In 2019, British Airways introduced its new Club Suites business class, featuring direct aisle access and doors. This marks a massive improvement to the carrier’s business class experience. As is always the case when new business class products are introduced, the big question is the timeline with which seats will be rolled out.
There’s now an update when it comes to British Airways retrofitting its existing Boeing 787s, as this has all taken a bit longer than planned. The good news is that the first reconfigured 787 with Club Suites is now in service, so that’s a major development.
In this post:
British Airways 787-8s & 787-9s getting Club Suites
As far as British Airways’ Club Suites rollout schedule goes, the airline has been taking delivery of Airbus A350-1000s and Boeing 787-10s with the new business class product. On top of that, the airline has been reconfiguring Boeing 777s with these new seats, and at this point, virtually all Heathrow-based 777s feature the new Club Suites product.
However, up until recently, there wasn’t a single Boeing 787-8 or Boeing 787-9 in service with the new cabins. That has just changed, as the first British Airways Boeing 787-8 with new cabins has just entered passenger service. Specifically, the jet has the registration code G-ZBJA, and it operated its first passenger flight on June 20, 2024, after being in the “shop” in Cardiff (CWL) since late March 2024.
You can expect that future 787s won’t take three months each to be reconfigured. Instead, it’s common for it to take extra time for the first aircraft to be reconfigured, since special certification is required.
British Airways isn’t promising that the reconfigured 787-8 will operate any particular route. However, I currently see the plane scheduled on select frequencies from London (LHR) to Baltimore (BWI), Chennai (MAA), Montreal (YUL), and Pittsburgh (PIT). Service isn’t daily in any market for now, so you’ll want to check the seat map.
This project has all taken a lot longer than expected. Back when the Club Suites rollout first started, the plan was for 787-8s and 787-9s to get these new cabins as of 2021. However, the pandemic delayed the timeline for that. The updated schedule was that the first 787-8 should enter service with new cabins as of 2023, but that also didn’t stick.
With the 787s now starting to get new cabins, the only wide body aircraft we’re still waiting on are the A380s, as those planes should get new cabins around 2026.
How is British Airways reconfiguring 787s?
How should we expect the layouts of British Airways’ Boeing 787s to change as they’re reconfigured?
British Airways Boeing 787-8s will go from having 214 seats to having 204 seats, resulting in a capacity reduction of 10 seats:
- Business class will go from 35 seats to 31 seats
- Premium economy will to from 25 seats to 37 seats
- Economy will go from 154 seats to 136 seats
As you can see, while there’s a small reduction in business class seats, British Airways is betting big on premium economy.
Meanwhile British Airways Boeing 787-9s will go from having 216 seats to having 215 seats, resulting in a capacity reduction of one seat:
- First class will maintain eight seats
- Business class will go from 42 seats to 38 seats
- Premium economy will maintain 39 seats
- Economy will go from 127 seats to 130 seats
There’s not nearly as much of a change to the Boeing 787-9 configuration, as I imagine we’re not seeing most cabin dividers moved.
Bottom line
British Airways has started the process of retrofitting existing Boeing 787s with its new Club Suites business class. The first 787-8 with new cabins is now in service. I’d expect it will take at least through the end of 2025 for all existing 787s to get Club Suites, and maybe that’s even optimistic.
On top of that, we’re seeing some general changes to cabin layouts here. On the Boeing 787-8, we’ll also see a significant increase in premium economy capacity.
What do you make of British Airways reconfiguring its Boeing 787s?
Most trans-atlantic BA routes have an AA equivalent, so book on a code-share flight via BA or AA.com if its cheaper (quite often) and fly AA business class. Guaranteed to get 4 across seating, good food and wine both in larger portions than BA, service varies from average to great, but avios and Executive tier points earned are the same. Simple!
After rolling out Club Suites in 2019, BA has promised to conclude the longhaul fleet upgrade program by the end of 2026. That's SEVEN YEARS, and as a practical matter when BA says 2026 we should count on things dragging on into 2028. Pandemic or no pandemic, longhaul frame shortage or none, taking almost a decade to implement a middling improvement -- one that vaults British Airways into the ranks of B-minus-grade business class products -- is ridiculous.
Just don’t take any BA flight from LGW. There are no plans to refurbish any aircraft at that airport. It seems to be where BA aircraft see out their final days.
Thanks, good to know
They can't blame everything on the pandemic. They are simply the worst transatlantic carrier IMHO and their business class product is sorely lacing. As far as European flights go, maybe one day they'll move into the 21st century and have wi-fi on their flights out of LCY.
I wish they would update the A380 already- I love flying that plane so much but the business class seat is so terrible I actively book away.
Over the past 10 days, 2 of BA’s 787-8 returned to LHR following engine issues and haven’t flown since. G-ZBJG and JI.
I flew the 787-8 from PDX-LHR in the old business class seat and it was awful. There was no storage other than that odd drawer at the bottom which you can't access when reclined. The seat was literally falling apart, the monitor wouldn't stay in place and the armrest was wobbling which was very annoying as your arm moves with it and can't stay still. The food, however, was surprisingly good and the service was...
I flew the 787-8 from PDX-LHR in the old business class seat and it was awful. There was no storage other than that odd drawer at the bottom which you can't access when reclined. The seat was literally falling apart, the monitor wouldn't stay in place and the armrest was wobbling which was very annoying as your arm moves with it and can't stay still. The food, however, was surprisingly good and the service was excellent. Every time the FA brought me something they did it with a genuine smile and was proactively topping up my drinks. I've previously read many negative reviews about their service so very low expectations going in. My onward flight to LIS was also fantastic, there was one FA who was hustling the whole time serving a full meal for a short flight which I appreciated and enjoyed.
Same comment about the service! Just flew LAX-LHR in the new suites (which were great). The service was excellent. Even though I declined dinner to sleep, the flight attendants kept checking on me the whole flight - every time they saw me awake, they asked if I wanted something.
I've heard some pretty rough reports on the old seats recently - many where the footrest is broken and won't stay in place, completely negating...
Same comment about the service! Just flew LAX-LHR in the new suites (which were great). The service was excellent. Even though I declined dinner to sleep, the flight attendants kept checking on me the whole flight - every time they saw me awake, they asked if I wanted something.
I've heard some pretty rough reports on the old seats recently - many where the footrest is broken and won't stay in place, completely negating the benefit of a lie flat seat. They've got to get these replaced asap!
Flew both the new business class and the old one last week. The only half decent seat on the plane with the old business class is the true window seat in the back of the cabins with direct aisle access. I think there are six total on an A380. There's loads of storage - think the old reclining window seats with the storage cabinets on the wall. It's tolerable as long as the aisle seat...
Flew both the new business class and the old one last week. The only half decent seat on the plane with the old business class is the true window seat in the back of the cabins with direct aisle access. I think there are six total on an A380. There's loads of storage - think the old reclining window seats with the storage cabinets on the wall. It's tolerable as long as the aisle seat is empty. Everything else about the seat is far below the current business class standard - not surprising since the design has been in service for 25 years. Can't wait until they get the whole fleet updated.
The FAs on this flight were above average for BA, which means that only one was actively rude and a couple were actually almost human. But stll, the service standards are awful on BA. I mean, on a good day AA is better, and that's going some.
Is BA still charging BC passengers extra if they want to choose their seat? That alone is enough to ensure that BA is the last on my list of preferred airlines. Plus the fact that their current BC seating arrangement is ridiculous.
Not only are they still doing it, but AF recently joined them. Won't be shocked to see KL do so as well, if they already don't. :(
Most of these 787s 900. Don’t even have Wi-Fi and are running long flights. Based on my last few flights Ba is still not great The old seats are a nightmare in biz.
I was curious, does anyone know what happened to "The nice Paul" who would frequently comment on this site? I miss his insight on all things British/UK related.
Ferris says hi.
I remember this chap. This is same "The nice Paul" who openly mocked and made jokes about the unfortunate tourists who died excruciatingly painful deaths (burned and scalded alive) in the 2019 NZ volcanic eruption. Yeah, I don't miss that pig named "The nice Paul" at all.
@John — I don’t think I did. It doesn’t seem like me. Maybe you’re confused?
I’m still here. Signing-in is such a palaver I don’t comment very often.
About time BA. Now just need Virgin to get their Dreamliners updated too.
Anyone know anything about the AARP BA discount? The link has been missing from AARP’s site for several days, and the AARP support is worthless.
After Alex Cruz's disastrous tenure as CEO, BA is in the process of restoring service and product. In spite of things, BA offers a decent F and J product. Emirates or Singapore it ain't. But, for those who are grateful for life's blessings, it'll due.
"That'll do" is exactly the passenger attitude that has led them to be so sluggish with improvements - the rusted-on frequent premium-cabin flyers in London and North America who've tolerated a second rate product for so long because they're irrevocably enmeshed with Executive Club and the service experience always had a slight edge over the competition.
This, BA used to be prestigious, synonymous with good service and class. It's a shame their First Class is so mediocre, and their service is miles behind many world class airlines. I guess it's also a sign of the times and the decline of British culture.
In May, we flew British Airways ORD to LHR on the 777 in business class (new seats). Of all our flights, we like those seats the best. The American 787 business class seats were a close second, with Finnair A350 business class seats being unimpressive (they did not recline on the back upright but you could do extensions to go flat on the legs). British Airways service was also the best. It will be nice to see these seats roll out on the 787 fleet.
Just flew BA 380 business class from Washington to London. Horrible. worst business class seats out there. not even sure it is up to the level of 3 Star airline today. food inedible, took 1 1/2 hours to get luggage. sad.
A380s have the original business class seats. Of course, they're not up to current standards. As a whole, BA food in J is fine (but not great). If you are Alan the Troll whom we know and love, then BA delivered your bags late intentionally. If not, can't tell you why.
@Lee
Seems like you've got offended for no apparent reason.
Not offended. If you hang around here long enough, you'll see certain names do nothing but bash the subject airline. Never a positive comment. One is named Alan. This particular comment seemed to fit the shoe.
Oh man I'm flying LHR-BWI on Sunday. Missing it by a week! (potentially)