What's it REALLY like inside British Airways' poshest cabins? It's an £11,000 first-class seat vs an £8k business berth as we film flights between London Heathrow and New York in the carrier's top two suites to find out
Ted Thornhill flies first and business between Heathrow Terminal 5 and John F. Kennedy International AirportHe discovers a world of suites big enough for four, Champagne worth £160 and service with a sincere smileRead on for the full verdicts and watch the fascinating video of his transatlantic odysseyWhat do YOU think of BA's fanciest cabins? Vote in our poll at the bottom...READ MORE: Inside British Airways' HQ control room - the nerve centre that oversees up to 820 flights A DAY
Just how posh does British Airways get?
Very.
That's the short answer that I'm confident I can issue following Boeing 777 flights in the carrier's £11k/$14k first class and £8k/$10k business-class (Club World) cabins between Heathrow and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.
There is Champagne from a bottle worth £160 ($200), suites big enough for four and service with a sincere smile. Plus gourmet food.
I video both trips and snap away with my smartphone camera – so I've got evidence to back up my verdict. Though there are niggles. Read on for the full story and watch the video. And vote in our poll and let us know what YOU think of BA's fancy cabins.
FIRST CLASS. COST - AROUND £11,000 ($14,000) ONE WAY
Ted Thornhill flies first and business between Heathrow Terminal 5 and John F. Kennedy International Airport on British Airways Boeing 777s. He's pictured above in first class with a welcome glass of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015
As of this summer, British Airways is the only European carrier to offer first class (above) between the US and the UK
A British Airways Boeing 777-300 in flight. Want to sit at the very front of one with BA on a flight to New York from London? It'll cost you around £11,000 ($14,000)
Ted's trip in British Airways' fanciest cabin begins at BA's fancy First Wing in Heathrow Terminal 5 (above), a dedicated check-in area for first-class customers and Gold Executive Club members
As of this summer, British Airways is the only European carrier to offer first class between the US and the UK.
So millionaire fans of BA pay close attention, because we're going to find out what's on offer for you at the pointy end of the carrier's planes.
My trip in British Airways' fanciest cabin begins at BA's fancy First Wing in Heathrow Terminal 5, a dedicated check-in area for first-class customers and Gold Executive Club members.
It's shielded from the rest of the terminal by eye-catching curved golden dividers. Within are a bank of check-in desks and a waiting area with glasses of water.
Queues are non-existent.
Post check-in I breeze through a dedicated first-class security lane – again, sans queues – and emerge in the First lounge, where a surreal sculpture of a black horse with a lamp on its head stands sentry at the entrance.
This lounge is lovely. But I'm destined for somewhere lovelier still – the almost mythical Concorde Room. If you don't have a first-class ticket, you're not getting in.
Ted's ticket grants him access to the 'almost mythical' Concorde Room lounge (above three pictures), where he enjoys a 'mostly excellent' breakfast
The airport lounge concept has lost its lustre in recent years. Anyone can pay to use one and many are sorely disappointing in terms of comfort and facilities.
The Concorde Room returns passengers to the golden age of the lounge. Here they enter a boutique-y haven bedecked with designer seating galore, from sofas to armchairs and plushly upholstered bar stools.
It's 11am and I occupy one of the cube-like dining booths where a complimentary breakfast menu is on offer, though the first question from the waiter is: 'Would you like a glass of Champagne, sir?'
I like his style, but I opt for a coffee and a mostly excellent eggs benedict (the bread is a tad tough), served on elegant crockery.
I leave for my departure gate feeling relaxed and buoyant, as all first-class passengers should.
THE CABIN
The seat
The first-class cabin (above two pictures) 'feels like an elite club', says Ted, who explains that there are just eight seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration
'Mine is a window berth, 2A, big enough for four and with a privacy door that creates a haven within the premium-end haven,' writes Ted
LEFT: The first-class seat and light is controlled by a single jog wheel. RIGHT: Temperley London supplies the 'highly reusable, velvety amenity kit, generously stuffed with lotions by Elemis'
Once onboard the Boeing 777, this mood remains – the seat is epic, and pristine.
The cabin feels like an elite club – there are just eight seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.
Mine is a window berth, 2A, big enough for four and with a privacy door that creates a haven within the premium-end haven.
The seat is perfectly padded and measures 6ft 5in when in lie-flat mode. More than enough for my 5ft 10in frame.
Storage? There are options in all compass directions. There's a wafer-thin wardrobe for jackets, two cubby holes with lids, a little cupboard behind my left shoulder with a vanity mirror and an overhead bin that's almost big enough, frankly, for a fully grown passenger.
A hat tip, too, for the looks – the cabin is smothered in calming browns and creams, and I love the chic lamp on the suite's shelving.
Comfort is further aided by luxury pillows and blankets and a premium' sleep suit' by Temperley London, which also supplies the highly reusable, velvety amenity kit, generously stuffed with lotions by Elemis, plus other items including a toothbrush and toothpaste, eye mask and socks.
The entertainment
Watching movies in first class is 'a joyous experience' says Ted, thanks to a 'vast screen' (above)
The opening and shutting of the cupboards and prodding of the pillow complete, it's time to watch a movie, which proves to be a joyous experience on the vast screen, with audiophile-pleasing Meridian headphones completing the cinematic vibe (though a non-functioning left speaker means I have to request a replacement pair).
Another niggle emerges – the touch function on the remote control is only sporadically responsive, which means leaning quite far forward to use the touch-sensitive main screen to navigate entertainment.
THE FOOD AND SERVICE
LEFT: Lunch begins with amuse bouche - a smoked trout donut, a minted pea tartlet and a smoked duck, asparagus and truffle roll. RIGHT: The beef carpaccio starter
The first-class main course - grilled chicken breast with a 'moreish tomato black pepper sauce', carrots, potatoes and cherry tomatoes
LEFT: The vanilla ice cream dessert. RIGHT: The Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015 is worth £160 ($200) a bottle
Ted describes his first-class meal as 'mouthwatering from start to finish'. And passengers can dine whenever they like. Pictured right is part of the wine list, overseen by Master of Wine Tim Jackson
Ted enjoys 'a stupendously buttery' J Moreau & Fils Chablis Premier Cru (above)
I've experienced hit-and-miss service on British Airways flights over the years.
On this one, it's a resounding hit – warm, chipper and attentive throughout. I'm not a mind-reader, but the crew seem to be enjoying their roles in the elite cabin, exuding a 'nothing's too much trouble' air.
And the food and beverage situation they oversee is superb.
British Airways' full-time master-of-wine Tim Jackson has shaken up the wine lists to good effect, with a wonderful Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015 worth £160 ($200) dispatched to my seat after boarding and a stupendously buttery J Moreau & Fils Chablis Premier Cru (which retails for around £50/$65) delivered with my meal.
A meal that's mouthwatering from start to finish.
In First, passengers can dine whenever they like – and there's a veritable banquet on offer, from an a la carte lunch to afternoon tea and light bites.
Ted is treated to afternoon tea, with salmon, egg mayonnaise and ham sandwiches; plus scones, served on a silver two-tier stand
The lunch begins with delectable amuse bouche – a smoked trout donut, a minted pea tartlet and a smoked duck, asparagus and truffle roll.
Then it's beef carpaccio with green beans; and grilled chicken breast with a moreish tomato black pepper sauce, carrots, potatoes and cherry tomatoes. Dessert – I can't resist the vanilla ice cream, which is dreamy.
Before we land, I'm also treated to afternoon tea, with salmon, egg mayonnaise and ham sandwiches; plus scones, served on a silver two-tier stand.
Jam and cream? Present and correct.
The flight is seven hours long – I'd be happy in this seat if it was triple the length.
BUSINESS CLASS. COST - AROUND £8,000 ($10,100) ONE WAY
Like first class, the business class (Club World) cabin is in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access for all
Ted slums it in business class for the trip back to London
My red-eye flight home begins at JFK Terminal 8, where I have access to the business-class Greenwich Lounge, one of three that premium-cabin BA and American Airlines passengers can enjoy (American Airlines is a BA codeshare partner).
Passengers flying BA first class can relax in the swanky Soho Lounge (also open to Executive Club Gold Members) and the Chelsea Lounge, both of which have luxury rain showers and the latter a stunning circular Champagne bar.
The vast Greenwich Lounge (also open to Executive Club Silver Members) is very pleasant, with an almost bewildering array of seating options – from bar stools to banquettes and from cocoon-like cubes to cafe-style table seats – and multiple bars and food stations.
Before his flight back to London, Ted avails himself of the facilities at JFK Terminal 8 Greenwich Lounge (above)
Plane views at the Greenwich Lounge
Plus, there are incredible views of parked planes thanks to ginormous windows, a kids room to keep the little ones entertained – and while I'm there the Switzerland vs Germany Euro 2024 soccer match is showing on a big screen, with passengers enjoying the game while ensconced in enormous armchairs.
Time to board.
And here I seemingly step into the future, with a biometric scanner at gate 20 clearing me in two seconds to walk down the air bridge to the plane. No need to show anyone my passport or boarding pass.
THE CABIN
The seat
The business class seat 'is pristine, comfortable and supportive and flattens to a six-foot-long bed'
Like first class, the cabin is in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access for all. My seat is 21K – a window slot - and a very cheerful flight attendant is hovering nearby with a tray of Champagne and orange juice.
It's a night flight and I'm heading straight into office the following day so it's OJ for me while I take stock of my business-class berth, which better be good as it cost, on top of the base price, an extra £94 to reserve it.
And good it is (though it takes a bit of getting used to after the kingly vastness of first class).
The seat itself is pristine, comfortable and supportive and flattens to a six-foot-long bed, with a highly responsive touch-screen control panel allowing me to customise the angles. Tremendous.
LEFT: Ted's business class White Company amenity kit. RIGHT: The seat controls, which Ted describes as 'excellent'
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There's no comparison with the first-class berth in terms of roominess, but there's perfectly adequate manoeuvering space.
It's not the biggest business-class suite in the world, but with the privacy door shut, I feel snugly cocooned. And the ergonomics are solid.
Storage-wise, there are no points to be deducted, with four separate compartments to scatter my chargers, books and wallets in. One, by my shoulder, has a vanity mirror on the door and houses a bottle of mineral water and an amenity kit.
This one, a good-quality faux-leather bag, is by The White Company and, like the first-class Temperley London one, is highly reusable. Delving inside, there are grey socks; an eye mask; Spa Relax pulse point oil with lavender and peppermint; Spa Restore moisturiser with geranium, neroli and eucalyptus; and Spa luxury lip balm. There's also a toothbrush and toothpaste.
The entertainment
First class passengers will be pleased to hear that the audio kit in business is definitely inferior. Though the over-ear noise cancelling headphones further back in the plane are still good. Though yet again, I have to request a replacement pair as, again, one speaker isn't working.
The screen in front of me is pretty big and responsive – and unlike the first class one, within easy reach.
THE FOOD AND SERVICE
The business-class menu is head-noddingly extensive, says Ted, with cocktails, mocktails, wine, Champagne, English sparkling wine and multi-course dinners and breakfasts on offer
LEFT: Ted's business-class sweet potato carpaccio starter. RIGHT: The main course - buffalo mozzarella ravioli
It's a smooth on-time departure and the crew waste no time dishing out the meals once the seatbelt signs are off.
The menu is head-noddingly extensive, with cocktails, mocktails, wine, Champagne, English sparkling wine and multi-course dinners and breakfasts on offer.
For the starter, I tuck into a seriously delicious sweet potato carpaccio with spiced mango dressing (must try this at home), and pearl vegetable couscous salad, then enjoy a mouthwatering buffalo mozzarella ravioli for mains.
I can't fault either dish.
Time for bed.
I manage a couple of hours of sleep and awake for a great breakfast – Greek yoghurt, a scrambled egg and bacon panini and a croissant, all washed down with a 'Union Coffee' coffee.
The crockery and glassware are all good quality and the service is faultless.
And here some extra words on the service, because it's British Airways at its best. Again. Charming, brimming with bonhomie and thoughtful.
I've flown in premium cabins where I get the feeling that the flight attendants just want to shut the cabin down as fast as possible so they can relax.
Not on this flight.
Before I disembark – or 'deplane' as our chums in America say – I'm offered a 'bottle of water for the journey' and waved off with a cheery smile.
CONCLUSION
The business class experience is impressive – the seat seduces, the food and drink hits the spot and the service is sincerely friendly.
But first class definitely feels like a more exclusive, luxurious experience – it's nothing short of glorious. I feel lost in time and space, almost forgetting that I'm even flying. It's an elite club within a club, with epic seats, top-tier service and a food and drinks offering that's astonishing.