British Airways brand new Club Suite business class seat is a clear step up for the airline. It comes after several years during which its existing Club World seat, revolutionary when first introduced, had started to lag behind. For now it’s a case of unfortunate timing – because British Airways introduced this seat just a few months before the pandemic hit. And the airline continues to fly its brand new A350-1000 aircraft (the first to feature the Suite) largely empty. Few people are ready to fly longhaul, let alone to pay a premium for this offering. That was evident this week when I gave the Club Suite a try on a transatlantic flight from London to Washington D.C. – and had the cabin almost to myself.
The seat with a closing door
There’s no denying the seat is very nice, and a major improvement over the previous British Airways product. The Club Suite’s defining feature is that it has a closing door – something of a trend among airlines looking to one-up each other these days. The reality is that the door is not really all that necessary. Because of the way each seat is in its own little pod and faces away from neighbors, with direct aisle access for all, the seat is very private without it. And the door isn’t high enough to shield you from the eyes of someone walking down the aisle. But it does add that little extra touch of exclusivity, and maybe serves as a useful signal that you’d like to be left alone.
Not quite an industry leader
BA used to be a leader in this sort of thing, but nowadays not so much. To be clear, the new seat is very comfortable and ticks most of the main business class boxes. And the cabin is gorgeous. The A350 is also, as ever, a joy to fly on (some 777s have now begun getting the seat as well). But this seat is essentially a reverse herringbone offering that’s much like many other airlines have been flying for years – with the addition of a door. In terms of available space it’s probably on the lower end of the spectrum. It’s perfectly fine for someone of average height, but it could get cramped for larger folks.
What about the service?
There’s been much discussion around the reduced service onboard planes since the pandemic hit. Lately the subject has seen an uptick in interest because over the last month or two some airlines have decided to bring back a more or less full service, while other airlines have stuck to their reduced offerings. Those usually take the form of cold food served in a box. British Airways is one of the airlines that continues to offer a limited service, including in long-haul business class.
However, the service in business class on this flight exceeded expectations. Two meal services were offered alongside a full bar service that was available throughout the flight. The first meal came in a very large box – in this case the vegetarian option was a tasty poke bowl with tofu. Refrigerated rice is never exactly ideal but this was as good as could be given the circumstances. The only real complaint about the box was that the lid was so large as to completely block the entertainment screen – so to make that work it had to be ripped off. A little awkward. But the DO&CO catering quality was still very much on display here. And it’s nice to see BA haven’t moved to a more budget provider for their onboard food during this time.
A second, smaller service before landing – also in a box – featured some snacks and a panini sandwich. This was also adequate. A self-serve snack area in the galley – looking slightly reduced from normal – had items like soft drinks, chips and cookies available for whenever the mood struck. The debate rages on about whether or not this is entirely a safety measure (which most airlines claim) or if at this point it’s more about cost-cutting. After all the industry is losing millions every day, and the near-term outlook for recovery is fairly bleak.
Flights are very empty
There were only six people in business class on this flight (in a cabin of 56 seats). There weren’t many more than that in economy and premium economy either. It’s always nice to have a lot of breathing room on a plane and even more so during a pandemic, but it nevertheless felt a little sad to see just how depressed demand for international travel still is. The cabin crew on this flight were friendly, attentive and engaged – as many British Airways crews are. But it seemed as if they, as with just about everyone in the airline industry, were concerned about the lack of passengers and what it might mean for the future.
Overall British Airways has done a very good job here and the Club Suite is one I’d happily fly just about anywhere. Here’s hoping the environment for international travel improves soon and more passengers can try it out for themselves.
