This should prove to be an exciting year for the business class products of the UK's two global airlines. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will both be taking delivery of their first Airbus A350s this summer, and in both cases the airlines are introducing all new business class seats. For both airlines these are so…
Continue reading: First-Ever Pictures Of British Airways’ New Club World Seat
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Ben,
Who cares ?
Bulk of planes will still have existing BC configuration for a decade probably.
I am BA Emerald , but never fly them anymore.
Cathay ! Qatar !
This is consistent with the leading theory in the UK that it will actually be the new Rockwell Collins 'Elements' seat — which is essentially the Super Diamond seat with an internally sliding door on it.
BA investor material has already referred to the new business class product being a 'suite' rather than a seat, suggesting a door. And since BA would also be first to roll out 'Elements', it would be true to their claim to be launching a unique product (at least for a while).
The mounting evidence makes this looks pretty nailed on as a prediction now. And I for one find that pretty exciting - BA could once again have one of the best products out there.
If they do choose a Super Diamond seat, it'll easily be an excellent replacement to even their First Class- if the cabin crew ups their game (hopefully they'll be proud of the new product), this could definitely make BA the 'world's favorite airline' once again.
I'm a big fan that they're using leather in areas, instead of plastic.
Hopefully their new First Class will be a sufficient upgrade from Club.
@ Daniel -- Interesting, can't seem to find any pictures to that. Do you have a link?
Elements is here - https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2018/06/08/rockwell-collins-explores-bulkhead-business-plus-first-minus-market/
I hadn't considered that and would explain why it looks like Super Diamond, I suppose.
@Ben - here you are:
https://ibb.co/S7JKSYM
https://ibb.co/bb3d2bq
https://ibb.co/vkCqZLG
Courtesy of Runway Girl btw.
Wouldn't that make their business class seats superior to their first class seats? Granted, if they go with regular reverse herringbone seats, their BC will have the same seat as their FC...
@ Daniel - those are the front row upgraded option I believe, majority of the Elements seats would look slightly different / less spacious, see the photos at the bottom of the article I posted.
@Aaron, arguably it would, but remember that the A350 won't be carrying First. So I would say that it certainly would raise questions about BA's commitment to First in its current configuration and extent of routes.
It suggests either quite a slow roll-out for 'Elements' across the fleet; a reduction in the extent of the First network (which is pretty large compare to many airlines); or much smaller much better First cabins in the future.
Looking forward to this, just a shame it'll only be on a handful of planes for the next few years.
I suspect it's worth having a look at this - https://www.formationdesign.com/waterfront-business-seat
Say what you may about BA and their hard product, but I’d like someone to point out another airline that has a more consistent fleet and who refit their entire fleet with new seats quicker than BA has done in the past. It’s certainly none of the ME3 or US3! Not even the likes of SQ who still operated longhaul flights with angled seats a decade after introducing their first flat beds. Cathay is probably one which may have come close on their long haul (non-regional) fleet.
The new Rockwell Collins ‘Elements’ seat does look like a more private version of the leaked patent about the new club world seat a while ago. I'm convinced this could be the one (and I believe lucky wrote about the leaked patent a long time ago)