you want to fly. If you want to book a flight that has a connection, this means each flight segment will be priced separately, and the 2 award prices will be added together.

As you can see in the chart above, British Airways has peak and off-peak awards depending on your travel dates. To check your dates for off-peak pricing, use the off-peak schedule under Working Out the Cost .

Keep in mind that the above chart is for business class flights operated exclusively by British Airways, or an itinerary that includes British Airways and 1 partner.

If you book an award flight with a partner airline such as American Airlines  and do not include a flight operated by British Airways on your reservation, you’ll be required to pay peak-level award prices. If you book a multi-partner award, you will be using an even pricier award chart .

British Airways awards can be booked online following the steps outlined below.

• Go to the British Airways
• Log in to your account (upper right corner)
• Scroll down and select Spend Avios in the center column
• Choose Book a Reward Flight
• Enter your origin and destination airports, dates, and select business class
• Click on Get Flights
• Make sure you choose “business class,” since your search results will also show other classes of service
• Agree to the terms and conditions and click Continue
• Enter your passenger information and click Continue
• Confirm your flight details and make your payment

When booking, it’s important to remember that distance traveled is calculated by adding the flight distance between each segment, not just the origin and destination. As a result, connections can cause the award cost to increase.

Additionally, the taxes and fees (including carrier-imposed surcharges) are significant when booking business class on British Airways.

Fortunately, you can quickly add to your Avios account since it is a Chase transfer partner (transfers are almost instant), Capital One Miles , and Amex Membership Rewards (transfers are almost instant).

Hot Tip:  Check out the best ways to earn British Airways Avios to get you started!

American Airlines AAdvantage

We like AA because of their reasonable award rates to Europe in business class. You will be able to fly for 57,500 miles each way! Unfortunately, you will be on the hook for all fuel surcharges , as AA passes them on for BA flights.

You’ll do best searching for award availability on BA.com instead of AA.com. American is known for hiding partner availability, especially for routes that it operates its own flights on.

Here’s the best way to search for award availability:

• Go to the British Airways website.
• Scroll down and select Spend Avios in the center column.
• Choose Book a Reward Flight.
• Enter your origin and destination airports, dates, and select business class.
• Click on Get Flights.  Write down the desired flights, dates, and times.
• Call American Airlines at 1-800-882-8880 . If transferring points, you are allowed to hold your reservation for 5 days.
• Confirm your flight details and make your payment.

AA does not allow stopovers, so you will need to pay for each segment if you want to plan a stop in London before heading to another destination.

For other ways to earn American Airlines miles, read our  best ways to earn AA miles. If you need other ways to use your AA miles, check out our  best ways to redeem American Airlines miles .

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

When booking with a partner airline, Japan Airlines Mileage Bank uses a distance-based award chart.

Japan Airlines requires you to call to book award flights with partner airlines, but this is easy if you follow the steps below.

• Go to the Japan Airlines website
• Log in to your JAL Mileage Bank account
• Select JMB Partner Airlines Award Ticket Reservation
• Select British Airways under Partner Airlines
• Select business class, your travel dates, and the departure and destination airports
• Select your flights and hit Next
• Confirm the Mileage Bank miles and taxes/fees required
• If your booking involves a connection on another partner of Japan Airlines such as American Airlines, you will have to call to complete the booking

Japan Airlines allows stopovers, so you might be able to see multiple destinations on your trip for no extra miles. Like British Airways, the distance flown is calculated by segment rather than between origin and destination — so your total flight distance can’t increase too much, or it will bump up the cost.

For other ways to earn Japan Airlines miles, read our  best ways to earn JAL miles. If you need other ways to use your Mileage Bank miles, check out our  best ways to redeem Japan Airlines miles .

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Another great way to book British Airways business class is through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program. In fact, it often requires fewer Alaska miles than Avios to book business class on British Airways flights, and you can book a stopover for no extra miles.

Fuel surcharges from British Airways are collected when booking with Alaska miles as well.

To book, go to Alaska website and follow these simple steps:

• Go to the Alaska Airlines website
• Sign in to your account
• Search for your desired route (make sure you select Use Miles )
• Select your desired flight and click Add To Cart
• Pay the necessary taxes/fees and complete your booking

If you need some other ideas for using your Alaska miles, check out our best ways to redeem Alaska miles .

Other Options for Booking British Airways

British Airways is a member of the Oneworld airline alliance, so you can use any of the Oneworld loyalty programs to book flights on British Airways.

Redeeming Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is another possible option because of their generous stopover rules. If you plan on hopping around Europe, this program can help you see a bunch of cities. However, it’s not an easy program to use when booking many partners.

Now that you have a handle on how to book a British Airways business class award flight, let’s take a look at some of the best redemption options.

Hawaii to London

Those who live in Hawaii don’t always have an easy time flying to Europe. With 60,000 Alaska miles, you can fly from Hawaii to the U.S. West Coast on Alaska Airlines, and then fly British Airways in business class to London.

North America to the Middle East

Whether traveling to Dubai , Abu Dhabi, or Doha, flying to the Middle East is not always easy.

You can fly to the Middle East for 70,000 AA miles in business class each way.

With 80,000 Japan Airlines miles, you can fly British Airways in business class from cities such as New York City (JFK), Chicago (ORD), and Dallas (DFW).

From cities in the western U.S. such as Los Angeles (LAX), Las Vegas (LAS), and Seattle (SEA), you can make the trip for 85,000 Japan Airlines miles.

You can also book a business class flight on British Airways for 70,000 Alaska miles regardless of your location in the continental U.S.

New York or Chicago to London

Similar to the previous redemption option, flying from the East Coast or the Midwest can get you a solid deal when using Japan Airlines miles. For 42,000 Japan Airlines miles, you can fly from New York City or Chicago to London in business class.

You can also use 45,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, 50,000 British Airways Avios, or 50,000 Alaska miles to fly business class from one of these cities.

If you need more Avios to complete a business class booking with British Airways,  you have plenty of options to earn more .

British Airways Avios can be earned directly with the British Airways Visa Signature ® Card .

BA Avios is also a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer patner , Capital One Miles transfer partner , American Express transfer partner (all at a rate of 1:1) or from Marriott Bonvoy at a transfer rate of 3:1.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Chase Ultimate Rewards

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable

Business Owner? See our article on Chase business credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with  no credit score impact.

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card ® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: CLEAR ® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck ® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck ® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR

American Express Membership Rewards

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

If you’re a business owner, see our article on Amex business credit cards that earn Membership Rewards.

Finally, there are also several Capital One credit cards and Marriott Bonvoy credit cards that can earn you lots of points!

If you’re flying from the U.S. to London, you’ll often find quite a bit of award availability. Like any other award search, it will be easier to find the flights you want if your travel dates are more flexible.

As a general rule, start your search as soon as you know the timeframe within which you’d like to travel. If you’re able to wait to book until closer to departure, there is often decent award space on British Airways in the last couple of weeks.

While not the most luxurious experience you can have flying across the Atlantic (or around the world), there are some great aspects to flying British Airways.

Travel Together Ticket

One of the more interesting options with British Airways Executive Club is their Travel Together Ticket . Each year you spend at least $30,000 on your British Airways Visa Card, you will receive a Travel Together Ticket.

The ticket is good for 2 years, and it gives you the ability to book a companion’s seat along with yours for no extra miles. However, you will be responsible for the taxes and fees incurred on the second ticket. For this reason, it makes the most sense to use this perk if you book British Airways first class or business class.

The companion must be booked into the same class of service and on the same flight as your ticket. Also, the award flights must originate and return to the U.S.

If you want to learn more, we’ve got a whole piece on how we redeemed 2 sets of travel together tickets on the same flight!

Arrivals Lounge at London Heathrow

When you arrive at Terminal 3 or Terminal 5 at London Heathrow (LHR), you can visit the Arrivals Lounge. This is a particularly nice perk when arriving early in the morning before a long day of sightseeing or business meetings.

You can grab a quick shower to refresh after the flight and have a hot meal. Many will appreciate the coffee and tea options as well, since we often need a jolt early in the morning upon arrival.

British Airways business class is a solid premium cabin product for flying to Europe and beyond. It’s not going to blow you away with the glitz and glamour of the Emirates inflight bar or top-notch business class seat from Cathay Pacific, but you will be comfortable during your long journey.

If you’re considering a British Airways business class award booking, remember to look into using a partner airline’s miles, since it can be much cheaper.

When the day comes for your business class flight, just sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself!

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to book british airways business class.

If you are booking business class on British Airways, check both  Japan Airlines Mileage Bank  and  Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan .

Japan Airlines has a distance-based award chart that has some sweet spot redemptions, while Alaska Airlines has a region-based award chart that also provides some great options.

Additionally, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles or American Airlines AAdvantage miles might be a good option depending on your route.

What credit cards can help me fly British Airways business class?

You can earn British Airways Avios directly through the British Airways Visa Signature® Card . Additionally, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points , Membership Rewards points , Capital One miles , or Marriott Bonvoy points to British Airways.

Bank of America also provides co-branded cards that earn Alaska miles if you need to top off your Mileage Plan account.

What do I get when flying British Airways business class?

Prior to your business class flight, you can relax in one of the British Airways business class lounges. Additionally, you will have access to over 100 Oneworld business class lounges provided by one of their partner airlines.

Inflight, you can expect a lie-flat seat, a nice meal, and friendly service.

If you arrive at London Heathrow (LHR) in Terminal 3 or Terminal 5, you can visit the fantastic Arrivals Lounge.

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About Spencer Howard

Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience.

Like many, he started this journey searching for cheap flights to take him around the world. This was fun for a while, but Spencer was intrigued by the idea of flying in business and first class!

Throwing himself into what became an extensive research project, Spencer spent 3-4 hours per night learning everything he could about frequent flyer miles over the course of several months (he thinks this is normal). He runs Straight to the Points, an award-seat alert platform.

Discover the exact steps we use to get into  1,400+ airport lounges worldwide, for free  (even if you’re flying economy!).

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British Airways Business Class Perks

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To understand British Airways Business Class, you need to know that they have two types of Business Class in the airlines:  Club Europe  for Business Class flights throughout Europe and  Club World  for Business Class in intercontinental flights. 

British Airways promises premium levels of comfort and service for their Business Class flights. Besides the more comfortable seats, British Airways Business Class passengers are also eligible for additional perks, from airport priority check-in desks to triple Avios points compared to the Economy class. 

In this post, I will share a detailed review of flying with British Airways Business Class and the British Airways Business Class perks that come with it. 

Bottom Line Up Front

The perks of flying with British Airways Business Class depend on your flight routes. While the Business Class on Club Europe is approximately twice more expensive than the regular Economy flight at British Airways, you won’t experience flatbed seats for the flights across Europe. 

Meanwhile, you can maximize the perks of flying with British Airways through their Club World Business Class. They ensure that Business Class passengers get all the premium services they have to offer, which makes it worth the value despite the price being almost five times higher than the Economy one. 

I think British Airways Business Class is the best option for all types of passengers, only if they get on a long-haul flight. If budget is no issue, flying Business Class with British Airways offers much more advantages than Economy Class with only a few slight differences in some features with the First Class. 

Key Features of British Airways Business Class

British Airways Business Class is much more than just priority check-in and boarding. Some key features of their Business Class make it worth spending a few thousand pounds extra compared to their Economy Class. What are those? 

Check-in & Boarding

Apart from the spacious seats and luxury comforts on board, passengers of Business Class also get dedicated check-in desks along with the First Class passengers at the airport. 

Some perks of flying with British Airways Business Class during check-in and boarding include: 

• British Airways Business Class passengers can check up to  two pieces of baggage  with a maximum of 23 kilograms each. 
• Business Class passengers also get  priority boarding  along with the First Class passengers. 
• Whether you fly Club Europe or Club World on a British Airways Business Class flight, you are eligible to use  fast-track security lines at three major airports , including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and New York JFK. 
• For non-EU passport holders flying to London Heathrow, you also have the privilege to get on a  fast-track arrival  at the airport. 

If you fly Business Class with British Airways throughout Europe, the only difference about the seats at Club Europe compared to their regular Economy fare is that they will guarantee either a window or aisle seat with contoured leather for your flight. 

For intercontinental flights through Club World, British Airways also enhances the perks for Business Class passengers, including: 

• British Airways was the first airline that introduced flatbed seats in their Business Class cabin. Club World passengers are privileged to get  convertible seats  which they can flatten to a 6-feet bed. 
• British Airways recently launched a new generation of Business Class for their Airbus 350-1000 and Boeing 777 fleets, Club Suite. The latter has a sliding door for more privacy on each seat with  all-aisle access  for Business Class passengers. 

Although British Airways will soon implement the Club Suite on their long-haul flights, it is currently only available on flights to destinations in North America. If you fly elsewhere, most British Airways Business Class cabins have a 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 seat configuration, which is a bit cramped compared to Business Class in other airlines. 

Comfort & Amenities

For amenities on long-haul flights,  British Airways is also partnering with The White Company  to supply the amenity and bedding kits for Business Class passengers. You will get a luxurious pouch from The White Company with the branded eye mask, lip balm, hand lotion, socks, and slippers. 

On top of that, there are some perks from flying with British Airways Business Class for your comfort during the flights, including: 

• You will get the supply of  the bedding kit , which includes a pillow and a soft woven blanket with a luxurious duvet that can improve the quality of your rest for the flight. 
• You can request a baby bassinet if you travel with an infant. A  children’s kit with toys and gifts  is also available to keep your children entertained during the flight. 
• You will get  noise-canceling headphones  to enjoy all the movies and music in British Airways Business Class in-flight entertainment without distractions. 
• Wi-Fi connection  is purchasable online through the British Airways website, starting from £2.99 per hour.

In-Flight Meals & Services

Business Class passengers at British Airways are entitled to a glass of Champagne, juice, or water as soon as they board the flight.  A printed menu for in-flight meals and beverages will also be available with detailed information about each course. The crew will take your order before take-off, so you can pick the chosen meals as soon as you get the menu. 

For in-flight meals and services, you can get the following benefits if you travel with British Airways Business Class: 

• Special meals are available, and you can book them via British Airways website at least 24 hours before your flight.  Menu for various diet restrictions  is available, from kosher, halal, diabetic, to gluten-free meals. 
• For red-eye flights, you can arrange  a personal wake-up call for breakfast  before landing, as the cabin crew will give you a breakfast card to order the menu and inform the details. 
• Meals will be  served on fancy, reusable china and silverware . 
• Free flow of snacks and hot and cold drinks , including wines and spirits. 
• Minimum use of service carts,  so you don’t have to worry about using the lavatory during the service. 

The starter menu in British Airways Business Class is usually a salad or some other appetizer options. Bread will also be served along with the appetizer, and you can expect some sweet options or fruits and assorted British cheese for desserts. For the main course, they have various menus with beef, chicken, fish, or pasta for the options.

Taste-wise, I think the Business Class in-flight meals aren’t that special, and if anything, I found them quite bland. However, the big plus is that it’s served nicely on reusable china with a more personalized service, which I suppose makes it much better than the Economy flights. 

Miles & Rewards

And the most important part is the miles and rewards that come with British Airways Business Class flights. How beneficial is flying with a Business Class when you’re a member of The British Airways Executive Club? 

Here are some rewards you can earn as a British Airways Business Class passenger: 

• British Airways Business Class passengers get  complimentary lounge access  at over 350 airports worldwide. 
• You’re eligible to  upgrade and gain access to British Airways First Class lounge if you’re a Gold member of British Airways Executive Club  or the top-tier status of any Oneworld airlines frequent flyers program. 
• You can  earn up to 250% of miles flown , which will be redeemable to your Avios points. 

British Airways has several branded lounges in some destinations. Apart from one in their main hub at the London Heathrow arrival gate, you can also find British Airways lounges in Johannesburg, Philadelphia, and JFK airport in New York. 

As a proud member of the Oneworld airlines alliance, British Airways Business Class passengers also get access to hundreds of third-party lounges under Oneworld. 

British Airways Business Class Overview

Everyone loves flying Business Class, and there’s no question about it. From additional baggage allowance to enjoying fine dining on the flight, many endless reasons make it worth the extra fee. But, what are the pros and cons of flying British Airways Business Class Overview? 

Pros: 

• British Airways offers top-notch customer service, from ground experience to in-flight services. As a Business Class passenger, you’re eligible for all priority services from check-in to the arrival at your destination. 
• Seats for British Airways Club World passengers are fully flatbeds, making it more convenient for long-haul flights. 
• Personalized service where you can request a wake-up call to the cabin crew for pre-landing breakfast on the red-eye hour flights. 
• Complimentary lounge access in more than 600 lounges worldwide.

Cons: 

• The new British Airways Business class cabin, Club Suite, is still limited to some flight routes, so unless you fly on the aircraft where the feature is available, their old version of the Business Class cabin is a bit cramped compared to the same class in the other airlines. 
• The perks for British Airways Club Europe aren’t as significant as the Business Class for intercontinental flights. 

Alternatives to British Airways Business Class

While British Airways Business Class is superior to their Economy Class, other airlines offer the Business Class with similar perks. Some are even better than the United Kingdom’s flag carrier!

So, what are some alternatives to British Airways Business Class? 

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class

Another airline based in Britain, Virgin Atlantic , is iconic with its fun and snazzy corporate branding compared to other airlines. Their corporate branding is so strong that unless you live in the cave, I think you’ve probably heard of Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group. 

Although they have a limited number of flight routes compared to their British counterpart, their corporate branding is more popular for the younger demographic with their funky ads and lowkey company policy. For instance, Virgin Atlantic is  the first airline that allows the staff to show tattoos in their uniform . 

Virgin Atlantic Business Class is branded as Upper Class, offering top-notch experience from departure to arrival. As an Upper-Class passenger, you’ll be eligible for access to the airline’s Clubhouse with their 5-star service for the guests. 

From priority check-in and boarding, fast-track security, and priority baggage delivery, to more Virginmiles earned , all Virgin Atlantic Upper-Class fleets are equipped with transformable to fully flat beds without exception. So no matter what your flight route is, you will have a good quality rest during your flight!

Etihad Business Class

One of the best Business Class flights in the Middle East, Etihad Business Class offers exceptional service and delicious cuisines on board. With more than 60 flight routes worldwide and more than 40 airline partners, Etihad seems to be an excellent alternative to British Airways if you fly to Africa or the Far East. 

Based in Abu Dhabi, you can take advantage of Etihad chauffeur service if you fly in or out of the capital city of the United Arab Emirates as a Business Class passenger. 

You also have free lounge access at Etihad Airways Arrival Lounge in Abu Dhabi airport and hundreds of affiliated lounges in the other airports. You’re also eligible to get bonus miles if you fly with Etihad Business Class when the airport lounge is closed.   

Most Business Class cabins on Etihad aircraft have a 1-2-1 configuration, except for smaller fleets like Airbus 320 and 321. If you travel with a partner, you can choose the middle seats, where they provide a divider for easy conversation. 

Qantas Business

The Australian flag carrier, Qantas , is an excellent alternative if you fly Business Class to destinations in Australia. Claimed as the pioneer in the aviation industry that introduced Business Class in 1979 , Qantas is also one of the oldest airlines as they started operating in 1920 . 

Apart from the priority check-in, boarding and arrival, Qantas Business passengers have access to Qantas Business lounges or one of their partner airline lounges. Their in-flight meals also consist of dining varieties with Neil Perry-designed fine dining small and main plates, served on David Caon-designed reusable tableware. 

For international flights, Qantas Business offers high-quality amenity kits with its signature pajamas and Li’Tya skincare products on long-haul flights. 

Question: Is British Airways Business Class and First Class the same?

Answer: No. While flying with Business Class comes with perks, British Airways First Class has a few more advantages. First Class cabins are equipped with 6.5-feet fully flat beds, while Business Class only has 6-feet flat-lie seats on board. First Class passengers also have access to British Airways’ exclusive First Class lounge, which isn’t eligible for Business Class passengers unless they’re a Gold member of the British Airways Exclusive Club.

Question: Does British Airways Business Class have a bar?

Answer: Yes, British Airways Business Class has a bar that serves various selections from beer, spirits, wine, and Champagne. This is available for all Business Class flights, including domestic flights.

Question: Can I upgrade to First Class on British Airways?

Answer: Since British Airways only allows passengers to upgrade to one higher class of service, Business Class passengers can upgrade to First Class flights with British Airways. You can upgrade your flight by logging into the “Manage My Booking” section on the British Airways website and paying the price difference in cash. Alternatively, you can use your Avios points depending on whether your departure is on a peak or off-peak date.

British Airways Business Class Perks: Conclusion

I don’t see the extra value in flying with British Airways Business Class through their Club Europe to any European destination. However, I think their long-haul flights with Club World are worth it, depending on your destination. While British Airways Business Class is superior to their lowest cabin classes like Economy and Premium Economy, many airlines offer better perks and services than British Airways. This may be different if British Airways starts implementing their Club Suite cabin in all their fleets. As for now, some other airlines seem to offer more attractive services than British Airways Business Class. Virgin Atlantic offers a 5-star service from take-off to touchdown, Etihad has a chauffeur service that none of the other airlines has for Business Class passengers, and Qantas even provides pajamas for their long-haul flights!

About The Author

Marya Sutimi

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Review: British Airways Boeing 777 Business Class (new suite) from London to the Maldives

Wednesday  newsletters  always feature a  hotel  or  flight  review.

I recently enjoyed a wonderful holiday in the Maldives. During my trip, I did not stay at Soneva Fushi  and  Soneva Jani  – my favorite resorts in the Maldives (I am going back though in 2024) – but I tried out some new, ultra-luxurious and fabulous resorts. Read my trip reports here:

• Review:  Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class from Brussels to Doha
• Review: Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Business Class from Doha to the Maldives
• Review: British Airways Boeing 777 Business Class (new suite) from London to Male (today)
• Review: Joali Being
• Review: InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
• Review: Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island
• Review: Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
• Review: Edelweiss Air Airbus A340 Business Class from Male to Zurich

Today: Review of British Airways’ B777 Business Class (new suite) from London to the Maldives

While British Airways ’ Business Class raised the bar worldwide two decades ago with the introduction of the first fully lie-flat seat and an innovative “Ying/Yang” seat plan, the carrier’s Business Class product and mediocre service were quickly outclassed by some of its competitors. However, over the past years, British Airways introduced a new Business Class concept – called Club Suite – onboard its Airbus A350, Boeing 787-10 and some  refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft. The new product offers direct-aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy, luxurious flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 18.5-inch entertainment screens, and 40 % more storage space per seat. After my three trips onboard the carrier’s A350 in 2021 and 2022 were cancelled due to pandemic, I was finally able to try out British Airways’ new suite product on my recent Boeing 777-300ER Business Class flight from London to the Maldives.

Have you ever flown British Airways’ new Business Class suite (‘Club Suite’)? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

• Trip : London (LHR) to Male (MLE)
• Airline : British Airways
• Aircraft type : Boeing 777-300ER
• Aircraft registration number : G-STBM (built in 2020)
• On time departure : 6:30 pm
• On time arrival : 9:30 am (+ 1 day)
• Miles : 5300 miles (8530 km)
• Flight time : 10 hours
• Class : Business Class

In this review (more information & photos below my YouTube movie):

• Price of my ticket
• Lounge at Heathrow London Airport
• Business Class cabin
• Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
• Amenities & bedding
• Entertainment
• Onboard internet
• Other inflight experiences
• My verdict (score)

1. COST OF MY TICKET

I paid 3000 euros (inclusive of taxes) for my Business Class ticket from Frankfurt to Male (via a stopover in London). The ticket was booked directly on the British Airways’ website during an online sales period.

2. LOUNGE AT LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT

London Heathrow is comprised of several terminals. Terminal 5 – the UK’s largest free-standing building –  is exclusively used by British Airways. Opened in 2008, Terminal 5 is designed to handle 35 million passengers a year and the complex took almost 20 years from conception to completion. The main terminal building is referred to as Terminal 5A, while there are also two satellite buildings, Terminal 5B & 5C (reached via an underground rail link). The latter are mainly used for longhaul operations.

British Airways operates several lounges within Terminal 5:

• Three Business Class lounges, with two located on the north and south side of the main building and one in satellite Terminal 5B. These lounges are called Galleries North, Galleries South and B gates lounges respectively, and they are open to Business Class passengers and Sapphire members of a frequent flyer program of one of the Oneworld
• A First Class lounge located one floor below the South Galleries, which is open to Emerald members of any of the Oneworld airline frequent flyer programs.
• The famous Concorde Room is British Airways’ most exclusive lounge, open only to its First Class passengers. The Concorde Room features hotel-style rooms with beds and ensuite bathrooms, plus restaurant-style dining. I previously reviewed the Concorde Room  here .

This article only reviews the lounge in the satellite Terminal 5B (“B gates lounge”), which I visited prior to my flight to the Maldives. Located one level above the main floor, it’s always quiet here, contrary to the crowded lounges in the main building (so I always recommend to visit this lounge instead of the lounges in Terminal 5A). The lounge is decorated in British Airways’ signature style, featuring mood lighting, oak wooded floors, elegant furniture, and a neutral color palette. The large space is split into different sections, with separate areas for relaxing (with sofas), dining (with high top tables) and working.

A decent buffet is on display at the center of the lounge and it offers soup, sandwiches, fruits, nachos, salads, and some hot (curry) dishes. There’s also a full coffee station with all sorts of cappuccino and lattes, and a beautiful self-serve bar offering broad selection of wines, beers and spirits. Besides a decent buffet, the lounge also offers excellent facilities, including a customer service counter, luggage room, business center, showers and a kids play area.

In summary, the lounge at B gates offers the same feel and facilities as compared to its counterparts in the main building but without the crowds. The lounge has one disadvantage though and that is that is doesn’t have a lot of daylight (it looks out over the interior of the Terminal 5B building). That’s a bit in contrast with the lounges in the main terminal building, which all embrace the daylight with massive windows that offer great views of the airport apron and runways. So if you are an aviation geek and you like to observe the movement of aircraft at the airport, you may as well skip the lounge at the B gates and stay in the lounges at Terminal 5A.

3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

British Airways’ retrofitted Boeing 777-300ERs are equipped with the carrier’s newest Business Class product, called ‘Club Suite’. These aircraft feature 76 Business Class seats – with sliding doors – which are spread over 3 cabins: a small front cabin (with 12 seats), a large middle cabin (with 42 seats) and an aft cabin (22 seats). The seats are laid out in a spacious 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone configuration, with direct aisle access for every passenger. Herringbone takes its name from the angled look of the seats when viewed from above on a seat map: t he seats on the side angle out toward the windows, while the seats in the center angle toward one another. Obviously, the center seats are the best choice for travel companions although these seats feature extendable dividers in case you are seated next to a strangers (guaranteeing complete privacy).

The three Business Class cabins onboard British Airways’ retrofitted Boeing 777-300ERs feature an absolutely gorgeous design. The cabin feels chic, airy and spacious, and British Airways’ stylish logo prominently features on a panel in the front of each cabin. D esigned with silver, grey, and charcoal hued fabrics by UK company Hainsworth, the seats look luxurious, and they are also finished with Muirhead leather (which covers the ottoman and arm caps).

4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)

British Airways has chosen the Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seat for its Club Suite Business Class. The seat – which has a width of 22 inches (56 cm) – can also be found on other carrier’s such as Etihad Airways’ A350s.  Contrary to British Airways’ older Business Class seats, the new Club Suite comes with a sliding door for enhanced privacy. The door is fixed in the open position during take-off and landing, but during cruise, the flight attendants release the locking mechanism and you can leave the door open or closed. The door is ‘only’ 44 inches (112 cm) tall, so it still allow the crew to peer over and check in with you as needed.

In front of the seat is a 18.5-inch HD entertainment screen (more on that below) and a footrest is located in the space below the TV screen. A tray table is stowed under the TV at a good height to maximize legroom; it needs to be pulled out for any use and when unfolded, it measures 16 x 18 inches (40 x 46 cm).

Above the non-aisle armrest is a small touchscreen, which can be used to adjust the seat position and to control the lighting of the suite during the flight. This side of the seat also features two storage units to stow away smaller personal items (e.g. glasses, wallet, smartphones, etc …). The largest cubby holds a handset for the inflight entertainment, a USB port, and a power plug. Next to the seatback is a large console with a vanity mirror and some more storage space on the inside; a reading light is fixed to the console’s outside wall.

At the push of a button, the seat can convert into a very comfy bed with a length of 79 inches (200 cm).

What are the  best Business Class Club Suites ?

• Solo travelers should choose one of the window seats.
• Travel companions should go for the middle seats. However, due to how private they are, they really don’t lend themselves all that well for traveling with a partner, as you have to lean forward when you want to have a chat (the consoles of both seats are located in the middle).

What are the  worst Business Class suites ?

• Most Club Suites on the Boeing 777 have two windows but there are some that only have one (due to the size of the suites). For example, the seats in row 7 and 12 have only one window and are not ideal if you are a person who enjoys taking in the views during a flight.
• I suggest to avoid the last row of the front mini-cabin (row 7) and the front row of the second cabin (row 8) due to their proximity to the galley and lavatories.
• I also suggest to avoid the last row of Business Class (row 23) which is in front of the Premium Economy Class bassinet seats.

5. AMENITIES & BEDDING

Business Class passengers get the following amenities during a British Airways longhaul flight:

• A Club World amenity kit, which comes in the form of an elegantly designed bag from The White Company. The kit contains eyeshade, earplugs, socks, a toothbrush, toothpaste, pen and toiletries from The White Company’s Restore & Relax Spa Collection, offering a touch of luxury in the sky.
• a soft large pillow in a white cotton pillowcase;
• a super-soft woven day blanket with satin trim;
• a specially developed luxurious duvet;
• a padded mattress topper to provide an extra layer of comfort to improve sleep quality
• an elegant day cushion, which doubles up as lumbar support when working or relaxing
• Noise-cancelling headphones, which are of good quality as they block out most of the engine and cabin noise.

During this flight, two meals were served: a dinner after takeoff and a breakfast prior to landing. Overall, the food was good but I felt it could have been better and a little bit more sophisticated, especially for a premium product. Also, the dinner service was slow: the starter was served 90 minutes after takeoff and we were already flying above the Black Sea when the dessert was served (3 hours and 30 minutes after takeoff). It’s disappointing that British Airways’ mediocre food offering doesn’t match its excellent Club Suite hard product.

I choose the following dinner selection from the stylish bistro-style menu:

• Starter: Loch Fyne smoked salmon tartare, avocado, and lemon pepper crème fraîche
• Main course: slow roasted short rib of British beef, served with garden peas, carrots, parsley potatoes, and beef gravy
• Dessert: British apple crumble with apple compote

Breakfast was served 90 minutes prior to landing, and started with a fresh orange juice, seasonal fruit and blueberry & banana super bowl. As a main course, I had the Portobello mushroom and chervil omelette with roasted cherry tomatoes.

7. ENTERTAINMENT

British Airways’ Club Suite seat has an 18.5-inch TV screen which uses the latest Panasonic X3 in-flight entertainment system. The screen is fixed into the shell of the seat in front (or the bulkhead for the front seats), allowing gate-to-gate entertainment (which is not the case with British Airways’ older Business Class seats where the screen needs to be popped back into place prior to takeoff or landing). The inflight entertainment can be selected by directly touching the TV screen or with the use of a handset, which has its own small TV screen. The entertainment system itself, called High Life, offers tons of movies and box sets to explore. 3D Interactive GeoFusion flight maps are available, allowing passengers to follow the flight route in hi-resolution graphics.

8. ONBOARD INTERNET

WiFi is offered on all British Airways wide-body aircraft. On this flight from London to the Maldives, the rate varied from £2 .99 (for messaging for one hour) to £19.99 pounds (for streaming during the entire flight).

9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES

# CREW : I am a big fan of British Airways’ excellent crew, but unfortunately, the crew during this flight was not as pleasant as during my other flights. It all came down to the fact that I felt intimidated by one crew member who rather rudely asked me to stop taking photos (even though I was taking them within the confinement of my own little suite space). This never happened to me before. After a while, the flight attendant came back to apologize but the ‘incident’ left a sour taste in my mouth nonetheless.

# LAVATORY : There are four lavatories for the 76 Business Class passengers, all of them located in galley between the front and second Business Class cabin.

# VIEWS : Upon landing, we were treated to some spectacular views of the Maldives.

10. MY VERDICT

• Cabin design: 9/10
• Privacy: 9/10
• Seat comfort (upright): 9/10
• Seat comfort (bed position): 9/10
• Food (quality): 8/10
• Food (quantity): 8/10
• Inflight entertainment : 9/10
• Service: 7/10
• Overall experience: very good (8.3/10)

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Flight back from Miami to Heathrow in January was in Club Suites, was very impressed, even though my seat was next to the galley, I experienced no disturbances. With the door shut and in flat bed mode, seemed quite cosy, I certainly slept well, went to sleep about an hour after take off and woke up about an hour before landing…….

BA crew are very hit and miss – some are amazing and some are definitely NOT! The inconsistency is a shame because BA has made great strides recently with its hard product!

It’s great to hear that British Airways has made improvements to their Business Class product with the introduction of the Club Suite. It seems like British Airways has made positive changes to their Business Class offering, providing a more enjoyable and refined travel experience.

Out of all the people I can’t believe you’ve never had a sector in the CS on BA!

That said I do feel your pain. I had 19 trips ( including re-routes, re-books) in 2020 and 14 in 2021.

Weirdly it was due to the coof and a last minute ( overnight of day of travel) swap out for an LGW 777 for a LHR one to SVF that I had my 1st run in the new CS back in 2020, and I have to say it was certainly a good run ( hours & mileage wise) to have a 1st go.

Top-of-my-head I’ve been lucky enough to knock out 7 more since and it’s such a step up ( as you say, not before time!). I used an Amex 2-4-1 to JFK in 2021 which was a case of ‘use it or lose it’ taking a friend and we had 77w with new CS & old F. I’d booked F waited till we’d taken off to ask the CSM to find someone in J on their own who seemed really excited to be there ( ie: was hopefully their 1st time) then ask them if they’d instead like to experience F via a swap. Pretty sure I’m in the minority but as a self funded traveller nothing makes me feel better than offering lounge guesting and in rare cases like this, a swap into the pointy-pointy end. I prefer the CS to the standard F ( there’s effectively 3 versions in use at the moment) & havng checked with my friend he was fine if I left him in his own coccon I enjoyed sharing the love a little to a young lady who’d only gotten a seat in J via saving for PY and a random price deflation a few days out ( according to the CSM & oh how I wish those still happened 😁)

I know they’re doing their best to roll out the updated F but aside from the blinds, yes I’m that fickle & an avgeek!, I’d personally take the CS everytime.

Does BA have a FC section in any of its 777-300s? Thank you.

Just come back from a return flight Gatwick to Orlando, 777, still the old configuration with people having to climb over you to get out, meals hit and miss , served smoked turkey for breakfast, even the cabin staff said that it was disgusting, I commented “wheres the english breakfast?” Also had a “bloody mary” but they didnt have worcester sauce !

Have another flight this week on these as my sector seems to have completely updated them. Last flight I had CS outbound but a change of equipment meant it was 4 class with CW split between F and J. They opened up F as they usually do and put 5 of us in there which was lovely. Having been in F on a CS flight, I used to feel a bit miffed that the CS seat was superior to old F. While CS looks nice and takes a good photo, the usability of the suite isn’t great in practice.

Having those small bins on the side is nice, but as they get used for drinks and tea, but really slippery and twice I had drinks sliding off an into my lap. Getting things in and out is also annoying as you have to move cups and drinks to get things out of them with no where for them to go if your tray is full. In the front rows there are lockers at ground level though not reachable from your seat – you have to get up and leave the suite to put things in. Would have been lovely like in F to be able to have storage in the suite itself to access small hand luggage. My door already felt a bit faulty and do wonder how well they would hold up as the opening and closing wasn’t intuitive or smooth.

The crew find the door a bit annoying. On night flights, the crew have to pass through with a torch to check seatbelts over blankets if the light is on as the door makes it hard to see in. It was odd waking up to a search light hovering over you.

I was on an AF flight where a couple of weeks ago where the new business (which also has suites) due to a technical had to be swapped for a plane with ancient J seat. It made me really remember how nice it was to be in an airy cabin not one filled with cubicles. Being able to people watch and that old ‘gentlemans club’ lounge chair vibe of old skool premium cabins! Privacy is nice, especially on night flights but on day flights its lovely to feel like you are on a plan and flying somewhere – not stuffed in a box. Id take better more ergonomic storage over a door, which feels in-practical in a lot of use-cases. Get doors on First but in J, when the seats have been designed correctly you dont care there are not any doors and feel very private.

Having watched your YT video on this experience, was that unpleasant crew member the one that had her face blurred?

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Club Europe

Welcome to Club Europe, our feature-packed UK and European business class. The perfect combination of efficiency, convenience and comfort. Who says you can't mix business with pleasure?

The Club Europe comfort

• Access to comfortable departure lounges*
• Dedicated check-in desks* and priority boarding
• More personal space on board to work or relax
• High-speed Wi-Fi on most aircraft, with free messaging on your personal device for Executive Club Members
• Complimentary food and drinks
• Larger baggage allowance than Euro Traveller
• More Avios and Tier Points

More personal space

Your comfort on board is our highest priority. The Club Europe cabin is at the front of the aircraft. We keep the middle seat free so you can always enjoy a guaranteed window or aisle seat and more personal space for working and relaxing.

Your Club Europe seat

• Contoured leather seats with 76.2cm (30") seat pitch, designed to maximise your personal space
• Access to in-seat power on most aircraft
• Eye-level magazine storage for your comfort
• Dedicated cabin crew looking after you on board

Delicious food and refreshments

In Club Europe we serve a selection of delicious meals including full British breakfast, lunch, traditional afternoon tea and dinner. Alongside your meals, we offer a range of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks.

Calm and elegant lounges

Relax and recharge your batteries before your flight in one of our elegant departure lounges. We offer a selection of delicious food and drink, plus a range of business facilities to make working on the go easier.

Enough baggage for any occasion

Baggage allowances.

With Club Europe's generous and flexible baggage allowances, it doesn't matter if you're travelling light or packing for an extended stay. You can take two bags with you on board - one full-sized cabin bag plus a laptop or handbag; perfect for when you like to travel light or return the same day. On top of that, you can check in up to two bags into the hold.

Doorstep baggage pick-up & check-in

Have your baggage collected from your doorstep, securely transported to the airport, and checked-in for your flight, allowing you to travel to the airport luggage-free and head straight to security when you get there. Available for flights departing from Heathrow, Gatwick, Geneva, Zurich and Vienna.

Your fast track through the airport

Patience may be a virtue but who really likes to wait? Cut through the queues with:

• Your own dedicated Club Europe check-in desk at most airports
• Fast Track security at London airports
• Priority boarding

Aircraft variations

Wherever and whenever you fly in Club Europe you can expect the same impeccable standard, access to lounges*, top quality food and drinks, and premium service by our attentive crew. Please note, some of the features and cabin elements may vary according to the time and duration of your flight and the type of aircraft in use.

* where available

Everything you need to know about British Airways’ fare classes

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information.

Have you ever heard someone say something along the lines of, "I'm flying in J" and wondered what on earth they could mean?

Or, have you checked your flight on ExpertFlyer and been surprised by the sea of letters showing for each British Airways flight when you know there are only four actual classes the airline flies — First , Club World / Club Suite (business), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy)?

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Why so many fare classes?

British Airways has 22 fare classes and four redemption classes. Revenue fare classes are bookable for cash whilst redemption fare classes are for Avios or mileage bookings.

Broadly speaking, the different fare classes within each cabin correlate both to the cost of the ticket as well as the flexibility of the fare offered. The lower classes usually sell first, so as a flight gets busier, the lower classes will fill up and BA will only sell higher, more expensive fare classes. Typically, the closer to your travel date, the higher the fare class — either because the plane has filled up anyway or because BA might only sell higher fare classes closer to the departure date, as it knows it can command higher prices for last-minute bookings.

BA's fare classes break down as follows:

• First: F (flexible) and A (discounted) as revenue fare classes and Z for reward redemptions;
• Club World (business class): J, C, D, R and I (with I being the cheapest) for revenue and U for reward bookings;
• World Traveller Plus (premium economy), W, E and T for revenue and P for reward bookings; and
• World Traveller (economy): Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, N, Q, O, G and P for revenue and X for reward bookings.

It's worth noting that based on which fare class you're booked in, the number of Avios you'll get in return will vary.

The table above shows the breakdown of Avios and Tier Points for BA's different fare classes. For example with the lowest economy classes (G, O and Q) you'll earn 25% of the miles flown and 25% of the Tier Points. A mid-range fare, such as this example roundtrip itinerary from Newark (EWR) to London (LHR), will earn you half of the miles flown. In this case, since it's an L class Basic Economy, you would earn 3,458 Avios.

If I book the same flight but choose a Premium Economy seat (a T class fare), I would earn 100% of the miles flown in Avios, which in this case would be 6,916.

It's also worth noting that G class, one of the most heavily discounted BA fare classes in economy, is reserved for travel agent bookings , including BA holidays. That's why it sometimes pays to add a car or hotel to your booking — that way, you might be able to book into G even if booking the flight on its own would only let you book into a higher fare class.

What the numbers mean

In the example above, the sea of 9s doesn't mean that there are only nine seats available in each class. Nine is the highest number that can be displayed for BA (for some airlines it's seven), and the fare classes are all related. For example, if you book nine seats in O class, it's highly likely that there won't be nine available in Q and that number goes down. That's why you might see BA offer four seats for sale on a flight when there's actually only one left .

Looking at a week-long trip to New York in February next year, a return ticket in Y, which is a fully flexible economy class, costs £2,291. The same ticket can be had for £301 if choosing the cheapest option, O class. The latter does not allow any bags or seat selection, and nor does it allow any changes, whilst the former is fully flexible, as the passenger can change the time, date and receive a full refund if it needs to be cancelled.

Despite the £2,000 price difference between the two tickets, the seat and food for those two tickets would be exactly the same. Of course, there are good and bad seats in each — our guides help you pick the best seats in any BA cabin .

The crazy thing about the fully flexible example economy price is that discounted premium economy can be had for £587, and even discounted business class can be had for £1,333 — a saving of £700 from that fully flexible economy seat. Now, that's a sale price (and a decent one from London ) and has no flexibility. In other words, you couldn't change dates nor get a refund.

Bottom line

Understanding fare classes and how you can use them in conjunction with ExpertFlyer can help you find cheaper flights. If the particular flight or day you are looking for doesn't have the price you were expecting or hoping for, it's worth having a browse on ExpertFlyer to find a date that has lower fare classes available. In addition to also helping you understand what you'll earn on the flight, you'll be able to impress your AvGeek friends at the next dinner party.

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British Airways Classes: The Guide

Natasha is a freelance writer and frequent traveler. She writes about luxury travel, travel hacking and credit card rewards. Her goal is to encourage more people to experience the world around them.

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If you’re considering flying with British Airways, why not fly in comfort? Flying economy can certainly get you to your destination, but not without its inconveniences. That's why understanding the British Airways' class differences can help you find the right ticket to fit your flight preferences and desired experience.

Read more to learn about how British Airways’ premium class options work, plus how to book an upgraded seat on your next flight.

British Airways' classes

British Airways currently has four travel class options: economy, premium economy, business and first class. Each travel class offers a different price point and travel experience.

If you dream of experiencing life beyond coach, think about upgrading your fare type to one of the following ticket tiers.

Premium economy

Photo courtesy of British Airways.

While British Airways' premium economy is not quite the same experience as flying in business or first class, it does offer some additional perks that aren’t available when choosing to fly on an economy ticket.

Premium economy travelers get to enjoy more comfortable seats as well as a variety of other perks, like:

Wider seats.

Additional legroom.

A separate premium economy cabin area.

Complimentary bar service along with signature drinks.

A personal entertainment system.

Noise-canceling headphones.

An amenity kit.

Additional free baggage allowance.

Priority boarding.

Premium economy tickets are available on World Traveller Plus routes.

Business class

British Airways’ business class offers more perks and comfort than premium economy; however, the included amenities vary depending on your specific flight journey. These packages are known as “clubs.”

Club Europe is available on flights headed to the U.K. and Europe, while Club World service is offered on all other business flights. There’s also an exclusive flight service from New York-JFK to London, called Club World London City .

Club Europe perks :

Contoured leather seats with in-seat power and fully moveable headrests.

Magazine storage.

Adjustable LED lighting.

Complimentary newspapers (available on most flights).

Food and drinks.

A dedicated cabin crew.

Additional baggage allowance.

Priority check-in and boarding.

Fast track security available at London airports.

Fast track arrivals at London-Heathrow (available for non-EU passport holders).

Club World perks :

A seat that converts to a fully flat bed.

Amenity kits and bedding.

Access to a private lounge and deluxe spa treatments.

Dedicated check-in and priority boarding desks.

Travelers can enjoy the newly remodeled Club Suite cabins on select Club World flights. Offerings include aisle access from every seat, a door for added privacy, a 79-inch fully flat bed, personal outlets for charging your electronics, high-resolution screens and extra storage space.

Club Suites are available on select services in New York-JFK, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bangalore and Toronto flights. British Airways continues to roll out Club Suite offerings on additional routes.

Club World London City perks :

Access to a plane with a total of only 32 seats.

A seat that converts into a fully flat bed measuring 6 feet.

Luxury bedding and amenity kit.

Personal iPad with entertainment offerings.

Mobile data connectivity.

U.K., EU and U.S. power sockets.

Pre-clearance through U.S. immigration on flights to New York.

Dedicated support team.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

First class

British Airways' first class is the highest level of ticket available on their flights. Travelers not only have access to their own personal suite while flying, but they can also enjoy many other amenities.

Here’s a look at what you will experience when flying first class on British Airways:

Access to a private, spacious suite with a fully flat bed.

A foam and microfibre mattress topper and 400-thread-count bedding.

Exclusively designed loungewear, amenity bag and slippers.

Luxury skin and body care collection.

Fine dining food and drinks.

Access to lounges and luxury spa treatments.

Exclusive and dedicated service.

Priority boarding via the exclusive First lounge.

When flying through London-Heathrow Terminals 3 and 5, first class travelers can enjoy the Arrivals lounge upon landing. They also have access to the Concorde Room, British Airways' most luxurious lounge, when flying through London-Heathrow Terminal 5 and New York-JFK Terminal 7.

How to book British Airways premium class tickets

If you’ve decided you'd like to fly in a premium class on your next British Airways flight, you have a few options for completing your booking — cash, Avios (points) or a combination of the two.

Pay full price: You can book British Airways premium class seats by paying full price at the time of booking.

Make a partial payment and use Avios: Log in to your British Airways Executive Club account and search for flights. You’ll be presented with options to use some of your Avios points to reduce the cash price of your premium class flight.

Book with Avios: If you have enough Avios saved up, you can easily redeem your points to book a premium class seat.

You can also treat yourself to a premium class ticket upgrade with Avios for both existing and new flights.

Rescheduling your flights

If you need to cancel or reschedule your British Airways flight, you have options, regardless of ticket type. Due to COVID-19, British Airways has made temporary changes to their normal terms to offer more flexibility .

Change fees are waived for flights booked from March 3, 2020, onward that are to be completed by Aug. 31, 2021. For flights booked prior to March 3, 2020, this promotion expires earlier, on Jan. 20, 2021. Keep in mind that you’re still responsible for any changes in fare price, but you will not incur change fees.

The bottom line

Three premium tier levels make up British Airways classes, each offering a unique set of perks and amenities that are reflected in the price tags.

But, the question remains: Are British Airways premium economy, business or first classes worth it? If you can afford the significant expense or have Avios points saved up, British Airways premium seats can be worth the cost — particularly on long-haul journeys, and the added privacy and comfort mean a more enjoyable flight experience.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

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Book premium economy with this airline – it’s the closest you can get to business class

W e’ve all ordered the second-cheapest bottle of wine on the menu, but what about the second-cheapest cabin on the aircraft: premium economy? Is it worth the 50 to 100 per cent bump on economy fares?

The world’s largest airlines would like us to think so. They’re installing bigger, better cabins faster than you can say “upgrade”. The number of premium economy seats on all airlines on an annual basis is projected to treble from 4,000 in 2021 to 11,145 next year, aviation analysts Counterpoint say. 

But, at first glance, the argument for upgrading is not so convincing. Take a look at the cabin. You certainly don’t get 50-100 per cent more space. The seats are only a few inches bigger – although the legroom is 5-6” greater and the seats come with calf- or footrests or both and double arm rests.

The cost per square inch calculation changes, however, if you are travelling in a pair. Grab the window and aisle seat pair and you and your companion have your own row. Almost all economy window and aisle row seats on long-haul jets come in sets of three while premium is 2-4-2 or 2-3-2. 

Snag the front row and no-one can recline their seat into your face and you can get up to stretch your legs or go to the loo without disturbing your companion. Throw in the fact that some premium cabins have as few as 20-odd seats, compared with the 200-plus in economy, and the price bump suddenly appears to be much better value. 

Things get better when you consider the other perks. Most airlines allow premium economy passengers to check in using a dedicated line and to board just after business-class passengers. Baggage allowance is also more generous. 

Now that you’re sitting comfortably, what’s next? The clue’s in the name. Economy. Airlines don’t want to offer a business class-style in-flight service lest too many high-paying business class passengers opt to downgrade. Business-class cabins may make up only one third of the space on a long-haul aircraft but they generate up to 70 per cent of the profits. 

That said, service is improving. Singapore Airlines and Japan’s ANA now offer champagne and the wines on Emirates are as good as business class on some other carriers. All airlines are offering better food and drink, usually served in china crockery and glassware, not plastic. You will be also served more quickly than in economy because the cabin is smaller.

The amenities tend to be basic. You’ll get earplugs, a toothbrush, a flimsy eye shade, a slightly less cheap-feeling blanket and pillow than in economy, and headphones that cancel noise – a bit. You are better off taking your own kit. For overnight flights, I recommend sculpted foam eye shades which enable you to blink easily, Hearos earplugs, and eucalyptus oil nose drops to ward off colds. Melatonin tablets help you to nod off and Elemis instant refreshing gel wakes you up in the morning. And, not sexy I know, but compression socks do help prevent blood clots. 

Boarding and getting off is quicker and easier since the premium economy cabin is in front of economy. Emirates leads here because its premium economy cabin is at the front of the lower deck of the Airbus A380 so you can use the front left-hand door. All other passengers on the lower deck use the middle door. 

The similarities between carriers generally outweigh the differences but there are distinctions which might help you make a choice. Emirates has the snazziest cabin, with cream leather and wood veneer, and it is staffed by a team of cabin crew dedicated to premium economy passengers. On the A380, it offers the best loo-to-passenger ratio – a generous three bathrooms for 56 passengers. The Dubai-based carrier currently has 27 A380s with a premium economy cabin that serve routes between Dubai and London Heathrow, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Singapore, Los Angeles, New York/JFK, Houston, San Francisco, Mumbai, Bengaluru, São Paolo and Tokyo Narita.

Virgin Atlantic calls premium economy Premium, which is way better than British Airways’ word salad of World Traveller Plus . Virgin’s leather seats, softer lighting and more attentive service make its Premium feel more, well, premium than BA’s. On Virgin’s new A330Neo jet the seats have wireless phone charging and there is a self serve snack bar called the Wonderwall.

BA points out that members of its Executive Club loyalty programme earn generous tier points in World Traveller Plus, so it is a good cabin to book if you want to move up from Bronze status to Silver or Gold. On a return flight from London to New York JFK, the lowest premium economy ticket earns you 140 more tier points than the lowest economy ticket.

Qantas ’ is raising the bar on its new Airbus A350 jets, which will soon start flying the 20 hours non-stop from London and New York to Sydney and Melbourne. The 40-inch pitch (the measure of leg room) is two inches more than Qantas’s current premium economy and the same offered by Emirates, currently the class leader. There’s more privacy, too. “We’re redesigning the head rest to create a more pronounced wingback chair to give more visual seclusion, which is great if you’re travelling alone,” says Qantas’s designer David Caon. Caon is also refining “a new special pillow that integrates with the headrest and becomes part of the seat.”

The new seat will aid sleep. “You get a better recline, less because the seat back goes back more, and more because the bottom of the seat tracks forward and juts up, that gives you more of a ‘slung’ position. Combined with the footrest, it’s more like the old cradle seats that airlines used to have in business class,” Caon says.  

ANA, meanwhile, is the only airline to offer premium economy passengers lounge access and drinks from the business class menu on board. 

Singapore Airlines ’ passengers can use its popular ‘Book the Cook’ service to pre-order meals, but be careful: if you pre-order a meal, it’s hard to swap seats if you spot a better one that is free, since your meal is allocated to your seat. On its Airbus A350 jets from the Lion City to New York, it also offers six coveted single window seats at the rear of the plane. There is a new Out of the Woods amenity kit on flights longer than seven hours. (It is not clear why it has this name). 

Lufthansa ’s premium-economy seats are in the same cabin as economy, which betrays a complete misunderstanding of the class system at 39,000ft. All the cabins on the major American carriers have leather seats – but somehow manage to look cheap. 

What’s the bottom line? Premium economy is not as good value as business class since, pound for pound, you get more space and more perks in business over premium economy than you do in premium economy over economy. But choose the right carrier for your needs and snag the best seats and it can be money very well spent indeed.

Premium perks 

Virgin atlantic: best for hungry fliers.

Generous service complemented by the best pantry full of snacks and drinks that you can raid at any time. You can also use the fast-track security when leaving New York’s JFK. 

British Airways: best for night flights

A generous eight-inch seat recline makes BA a good bet for night flights. Book the A380 and you’ll be sitting upstairs so you can, in effect, look down on economy passengers. (It’s the little things…) 

Emirates: closest to business class

The closest you’ll get to business class with a plush cabin, three bathrooms, class-leading food and wine. I recommend the Thai pepper beef with jasmine rice, with  a glass or two of the Château d’Aiguilhe, Côtes de Castillon 2012, St Emilion.

ANA: best for lounge access

The Japanese carrier is the only one to offer lounge access and drinks from the business-class menu.  

Singapore Airlines: best for comfort

The best seats on any carrier, provided you’re on the mammoth, 19-hour trek from Singapore to New York. There are six solo window seats at the back of the Airbus A350-900ULR that it uses for this, the world’s longest flight, with their own storage bins between each seat and the window.

Qantas: best for heading Down Under

The best value and comfort to Australia is premium economy on Qantas’s Boeing 787 direct flight from London to Perth – and soon on direct flights from London and New York to Sydney and Melbourne. After all, who wants to spend up to 20 hours in economy?

Finnair: best value for Asia

With an elegant cabin of only 21 seats on its long-haul Airbus A330s and 24 on its Airbus A350s, Finland’s flag carrier offers a smaller cabin than most carriers and is often better value than BA on routes to Asia, but you will have to change planes in Helsinki.   

This article was first published in February 2023 and has been revised and updated.

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