Business Class travel onboard a British Airways flight is a great way to begin your next vacation. Business class cabin amenities are constantly changing and have become very similar to the luxuries offered in the first class cabins. Business class amenities include gourmet food, excellent entertainment and a business class seat that converts into a comfortable bed. Other business class cabin amenities that are often overlooked when considering flight classes are the airport club lounges, the expedited check-in lines, and priority baggage claim. Business class cabin amenities and business class seats are often improved and expanded. Consider business class travel before booking your next vacation.
Business Class by Distance
Business Class is divided into three categories on a British Airways flight. Club Europe, Club World, and Club World London City are the three categories. Club Europe includes business class flights within the UK and Europe. Club World is the business class offered on longer international flights, and Club World London City includes business class flights between London City and New York JFK.
Club Europe flights include the UK and European business class and include access to departure lounges, priority boarding, additional personal space to work or relax, food and drink service, and dedicated check-in desks at the airport with minimal waiting. Business class passengers also receive greater baggage allowances and accrue greater points for frequent flier programs.
The Club Europe cabin is located in the front of the plane and the middle seat is open so you always can choose between the aisle or window seat. The business class seats are made from soft leather and offer 30 inches of legroom to maximize your personal space. The headrests are adjustable, there are LED lights, and ample space to store your personal belongings.
Food onboard your flight is restaurant quality and prepared by award-winning chefs. London Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW) routes offer a menu of British Isle entrees including warm bread, quality wines, and coffee through a partnership with Union Hand-Roasted Coffee. Early morning flights offer a selection of three different breakfasts including cured meats, smoked salmon, a hot English breakfast or a hot vegetarian breakfast. All meals are made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Mid-morning flights serve continental cold meats and cheeses or a hot snack. Lunch and dinner service include an appetizer, main course, and dessert accompanied by a full bar.
On shorter flights, British Airways serves their signature afternoon tea which includes sandwiches or a traditional Ploughman’s, afternoon tea cake and scones, jam, and clotted cream.
Club World travelers are business class passengers on longer international flights. Club World amenities include a spacious seat that converts into a fully flat bed, gourmet food and drinks, access to private lounges, spa treatments, and priority check-in and boarding. Club World passengers receive an armchair that converts into a bed, a dining table, and office space in one area. The seat converts into a six-foot-long bed with adjustable headrest and lumbar support. There is a power supply in the business class seating area so you can keep your laptop and electronic devices charged and ready for use.
The business class seat turns into a bed with bedding designed by The White Company, a British lifestyle brand. Included with your bed are a mattress topper, duvet, luxurious pillow, and a blanket. Food served in Club World features a menu inspired by international flavors and includes a three-course meal, desserts, and wine and spirits. Coffee is provided through a partnership with Union Hand-Roasted Coffee. There are also lighter fare options and a Club Kitchen where passengers help themselves to snacks and quick bites anytime during their flight. Entertainment in Club World seating includes hundreds of films, documentaries, television, music, audiobooks, and games. Entertainment is viewed on a 10.4-inch flat screen with noise-canceling headphones. On-demand service means you choose when you watch and what you watch during your flight.
An amenity kit is provided for Club World travelers and includes luxury Elemis skincare products and accessories. For travelers who prefer to maximize their sleep time onboard, they can receive a nightcap and sleep through the flight and receive a quick breakfast before reaching their destination.
Club World London City business class travelers receive a private jet-like experience. There is onboard mobile data connectivity, pre-clearance of US immigration on flights to New York, and a dedicated support team for your travel needs. The 32 Club World London City seats convert into a six-foot fully flat bed. Luxury bedding and an amenity kit designed by The White Company are included. Entertainment is viewed on a personal iPad and there are power sockets for laptops and other electronic devices. Access to emails, text messages, and the internet on your mobile device is available during your flight. Skype and FaceTime are unavailable.
A Club World London City amenity kit includes products from The White Company’s Restore & Relas Spa. Each item in the kit is designed to provide a relaxing boost during the long flight. Gourmet food includes a hot or cold meal, bar service, and signature afternoon tea. On flights from New York, passengers enjoy gourmet pre-flight dining in the lounge, a nightcap, and a light snack, hot breakfast, or grab and go meal. Snacks and treats are available on request throughout the flight.
Other Business Class Amenities
Business class travelers receive greater baggage allowances than economy and coach passengers and can bring one cabin bag plus a laptop or purse and check in two bags without incurring a fee. Business class travelers also use the premier check-in areas that never have long lines and move you quickly through security. Business class passengers also receive access to the airport lounges providing hot meals, excellent service, areas to complete work, and a full bar. Additional airport amenities include a spa and full-service restaurant with a wait staff. Check your airport for details and availability.
About British Airways
British Airways first flight was between London and Paris and is famous for not only being the first daily international scheduled air service but also only having one passenger on this famous first flight. The flight was actually launched under Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited which was a precursor to British Airways in 1919 and took off from Hounslow Heath which is very close to today’s Heathrow Airport. In addition to its one passenger, it mostly carried cargo like newspapers, Devonshire cream, and jam.
British Airways announced a joint business agreement with Qatar Airways in 2016 to provide its customers with better flight options between the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Through this arrangement, customers can get better routes, faster flight times and better prices between the two airlines.
With the boom of the internet and passengers interacting with airlines through their web portals, British Airways launched “ba.com”. Unfortunately, that internet domain belonged to Bell Atlantic. The head of marketing and e-commerce for British Airways spent one year negotiating the price to get the web address from Bell Atlantic as ba.com was a very easy name to remember and the airline’s acronym, as well as IATA Airline code. He was able to secure the name from the previous owners but the price remains confidential.
In 2013, British Airways became the first airline to introduce two new fleet additions at the same time. They added both the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787. They will be the only airline to operate both airplanes in their fleet.
British Airways is serious about renewable energies for its fleet. They have partnered with Velocys, which is a renewable fuels company, to design waste plants that convert household waste into renewable jet fuel to power its fleet. The idea is to turn everyday household waste like plastic food containers and candy bar wrappers and convert this into clean-burning, sustainable fuels.
For more information on British Airways business class cabin amenities and business class seats, see the British Airways website or consult with your travel agent. Business class amenities and business class seats vary based on aircraft and destination.
