Europe
New British Airways Business Class Seats ... a Pleasant Surprise
The airline says the rollout of new British Airways Business Class seats is complete on B747s serving New York/JFK-London/Heathrow, with the fleet-wide installation scheduled for completion by mid-2008. The seats recline a full 180 degrees and are horizontally flat—among few in Business Class that do. I had the chance to fly the new seat last month. Here’s my review.
Complaints: The beds are short compared to the competition—only six feet long when extended versus six feet six inches on Virgin Atlantic, BA's toughest competitor. BA spins this by claiming that the bed's “Z” shape allows the body to assume a position similar to the one it would in zero gravity. That’s a fancy way of saying the seat feels fine if you don’t stretch out. That being said, however, if you’re under 6 feet or sleep on your side, you should have no problem falling asleep in this seat. The plastic dividers seem a little flimsy and the table isn't very sturdy.
Surprises: The new British Airways Business Class seat back/seat interface is smooth, with no seam down the middle of the seat (something that drives me crazy). The seat cushion is very comfortable even after several hours, whereas most Business Class seats get harder and harder during the flight. The seat is 25% wider than its predecessor. I have broad shoulders and they were a little snug, but not tight. The seat also offers more privacy, as most seat pairs face opposite ways (one forward, one backward) and have an adjustable divider between them. The footrests are also much improved and seamless once you figure out how to jiggle them loose.
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Standard Equipment: 110v US style in-seat power socket. Enhanced in-flight entertainment system that allows pausing, stopping, fast-forwarding, or rewinding up to 100 films and TV programs. 10-inch digital screens.
Current Availability: Over 30 B-747s are fitted with the new seats. 100% of New York/JFK London flights operated with 747s. Some Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco flights. And some flights to Hong Kong, Tokyo, southeast Asia, Australia and South Africa.
Advice: Go for a window seat. These British Airways Business Class seats are a lot more personal space and of course you’re sheltered from the aisle. The separate check-in facilities and security at JFK were nice. The lounge is okay. The arrivals lounge in London was nice, which offered a 15-minute massage—better than nothing.
Conclusion: Congrats to BA for closing the comfort gap between it and Virgin. While BA could have gone further to match Virgin’s category-leading Business Class, if BA offers you a good schedule and price, grab it and run.
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