The Best Bits of Flying BA Business Class - According to Travellers

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Last Updated: 13 Jun 2023

Flight Club

For many Avios collectors, and travellers looking to use their BA Companion Voucher, flying Business Class is their favourite way to travel, and a primary goal when collecting points to book British Airways reward seats. For years, BA’s Club World, and more recently BA’s Club Suite, have been considered one of the world’s best ways to cross the skies. That’s why tools like BA redemption finder, and Reward Flight Finder, are so popular with BA Executive Club members. Here we take a look at why they are so popular with Avios collectors, according to travellers themselves.

 

Airport Check-In

BA’s primary hubs are London Heathrow and Gatwick, and at these airports Club World passengers will find access to dedicated check-in desks and security, making the process quick, easy and stress-free. 

According to Unique Boutique Travel, “Check-in is so simple for Club World passengers, it takes less than 10 minutes”. Thrifty Points believes that the dedicated check-in is one of the best bits about flying British Airways Business Class: “There’s very rarely a queue which means you can speed through check-in and have more time to spend in the complimentary lounge”. 

One of The Points Insider’s favourite things about British Airways Business Class is that it “removes all the frustrations of travelling, like lengthy queues and crowded airport terminals”.

 

Club World Lounges

Without question, access to the BA Club Lounge is one of the biggest reasons Avios collectors strive to book Business Class reward seats. At Gatwick, you’ll find the Club Lounge in the South Terminal, whilst at London Heathrow, you can visit the Galleries North, South and B gates lounges in T3 and T5. 

Club World Lounges offer travellers an opportunity to chill out in a relaxing environment pre-flight (and post-flight too if the destination airport offers it). They give people a place to rest, sleep or freshen up. Those flying for work purposes will definitely feel the benefit of free wifi and large workspaces. If you’re flying Club Class, you can expect your Lounge to: 

  • Have excellent quality unlimited dining options, particularly the buffets
  • A varied selection of drinks, including coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages such as wine and spirits
  • Offer private toilet and shower facilities, if you’d like to freshen up before your flight
  • Have a business centre with wifi and printers 

A little tip, whilst they don’t publicise it, you can get Champagne in the Club World Lounge. Just ask a member of staff. If you’re an AvGeek, the terrace located in the Galleries North Lounge is a favourite spot to watch over the runways, but the South Lounge also serves up some great views of the planes taking off and landing. 

Only1invillage says that “The BA Business Class lounge at T5 is very spacious, with a good variety of seating areas. The showers are in fact a mini en suite bathroom, making it feel more private. The drinks selection is vast”. BoardingGroupOne notes that “A great feature of the British Airways lounge is the free-pour alcohol. The food is good and there’s enough choice to keep you satisfied”. The guys at Turning Left For Less are usually enthusiastic about the Club Lounge at Gatwick, having said in the past that “the lounge is modern and stylish and there are even dining booths which reminded me of a first-class lounge”.  Ramsey Quiben at businessclass.com is a fan of the BA Business Class Lounge, particularly the ample food choice and the ability to dine pre-flight to maximise rest during your journey.

 

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Cabin and in-flight experience 

British Airways was the very first airline to offer flat-bed seats in Business Class, making them quite the pioneer of the in-flight experience. Other carriers now provide similar seats too, such as Qatar Airways and their impeccable QSuite. But recently, British Airways launched their next-generation Club Suite, which boasts a sliding door and all-aisle access. The new Club Suites are available for passengers on newly delivered aircraft, including the Airbus A350-1000, and are being refitted throughout BA’s entire long-haul fleet.

So what should you expect from your Club World cabin and inflight service?

  • A comfy seat which converts into a fully flat bed
  • Luxurious bedding and amenity kits from The White Company
  • Complimentary drinks and snacks
  • British-sourced dining options

Club World seats, and especially the new Club Suites, have been designed for relaxing, sleeping and working - with the new Suites offering an extra level of space and privacy. The flatbed extends to 6ft, with an adjustable headrest and lumbar support. And there’s a mattress topper, duvet and blanket so you can enjoy an enhanced level of comfort when you want to sleep during your flight. Live and Let's Fly loves the White Company offering onboard, saying that “the bedding is excellent on British Airways. I found the duvet soft and warm and the large pillow perfect.” Business Class.com also finds the British suppliers to be a nice touch, and Inside The Travel Lab reckons that “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”, and rates the seat overall as “excellent”.  

During your flight to Club World, you’ll be served a starter, main course, dessert and cheese, as well as complimentary drinks. You’ll also get snacks on your journey, and some British Airways routes roll out afternoon tea - a real treat. The Travel Lab says that “passengers are left to take their time and enjoy their food. And while it may not rank as some of the best food on earth, it certainly ranks among the best to eat on a plane.”

Ramsey Qubein offers some detailed insight on what to expect from the BA in-flight dining experience, writing that “British Airways offers a lovely in-flight service on fine china with printed menus offering explanations of each course and where many of the ingredients come from. They’re very generous when it comes to mid-flight snacks for those feeling peckish”

 

New Club Suite

First unveiled in 2019 on their A350s, BA’s reimagined Club World in-flight experience offers Club Suite on selected flights. British Airways recently announced that they expect all of their Heathrow Boeing 777 fleet to be kitted out with Club Suite by the end of 2022, with the 787-8, 787-9 and A380 refurbishment likely to start in 2023.

Club Suite seats offer direct aisle access from every seat and a door for extra privacy. That’s a massive plus if you’re travelling alone and want to get on with some work or enjoy some downtime. There’s also a bigger fully flat bed and extra storage space for improved relaxation and sleep. You’ll get Wi-Fi, individual charging points, and 17” high-resolution screens with the latest films and music to keep you entertained during your journey. 

Ramsey Qubein believes the new Club Suite is “not unlike many First Class products”, suggesting Avios travellers booking these seats will get some real bang for their buck, and The Luxury Traveller says that “I’ve long been a fan of the elegant design of BA’s First Class cabins and it’s great to see features like the wooden trim and blue LED lights make their way into Business Class.”

The Points Insider gives BA’s new Club Suites a glowing review - “The new British Airways Club World service is worth the price for service, attention and, most importantly, space. As you step onto the plane and are directed to your seat by the smiling cabin crew at the front door, you’ll notice you almost step into your suite, rather than sit down at your seat. All in all the BA Club World Suites are definitely recommended, and something you should start saving your Avios towards to enjoy the experience too!”. 

BA Cabin Crew in Club World typically gets great reviews from travellers. Ramsey Qubein praises their formal, yet friendly standards. One Mile At A Time says that British Airways crew “generally engage with passengers in an adorable way” and has previously written that “across the board, the flight attendants couldn’t be lovelier”. 

On flights where a different language is spoken at the arrival destination, a member of the crew will usually be able to speak that language. British Airways also utilises their overseas-based crew on many flights where cultural service details and customs are important. In a recent review, Live and Let’s Fly wrote that “what a pleasure it was to fly with a crew who seemed to love their jobs and were not only attentive but cheerful and charming”.

 

Why are Business Class BA reward seats so popular?

Avios collectors covet British Airways Business Class reward seats for two reasons. The first is that they represent excellent value for Avios point spend and travellers can benefit from some great cash savings on comparable seats. Reward Flight Finder members have told us they’ve saved thousands by booking seats this way. John, recently told RFF he had saved £1150 on comparable cash flight seats to Jamaica, and Kaye told us that during the course of her membership with RFF she had saved £25,000 on Business Class flights. If you’re an Avios collector with a BA Companion Voucher you’ll be saving even more because you can essentially book “two for one” reward seats. 

Club World also offers travellers a serious step up in flight experience compared to Economy and Premium Economy bookings, making their journeys much less stressful. With dedicated check-in and lounge access, they can avoid the crowds at the airport and relax in a luxurious setting before they take off. Once on board the plane, they can make the most of seating with extra legroom and fully flat beds, so they start their holiday as they mean to go on - chilled out!

If you fancy booking yourself a Business Class getaway you can use our BA redemption finder at rewardflightfinder.com to find reward seat availability up to a year ahead. Our search calendar will even tell you how many seats are available so you can make the best value bookings if you’re looking to use your BA Companion Voucher. Better still, if you sign up for a Reward Flight Finder membership you can maximise your chances of getting your ideal British Airways reward seats by setting travel Alerts, and we’ll notify you when your preferred seats are available to book.

 

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Avios Points (57)

British Airways Reward Flights (25)

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