I’m not hugely bothered by the change as such, though I’m consistently amazed by the areas that British Airways focuses on, while touting how it wants to be premium (thanks to PYOK for flagging this).
In this post:
British Airways Club Europe loses headrest covers
Club Europe is the name of British Airways’ regional business class product. As is standard in Europe, this simply consists of economy seats with blocked middle seats, and improved food, drinks, and service.
There’s also a curtain between business class and economy, and those in business class have received a headrest cover on their seat, to sort of visually differentiate the cabin from economy. Well, that will be no more.
As of tomorrow, May 6, 2026, British Airways will no longer place headrest covers on Club Europe seats. This change is being made to “ensure operational resilience, improve punctuality and align with our wider sustainability commitment.”
So yeah, basically the goal is to cut cleaning costs between flights, since presumably those headrest covers are sometimes replaced. Furthermore, since the size of the cabins can differ between flights, it also simplifies the process of adjusting the cabins.
My take on British Airways’ headrest cover change
As such, I’m not terribly offended by this change on the part of British Airways. For example, Air France doesn’t have headrest covers in either cabin on its A220s, which represent the carrier’s latest passenger experience.
Meanwhile Lufthansa has headrest covers in all cabins, with the catch being that short haul seats don’t actually have adjustable headrests, unlike on Air France and British Airways (and that can make a big difference in terms of comfort).
Instead, what stands out to me more is just the general trend of British Airways pushing its luck in finding every last opportunity possible to cut costs. In isolation I wouldn’t think much of it, but the small but negative changes are constant, ranging from trying to cut water bottles in economy, to extending the hours of breakfast and brunch to cut down on catering costs. All the while, British Airways has told employees to stop apologizing to customers.
Bottom line
As of May 6, 2026, British Airways is eliminating headrest covers in its Club Europe business class. Visually, this was one of the few things that differentiated business class from economy. I don’t consider this to be a huge deal, I just find it sad how British Airways’ inflight service changes seem to consistently be little ways to chip away at the experience, rather than ways to improve it.
What do you make of these British Airways headrest cover changes?
It's very frustrating because they keep 'self-owning', by removing very inexpensive yet visible tokens of the premium experience, although they are genuinely investing in passenger experience - especially on the ground where they've historically been weak.
The new lounge in Miami is truly impressive - miles better than the AA flagship for example, the next best lounge in the airport, and they've drastically improved Dubai. If they take this lounge design global as they...
It's very frustrating because they keep 'self-owning', by removing very inexpensive yet visible tokens of the premium experience, although they are genuinely investing in passenger experience - especially on the ground where they've historically been weak.
The new lounge in Miami is truly impressive - miles better than the AA flagship for example, the next best lounge in the airport, and they've drastically improved Dubai. If they take this lounge design global as they keep saying they will, it will mean some of the most premium lounges of any major airline. Their crews are vastly better than any US carrier, but inconsistent. Their Do&Co catering is actually quite good onboard (again not world leading, but good enough to be 'premium').
But then they go and cut headrest covers in euro-business which probably amounts to a few pence expenditure on each flight per seat but is one of the most visible differentiators of cabins. Makes zero sense.
I often feel British Airways is a representative of the UK these days. Empty words, overpriced, and quality that ranges from mediocre to horrible. I thought only US carriers were capable of being cheapskates. Looks like the Brits want to join them down the rabbit hole.
"cutting costs" is easy to do in ANY company, but to do this action "in order to improve punctuality..." it is whole another level.
Now we should see how flights in Europe suddenly reduce delays.
I would say that dumbing down Club Europe is now in BA's DNA. Shorter flights 1-2 hours long however Club Europe short haul classification for longer flights in particular LHR/IST and LHR/LCA is and continues to be a scandal. Economy seats and calling them business class with appalling leg room for a flight lasting 3hrs 50 mins to 4 hours 45 mins just shows the arrogance and lack of respect to its passengers that BA's management continues to show
You are absolutely correct about the LHR/IST route. One would never choose BA over TK on that particular route.
If BA ripped out the first 5 rows of seats in their narrow bodies and replaced them with 3 rows of recliners, they would put the price of those seats up by another 50% for that 90 minute flight. Careful what you wish for.
Given they can charge up to $1100 for the 35 minute Club Europe flight to Jersey you'd think there would be room in the budget to wash the headrests covers once in a while. I mean sure, match Ryanair in the economy cabin but at least a little bit of effort in the business cabin doesn't seem unreasonable.
FALSE NEWS REPORT …. Nikojas.
BA DOES NOT currently operate any flight to or from Jersey with a flight time of only 35 minutes.
BA only operates to the London airports, which take more than about 50 minutes in the air.
Upon checking the status of Club Europe flights, the most expensive flight from LHR tomorrow would only be £301. Your $1100 is complete fantasy.
I take this route regularly, do you?
However thank goodness for your diligence, I stand corrected. 15/5 to 22/5 is £735, so $996, not the $1000 I quoted. My bad. And yes the flight can take as little as 37 minutes, I’ve been on it! My bad again as I rounded down to 35 minutes.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and helping sett the record straight with such good grace.
Actually Nikojas, I do fly to Jersey very frequently. Mostly BA from LHR and occasionally PJ from FAB when we take our dogs. I even hopped over in my AOP-6 once, but that took considerably longer. The average PJ flight time is 50 minutes, considerably slower by prop or rotary wing don’t you know.
Your 37 minute flight was on board which aircraft, when?
P.S. I forgot to mention that if you check out the BA website price, you will find that it is much, much cheaper for your chosen dates.
The internet is your friend, you can check Flightradar24. BA2520 on May 4 and 7 had a flight time of 35 and 36 minutes respectively. Perhaps your PJ needs its engines serviced if it takes 50 minutes?
Sadly the days of BA being innovative are long gone. All they focus on now is cost-cutting, and they've cut all the 'invisible' costs years ago, so every cut now affects the passenger experience to some extent.
Who cares? I've never picked a flight based on headrest covers. Like, why are these even a thing?
It's not the headrest covers, but several changes made by BA in recent years that add up in cheapening the quality of the airline. As Ben mentioned, replacing lunch with brunch, trying to cut water bottles for passengers, refusing to say sorry, and putting fruit dishes instead of hot meals for some Club Europe flights, all shows a mentality that BA wants to charge passengers a premium price, while shortchanging them in quality. That's before...
It's not the headrest covers, but several changes made by BA in recent years that add up in cheapening the quality of the airline. As Ben mentioned, replacing lunch with brunch, trying to cut water bottles for passengers, refusing to say sorry, and putting fruit dishes instead of hot meals for some Club Europe flights, all shows a mentality that BA wants to charge passengers a premium price, while shortchanging them in quality. That's before we get to the Alex Cruz/Willie Walsh era changes like ending free meals and drinks in world traveler (even water), charging extra for Club World passengers to pay for seats, and more. To be fair, it's pretty emblematic of many things in the Uk these days. Overpriced, with a low return.
BA business: 30"
Ryanair:30"
Facts.
Whatever the Walter Mitty proletariat post on this website about BA, they simply cannot deny that BA is streets ahead of any U.S. Airline in the World Rankings …. Fact, undeniable fact darlinks …. :-)
It's easy to criticize, but did you consider that this saves the company $1,263 every single year? That's $12,630 in savings over the course of 10 years. Just when you thought BA can't get any more ridiculous...
How ridiculous are your costings without verification Syd?
My math is bang on and let’s stop pretending it’s not. If you’re a full service airline and you can’t afford to serve water or have headrest covers - you deserve to be ridiculed to the fullest, and the management perhaps just outright executed.
Thank you for your synopsis Syd, when you put it like that then I can understand why so many contributors criticise U.S. Airline management.
My pleasure, sir
Who cares? If you're upset about the removal of a thin fake cotton place mat on your chair, then you should probably go outside, smell some flowers, and ask yourself why are you so angry?
You had the chance to use the great word "antimacassar" in this article but reverted to the lame "headrest cover" throughout. What a shame.
This word, whilst interesting, also shows how this story is utterly irrelevant.
You are so very wrong Antin, this article is extremely relevant to Ben. Even your so called irrelevant articles attract clicks, yes? To Ben, clicks mean points and points mean flights. Flights mean flight reviews and reviews mean very happy click generators like most who post herein.
Get the picture now?
I'm gonna rant, again: Club Europe is not 'business' class... if it's regular economy in the front of the plane even with extra legroom, 3-3 configuration, blocked-middle, maybe a meal, that's 'economy plus' at best. 2-2 recliners should be called 'premium economy' (yes, we call them domestic 'First' in US, which is wrong, too.) If it's lie-flat, it can be called 'Business' class. If there's a suite with a door, it depends... I'd call it...
I'm gonna rant, again: Club Europe is not 'business' class... if it's regular economy in the front of the plane even with extra legroom, 3-3 configuration, blocked-middle, maybe a meal, that's 'economy plus' at best. 2-2 recliners should be called 'premium economy' (yes, we call them domestic 'First' in US, which is wrong, too.) If it's lie-flat, it can be called 'Business' class. If there's a suite with a door, it depends... I'd call it international 'First' if there's also a 'Business' class on-board. Let's form a 'United Nations of Airlines' and enforce these new 'designations'.
100% agree. I had the ‘pleasure’ of flying BA Club Europe from Munich to London recently, 1st time on any European ‘business’ class, and it’s a terrible product. At least give a couple of inches more leg room!
It's the long established, universally accepted term for "European Business Class" the term that was correctly and I'd imagine intentionally used. It IS that. It has been for some decades with intra-eu and some medium haul routes ex-EU and save some intermittent exceptions over time pretty much universal in cabin configuration irrelevant of the carrier if based in Europe.
You do you and all that but personally I'm in no rush to fly on...
It's the long established, universally accepted term for "European Business Class" the term that was correctly and I'd imagine intentionally used. It IS that. It has been for some decades with intra-eu and some medium haul routes ex-EU and save some intermittent exceptions over time pretty much universal in cabin configuration irrelevant of the carrier if based in Europe.
You do you and all that but personally I'm in no rush to fly on some UN created, same, same bland tube to everywhere 'IdentiflightLine' hellscape, communist adjacent monopoly. If that's your preference go for it. Good luck on your mission but please don't take offence if I rally the troops to fight such.
With my tongue firmly against my cheek but also genuinely curious. Based on your own definitions if a J Suite has a door but the F Suite lacks one does the J door suite become international first class and the doorless (doors in both cabins being a comparatively recent addition in the scheme of things) F suite then receive a reclassification to J / something acceptable to qualify for your globally haemoginous standard to be called business class. Again just playing with you nothing more. Won't expect an answer but happy to get one
C2K, do you just call anything you disagree with ‘communist,’ regardless of whether it’s relevant or not?
In euro-business you also get lounge access, priority boarding, priority check-in, increased baggage allowance and more mileage. I'm not convinced that people want (or are willing to pay an inflated price for) a lie-flat for a flight lasting couple of hours (or less) in Europe.
Exactly this. Unlike in the US where a two hour business class flight might get me a bigger seat but no lounge access, a processed food snack basket I can pick from and a crew who couldn’t care less that I’m on board.
Mrs Trellis, lounge access is different in US; often based on membership (credit cards, usually), airlime status, and/or route (transcon, international, etc.) and class of service. I was mostly referring to on-board seating experience.
You get extra luggage, priority security and boarding in the US. The main difference is the seats in USA and the lounge access in Europe .
Different business model.
Personally, on a flight lasting maybe 90 minutes or less, which would be typical within Europe, I'd consider lounge access to be a bigger improvement over economy than a slightly wider seat with a couple of inches more legroom.
So Euro "Business" is better, to me, than US Domestic "First".
Even for a couple hours, I’d say, recliner is preferred; just call it Premium Economy.
Stop the "90 minutes or less" typical within Europe, there are tons of "90 min or less" in the US as well as they are "90 min or more" in Europe.
Euro "business" is better until you fly BA's LHR-ATH, TP's LIS-WAW, IB's MAD-HEL or AF's CDG-IST
GGC, well said. 4+ hour flights in this 3-3 middle-blocked is just awful.
So true. By definition BA's Club Europe should never be called Business Class.
Exactly, Tony. Club Europe should not be called 'Business Class.' At best, it's 'Economy Plus.' That was my whole point, yet some here wanna pretend like it's 'great' because of lounge access or some random benefit, when, in-reality, it's awful for the longer routes (4+ hours, etc.) where a recliner or lie-flat would be much preferred.
Makes me glad I didn't waste the extra Atmos points for my BA regional flight, not much point in paying extra for euro-biz if it isn't included w/ a long-haul ticket.
There is much stronger support in this region to cut landfill trash. You see and hear about it frequently This does not seem an unusual move
Doesn’t seem like lame logic to me. Cutting costs by eliminating something that did little to enhance the flight experience and would soon end up in a landfill is a good thing.
Correct me please if I’m wrong, but weren’t these headrest covers fabric? It would be saving on water, detergent and energy but not so much landfill waste if so.
Customers were demanding yes hygiene on their flight flights.
Yes = less
This is British Airways. You can't get less hygienic than the English.
There speaks the grungy jarhead grunt.
Never, ever refer to me as a Marine. You don't know how vile of a insult that is.
If someone talks like a jarhead, behaves like a jarhead and posts pathetic rhetoric like a jarhead, it is an easy mistake to make if one assumes that the author was once a jarhead …. Yes?
UK and EU travellers are well aware that BA have never claimed that Club Europe, is actually a Business Class.