by Krish Patel

An airline that was once a pioneer of Business Class seats is now a carrier that offers one of the industry’s sleekest premium cabins. British Airways made the turn in 2019 when it introduced Club Suites on its A350-1000 aircraft, featuring more storage and privacy than the outdated Club World model. Ever since then, the airline has been installing these gorgeous beauties on more widebodies, including an increasing number of Boeing 777s. On a recent flight from London to New York (Newark EWR), I had the chance to put the Club Suite to the test, and it’s a Business Class product I would be thrilled to fly again.

On the Ground at Heathrow

Today’s flight to New York began at a place where so many other BA flights do. Of course, I’m talking about London’s Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, the home of British Airways.

Found at the left of the check-in hall of Terminal 5 is the dedicated check-in space for British Airways Business Class. The line for checking in a bag was barely packed and took little time to get through, definitely being much quieter than the check-in lane for Economy, which was packed on the Sunday afternoon I was flying. Rather than using a self-kiosk, I was able to drop off my bags at the Club World counter, where the staff were very friendly and professional.

With a British Airways Club World ticket, you’ll be able to use the Fast Track security lane at Heathrow to clear security much faster. The Fast Track lane is located right adjacent to the check-in space for Business Class.

Terminal 5 was bustling and full of people. Found right past the security checkpoint are boards displaying information about the British Airways Lounge capacity in Heathrow Terminal 5. With my Club World ticket, I was able to access three lounges before my flight. In the A Gates are the North and South Galleries Lounges, while the B Gates Lounge is much quieter and has a more relaxed ambiance. I decided to pay a visit to the two latter lounges and passed on the packed North Lounge.

The enormous Galleries Club Lounge South is located towards the right end of the terminal and can be found up a set of escalators. Found at the lounge’s entrance is a large horse sculpture and a model of a British Airways Airbus A380.

There’s a great amount of comfortable seating in the lounge with many variants to choose from, however, a lot of it seemed to be taken up. There are quite a few high-top stools, plush armchairs, and chairs for lounging. Found above some of the seats in the lounge are bright lamps which contribute towards the homey and relaxing atmosphere. Adjacent to almost every seat in the lounge is a counter space for eating.

As far as the food and drink in the lounge go, there are some self-serve food and beverage stations for Union Coffee and alcoholic drinks, however, there’s no restaurant facility or table service. At the buffet is a decent selection of healthy foods, including items like the makings for a salad, a variety of hot meats, wraps, sandwiches, beans, fresh fruit, and mashed potatoes. There are also desserts such as scones, pastries, and cakes. Though it’s not the best selection of food I’ve encountered in an airline’s flagship Business Class lounge, I was still able to enjoy a lite bite.

There are spacious bathrooms and shower suites stocked with Elemis skincare products in the lounge, as far as amenities. Free wi-fi is also available in the lounge and there’s a kids play area for young travelers. The Galleries Club Lounge South is a nice space to relax before a flight, however, it’s not as modern as some other premium lounges.

Since my flight was departing from the B Gates, I needed to take the train to Concourse B of Terminal 5. This took about five to seven minutes. 

Terminal 5B is much quieter than 5A. Even the duty free shops weren’t packed at all. Located towards the center of the building is the escalator that leads up to the Galleries Club Lounge in the B Gates.

Essentially, the lounge is a massive doughnut shape packed with plenty of seating, impressive amenities, and a lovely selection of food and drinks. After I scanned my boarding pass, I explored the seating area past the front desk, which includes pieces of furniture that each adopts a blue color scheme, near which is a wine table. There’s also a kids play area, shower suites stocked with Elemis skincare products, clean bathrooms, and free wi-fi. The shower suites are quite basic compared to those in other lounges, however, they’re still an enjoyable offering.

The main seating area is located opposite of the entrance in a cozy, classic, and comfortable atmosphere. You’ll be able to enjoy many variants of seating such as armchairs, well-upholstered couches, and lounge chairs. If you’re looking to get some work done, there’s a long table that serves as a workstation, above which is a striking chandelier. 

I really like the bright and moody eating area the B Gates Lounge offers and there’s an extensive selection of hot and cold foods. The selection in the B Gates Lounge seemed more preferable than that in the other Galleries Club, with more vegetarian hot foods. There’s a self-serve bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and a station for Union Coffee and Twinings Tea.

I left the lounge about 15 minutes prior to boarding the aircraft. Before stepping on board, a secondary security screening was held, where my carry-on belongings and documentations were checked. British Airways Club World passengers receive priority boarding (groups 1-3) in group two along with Executive Club Silver (OneWorld Sapphire) members. The gate area offered a fantastic view of the 777-200 in the OneWorld livery that would fly me over to New York in seven and a half hours.

The Club Suite

The British Airways 777-200 comes in two layouts. Layout one is a four class configuration with First Class and a three class configuration without First is layout two This aircraft was of the latter variety. As I boarded, I couldn’t help but enjoy the classical British boarding music that played in the cabin. There are two Club World cabins on this jet, both of which feature spacious lie-flat beauties arranged in a reverse herringbone 1-2-1 pattern offering direct aisle access. Suites in the center section feature a privacy partition that can be slid across and the seats face inwards while the seats positioned against the window face outwards.

Both Club Suites cabins display a modern and sleek mood with elegant black finishes and white touches, giving off the vibes of a luxury sports car. The seat stitching made of felt is detailed, and the seat walls are quite high, making you feel as if you’re sitting in an enclosed shelled-off cocoon. Each seat is about 21 inches wide and converts into a bed with a length of six feet and seven inches. I love the blue mood lighting in the cabin, which compliments the black tones and gives off a luxurious touch, making the Club Suites feel exclusive.

Located in front of each seat is a crisp 18 inch touchscreen entertainment system that can also be controlled using the IFE remote. BA’s IFE selection offers a good amount of movies and TV shows to enjoy across multiple genres, however, it’s not as extensive as the offerings on other airlines. The system also displays newly-released films. In addition, you’ll find dedicated slots for kids entertainment, games, podcasts and music (audio), and information about British Airways. 

Beneath the IFE system is the tray table, which folds out and extends towards you. It’s definitely a great size and can easily accommodate a large laptop.

The inner end of the seat is where the small coat hook can be found. It’s barely noticeable, and I wish there was a label that indicated it was a coat hook.

Below the tray table is the ottoman, which serves as a legrest, beneath which is plenty of room to fit a backpack. Next to the ottoman is a small storage cubby that houses the safety card and air sickness bag.

Found at the outer end of the seat are two storage cubbies that open with the push of a button. One of the storage units is only shallow enough for a phone or wallet, while the other plays home to the IFE remote, headphone jack, and charging outlets. There’s a third storage locker that houses a vanity mirror and is where the amenity kit and water bottle can be found upon boarding.

Next to the storage locker is an adjustable reading light. The reading light can be slightly tilted towards you and its brightness can be controlled as well.

Beneath the storage units is a panel for seat adjustments, as well as the seat control buttons. 

The opposite side of the suite houses the privacy door, which can be closed after takeoff. There’s also an adjustable armrest.

Located above each suite is another individual reading light, however, there are no air vents. 

About two and a half hours after leaving London Heathrow, I converted my seat into a bed and decided to get some sleep. There’s plenty of room for your legs and knees to stretch out, as well as a great amount of width for your arms and shoulders. Overall, the bed is very comfortable and is one of the best seen on a European airline.

There are three lavatories for passengers seated in the two Club World cabins. The bathroom is quite spacious. The sink, toilet, and diaper-changing table are well-sized, however, I would prefer that the bathroom felt more modern, as it was quite outdated from the times of the old Club World product being on this aircraft. I’m a fan of the White Company skincare items in the lavatory, which smell great and are refreshing. 

Food and Drink

When it comes to the food and drink offered onboard, British Airways has surpassed my expectations with their catering out of Heathrow. Shortly before departure, unique menus celebrating over 100 years of British Airways flying to India were distributed throughout the cabin.

British Airways offers an extensive selection of wines and champagnes, as well as several cocktails, spirits, and mocktails to choose from. In addition, the menu offers Union Coffee, soft drinks, and a great selection of Twinings Tea. Two meals would be served on this flight of seven and a half hours. After departure, the main dinner service would commence, and a light meal would be served prior to arriving in the NYC area.

Approximately eight minutes after boarding, pre-departure beverages were handed out, with a choice either of champagne or orange juice. I opted for the latter.

Once airborne, I was offered a packet of snack mix and beverage of choice. I opted for the non-alcoholic version of the Johnnie Ginger cocktail, which was served in a fun glass with a detailed design. The beverage tasted great and included a combination of orange and mandarin juice and ginger ale served over a slice of lemon and ice. The alcoholic version of the drink only includes the edition of premium whiskey. 

My table was soon set up for the meal service. For my appetizer, I opted to have the butternut squash and coconut soup with herb croutons, which tasted excellent, and wasn’t overly sweet. While the meal was served on a tray, I enjoyed the presentation of the dish, so that didn’t matter. I indulged in the shahi paneer korma for my entree, which was served alongside jeera rice and palak. There’s something that’s good and comforting about eating Indian food on airplanes, with the right amount of spice and flavor. This dish is a perfect example. 

I opted to have the vanilla panna cotta for my dessert, which was delicious. It was served alongside berry compote and bursted with sweet flavors thanks to the combination of vanilla and blueberry. This was one of the best desserts I’ve had on a Business Class flight, and if you see it on the menu, I highly suggest giving it a try.

Mid-flight, I decided to pay a visit to the Club Kitchen, which is located in the galley and is stocked with packaged sweet and savory snacks, fruit and cheese, as well as soft drinks and wines. Having a mid-flight snack bar is nice on a long haul flight, as it’s refreshing to stretch your legs and grab a drink or light snack. I asked the crew for a cup of chamomile tea (Twinings) and returned to my seat.

Shortly before landing, the pre-arrival meal was served. I opted for the roasted vegetable and ricotta ciabatta. Although the portion appeared as if there should be another half to the sandwich, it was quite filling for myself and tasted great. It was served alongside onion jam, a farro salad, and a double chocolate muffin. The sandwich was really good, however, the salad was slightly dry and wasn’t as good as the salad served with the main meal. For my drink, I ordered the non-alcoholic version of the Cranberry Blush cocktail.

Amenities

When it comes to the amenities provided in Club World, British Airways fares quite well. Upon boarding, each Club Suite is stocked with a plush pillow branded with the British Airways logo, the luxurious bedding set which includes a mattress topper and blanket supplied from the White Company, a pair of British Airways-branded noise canceling headphones, a bottle of water, and an amenity kit supplied from the White Company.

The headphones function well, and the amenity kit contains all of the essentials for a flight of this length. Its contents include an eye mask, a dental kit (toothbrush and toothpaste), a pair of earplugs, a pair of socks, deodorant, lip balm, and hand moisturizer. I’m a fan of the amenity kit’s white cream leather pouch, which truly makes for a fantastic souvenir.

Provided in the seat pocket is an air sickness bag and safety information card, none of which is very exciting but is important. 

Wi-Fi was available on this flight, as well as messaging packages. BA charges 2.99 to 4.99 GBP for messaging packages on long haul flights, and streaming packages are for 4.99 to 21.99 GBP. 

Service

British Airways truly amazed me on this flight as far as the inflight service. Our crew were incredibly friendly, professional, and courteous. Out of all the crew I’ve had on my flights with BA, this was by far the most pleasant I’ve encountered, and they made the experience feel very personalized.

Booking and Pricing

British Airways Club Suite Business Class prices for a one-way fare between London and New York/Newark start at $2,127 and can increase even further. Another option to consider is booking using points and miles. Several credit card points such as Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Capital One Miles transfer to British Airways Executive Club at a 1:1 ratio. 

British Airways Executive Club charges 80,000 to 90,000 Avios for a one-way flight in Club World Business from LHR to EWR. In addition, British Airways Club World can be booked through other OneWorld Alliance programs such as American AAdvantage and Alaska Airlines MileagePlan. AA typically charges over 90,000 AAdvantage miles for a one-way fare in British Airways Business Class from LHR to EWR. 

Overall Thoughts

The British Airways Club Suites experience on–this flight was overall much better than I was expecting. The chilled out B Gates Galleries Lounge at Heathrow is so cozy and comfortable, making it a great part of the ground experience. Onboard, the service was excellent, with crew who have been nothing but friendly and accommodating. Almost every mouthful of food tasted delicious, especially considering that BA has made a great improvement with their catering out of LHR over the years. Even the amenities in Club World provided by the White Company were luxurious and made the flight feel more relaxing. However, the best part of the Club World experience is the Club Suite itself, which truly offers an elevated level of storage and privacy. I certainly would not hesitate to fly British Airways Club Suites again when crossing the pond.