If course there wasn’t. The good news is that the crew remained attentive and our Champagne was continually topped up during the delay. And that’s on one of the largest planes in the sky! BA offers on-demand dining in First Class, but in our experience it is not proactively offered by the crew. It was well presented, a more generous portion than I expected, and overall I thought an excellent dish. Review: Qatar A350-1000 Qsuites Business Class Seat reservation: do you have to pay the same expensive fee like in BA business class? Boarding had not commenced and banks of queues had already formed. Awsine review BTW. As the toilets are both located at the rear left side of the First Class cabin, and the galley is also at the back, there is almost zero foot traffic at the very front. British Airways’ 747 first class cabin is dense, as it has 14 seats. Later in the review we take a full look at the dining options offered on this evening flight to Washington. This I was told, is only offered 3 hours before a Qantas departure which are around 12pm and 9pm. I have flown on the 747 13 times according to myflightradar24 and flying on the upper deck of a 747 is a great experience, its like flying in your own little private jet. Will allow this?). See also: One thing that you should know is that not all First Class British Airways products are made equal. The background light is green when the seat is in the takeoff or landing position, so the crew can easily check. Well if a similarly priced First class ticket to the dream tickets offer is available, I would say it is worth taking the first class flight. The IFE… don’t recall the last time I used it for anything other than the flight map. And the boarding experience is spot on. British Airways looks set to follow its mid-2019 launch of new Club World business class seats with the reveal of new first class suites.. Two toilets to a maximum of 14 passengers is not a bad ratio at seven passengers to each toilet, though there are much better out there like Cathay’s 777 First Class (3:1) and Singapore Airlines 777 First Class (2:1). The scene however was quite chaotic. 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. I have also been allocated 1A on a last-minute redemption booking a couple of days before departure, only because all the other seats in the cabin were occupied, so it’s possible to ‘get lucky’. Don’t mean to be fussy but honestly for the money it’s just not worth it. British Airways 747 First Class and Concorde Lounges at JFK & LHR in October 2019 Shortly afterwards the crew brought round the amenity kit and pyjamas. British Airways squeezes 14 seats into this section, and being able to sit in seat 1A, right in the nose, was a real treat. British Airways, the largest user of the type in passenger operation, is refurbishing around 17 aircraft and keeping them in service well into the 2020s. By now you’ve probably guessed it. There were eight of us in the First Class cabin on this flight, around a half load, with three cabin crew serving. Eddie went for the fillet of cod, which was unfortunately very average. Even though the confirmation email comes from Elemis. The Captain then made an announcement apologising for the delay, apparently the aircraft had arrived at the gate late and then there was a catering delay, which led to delayed boarding. It’s terrible that a system like this is still around and sadly will be around for 3 more years it seems. By travelingfoody April 21, 2016 July 5, 2019. Service commenced with an antipasti amuse-bouche, which BA now refers to as a ‘pre-appetiser’. It wasn’t particularly clear where the First Class passengers should wait, and seeking assistance from one of the gate staff met with a rather curt response with us being directed to the back of the ‘Group 2&3’ queue. However, I never had the opportunity to fly First class in the nose of the 747 until now. If like us you’re departing from London Heathrow, you’ll be eligible to check in at the new British Airways ‘First Wing’ at the far south end of Terminal 5 in Zone J. Drop-off by car should be at door 5 (the last door). The cabin offers the most space and the most privacy at the front, in rows 1 and 2. The menu for the main meal was as follows: An amuse bouche was served before the starter, which was a pleasant surprise. Paying for Internet in first class is also a bad joke. Starting October 27, 2019, the refit planes will begin flying once daily between New York-JFK and London-Heathrow.. BA177: London (LHR) to New York (JFK), departing 1:00pm … It’s a shame that for some BA routes its a bit of a lottery between getting a terrible old system that isn’t fit for purpose vs a fantastic new IFE system which is a super quick state of the art platform. Let’s start with the positives. At the time of booking my flights, an option to fly from Amsterdam to Cape Town at £1500 per person return in business was the best option other than the First class offer from London. British Airways 747 first class cabin. It’s worth noting the noise level at this point. We’ll also take a close look at these later in the review. This may have changed with the new service which I am yet to try, but I will report back once I have. This was served with mixed nuts. Group numbering has helped a bit, but it seems that waiting for a correct number to be called is still a problem for some people. All of the first class seats are located at the nose of the aircraft, which makes for a serene, private flight. Given that a one-way First Class ticket from London to Washington on BA sells for around £9,000 (S$15,750), we think it’s reasonable to at least be offered the option. I also decided I would skip breakfast, given how early we would be landing and wanting to eat at one of my favourite breakfast spots in Cape Town when we arrived. Review: Cathay 777 First Class Update: British Airways retired its 747 fleet in October 2020.Club World, BA’s international business class product, is still available on the 767, 777, 787, and A380. It’s a nice touch to be offered a drink, then progressively be offered a menu, then amenities a few minutes later etc. If you’re heading to the Concorde Room, you’ll have to exit this lounge, then you’ll see the Concorde Room entrance directly opposite. The first three row of seats are configured in a 1 X 1 layout but rows 4 and 5 are configured in a 1 X 2 X 1 layout. The seat is very wide and comfortable. We were offered a pre-departure beverage of choice served with some hot nuts, followed by the amenities presented on a silver tray. While this is fine, you would think other passengers would accept this and not try and use it, after all, they have overhead bins to use. Instead, I paid a quick visit to British Airways Galleries Firstand had a glass of champagne there. The champagne was none other than Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle a very smooth drop indeed and not cheap at the average price of £120 a bottle. We started off extremely early in Bucharest for our flight to Heathrow so we didn’t have the usual BA First check-in experience from Heathrow. Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region you can pick up the airline’s newest First Class product, as fitted to the 787-9, on a daily flight from Kuala Lumpur to London, with a daily A380 and 777-300ER also flying to London from Hong Kong. We also received invitatio… Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details. British Airways offers this option in their First Class cabin, with the exception of the Boeing 787-9 where it is unfortunately not possible due to the fixed position of the IFE screen. Being in the nose of the plane in Seats 1A and 1K gives the most incredible perspective where you can see almost facing forward. There are principally three kinds of BA First Class seat currently in the sky, the ‘original’ like we flew in, which you’ll find on all 747s and those 777s featuring First. In the same space on the Boeing 747-8, Lufthansa has just eight First Class seats. First, we went to the Qantas lounge. The menu shows the options available. It’s an ample size for working, eating and as noted later in the review for ‘buddy dining’ too. Enter your email address to follow Mainly Miles and receive email notifications of new posts. We took the opportunity after dinner to get a few hours sleep prior to landing in Washington. (Photo: Live and Let’s Fly) Finally there’s the newest version, unique to the 787-9. Lots of them. BA’s First Class seat on the 747-400 converts into a fully flat bed. 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 the Boeing 747-400s, British Airways First Class crams in 14 open seats into the nose of the plane. At the time this flight was taken (January 2019) the amenities offered were the Liberty kits and older style pyjamas as well as the older style dinner service. Slippers are available on request, but they were not proactively offered so we’re not sure how most passengers would be aware. Our travel classes cater to everyone. The wardrobe at the very top nose of the B747 is a neusanse and due to annoying passengers and staff using it while slamming the doors make 1K and 1A undesirable for me anymore. If you are a fan of Liberty, the amenity kit also includes a £20 off voucher if you spend £200 or more at their Regent Street store. The seat has a sort of ‘preset recline’ in the upright position, which we found quite comfortable. I did ask for ice cream, but there was none left. Once we were served drinks our dinner orders were taken. Many of those with First Class cabins have had to evolve that product even further into suites, to provide differentiation. 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! Remember to pre-book a Cabana in advance through YouFirst! It doesn’t look much but was a very tasty start to the meal. 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!). They are good quality but we didn’t try them, as we both prefer to bring our own clothes to sleep in on flights. The Boeing 787-9 also features First Class, but the smaller Boeing 787-8 does not. BA certainly pushes the ‘local’ supply of items on their menu strongly. The amenity kit provided is by the designer department store Liberty London, with toiletries by Aromatherapy Associates London. It’s lighter than the LPGS and has less complexity, but is sharp and refreshing with a dry finish. Having flown British Airways several times in Club World and First, once thing you tend to notice is that the crew are quite inconsistent. Again presentation was very nice. Of course they said sorry but hey, it’s only first class (anyways, what a great experience using 1st class wardrobe next to the most desired seats on the plane as storage. Eddie opted for the Asparagus with soft poached quail egg. Just found your review when looking to see what I had coming when I fly BA first from Houston-LHR-NBO next month, and something that sets you apart and will keep me reading your reviews is the lovely wine scores. I would be inclined to stick with the direct First class flight option. As you can see from the dinner menu for example, almost every dish has a regional UK influence or ingredient. Review: Emirates New 777-300ER First Class Suites This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Perhaps we were unlucky but when we arrived at the First Wing to check in for our flight, we were greeted by a sizeable queue. When I arrived, I was told there was no booking for either of us even though I had the confirmation email and it correctly stated Terminal 3. 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. Now occasionally you will find business class tickets from Europe (not London) to Cape Town like right now until 31st of July 2019 for about £1400. 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. Like Cathay Pacific, British Airways removed the amuse-bouche from the First Class meal service, only to later reintroduce it. British Airways Boeing 787-9 First Class (Image Credit: British Airways) BA has 18 787-900 aircraft in service. It wouldn’t be the last time we stood in a queue that day, so if anything it was good practice! That’s a great idea if it is offered, because if you’re unable to sleep you can simply return to your seat and read or watch a movie for a while then return to bed later without any hassle. While in its prime it was an advanced product which stood up well to competition in the market, airlines around the world have progressed increasingly to 1-2-1 flat-bed seating layouts in Business Class. The Club World window seats on the upper deck have extra space between the seat and the window that can be used for storage. We can confirm this media image accurately depicts the setup. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We’ll keep the wine scores in our reviews as we think they are a really useful benchmark. Unfortunately British Airways has not significantly changed its Business Class or First Class seats for 10 years, leading to even their most expensive seats now resembling a Business Class product on many other airlines. It means I get a full extra day at the destination and there is no hassle getting to from an EU airport. British Airways 747-400 (v3) First Class There are 14 first class seats on British Airways’ 747-400 (v3), each measuring 22 inches wide and 79 inches long in bed mode. For a non-vintage, this champagne is excellent and can be found in the First class of many airlines. Service culture doesn’t exist. Finally Group 1 boarding commenced, 19 minutes before departure time. The crew on this flight were good, without being excellent. If it were a Business Class product, this would probably get a 4 star rating from us, perhaps even 4.5. In most cases the wardrobe is full with boxes storing extra cups or towels or whatever. Have you noticed their recorded message “if your phone is lost in your seat, don’t move the seat, call a member of staff who will help you find your phone on the bowels of the seat”. British Airways does not have their own lounge at Austin so we headed to the American Airlines Admirals Club. The gate for our flight was only displayed on the screen in the lounge 45 minutes before departure time. We chatted together at seat 2A using the ottoman seat without much concern as we were heading straight to the hotel on arrival in Washington for our first night, with no dinner plans given the late arrival time and the fact we’d eat on board. BA 747 and 777 First Class. No, seat selection in First Class is complimentary. Perfect not only for those travelling First, but BA Gold and oneworld Emerald status holders, as we were about to discover…. 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 a point of comparison, Asiana Airlines has 10 First Class seats and United Airlines has 12 GlobalFirst seats in the same space. The cabin crew will make up your bed while you head to the restroom to change into your pyjamas, or like us you might prefer to bring your own comfy sleepwear. Around 7-8 minutes went by stood here. It operates on routes such as Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, Muscat, San Jose, Santiago and The Seychelles. 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. This includes new bedding, amenities, and menus, “that would not look out of place in a revered five-star British hotel”. The purser was “pretty sure” there will be WiFi on the flight. But that’s if it works or if the staff even knows if there is a WiFi on that flight. The window blinds in particular, which sit behind a perspex screen and completely black out the light from the two windows at each A or K seat, are very ‘business jet’. We did have to specify this though as she offered to check them all the way through to Phoenix. The fennel and kasha salad was a perfect accompaniment and the dill and mustard dressing gave the salmon a sharp edge. Only it hadn’t really commenced. The final stage of the First Wing, for many passengers at least, is the corridor from the security screening area into the Galleries First lounge. It measures 78” in length. Only then did we realise our boarding passes did actually say ‘Group 1’ on them (we hadn’t even noticed before), which means you are boarding with Club World, BA Gold and oneworld Emerald status passengers. A large table extends from the side console. And couldn’t send my presentation to a colleague to complete it/contribute. 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. And god forbid you don’t go to sleep when it’s “bed time” and walk to the galley and ask for a drink or a snack as you can’t sleep and watching a movie… They’ll give you the evil look. 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. Finally, 11 minutes before the scheduled departure time, after a walk through Premium Economy, we were the first two passengers to arrive in the First Class cabin (everyone ahead of us was apparently destined for Club World, or were status holders). We got the impression this late gate assignment and delayed boarding through a single door was all a bit of a last minute change for them too. I really love the live edge wood tables and the burst of green from the plants. British Airways has just announcedthat they’ll be introducing a refreshed experience in first class as of March 31, 2019. We then moved to the main event, the Cathay Pacific First class lounge. From a distance everything about the seats looks nice and new, however on closer inspection they have certainly seen better days with a number of scratches, marks and general wear and tear apparent. 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. What happened is we were all assembled into the (hot, windowless) airbridge where we then stood waiting for boarding to actually start. 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 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. For this 7-hour flight from London to Washington it would have cost 18,000 Avios to upgrade, which isn’t bad assuming you got a good Business Class deal in one of BA’s sales. A few weeks ago flying first, I had a last minute work trip and needed badly to work on the flight so I won’t lose a work day. Families with young children boarded first (which was a little confusing as initially we thought they might be First Class passengers and that we were just waiting in the wrong place!). This was followed by cream of Nettle soup, Beef fillet and Warm Apricot pudding. This was a cold prawn with a mousse and jelly. I am an avgeek so it was great to fly the “Queen of the Skies” a Boeing 747-400. 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. Very detailed. All Airbus A380s, Boeing 747s and most Boeing 777s in the British Airways fleet have a First Class cabin. The socket is too loose to snug it. If you are lucky enough to fly on a Wi-Fi equipped BA aircraft, the pricing is as follows: For simple browsing and email (the ‘Browse’ package): For a higher bandwidth package supporting video streaming (the ‘Stream’ package): These certainly aren’t the cheapest packages around, but they are in line with several other carriers. (Photo: British Airways) Then there’s a version unique to the A380 which features around 50% more personal space (but effectively has the same seat). The journey was actually quick and we arrived at gate B45 just 10 minutes later, 30 minutes before departure time. It’s a welcome addition and we’re pleased to see it back. Even the menu no longer mentions it, and on this flight it was not suggested to us. If you’re an in-flight entertainment addict, this is where the BA 747 really starts to show its age. It reminds us of a sports car ‘bucket’ seat, low slung and hugging. British Airways is set to deliver significant changes to the onboard product and service in its First cabin as part of its £6.5bn investment for customers. This consists of five rows of single seats along the windows, and then two pairs of seats in the center in the last two rows. Otherwise, most passengers simply won’t know about it. The style here is incredible, the soft furnishing and the light fittings give it a very warm and homely feel. Who can say really after 1 trip though? Boarding at LHR started about a half hour late and was a bit of chaos. It's the finest way to travel. At the time I still felt like BA's first offered something approximating a first class product, even if it wasn't one of the better or flashier ones. We checked in online and with no bags to check, we proceeded directly through security to the lounge. 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. So the decision was much easier to go with this first class ticket. 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. I am a BAEC Gold Guest List and flew first (LHR – NYC) at least 6-7 times this year. As usual at Heathrow T5, it meant taking a train to one of the satellite piers (B in this case), so we packed up our things and made our way out of the Concorde Room about 40 minutes before departure time. This time I decided to just have a light bite from the buffet area and a shower before my flight. Sounds like you’ll have a nice flight coming up – enjoy it and the Concorde Room. This area is designed to whisk you through the check in process, through a dedicated security lane, and straight into the British Airways Galleries First lounge. Error: API requests are being delayed for this account.