Review: British Airways Club World 747 London To New York

I'm surprised that you fly ba crap. Seats like this are not business class for me. Thiey are from another era and are the worst in the market. I'd even prefer Fer recliners on Icelandair instead of having to jump over passes ngers or beeing jumped on. Glad they have improved catering as it was not edible.

You didn't know what you were getting into when you ordered a ploughman's lunch? Really?

Please review an Aerolineas Argentinas flight. You did so well on that Angolan flight, I'm sure you could do it. The more random the airline that you fly but I will probably never actually fly means I will just want to read your blog more. It sounds crazy but I think I am speaking for a certain portion of your audience that loves you so much.

I wonder what the other meal options for pre-landing were ? You seem to miss that page from the "breakfeast" menu. Would you be able to challenge flight attendants for another meal given the portions are tiny and lastly not your gusto ?

I think 23.99GBP is a fair price that it can deliver speed that can at least browse, it is free or cheap, everyone is buying it and it will take ages to load an image, just look at CZ's wifi, its free for F,C and for the first 100Y's to sign up. It is as slow as a turtle. I would rather pay something like that to work.

@Nope
And how do you leave your window seat on Icelandair?

BA is far from perfect but it is possible to still have a good experience. I love the very private window seats.

You should've gone to the Galleries in T5B. Best lounge in T5. I would happily sit there instead of the Concorde Room.

Dave just beat me too it - most BA frequent flyers rave about the lounge in T5B as it's much quieter than the lounges in the main building.

Oh, and it is me but is the Aerolineas Argentinas livery pretty much the BMI British Midland livery from the early 2000s?

On that note, I really miss BM, I used to use them a lot DUB-LHR, as they were so much better than Aer Lingus.

Jesus, that looks to be the worst seat-configuration that exists in business class... Who ever though that this design was a good idea?

@ nope - you'd prefer a domestic style recliner over a fully flat bed on a 7.5hr flight? REALLY?

Nice report. High quality.

But my main question is where did your 13-in MacBook Pro go???

The even newer IFE in the 787s has a slightly bigger screen - I imagine it’s close to the largest you could fit and still have it swing back into the seat housing.

I’m fascinated to see what the new CW seat will be like on the new A350s arriving in July. This current CW seat was absolutely pioneering - all the teenagers commenting above on how it’s The Worst Seat in the World are clearly clueless. BA converted its entire long haul fleet to consistent standards, all with lay-flat beds - something American, for example, only managed earlier this year, decades after BA.

Is it cutting edge? Hell no. It’s fallen behind best practise, and isn’t in the same league as, say, Qatar’s reverse herringbones, let alone Qsuites. But a window seat next to a bulkhead (so giving direct aisle access) is, for me, one of the better ways of travelling J - far preferable to Virgin Atlantic’s herringbones, to take one competitor.

Over the last few months, the upgrade to the (previously unacceptable) food quality has been remarkable. Some breakfast menus have offered kedgeree, which is so utterly English (and completely lovely) that the memory is still making me smile.

Why on earth order something without asking what it was?

Why not just ask what it included. The crew aren't going to judge you if you ask. Whereas we are judging you for not asking!

I guess you'd be happier if they called it something like 'tapas plate'

Great TRs, as always. Good on BA. Looks like they've shaped up (at least via these particular examples).

Ben - How much did BA pay you? ROFL

Flew the same CW seat but on a 777 (8 abreast). Got lucky and with a rear facing middle seat but no one next to me. While 8 abreast doesn't seem impressive the seat itself didn't feel tight and in bed mode as well as upright was extremely plush and comfortable. Once again got lucky with the empty seat next to me but was very impressed after all the negative reviews online.

“Sitting backwards on the upper deck is always an interesting experience.” Interesting good or bad? Never been on the top deck and I’d like to give it a try but I’m a nervous flyer so don’t like anything that feels strange on board lol. That said, I actually prefer the backward facing seats to forward facing in the main cabin.

Some don't like BA's business class but I love the window seat. It is almost a private cabin. I have only had the chance to fly it on two flights but will never forget those flights.

Good to see BA improving in business class, although the seat itself still seems weak, although better on the upper deck. (I can't stand sitting facing backward, though.) Soft product looks vastly improved.

They may not be in line with the top-tier ME or Asian airlines yet, but for TATL they look competitive again.

I'll always have a soft spot for Club World as my addiction to premium travel started on my first international flight in 2005 when I received an op-up from WT+ to CW from IAD. Flew CW on mileage upgrades 6 more times in the next 4 years and even got to experience one of the first flights with the current version of the seat in 2007. Usually got 62 or 64 seats which agreed are excellent. The bed is definitely narrow and can be a bit wobbly but good to see soft product improvements and the fact that it's being upgraded seats soon.

Will be sad to see the 747 eventually disappear as it's truly special flying the UD.

Why did you have to go through security at T5?

Surely there is a bus transfer air-side at LHR (which is almost all international flights). If you are only in transit though the UK then you don't have to go through UK immigration or security, unlike the ridiculous situation when you transfer through a US airport.

@ Tom -- You do have to go through security when transferring. It's airside in the sense that you don't have to go through immigration, but you do go through security.

It’s no more 8 abreast than reverse herringbone or staggered seating. Yes it’s lacking direct aisle access but it’s one of the best sleeping surfaces in business. The window seats on ba are some of my favourites in the sky, only the APEX suite beats it IMO.

@Lucky - how did you *know* you were departing from B pier and that it was safe to proceed there? My experience at LHR is that departure gate information isn't available until close to boarding time. Isn't it a massive ordeal to come back in the piers if you go too far?

I've been disappointed in BA First twice this year and just finished a flight from Europe to Sydney in Qatar's Qsuites (first leg was A330, though).

I've thought positive about BA's recent changes but even after reading this review, I'm amazed how behind BA is. I thought that BA First was a great business class product -- well, it's more like superb Premium Economy really.

After a few decades, not planning to do any extra miles to renew my BA status either.

Why didn't you visit the T5B lounge? Always lovely and quiet, beats sitting at the gate!

@jak US flights invariably depart from T5B or T5C, so as good to head over to the T5B lounge.

I'm really going to miss 747 UD - had equipment changes to 777 my last few flights and such a disappointment in comparison. Still find it a comfy seat with superb legroom - no foot cubby coffin!

When BA brought out the flat beds on the 747 it was revolutionary. We have always flown the UD and row 62 when available. Thanks for the review - it revives wonderful memories.

Part of our trip was always on a 777 - which paled terribly when compared to UD of the 747.

Nostalgia time in two weeks - I hope - as we fly Qantas 747 UD (same as 62) YVR to SYD. Qantas has a good reputation but over the years we have only flown a short hop SYD-AKL so have nothing to compare it to. Will be taking 5 domestic and short international flight on QR over the next 3 months so will have lots more information. Ending up on EK and CX to round things off.

Hey lucky, first time comment here. I noticed Gate Gourmet were catering the flight (assume that was your actual aircraft in the photo?) which seems odd as it's a Do&Co catered flight!

Good review. Thanks for sharing.

Lucky, or anyone?
Yes or No: Do those who occupy window seats have to jump over those in isle seats who have extended their seat/bed?

@mark2, you do have a few seats where you do not have to jump over someone, on 747 UD those are 62 and 64 for instance. Have had one on a 787 flight, but those seats are much worse with less storage space etc., and feels narrower, not sure if they are. I think there is only one gate at T5A that can take a 747, hence will be B or C gates, I have only been on a N.Y. flight from B gates.

Firstly, a big well done to BA for serving a proper pork sausage at breakfast rather than one of those awful chicken ones. Secondly, the ploughman's dish looked perfectly good to me.

@Mark2
The last row of seats in every J cabin (747, 777 - all of them) gives you a window seat with direct aisle access - no jumping over anyone. The design of the seat means it's very private, and relatively spacious - at least at the foot end. I really like those seats. They're certainly not Qsuites (what else is?), but they're a very nice way to travel.

@CraigTPA
I remember having thoughts about sitting in a rearward-facing seat but, in truth, for the vast majority of the flight it makes absolutely no difference. For take-off it is slightly less comfortable, but for landing it is slightly better. A ot of military passenger aircraft have all seats facing rearwards - in a crash it is apparently safer (or, maybe, slightly more survivable), another reason why F/A seats all face rear (as well as giving them a view of passengers misbehaving).

@Tom
Pretty much every airport I have used requires passengers transferring from one international flight to another to go through security screening (maybe that's a requirement only for flights to/from North America and EU, etc?), but almost nowhere requires immigration clearance - except notably the US. I do everything I can to avoid transferring in the US as a result, even if it means odd-looking routes (eg, from Buenos Aires to Tokyo via, er, Auckland).

@The nice Paul

Many EU countries and the US/TSA have a security agreement; if you transit in USA-FRA/MUC/ZRH-EU or back for example, there is no need to clear security in FRA/MUC/ZRH. There are probably other examples. LHR is just poorly designed and the British have a security fetish like the USA.

I will get my first 747 experience in January. I paid the extra money to get seat 62a outbound and 64k return. Phl-lhr. I can hardly wait. It's something I always dreamed of.