British Airways Business Class (Club World) Review
Booking: I upgraded to business class (club world) from premium economy (world traveler plus) at the airport last minute.
Aircraft type for this trip:
BA85 LHR-YVR A350
Ground Experience:
At LHR, we checked in at 1.45pm for the flight departure at 5.15pm. This flight departed out of Terminal 3. This was ideal as it allowed us to use the lounge for more than 3 hours before our departure. There was a separate check-in line for Club World. I was the 1st person in line. Check-in process (along with the upgrade) took about 15 minutes. My bags were priority tagged. 2 checked bags (70lb each) are allowed.
After checking in, I went through security (fast track access) and it took about 2 minutes. Lounge access is included with Business Class with BA. I used the British Airways Lounge near the departure gates in Terminal 3.
Quick review of the British Airways Lounge – Very good lounge with shower facilities. I would definitely visit again. 4.5/5 stars
Boarding Process:
The gate area was busy. Families with children boarded first. Then Zone 1 and 2 passengers. I was assigned Zone 2. Zone 1 is for First Class/BA Elite status passengers even though there was no First Class cabin on this flight.
Cabin and Seat:
The cabin had black and gray finishes with the British Airways logo in front of the mini-cabin.
BA’s A350 Business Class is set up as 1-2-1 configuration with every seat having aisle access. A total of 56 seats in reverse herringbone configuration. Of these seats, 44 are located in a separated front cabin, spread across 11 rows, with an additional three rows of 12 seats forming a mini-cabin in the back. If you are traveling with another person, the middle two seats are great for privacy and aisle access making it a mini room in itself.
My seat was 16K in the back mini-cabin. The seat had window and direct aisle access. The seat had a sliding door for privacy making it a private pod. The seat itself was sleek and fresh. The entertainment system was a 17 in touchscreen TV with a wired remote. The screen cannot be moved as it is mounted to the back of the seat in front of you. The tray table is underneath the screen that slides down towards you. Under the screen, is the footrest that becomes part of the lie-flat bed when reclined. There is a small storage space near the footrest for storing water bottles or literature.
The seat had an armrest on the left that can be raised and lowered. The control panel for the seat recline was on the right, below the additional storage compartments. There are 3 storage compartments on the right side of the seat 16K. One is a stand up fridge-style compartment that comes with a bottle of water and the amenity kit. The other two are next to each other with drop box style storage. One of them houses the wired remote for the TV.
Each seat came with two lights and a sliding door. The door had suede finish and had a small gap when fully closed but still offered good privacy with its height.
The seat also came with a big pillow and bedding set. When reclined fully, the seat becomes lie-flat bed with decent length. As a 6 foot person, I was able to lay down straight.
In-Flight Experience:
As soon as we took off, we were offered a hot towel, a choice of drinks (champagne or orange juice) and a food menu. Business class has a dedicated meal service. The food was very food. My co-traveler was offered vegan mean on request as they have allergies. We were offered lunch after take off and then a light meal before landing.
The mini-cabin also had access to washrooms between the main cabin in the front and the mini-cabin that I was in.
Crew members were friendly and attentive.
I had about 3.5 hours of sleep on this 9 hour flight.
Overall Impression:
British Airways Business Class is a really good choice for long haul flights. Prices are usually high compared to other carriers, but it is possible to get good fares if booked in advance or using points/miles.
Comparing this flight to the Air France business class flight I flew in 2019 on their 777-300ER, I would say British Airways just fell short of Air France. The main differences were the amenity kit sizes/inclusions, crew member experience and food options.
Overall, a very solid choice. I would fly Club World on British Airways again.
Pros:
Separate check-in area
Zone 1 boarding
Dedicated food menu
Dedicated cabin
Dedicated washrooms
Comfortable and spacious lie-flat seats
Fast track security access
Lounge access
Cons:
No Zone 1 boarding
Amenity kit was good, but not great
Usually more expensive than competitors