British Airways Business Class: What you need to know

British Airways surprised the world in 2000 when it introduced the first-ever lay-flat business class seats.

After the better part of two decades, British Airways has finally brought back its Club World long-haul business class product for 2019. The London-based airline has introduced a new Club Suite, which features redesigned business class seats and an all-new service.

More than four years on, not all British Airways business class flights meet the new standards. Depending on the route and aircraft type, British Airways business class may consist only of economy seats with a blocked middle seat, which provides better in-flight service and food.

Here's how to find out which business class experience is offered on which flights, and what you can expect when you fly on a British Airways business class ticket.

British Airways has three types of business class:

British Airways business class can be divided into three different business class products:

1. club europe Available on select short-haul flights in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

2. club world: It is a general term for British Airways' long-haul business class, but it is now commonly used to refer to British Airways' older business class seats.

3. club suite: British Airways' new business class seats with doors for privacy.

Let's take a closer look at each of these different British Airways business class products.

Club Europe is the term used to describe British Airways' business class product for short-haul travel within Europe. This is British Airways' least luxurious business class offering, consisting of just standard economy seats and a blocked middle seat.

British Airways Club Europe is featured on all British Airways narrowbody aircraft, including:

• Baggage allowance. British Airways Club Europe passengers can check in up to two pieces of baggage free of charge. You may also bring one full-sized cabin bag and a laptop or handbag on board.

• Boarding. British Airways will board passengers divided into nine groups. Passengers with Club Europe tickets are in priority group 1, which means they will board first.

• seat. Club Europe business class seats are identical to economy class seats, right down to the seat pitch. This means that even if you book business class, the seat pitch is narrow at 30 inches and there is no need for additional seat width.

• Lounge. Club Europe passengers have access to British Airways or partner airline departure lounges (where available).

• Eating and drinking. British Airways offers complimentary meals at Club Europe. Meals vary depending on the time of day. Alcoholic drinks are also available free of charge, so enjoy a gin and tonic or champagne with your meal.

British Airways calls its intercontinental business class product 'Club World'. This is the business class product you'll see on long-haul flights between the US and London and beyond.

Since the introduction of British Airways' new Club Suites in 2019, Club World has come to be used to refer to British Airways' outdated business class seats, which date back to 2000. You can usually find this old seat on your next flight. model:

Here's what you need to know about Club World business class tickets.

• Baggage allowance. Club World passengers can check in up to two standard weight bags, plus one large and one small bag on board.

• Boarding. Club World passengers board in Priority Group 2. This means you will board the plane after first class passengers (if your flight has first class) and Oneworld Emerald elites.

• seat. All Club World seats recline into (at least) a fully flat 6-foot bed. Bedding and amenity kits designed by The White Company provide added comfort.

• Lounge. Club World passengers have access to the British Airways Club World departure lounge and partner business class lounges. Additionally, Club World travelers can visit the Arrivals Lounge when they arrive at London Heathrow Airport.

British Airways' newest business class product is called the Club Suite. This far superior business class seat made its debut in 2019. However, it will still be several years before British Airways rolls out this new business class seat across its fleet.

British Airways is debuting the Club Suite on its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with all A350-1000 aircraft now equipped with the new product. Additionally, British Airways has completed the refurbishment of its Boeing 787-10 club suites.

Unfortunately, British Airways is far behind in plans to retrofit its club suites to other aircraft. In October 2021, British Airways pledged to complete the installation of Club Suites on its Boeing 777 aircraft by the end of 2022. British Airways did not respond to NerdWallet's request for status, but recently posted on X (officially known as Twitter) that its Boeing 777 aircraft: Renovations are still underway as of mid-November 2023.

Club Suites will eventually be rolled out across British Airways' long-haul routes. However, British Airways currently does not expect to install the new club suites on its Boeing 787-8 or 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft until “late 2024 or late 2025.”

Comparison of Club Suite seats and Club World seats

Technically speaking, Club Suite seats are Club World seats. However, there are reasons for the difference between the two. Instead of having to awkwardly face your seatmate or climb over the person next to you to get to the aisle, all Club Suites have direct aisle access and a door for privacy. .

Even passengers sitting in the middle row have a partition that can be closed to ensure privacy from their seatmates.

Taller passengers will find that the Club Suite seats can be folded flat to create a larger 6-foot-6-inch (198 cm) lie-flat bed. This is 6 inches longer than the old Club World seat.

Club suites feature better seats and longer beds, as well as a larger 17-inch in-flight entertainment screen. This is significantly larger than the 12-inch screen installed in the old Club World Suite.

Does British Airways have a flat bed in business class?

British Airways was the first airline to offer lie-flat seats in business class in 2000. All seats in British Airways' Club World and Club World Suites now recline into fully-flat beds that are more than 6 feet long.

However, only standard economy seats are available on short-haul Club Europe business class flights.

How to save on British Airways business class tickets

You can book Business Class on British Airways using a variety of frequent flyer currencies, including:

For example, British Airways business class awards from London/Heathrow Airport to Las Vegas cost a reasonable 57,500 AAdvantage miles each way.

However, the out-of-pocket cost of $692.60 significantly reduces the value of this benefit.

British Airways cardholders can reduce the burden of these high taxes and fees by booking awards through the British Airways Executive Club and having the taxes and fees charged to the cardholder. . British Airways Visa Signature® Card.

Cardholders can earn up to three statement credits per year of up to $200 to offset some of their out-of-pocket costs on British Airways business class award bookings.

U.S.-based travelers of all ages can join AARP to take advantage of discounted British Airways business class fares. AARP members can save up to $200 on round-trip business class flights on British Airways. To be eligible, flights must depart from the United States and be booked through a dedicated member-only link.

British Airways is one of more than 20 airlines participating in the American Express Travel International Airline Program. This means eligible American Express cardmembers can book British Airways business class tickets through the AmEx Travel portal and potentially save big on their bookings.

British Airways business class review

Now you know what to expect when flying Business Class on British Airways. If you want to fly in style and enjoy a more comfortable flight experience, look no further than the British Airways Club Suite. However, be prepared to be disappointed with Club Europe or older Club World seats.