Review 777/200: the new British Airways business class is really top
British Airways was an innovative carrier, but then it decided to sit on its laurels for at least a decade, coming [...]
British Airways
Oneworld
LHR
British Airways was an innovative carrier, but then it decided to sit on its laurels for at least a decade, being overtaken by so many other companies, particularly its arch-rival Virgin Atlantic.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- B777/200
- Class:
- Club World Suite
- Treat:
- DXB - LHR
- Book
The turning point came with the entry into the fleet of the Airbus A350/1000, for the first time in about 10 years the debut of a new model also brought a total redesign of the cabin from business to tourist class.
The best bonuses
The first A350/1000s entered service in the summer of 2019, and we had a chance to review the brand new Club World suite recently. At the same time, the company had also announced that all of its Boeing 777/200s, planes that have nearly 20 years of service, would be renovated in their interiors specifically to accommodate the new configurations.
BA's choice, read in hindsight, was a half-right decision. Renovating a cabin can cost several million euros; they could have started with the younger, more capacious A380s or the 747 more iconic than the little "triple 7." Instead, the pandemic forced the company to retire the Jumbos, and so today BA finds itself with much of its 43 refurbished Boeing 777/200s, old on the outside but immaculate on the inside.
Reservation
I took advantage of an attractive offer just before the UK decided to suspend flights with the United Arab Emirates. A round-trip ticket from Milan, with a stopover in London, for less than €1,400 made me desist about the possibility of investing (or rather wasting) 120k Avios points for a ticket that would have cost me (taxes alone) over €540. Above all, I needed to accumulate a little bit of level points To renew my status with the BA loyalty program.
At the airport
When you get out of the cab you remember that the travel world is on pause, all flights go through terminal 3, the Emirates terminal, normally there would be a flood of people here and instead all is calm.
The airport is deserted. All departing/arriving flights are concentrated on this one terminal, despite this there are very few people around.
My flight used to leave late at night, but at DXB midnight or noon had never made a big difference, but now it does.
Even the screens show how diluted everything is, how there are very few departing flights for a stopover that was used to a takeoff every 2 minutes.
My flight was full in business and lightly attended in the other two cabins. Procedures at the check-in counters went quickly. The British lounge is in the other terminal, so I am invited to enter the Marhaba Lounge, one of the independent lounges and accessible to Priority Pass holders.
On board
Boarding procedures involved double-checking, with some passengers being invited to a second security check.
It doesn't feel at all like stepping into a plane that is over 20 years old; in fact, it looks brand new. I must say that the restyling work done by British Airways was really remarkable.
The space in the "club world suite" is remarkable; here BA engineers were able to adapt the 777 cabin to the new seats, creating perhaps even more solutions to hold everything a passenger decides to take with him or her on the plane.
The only real difference that distinguishes the set-up on A350 and B777 is the presence of a traditional controller to manage the IFE and not the more modern one with a touch screen.
As can be seen, the door isolates the passenger from the aisle and in a night flight is able to give not only greater privacy but also a fair amount of sound insulation.
The seat is operated from the small touch screen under the table. From here you can set any kind of position with a simple click. In any case you can turn it off when you want to sleep and do not want to have a small screen on at eye level.
Remarkable space available once you turn the chair into a bed. An additional mattress pad is not distributed, but I must say that the seat structure is quite comfortable, perhaps the cushion is the only weak point.
Food and Beverage
The flight takes off at 3 a.m. I appreciated the idea of serving breakfast immediately after takeoff.
This was one of the last flights where BA served the gourmet box, as a few days later it Announced the return to traditional service.
The gourmet box was a smart choice on BA's part and I must say, quality in all its forms. Including the one that was being offered to passengers on intra-EU flights.
One yogurt with fresh fruit, cereal on the side, one cheese omelet, one croissant, one chocolate muffin. This is the menu, all very good.
The choice to serve breakfast at the beginning of the flight allowed me to sleep comfortably until 10 minutes before landing in a dank London Heathrow.
IFE and Service
Remarkably large touch screen with the same features found on BA's flagship A350. The catalog of movies, TV series, music and games is endless.
Also available was wi-fi, but I did not take advantage of the offer since I slept practically the entire flight.
In conclusion
This business class is a huge step forward from the previous cabin layout on the British Airways fleet. The door allows you to isolate yourself and enjoy the journey. BA's choice to upgrade the older 777s was not a foregone conclusion, so credit to the company for the excellent work done on these planes.
If you have to book with BA, I would recommend choosing only the routes operated with Airbus A350s or these refurbished Boeing 777/200s.
Pro
- The door
- IFE
- The space
Against
- They saved money on the remote control of the IFE
- Unfortunately, it was not yet the pre covid service