Surprise: British Airways Quietly Rolls Out New Premium Economy Seat

I realise this is a *very* on brand level of detail for me, but I suspect this is Recaro’s R5 (the previous CL4710 from their “Comfort Line”) rather than R4 (the previous PL3810 from their “Premium Line”) based on several elements, including the structure of the underseat foot bars and the “button” on the side of the seatback above the armrest. In experience terms, R5 is a little plusher, more generous and more supportive in its format and kinematics (seat movements) than R4, so that's a passenger plus, really.

They need to sort out First, as it is a complete and utter joke. flown First twice recently and it is truly appalling that that is what is being offered up. It is inexcusable.

It looks like the one Iberia has been putting on their newer A350, which would make sense.

BA is the definition of mediocrity. Lousy airline. Lousy products. Lousy service.

This trend of using the word QUIETLY has been ovedone.

I'd rather be in a brand new R5 than a new 5-year old Club Suite.

@Ben, could you do a post that compares the various PY cabins/services/products? It seems as though the seats are fairly similar across most airlines, offering 18-19" width and 38" pitch (except JL, which has 42" fixed shell seats). Ground services and onboard services seem to be where there are significant differences, where some airlines offer the same things as Y, while others are closer to C/J.

Despite the TATL JV, LH PY seems vastly inferior to UA PY.

Sadly BA only hires overweight 60 year old women and men stewardesses these days. The days of being served by young attractive girl stewardesses are long gone. I will not be giving them my business agai

This actually had me thinking, since you gave the Lufthansa example. Has there been any major airline that has taken on a major refurbishment program while maintaining consistency in the post 2020 world? United is all over the place with NEXT, American is the only one that comes to mind with Oasis. Maybe emirates but even then their first class situation makes no sense.

@Man London

Glad to see I am not the only one underwhelmed with BA's FC current product.

Please oh please don’t let them be hard shells where the seat slides forward iso reclining properly.

Rated number 13 in the 2025 World Rankings …. BA must be getting something right for many, many discerning passengers, yes?

No U.S. airline can hold a candle to BA, yes?

Hardly, “Mediocrity. Lousy airline. Lousy products. Lousy service”, yes?

M O’C …. and every U.S. airline only employs lithe, CA born, 20 something, blond bombshells with legs up to their armpits of course?
Do try to be serious old duck.

Korean - Air Premia is similar to airnorse... largely because they have their planes

Did that one time on a China Airlines (CI) flight - miserable

But then you complain when the person in front of you reclines deeply into your space.

Hard shell still gives you recline; it's just that it confines it you to your own space, and not the pax behind you. And no one can recline into yours.

Every major US airline pales in comparison to [practically] every major European airline, and they in turn pales in comparison to [practically] every major Asian airline. I can't speak to the ME3, as I've only from EK once (in PE) and none of the others.

What that means is that I, as an American flying mostly US carriers, BA continues to be better in J than any US airline, and though BA may lack things that other EU-based carriers offer, the only thing that bugs me about BA is having to pay $$$$ in addition to all the points! The sheer number of Avios needed, plus the $1,000+ surcharges mean I might as well pay cash and get the points (charged to an American carrier where I can use the points).

Stunned by how thin the padding is on a plane that can do 15 hour missions.

Penny wise and pound foolish.

I'd challenge and say United is probably the best. Until recently, Polaris was very consistent amongst the entire fleet. Sure the config changed depending on the width of the plane. But the same product was on every longhaul whether it be 767, 777 (both 200 and 300s) and 787. The only other one I can think of is Cathay Pacific's pre-Aria configuration was very consistent amongst its long haul fleet. Aria will become consistent as they retrofit.

@Ben,
I know you have a lot on your mind right now, but just wanted to call out I've seen a number of posts with essentially just this text, but IIRC from different guest "names". Would not surprise me if it was a bot posting this.

Hello Dusty “Bot”, to whom are you referring?

Obviously the one posting the 60 year old woman and men FA copypasta?