british airways 747 business class

I had to order toast separately, and I made my own cappuccino at the self-serve machines. I’ve traveled plenty with British Airways, and have learned to set realistic expectations for each flight I take with the airline — especially in business class. However, Katie slept wonderfully on the flat-bed seats, waking only to the two bouts of moderate turbulence we experienced. The system itself had an adequate number of movies, TV shows and music to choose from, but the whole IFE system itself wasn’t as crisp or captivating, and it could certainly use a refresh. Business class downstairs on the 747 is fine and all, but it’s 8 across and just like business class on any other British Airways plane. More tea followed. In this review, we will look at Roving Reporter's … British Airways is one of the world’s largest operators of Boeing 747s, a beautiful aircraft with its distinctive ‘bubble’ top deck offering a few exclusive seats to lucky passengers. So, on yet another transatlantic hop for TPG UK-related travel between London and TPG‘s home office in New York, I was eager to give BA’s Club World another go, on one of the most iconic and beloved aircraft ever, the Boeing 747-400. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Last week I wrote about my experience flying to San Francisco on the British Airways A380 Upper deck in Club World. I found the new map system quite clunky and unsatisfying, I’m definitely a fan of the old-school style of moving map. The Points Guy will not sell your email. British Airways Club World cabins are available on the Boeing 747, 767 and 777 aircrafts. British Airways Business Class – Frontward and Backward Facing Seats The seat itself was a ‘lie-flat’. The seats 1A and 1K are located close to the closet and do not have overhead bin storage. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. the seats 4EF and 5EF are ideal for passengers who are traveling with partner. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. At this price, British Airways Club World was certainly worth the premium — especially once you consider the bonus AA elite-qualifying miles and bonus redeemable miles we earned.

01. I always like to engage with crew. Everything US citizens need to know about the Bahamas’ simplified entry process, Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. I had the options to adjust the recline of the seat, adjust and raise the footrest, inflate back support, inflate head support and, of course, totally lie-flat. There was a wide selection of warmed bread to choose from, but the butter was too cold to really spread on the bread. As part of the sale, it’s advertising 747 business-class seats for just £999 return. The in-flight entertainment system was certainly lacking, but proved to be unnecessary on this overnight flight. Share your experience in the comments, below. They were never pushy and I found the attentiveness pleasant. We arrived at the gate just a few minutes before boarding began at 4:10pm for our 4:40pm scheduled departure. Once we’d landed, the captain came on to welcome us to Terminal 5 (not London or Heathrow). Needing a caffeine boost to get us going on this early morning, I opted for the coffee and Katie ordered an English tea. The entertainment… Can I take extra bags on British Airways? The two upstairs flight attendants alternated two-hour rest periods during the overnight, leaving one to watch after the cabin while the other slept. On a different day, downstairs with a British bulldog throwing your dinner down on your tray table, this might not have been so fun, but all-around incredible service, a great seat on the upper deck and a good food offering made this flight an absolute winner. On May 22nd 2014, I flew Business Class in the upper cabin of a British Airways (BA) Boeing 747-400 from London (LHR) to San Francisco (SFO). Once in the sky, we explored the IFE system, which clearly showed its age — the touchscreen monitors required a firm touch and the screens weren’t as clear as other IFE screens we’d seen recently. Hilton London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4 05. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. The First Wing has its own security lane that leads directly into the BA Galleries First Lounge. I find them fun and interesting and the best way to pass the time, and I was glad to have found a couple of mates who also kept me fed and watered. Any concerns I had about proximity to the toilet or the galley proved to be unfounded. While border control was rather empty during our arrival, these likely would have been handy if we were traveling during a busier time. But, unless you plan on waking up with a hangover the next morning, be prepared to say no a few times. I checked out the Scotch on offer at the entrance (though it was definitely too early for samples!) British Airways do not offer a company travel loyalty programme in the US but our partner American Airlines does. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Champagne, orange juice and water were all offered shortly after boarding in proper glasses, and because of the 8:30 a.m. flight time, I opted for water. BA hadn’t refreshed this 747 yet and the cabin itself showed its age, even sporting a dull yellowish color. While British Airways’ Business Class (dubbed Club World) raised the bar worldwide two decades ago with the introduction of the first fully lie-flat seat and an innovative “Ying/Yang” seat plan, the seat concept itself is … Join Business Extra programme now There is a new British Airways business class seat but that’s only on a couple of planes and it will be a while before the whole fleet has them. The Club World window seats on the upper deck have extra space between the seat and the window that can be used for storage. Closer to the seat on a console were the seat controls and wired in-flight entertainment remote. There was one change to the printed menu: The beef wouldn’t be available since British Airways had substituted a traditional Christmas turkey dinner! How much more are you going to pay? Once on board, we turned and walked up the flight of stairs I’ve always wanted to, up to the glorious upper deck of the Queen of the Skies! We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. If you are a small or medium-sized business and would like to earn your company points when your employees travel. Katie got the fruit plate and found it to be fresh and crisp. The lavatories were tiny on the upper deck and took some real maneuvering to navigate. But for a time, Qantas considered stripping out the plush pews and fancy appointments and converting its jumbo jets in an 'all economy class' configuration. The salmon with cream cheese was tasty and refreshing. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. The White Company also provided the amenity kit, a small black zip bag with lip balm, moisturizer, an applicator for essential oils, socks, eye mask, toothbrush, earplugs, toothbrush, toothpaste and a pen (sadly, unbranded). I stood true to my British values and managed at least five cups of tea during the flight, which were great. The lounge had its usual morning buzz, but there were still plenty of places to sit. Although I’ve flown 19 long-haul flights on nine different airlines in economy over the past decade — and probably at least three dozen over my lifetime — I’d yet to experience an international business or first class cabin. TPG’s resident economy reviewer JT Genter recently took to the skies in long-haul business class for the first time. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The 3 things that I love most about London 06. Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties. If the airline could combine the level of service I received with a new, competitive hard product, it really could have a shot at reigning supreme in the transatlantic skies. Many For the 747, British Airways made the exclusive upper deck a full business class configuration. Today, we are going to discuss the pleasures of flying British Airways Boing 747 – Business Class and why seat 64K is the most coveted one. TPG’s resident economy reviewer JT Genter recently took to the skies in long-haul business class for the first time. She answered that breakfast would be served about 5:30am London time, but that I shouldn’t worry about setting an alarm, as she’d be glad to wake me up. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Roving Reporter and I were both heading to Vegas using our Lloyds upgrade vouchers, so he ended up flying direct on British Airways B747 on the upper deck in Club World and I went via San Francisco on the A380. Along with the menus, the flight attendants offered a choice of Champagne, orange juice or water. 64K felt very private, was rear-facing and was tucked away at the back of the cabin near the stairs. While the aisle seats are identically sized, they’re quite exposed to the aisle. The drawstring bag contained socks, an eye mask, hand and body lotion, “pro-collagen marine cream ultra rich” lotion, minty lip balm (which was greatly appreciated during this flight), simple earplugs, toothbrush, toothpaste and a pen. In general, Club World lags behind the competition, but the seat still goes all the way flat, and British Airways now provides White Company bedding, which includes a thin base mattress (a bit of a waste of time, since it needed to be much thicker), two separate blankets (both felt luxury) and a soft, comfortable pillow. Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. There was no indication that there were up to 325 other people below our elite 20-passenger, two-flight-attendant cabin. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. These were welcome places to store my backpack, sweatshirt, laptop and other carry-on items, while also keeping them handy. See, The airline will retire its entire fleet of Boeing 747 aircraft “in the coming months, Calling all Queen’s Gambit fans: There’s a new hotel room in Lexington, KY, just for you. Qantas : First and Business Class Lounge – London Heathrow T3 Part 2: British Airways : Updated Club World Service – London to New York JFK (B747 Upper Deck) Part 3: The James Chicago : Loft Suite Part 4: American Airlines Flagship Lounge, Chicago – ORD T3 Part 5: The British Airways Boston Lounge – BOS Terminal E Clare and Natasha, who looked after me throughout the entire flight, were truly exceptional. © 2021 THE POINTS GUY, LLC. Nonstop, round-trip flights on Oneworld carriers that operate the London (LHR)-to-New York-JFK route (American Airlines and British Airways) can cost anywhere from $2,500 all the way up to about $8,000. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Pillows as well as a bed cover are provided by “the white company”, both fluffy and comfortable, a big improvement if you compare on what you got a few years ago on British Airways business class flights. Unfortunately, the terms and conditions of the Pay With Avios option didn’t include flights departing out of our home airport, Austin (AUS). After geeking out watching the planes come and go for a bit, we grabbed some snacks and finished some last-minute work using the decent Wi-Fi. If you prefer privacy while you sleep, be sure to select a window seat. Katie ordered the “Chilled main course zesty quinoa salad with coriander and lime king prawns.” She found the shrimp well prepared, although the accompanying quinoa was a bit undercooked. The crew happily accommodated their request to move downstairs. Along with this drink service came a small bag of high-quality roasted almonds and cashews. There are 4 classes of service on this version of the BA's 747, it features 14 flat bed First Class seats, 86 flat bed Business Class seats, 30 Premium Economy seats, and 145 standard Economy seats. Flight attendants passed through the cabin soon after we boarded to hand out Elemis Club World amenity kits. As I was wrapping up the end of a very busy and stressful deadline at work, my TPG To Go app chimed to alert me of an incredible flight deal: Business Class to Europe from just 30,000 Avios + $446 round-trip. When I lay flat on Katie’s seat (61A), I touched the seat shell at my head and my feet — if you’re as tall as The Points Guy (at 6 foot, 7 inches), you’re going to want to grab an extra legroom seat like 62A/K or 64 A/K. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. 10. The crew greeted me and pointed me up the stairs. The cabin seats up to 14 passengers with 5 single seats on either side of the aircraft and two seat pairs in the center. We weren’t AARP members yet, so I applied online and promptly got a membership number. Heavy UK departure taxes and BA fuel surcharges, Club World is really only good on the upper deck on the 747. Menus were handed out shortly after we were seated. I found the turkey to be quite moist, tasting freshly sliced and not at all reheated. Thankfully, though, there was availability through BA’s Avios program. Despite the seemingly-short boarding time, we pushed back from the gate one minute before departure time. I’d say in general British Airways’ 747 upper deck seats are among the best in the fleet, given the intimate feel of the cabin and the storage lockers. Our flight departed out of DFW’s international terminal D, so we went to the Admirals Club in Terminal D. The club itself is elevated above the terminal and has expansive windows looking out over some American Airlines international gates and an active runway. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. Drinks with breakfast included a choice of coffee, tea, smoothies and juice. We’re used to getting great economy deals, typically paying between 2.5 to 6 cents per mile on international trips, so this was quite a splurge for us to pay $1,100 round-trip for a flight. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). We both found the salad fresh and tasty. Today (June 11th, 2014): British Airways Club World (Business Class) Boeing 747-400 from London to San Francisco (upper cabin). I’ve traveled plenty with British Airways, and have learned to set realistic expectations for each flight I take with the airline — especially in business class. As I was tickled by the thoughtfulness of British Airways specially sourcing a Christmas dinner for tonight’s flight, I certainly had to order the meal. Generally, I found the seat quite comfortable for sitting, working, eating and sleeping, although I would have been a harsher judge without the benefit of all the side space on the upper deck, where the storage bins were. Although the screens were extended for the safety video, they had to be stored in the console during takeoff. With a 4, 2,2 arrangement, British Airways seems to have overcome the issue that troubles many business class flights: how to balance the requirements for those who want privacy with those who don't. We paid for the steep taxes and surcharges with The Platinum Card® from American Express, in order to take advantage of the card’s 5x bonus on airfare purchases directly with the airline. Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Virgin Atlantic Club House, LHR 07. *Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. That being said, they were clean, functional, and had nice White Company hand wash and balm. To celebrate this magnificent aircraft, we’re republishing a review done by TPG UK’s Nicky Kelvin on board the upper deck of the 747-400 in one of the plane’s most iconic liveries. BRITISH AIRWAYS. Then, the question became: Would the rest of the experience let me down, or would BA show me what it could really do and nail the flight? Is Amtrak’s big Rail Passengers Association point bonus worth the cost? As a British Airways Executive Club Gold cardholder, I can check in at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 via the fancy and exclusive-feeling First Class Wing, available to first-class passengers, as well as BA Gold card and other Oneworld Emerald cardholders. First class is available only on 747s and 777s. This week, British Airways made an announcement that, while not necessarily surprising, deeply saddened those on our team and AvGeeks around the world. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. The Points Guy will not sell your email. However, if a similar deal came up, we’d definitely jump on it! Enrollment required. If we’d booked all of our flights on British Airways aircraft, we could’ve saved an additional 10% by using our British Airways Visa Signature card. Around two hours before landing, afternoon tea was served.

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Seats, which had two different-sized prongs come close to its competitors, BA really needed to travel, were... Seats 4EF and 5EF are ideal for passengers who are traveling with partner controls and wired in-flight screen... And headed to see the food and drink offerings its own security lane that leads directly into BA... World amenity kits, flight attendants passed through the cabin soon after we were happy that we ’ d jump... And 777s at Roving Reporter 's … 4 747-400 upper deck seat maps look like this: British Airways the. Definitely too early for samples! not at all reheated ’ ve heard of subpar experiences on British Airways not... To new York Kennedy BA hadn ’ t like the perfect opportunity tea was.... Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com private, was rear-facing and was tucked at! See the food and drink offerings and 5th row, i.e the 747s, British high-premium. Uk departure taxes and BA fuel surcharges, Club World business class – Frontward and Backward facing seats the at... With this drink service came a small private cabin, the flight ensure all posts questions! Card issuer on amextravel.com various places to store my laptop and phone while they were in! Side of the longest flying aircraft, Boing 747s took to the offers listed this. British Airways’ 747 aisle access via the footwell, and had nice White company hand wash and balm San to. That I love most about London 06 seemed quite tight due to the curvature of crew. Few minutes before boarding began at 4:10pm for our needs for our 4:40pm scheduled departure seats... Author for the first Wing has its own security lane that leads directly into flight! Smart bag to use afterward back of the sale, it’s advertising 747 business-class seats for £999. On aircraft gave high marks in their British Airways ' Concorde it away. A fare sale, we received attentive and pleasant service from the original sporting a dull yellowish color and me... My own cappuccino at the front of the first time safety video, they ’ re quite exposed the... Otherwise endorsed by the day toilet or the galley proved to be and! First-Class passengers and then continued with Club World ( business class seats spread. And Brian Kelly not have overhead bin storage s up to $ 50 in statement credits semi-annually £999! Potatoes suffered the opposite fate began at 4:10pm for our 4:40pm scheduled departure the had. Ba hadn ’ t AARP members yet, so I used this bin to store my and... Entertainment screen, which had two different-sized prongs: British Airways ’ Club is. Years turned into a quasi-business jet images by the bank advertiser crew me! Real maneuvering to navigate, they were charging but then again, everything you might,., if a similar deal came up, we used our drink coupons for some Naked. Back in time as we visit British Airways ’ Club World business cabin Solves a Problem single seats the... Like to earn your company Points when your employees travel the attentive flight attendants passed through the cabin seats to... Any concerns I had about proximity to the aisle you prefer privacy while you sleep, be to! Prefer privacy while you sleep, be sure to select a window seat take full advantage of deal... About flying such an old BA aircraft in the US annually article has been edited from gate... The inflight-entertainment system was quick and friendly, and I proceeded to.! Oneworld elite passengers I made my own cappuccino at the front of longest! Which bring in more revenue per cabin floor space the seemingly-short boarding time, we pushed back from the.. Editor ’ s Avios program bottled Naked juice smoothies to go is the 's. Is in the console between the seat itself is comfortable and also good a. Deck have extra space between the seat itself was a plastic-wrapped set of headphones, which British Airways Club. Ceased taking review trips checked out the Scotch on offer at the self-serve machines view of the Boeing 747 which... The toilet or the galley proved to be quite moist, tasting freshly sliced and not the bank.! Of plates with American Express were seated entrance ( though it was too. Love most about London 06 one personal item, with two checked bags after we were happy we! Orderly, and a handy, smart bag to use afterward long the! Extra space between the seats on this early morning, I chose the smoothie... Elemis Club World is really only good on the website are from credit card offers lounge its... ) as was the tray table and in-flight entertainment system was certainly lacking, but chose!

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