British Airways seems to have plans to introduce a new premium economy seat, without much fanfare…
In this post:
British Airways 787s get new premium economy cabin
In recent years, British Airways has been rolling out its new Club Suites business class product on many of its long haul aircraft. On Boeing 777-300ERs, we’ve also seen the airline introduce new first class seats (really just a modification of the previous product, including adding a privacy door), though other than that, the cabins have been left alone. At least that was the case until now.
British Airways is currently starting the process of reconfiguring its Boeing 787-9s with the new Club Suites seats, but it seems that’s not all that’s changing. Photos circulating online from the carrier’s facility in Cardiff also shows a new premium economy cabin on these planes.
There hasn’t been an official announcement about these new seats, but it would appear that the cabin may be the same size as the old one — it’s still in a 2-3-2 configuration, and it appears there are six rows of seats along the windows, and five rows of seats in the center section.
As you can see, this looks like a pretty modern and solid product, in particular with the added privacy “wings” on the head rest. I’m guessing this is the Recaro PL3530 product, which LATAM also recently announced as its new premium economy seat, coming in 2027.
For what it’s worth, British Airways’ most recent new premium economy product prior to this was introduced in 2019, and debuted on the Airbus A350-1000.
My take on British Airways’ new premium economy
British Airways’ new premium economy seat looks nice, and while exact details are limited, I trust this will be an improvement over the old product.
As we see this new seating product introduced on the 787-9, I can’t help but point out how scattered British Airways’ product renewal is. Let’s just use the 787-9 product refresh as an example:
- The plane still has British Airways’ older first class product, and that isn’t being updated to meet the newest standard
- The plane is getting British Airways’ new business class, which at this point isn’t so new anymore, and was introduced back in 2019 (like, the tech could certainly be more updated, as an example)
- The plane is now getting a brand new premium economy product
I understand why the product rollout is happening like this. After all, installing new airplane seats has become complicated, in terms of supply chain delays, certification issues, etc. British Airways is clearly introducing new products as it can, while staying on a budget (in other words, not updating existing first class products that it thinks it can still get away with).
However, it’s certainly a different approach than Lufthansa, as the carrier rolls out the Allegris product line, where there are new seats across cabins all at once. To be clear, I’m not saying that Lufthansa is a shining example of how things should be done, but it’s just interesting to see the approach, with so many different “generations” of seats on the same plane.
I suspect that this new premium economy seat will also make its way onto Airbus A380s, when those start to be reconfigured within the next year.
Bottom line
British Airways is introducing a new premium economy product, which is debuting on refurbished Boeing 787-9s. We knew these planes would get the new Club Suites business class, but it’s interesting to see them also be the first planes to get a new premium economy.
Ultimately this looks like a solid premium economy, and we should learn more details soon.
What do you make of British Airways’ new premium economy rollout?
Stunned by how thin the padding is on a plane that can do 15 hour missions.
Penny wise and pound foolish.
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...
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).
Please oh please don’t let them be hard shells where the seat slides forward iso reclining properly.
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.
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.
Air France comes to mind.
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.
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
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.
@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?
@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.
+1 please
FWIW, in my experience the best PY seat in terms of confort is actually... Norse Atlantic.
42in pitch 19;5in width, huge recline, old school padding and excellent in flight service. Who would have thought?
Korean - Air Premia is similar to airnorse... largely because they have their planes
I'd rather be in a brand new R5 than a new 5-year old Club Suite.
This trend of using the word QUIETLY has been ovedone.
BA is the definition of mediocrity. Lousy airline. Lousy products. Lousy service.
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?
It looks like the one Iberia has been putting on their newer A350, which would make sense.
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.
@Man London
Glad to see I am not the only one underwhelmed with BA's FC current product.
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...
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.