British Airways

British Airways is an airline of contradictions. The Club Suite business class on the A350 and retrofitted 777 is genuinely world-class -- every seat has direct aisle access, a closing door, and a 40-inch screen. But then you fly BA short-haul on an A320neo in economy and it feels like a budget carrier: no free food, no seatback screens, buy-on-board everything. The airline is in the middle of a multi-billion pound product investment, but the fleet is so large (about 280 aircraft) that the rollout takes years, and the experience you get depends entirely on which aircraft ends up on your route.

Heathrow Terminal 5 is the hub, and it's well-designed -- efficient connections, decent lounges, clear signage. BA's network covers 200+ destinations with particular strength on transatlantic routes (often in joint business with American Airlines) and connections to the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The Avios loyalty programme (shared with Iberia and Aer Lingus) is valuable for short-haul redemptions within Europe and for upgrading. BA also operates a significant Gatwick operation focused on leisure destinations, which has a distinctly different feel from the Heathrow premium product.

The A350-1000 is BA's newest and best long-haul aircraft, with 18 in the fleet and more on order. It carries the Club Suite in a 1-2-1 layout -- 56 suites, each with a closing door that provides genuine privacy. The seat converts to a 79-inch flat bed with a mattress topper by The White Company (a premium British bedding brand). The screen is 18.5 inches with noise-cancelling headphones. Premium Economy adds 56 seats at 38 inches of pitch in a 2-4-2 layout. The 777-300ER fleet (about 16 aircraft) is being retrofitted with Club Suite, replacing the old Club World seats that faced backwards -- a design that was innovative in 2006 but felt dated by 2020.

The 787-9 and 787-8 fleet (about 30 aircraft combined) flies medium and long-haul routes. Some have Club Suite, others still have the old Club World product -- check the seat map before booking. The short-haul fleet is A320neo and A321neo (about 80 aircraft) in a high-density layout: 180-230 seats, 30 inches of pitch in economy, no seatback entertainment, buy-on-board food. Club Europe (short-haul business) is a standard economy seat with the middle blocked -- you get a free meal and drinks, but the seat itself is identical to economy. The 777-200 fleet (about 43 aircraft) is the oldest in the long-haul fleet and getting tired.

Club Suite on the A350 is where BA justifies its premium pricing. Every one of the 56 suites has a closing door, direct aisle access, and a lie-flat bed that's actually comfortable for a full night's sleep. The White Company bedding (pillow, mattress topper, duvet) is a genuine luxury touch. The dining is multi-course with a printed menu, wines selected by a master of wine, and a pre-flight drink service. The crew on Club Suite flights tend to be the more experienced cabin staff. The difference between this product and the old backwards-facing Club World is night and day.

The reality check is everything else. Club Europe is not a premium product -- it's an economy seat with the middle empty and a free gin and tonic. Economy long-haul on the 777-200 feels cramped at 31 inches with worn interiors. Short-haul economy is a no-frills experience that competes with easyJet on comfort (though BA includes a carry-on bag). Premium Economy on the A350 is solid -- 38-inch pitch, enhanced meals, amenity kit -- and often the best value when the upgrade from economy is under 200 quid. The Galleries lounges at Heathrow T5 are spacious but busy; the Concorde Room (first class only) is where the premium experience really shines.

On Club Suite A350-1000, the window suites in rows 1-2 (1A, 1K, 2A, 2K) are the most private and deplane first. Centre pairs can lower the divider for couples. The rear Club Suite cabin (rows 8-14) is separated from the forward cabin by a galley and tends to be quieter for sleeping. Avoid row 7 on some A350 configurations -- it's near the galley partition. On the retrofitted 777-300ER with Club Suite, the product is identical to the A350 version, so pick based on route timing rather than aircraft type.

On the 787 with old Club World, avoid the rear-facing seats if you get motion sick -- they face backwards. Window seats in the old Club World are more private than aisles. For Premium Economy on any BA widebody, rows 25-28 are typically forward of the cabin and quieter. Short-haul on the A320neo: front rows (1-5) deplane in under two minutes while the back of the aircraft can take 15+ minutes at a busy Heathrow gate. If you're connecting through T5, forward seating matters. The exit row on the A320neo is row 14 with extra legroom, but the seats don't recline and the tray table is in the armrest (smaller).