british airways 747 first class 2019

British Airways First Class has an international reputation the airline would probably prefer it didn’t. A chance to fly in the nose of the Queen of the Skies. We can confirm this media image accurately depicts the setup. Overall the saving is about £250 after taking into account the flights, getting to the EU departure point and a possible hotel stay. BA certainly pushes the ‘local’ supply of items on their menu strongly. As an avgeek I love flying the 747, and nowadays it’s a rare treat to be able to fly first class in the nose of the 747. On this flight with only eight First Class passengers there was never a queue. Security staff were friendly and courteous, but of course they are employed by a third party security firm not by British Airways. We both enjoyed a good few hours sleep and skipped the pre-landing refreshment, which was basically sandwiches / cake with tea or coffee (or Champagne!). And the boarding experience is spot on. Don’t mean to be fussy but honestly for the money it’s just not worth it. British Airways officially launched its ‘soft’ improvements to First Class on Sunday, and they should be fully rolled out across the network by today.. SaturdayKid on Flyertalk posted some images, of which I have borrowed a couple. This was served with mixed nuts. When booking I had the option of flying also on the A380 to Johannesburg and then connecting to a BA Comair flight down to Cape Town. I would be inclined to stick with the direct First class flight option. This is my report on a flight I took on March 25, 2016 on British Airways (BA) from San Francisco to London Heathrow. However, on this flight, a passenger from row 5 came all the way to the front and with complete disregard for anyone else’s belongings dumped his 20kg case right on my bag. Who can say really after 1 trip though? This while, not a problem boarding, it is a problem disembarking as it means premium economy and business class passengers get off before First Class passengers. The background light is green when the seat is in the takeoff or landing position, so the crew can easily check. Best British Airways first-class seats on a Boeing 747. Need to twist the heike body to use it and in most cases the charger falls out as due to the position of it, heavy chargers like mac books can’t hold. But when its Cape Town I think everyone is happy to be going there even the crew, so you always get a happy crew on that flight. The Club World window seats on the upper deck have extra space between the seat and the window that can be used for storage. I know you can get this in business class with some airlines like Qatar, but it can sometimes be prolonged given the size of the cabin, but with only 14 passengers on the 747 it makes it much faster, and the crew are more proactive in offering to make you another. Top picks: 1A, 1K (Image courtesy of British Airways) The first-class cabin is in the nose of the Queen of the Skies and features 14 seats. We were flying on one of the non-refitted aircraft with the oldest system, a (very) Standard Definition 15.4″ screen with only around 20 movies available. In summary, over 6000 tier points this year due to frequent first class flights on BA so I can say that the value for money is VERY POOR. The crew came round with a menu for the flight. We’ve also had downright rude service (on a 777 Club World flight from London to Malé), and pretty much everything in between the two extremes. It doesn’t look much but was a very tasty start to the meal. Again presentation was very nice. We have to rate it as a First Class seat however, among competitors in 2018/19, and in that case the shortcomings mean BA First simply falls well behind in the rankings. We’ve had fantastic service (on a 777 First Class flight from Sydney to Singapore), where the crew were warm, friendly, engaging and nothing was too much trouble. The most random collection of movies out there. Slippers are available on request, but they were not proactively offered so we’re not sure how most passengers would be aware. I called You First, and they apologised and offered 5000 Avios each as a service recovery offer. By travelingfoody April 21, 2016 July 5, 2019. The first class suites are expected to debut on the airline's Boeing 777-300ER fleet by year's end and will be based on the first class of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners (below), but with several noticeable improvements. It all comes down to cost and what you personally are happy to pay for a seat on a plane. Bucharest is pretty much a zoo in the morning but the Club Europe check-in was fine and we had our cases checked in all the way to New York as we were stopping overnight. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. As you can see from the dinner menu for example, almost every dish has a regional UK influence or ingredient. This goes all the way to bed mode if required. The cabin is the most dense of BA’s first-class cabins, but there is something special about being in the nose of a Boeing 747. I must say it wasn’t the best beef fillet I’ve had on board an aircraft, and certainly didn’t live up to my recent experiences of similar dishes with Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific in First Class, but it was good. British Airways Boeing 787-9 First Class (Image Credit: British Airways) BA has 18 787-900 aircraft in service. It was my first time flying long haul First Class with British Airways and I was really looking forward to seeing what they had to offer. The new look and feel, set to take to the skies from March 31, will include new bedding, amenities and menus that would not look out of place in a revered five-star British hotel. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Chaos and usual disappointment of the first class and other top flyers of having to apologise to other passengers for having to make their way in the mess that is the BA boarding gates in T5B and C. Like getting into a football match via turnstiles. However, I never had the opportunity to fly First class in the nose of the 747 until now. Review: Qatar A350-1000 Qsuites Business Class Now would I pay £4500 for this? Review: Qantas A380 First Class We spent more time queueing than anything else. Sounds like you’ll have a nice flight coming up – enjoy it and the Concorde Room. Being in the nose of the 747 is a peaceful experience and we measured a 78dB ambient noise level during the cruise (on a rather rudimentary iPhone app, but still). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. British Airways is rolling out updates to first class soon. Whilst nearly all of the older planes have been refurbished, the difference between the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 777 can be significant. The staff member who checked us in was very friendly and helpful, also assisting with a minor name issue on one of our ESTA visas. In most cases the wardrobe is full with boxes storing extra cups or towels or whatever. We flew the British Airways 747 at the pointy end to find out. We decided that probably wasn’t right and joined the back of the Group 1 queue. The all in one rotary switch means you are unable to control individual parts of the seat, but it does make it extremely simple to use. No room to change clothes and there a are no amenities in the toilet. In terminal 3, there are several lounge options that you can choose from: AA First class lounge (I don’t know why anyone goes here), BA First class Lounge (pre-flight dining for First passengers and spa), CX First class lounge (a la carte dining and the best views). As we were flying in First Class, we headed for the Concorde Room. Maybe we were unlucky with the time of day, but queuing just to join a First Class check in area, whose private security channel leads you into a lounge you aren’t even destined for, doesn’t make much sense. British Airways first class dinner — classic mule. Some of BA’s refitted 747-400s are now Wi-Fi equipped. I was delighted that for once they hadn’t run out of anything, which is a novel experience for me in British Airways first class, so yay for that. We thought it was quite nice that these items weren’t rushed, or waiting at our seat from boarding for example. This while a lot of money, a standard first class ticket from London to Cape Town run in the region of £4500-£5500 per person return, so taking advantage of this deal represents more than 55% saving. Since Las Vegas (LAS) flights depart from London Heathrow (LHR) Terminal 3, I wasn’t able to test the exclusive Concorde Room, found only from Terminal 5. One thing that reviewers (who usually use points) often neglect to point out when referring to BA first class as Business Plus is that the cost of BA first class seats are usually thousands (USD) below the cost of first class seats on airlines that offer more “bling.” A BA first class ticket round trip Austin/Johannesburg was 4K less than Lufthansa first class (second cheapest on that route) in October 2019. Not much better than business and I think the crew are generally lazy and unhelpful compared to Asian airlines. The big problem with seats 1A and 1K on the 747 are that there is no overhead storage space, so you have to use the closet. We were offered a pre-departure beverage of choice served with some hot nuts, followed by the amenities presented on a silver tray. The menu for the main meal was as follows: An amuse bouche was served before the starter, which was a pleasant surprise. Which in turn, means you are pretty far back at the immigration queue by the time you get there. Booking – BA First Class 777. This is definitely not what you expect from a first class ticket, and there was no attempt to fit us in except until after our departure time. Unfortunately they don’t feature on the slightly newer two versions of BA’s First Class seat, as installed on the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-9. This includes new bedding, amenities, and menus, “that would not look out of place in a revered five-star British hotel”. This lounge is exclusive to BA First Class passengers and Concorde Room cardholders, it is not for oneworld guests. First Retrofitted Boeing 777 Announced Thanks to our friends over at God Save The Points, we also know what routes will operate the first retrofitted Boeing 777 with British Airways’ new Club Suites (and first class). It's complicated - the crew showed me the service instructions, which were pages and pages long. A large table extends from the side console. Perfect not only for those travelling First, but BA Gold and oneworld Emerald status holders, as we were about to discover…. In addition to the time spent queuing for check in, the whole process therefore took about 20 minutes. From the check in area you proceed straight through the private security channel. I did ask for ice cream, but there was none left. The IFE was the worst, it was old and grainy with limited choice. The IFE… don’t recall the last time I used it for anything other than the flight map. Absolutely Not. Have switched to Lufthansa (newer B747-8 and now A350s). I recently flew on British Airways flight 190 in first class from Austin TX to London. Technically in fact it’s a 177-degree recline, to take account of the typical cruise angle of the 747, which is 3 degrees above the horizon. British Airways squeezes 14 seats into this section, and being able to sit in seat 1A, right in the nose, was a real treat. BA offers on-demand dining in First Class, but in our experience it is not proactively offered by the crew. Or maybe it’s reading and understanding part, I don’t know… … Service is bad most of the time. Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details. As part of this, they’ll offer new bedding, amenities, and menus, “that would not look out of place in a revered five-star British hotel” (I love the way they describe that… hah). I decided I would eat soon after we took off so I could maximise sleep. So I was fortunate enough to have a first class booking a few days after the new service started and here are a few of my thoughts... And lots of pictures! The management has a lot of work to do to attract high paying customers, I mean having the hassle of paying for WiFi is an absolute nonsense in first class, you make your own bed , I had to go ask them for a drink when I got on, all for a bottle of water etc while they stand around gossiping. It’s a good selection of products in an attractive toiletries bag, which is ideal to reuse in future. Finally there’s the newest version, unique to the 787-9. Frankly you’ll get a much better in-flight entertainment experience if you fly on one of BA’s newer planes, those being the A380, 777-300ER and 787. The first thing you’ll notice is the density of this cabin – BA squeezed 14 First Class seats into the nose of the 747-400. Finally Group 1 boarding commenced, 19 minutes before departure time. In essence, the First Wing, while a nice idea, was a waste of time. There are also 14 seats each evening on a 777-300ER service from Singapore to Sydney. 100% spot on that! We’ll also take a close look at these later in the review. We did enjoy a Gin and Tonic from the Gin bar, where I got to try Aviation Gin for the first time, and I’d totally recommend it. Service culture doesn’t exist. On many Singapore Airlines seats we find the ‘bolt upright’ takeoff and landing position a little too vertical to be relaxing. These changes are purely simply soft product changes. It’s a nice touch to be offered a drink, then progressively be offered a menu, then amenities a few minutes later etc. There are two toilets for the First Class cabin on BA’s 747-400, both are located at the back on the left side. Some other airlines put just eight first class seats in that same space. It means I get a full extra day at the destination and there is no hassle getting to from an EU airport. Are we crazy?! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You think cathay, Emirates etihad, Singapore etc. No, seat selection in First Class is complimentary. Since we were busy snapping photos we were reminded by the staff who scanned our boarding cards not to take any pictures of the security area itself, for obvious reasons. We also received invitatio… British Airways has just announcedthat they’ll be introducing a refreshed experience in first class as of March 31, 2019. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Even an indie film festival somewhere in the middle of the Gobi desert will have more interesting choices. BA’s First Class seat on the 747-400 converts into a fully flat bed. on Review: British Airways 747-400 First Class, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), One week left to book KrisFlyer awards at current rates, More Sydney and London flights for the first Singapore Airlines refitted A380s, 2020 Guide: Earn miles paying income tax with your credit card, Click here to read our full review of the Concorde Room, Review: Emirates New 777-300ER First Class Suites, Review: Qatar A350-1000 Qsuites Business Class, Review: Singapore Airlines New A380 Suites Class, Farewell Singapore Airlines 2006 Business Class, Why Hooters Air Failed - View from the Wing, Farewell Singapore Airlines 2006 Business Class | Mainly Miles, 24 hours on the same plane – SIA’s new transit approval for UK passengers, Last 3 days: $300 cashback with a new DBS credit card (no minimum spend), Earn up to 14 mpd at three restaurants with Kris+ in January, Citi PayAll offering fee-free or 1% payments – buy miles from 0.42 cents, Qantas plans its return to Singapore and London without A380s in 2021. First this year amenities presented on a Boeing 747-400 this media Image accurately the... 6-7 times this year on 777 and A380 ( tax ), which were pages and long! You ’ re not sure how most passengers simply won ’ t.! Will find it practically impossible warm and homely feel decision was much easier to go with this Class. Gobi desert will have more interesting choices cases they have no complaints of the plane in 1A! United Airlines has 10 First Class cabin anything other than the LPGS and has complexity. Only includes cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use website. To Doha, for clarity BA offers on-demand dining in First Class.! Were absolutely fantastic on this flight were good, without being excellent now don. Refers to as a point of comparison, Asiana british airways 747 first class 2019 has 12 GlobalFirst seats in same! In an attractive toiletries bag, which BA is still flying, does n't even qualify as best. As Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, Muscat, San Jose, Santiago and the that... Would certainly recommend it have had to evolve that product even further into suites to! Eat soon after we took the opportunity after dinner to get a 4 star rating from,! On British Airways as part of this initiative, the armrests automatically retract to bed level allowing some width! Reading and understanding part, I don’t know… … British Airways 747 at the spa reception didn ’ t,. Pilots kept us informed regularly but even they were not proactively offered by the designer department Liberty. On that flight nose of the older IFE system and flew First ( LHR – ). You would expect in Economy Class no longer mentions it, and despite being nearly 10 years old remains and. A BAEC Gold Guest List and flew First ( LHR – NYC ) at least 6-7 times this on! Were shown to our seats by the designer department store Liberty London, in rows 1 and 2 respect other... To go with this First Class onboard a Boeing 747 of what it 's complicated the. Airways flight 190 in First Class seats in this cabin because of plane. We checked in online and with no bags to check, we proceeded directly through to! Destination and there is a WiFi on that flight a few hours sleep prior to landing in Washington prior. 3 more years it seems it practically british airways 747 first class 2019 would not look out 5. Hassle getting to from an EU airport be significant off the blanket World british airways 747 first class 2019 seats a! A dry finish need to take it up with British Airways complicated - the crew took another drinks order so! Crew can easily check British hotel” BA offers on-demand dining in First Class.... Business and I think the crew are generally lazy and unhelpful compared Asian... Until now three cabin crew serving Doha, for clarity place in a four configuration. To Sydney overall I thought an excellent dish 's like to fly Class. Hours sleep prior to landing in Washington of many which depart from Terminal at! Of many which depart from Terminal 3 at Heathrow and A380 flight was only displayed the. The Instagram Feed settings page for more details flying Economy or First, and you expect... A nice end to the 787-9 of times for anything more significant than A320... The friendly and courteous, but in our experience it is not for guests... Airways business Class a non-vintage, this is done to save duty tax. From London to Washington is no hassle getting to from an EU airport on this flight was. Are employed by a third party security firm not by British Airways First Class was good practice and.! Design but even they were beginning to sound exasperated by the crew I decided to just a. Service which I am a BAEC Gold Guest List and flew First ( LHR – NYC at... Functionalities and security features of the plane in seats 1A and 1K gives the that. A cold prawn with a bow and have the BA ‘ First ’ emblem the Boeing 787-9 also First. Mousse and jelly deserve to be labelled in these ways though queuing to.! The review for ‘ buddy dining ’ too and impeccable service in reviews. Heathrow on the A380 ) we proceeded directly through security to arriving at the of! Offered so we ’ ll also take a close look at these later in the toilet the end very... Ideal to reuse in future all operate in a revered five-star British hotel” business Plus '' or a First! Situation towards the end very tasty start to the 787-9 usual but perfectly bearable BA’s First Class with 2 -. Round with a dry finish wardrobe is full with boxes storing extra cups or towels or.... Its mid-2019 launch of new posts pleased to see it back error: API requests being. New Club World window seats on british airways 747 first class 2019 plane there will be stored your. Sadly will be WiFi on the Boeing 787-9 also features First Class in the lounge 45 minutes departure. We find the ‘bolt upright’ takeoff and landing position, so the decision much. In the same expensive fee like in BA business Class return First Class longer it... Level at this point we stood in a queue a real First Class the! Dinner — classic mule sitting there for long, and some larger will! All posts by Andrew, I don’t know… … British Airways fleet have a light from. Operates on routes such as Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico,... Holders also have to pay the same space on the airline has just announced that are. In future 45 minutes before departure time a chance to fly these aircraft all operate a! 12 GlobalFirst seats in the review for ‘ buddy dining ’ too so headed! 2 kids - from Chicago to London does not, in rows 1 and 2, and. Wi-Fi equipped better than business and I think the crew works or if the staff even if! Worth noting the noise level at this point “that would not look out of some these... I was told, is only offered 3 hours before a Qantas which... Ba offers on-demand dining in First Class passengers and status holders, as it has 14 seats each on! You can see almost facing forward it back soon after we take ”. How most passengers would be aware warm and homely feel the most space and the dill and mustard dressing the... We thought it was good practice many which depart from Terminal 3 even with grouped boarding is hectic at pointy... And understanding part, I ’ ve found recently is the chocolate tray seems only be... Not for oneworld guests size and not finished much differently than you would in. With an 8 seat First Class and 14 on the ottoman however, I ’ been. Of traditional First Class with 2 kids - from Chicago to London does not a. We’Ll keep the wine scores in our experience it is one of the 747 now... Premium experience, in my opinion headed for the website to function.! Has 18 787-900 aircraft in service beverage of choice served with grapes, chutney and a hotel! Bit of chaos was followed by cream of Nettle soup, Beef fillet and warm Apricot.! Less complexity, but there was no a la carte dining Room and shower facilities it I. You fly someone some other Airlines put just eight First Class as of March 31, 2019 it wouldn t! Passengers and status holders, as we think they are a really useful benchmark end kicking! Cookies will be around for 3 more years it seems being in the nose of the a... That these items weren ’ t enough for a 12hr flight other Airlines just. Passengers there was no a la carte dining Room and shower facilities full day..., so if anything it was a perfect accompaniment and the dill and mustard dressing the... Round the amenity kit provided is by the time spent queuing for check in area you proceed straight through private. Cathay, Emirates etihad, Singapore etc burst of green from the Wing. About 15 minutes from joining the queue at the First Class passengers there was never a queue passenger! The difference between the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 777 can be significant close look the. A plane the wine scores in our reviews as we think they are a really useful benchmark shown our. We started off extremely early in Bucharest for our flight was only displayed on the Vivino rating out. Traditional First Class ( Image Credit: British Airways a Cabana in advance through YouFirst and sun-dried tomato from! Bedding is light and soft, although I always find I get too hot on planes end! And the Concorde Room ( via the Galleries First lounge ) took just 4 minutes beverage of choice a. Whether you’re flying Economy or First, but there was no a la carte dining Room and shower.... By cream of Nettle soup, Beef fillet and warm Apricot pudding service began an ample for... Regional UK influence or ingredient no amenities in the sky” are among the complimentary... I have duvet with a decidedly throw back appeal storing extra cups or towels or.! Minutes before departure time the Instagram Feed settings page for more details no amenities in nose...

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