British Airways Business Class - London to New York - Trip Report

[@MattsPlanet]

Great video mate and thanks for the plug! It looked like a very consistent experience to the one I recently had. It's great that BA is now quite consistent, I just wish it was consistent at a more premium level!

[@GLAFly]

Cheers Matt - still find it somehow magical that you can stream videos at 38000 feet! It was a good flight and a friendly crew - but they need to up their game with the lounges and with things like drink choices onboard.

[@tommarchant950]

Thanks for the video. I must say I greatly appreciate the full take off roll. The sounds of those engines and phenomenal. Not many reviewers keep the full (non sped up) take off roll.

[@GLAFly]

Thanks, Tom - it's one of the things I really enjoy watching videos myself, so I tend to keep it in. Appreciate it's maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm glad you enjoyed it - don't forget to subscribe (if you haven't already) - more great engines to come 😀

[@tommarchant950]

@@GLAFly Been subscribed since the video you posted over a year ago flying on air Lingus. I flew the them from Dublin to Manchester and you gave me insight on the type of aircraft they usually fly on that route. Thank you sir.

[@WorldWide_Dom]

Fantastic Video mate. Sadly I have never had the chance to fly BA business class Long Haul, definitely on my bucket list. This review is a breathe of fresh air as i find BA falls into one of two categories on KZbin, Love or Hate, thanks for giving a neutral perspective

[@GLAFly]

Cheers Dom - appreciate the kind comments and glad you enjoyed it. I always try to give a fair shake to the airline when I'm flying. It's still a rare enough treat for me that I've not become jaded by travelling in business class, so it's still a special treat when it happens.

[@redcomusic]

That main course and tea service gave me an idea for next week's lunches and afternoon tea! For trimmings I'll just use veg medley. And here in the US as you know we call scones "biscuits" and for cream I have to use whipped butter (we're unfamiliar with clotted cream LOL!). Poke!!! - Red

[@GLAFly]

Glad it was of some help to you. I've experienced "biscuits" before on my travels in the US - think there are a few differences (Scones tend to be sweeter, and I think have eggs, which biscuits tend not to), so I wouldn't recommend trying these ones with gravy 🙂. They are lovely, and I recommend them with the afternoon tea - it's a very "British" touch to service.

[@jamessmith6402]

Thanks that was a very enjoyable video 👍

[@GLAFly]

Thanks James - really glad you enjoyed it and thanks for taking the time to comment too! More to come, so make sure you've subscribed if you're not already 😁

[@gordonyuen6302]

Great Video! lovely to see a glimpse of my home airport at the start.😀

[@GLAFly]

Thanks Gordon! Would that be GLA, by any chance? 😀

[@gordonyuen6302]

yes mate, been a long time since I was at the GLA... about 3 months.... lol. Can't wait till middle of March, off to South Africa travelling in Club. out to CPT in A350 and back from JNB in 787-9 with the Ying Yang configuration.

[@GLAFly]

@gordonyuen6302 sounds like a brilliant trip! I've not managed to fly on the A350 yet - hope you have a great flight.

[@alannicol1223]

They were trialling the new scanners at main security yesterday when we flew in from Doha. Will make a huge difference not having to empty liquids and electronics out the bag going forward.

[@GLAFly]

Thats good to hear - what terminal was that?

[@alannicol1223]

@@GLAFly T5. Had gone through passport control and taking a domestic to Edi so used the fast track and was ushered into the “trial lane” was effortless.

[@GLAFly]

@@alannicol1223 ah cool - that's just as you come up the escalators at fast track? Think I've been through those too - just wish they would hurry up with the rest of them...

[@alannicol1223]

@@GLAFly yip, that’s the one.

[@WelshMatt625]

I flew the same product to LA in December and had the same starter, good choice!

[@GLAFly]

I tend to find soups fairly reliable when I've had them onboard - and I think BA have pretty much the same menu for all US flights in a given month - just some have a different second meal service (I'm guessing you had something more than afternoon tea?). They just need to get better with deserts 😁

[@WelshMatt625]

@@GLAFly I believe so, I did see the Turkey and trimmings option as well, but I opted for vegetarian option. We did get a full second service that was more, but I didn’t go for it as I prefer something lighter and had a cheese and pickle sandwich from the club kitchen. I don’t usually eat the dessert as I find it too much for me. I’m very much a business class traveller just for the hard product 😂 My only gripe was the lavatory situation. I flew on a 777-300er with a 3 class layout (no First) and there were only 3 lavs for business class, and it seemed like way too many seats per lav. I was sat in the bigger main cabin, and we only had 1 and had to go to the front by the flight deck to use the other 2

[@GLAFly]

@@WelshMatt625 That's pretty poor design on BA's part. Looking at the seat maps, (I take it this was a Club Suite equipped aircraft?), I can see what you mean - and 1 loo in the middle, serving the rear CW cabin (and likely some of the people at the back of the forward cabin), with 2 right at the front, isn't ideal. The older CW Yin-Yang seat cabins look to be similarly poorly provided, but at least on the cabins which DO have a first class at the front, they have 3 toilets in that central location for CW to use, and 1 right at the front that's just for First, so they CAN do something about if they want, but i'm guessing they didn't want to loose a row of Club Suites to put in the extra loos. Bit rubbish!

[@ScottishT]

Another excellent video, incredible to think the 777s have been going so long. Agree dessert looked quite poor but the rest seemed decent.

[@GLAFly]

Can't fault the interiors on the 777s - even the "old" ones. The refit keeps it fresh looking, and it's still new enough that it's not looking tatty yet. As for the food - couldn't fault the starter or main - soup was delicious (big fan of soups in the air - tend to travel well), and the turkey was a nice portion and not all dried out. Buy yeah, the tiny desert - exact same as I had on a 1 hour LHR-GLA flight in Club Europe, doesn't really cut it on a flagship route like JFK (or any long haul in business class). There are some noticeable improvements in Club, but some reductions as well (drink selection, etc) - and they hadn't even loaded a bottle of Baileys on this flight (which the crew were really annoyed about - guess it's a popular drink). Crew and hard product are great. Ground experience at Heathrow, and soft product still has some issues.

[@ScottishT]

@@GLAFly Good to hear your experiences mate. Already look forward to your next one.

[@GLAFly]

@@ScottishT Next one will be a wee flight with Alaska from LAX to LAS 🙂

[@scotb621]

Keep the videos coming 👍

[@GLAFly]

Cheers, Scot - that's the intention 😀. Maybe not as frequently as I'd like, but I'm hoping for at least 1 per month, and working on making that more frequent.

[@DevonDarryl]

Seat 7a is also my choice because I’m always first off the aircraft 😊 The only disadvantage is the cost to reserve it £117 a few months ago.

[@GLAFly]

@DevonDarryl ouch! That's a lot to reserve a seat. Is there any chance of you getting to Silver with BA, as that would then give you free seat selection at time of booking?

[@RandomLifeProductions]

Glasgow has got to be the best airport to start a journey Travelodge Across Brill. Great place for a tier point run

[@GLAFly]

Thanks - hope you enjoyed the video! Doing a TP run up to Glasgow is also nice and easy if you're doing a back-to-back, as you disembark to the same gate area and can just wait there until boarding.

[@armychap007]

A very comprehensive report. I think the hard product in terms of the Club World seat is OK, but the lounge looks mediocre and the onboard catering is what leaves BA flagging behind so many other airlines these days. Sadly they would be my last choice of airline to fly in business class between London and New York.

[@GLAFly]

I have to agree. When the AA lounge (SoHo) at JFK is better than the BA Gold lounge at their home airport, it's something that needs addressed.

[@msingh9634]

Great video and new subscriber from Italy

[@GLAFly]

Thanks so much - really glad you enjoyed it! Return leg of this trip will be coming out tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled!

[@Louis-hk2sc]

What was it like when landing at Lhr from Glasgow ? Did you have to go through security again and re check bags ? How easy was it to find your way around ?

[@GLAFly]

No need tp reclear security or collect bags. If its all on one ticket, any bags will be checked in at Glasgow to your destination (although if you were connecting onwards somewhere else in the US, you'd have to collect at your arrival point in the US, clear customs, and then recheck). Domestic and short haul flights arriving into T5 are Heathrow, just follow flight connections and you'll be fine. Assuming your onward flight is from T5 - BA operate some from T3 and you would have to reclear security if going to terminal 3, but no need to collect bags.

[@ml66b]

The LHR horses name is "LIGHTning" LOL. Great vid!

[@GLAFly]

That's brilliant - never knew that! 😀. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@ml66b]

@@GLAFly It’s only my name for them 🤣

[@GLAFly]

@@ml66b lol - right enough then 🙂. Thought i'd been given some great bit of inside info there - but i'm going to keep that name in mind next time i see them 🙂

[@marklewarne239]

Good to see jam first on the scone mate I'm a Cornish man and this is the ONLY way!! Just subscribed looking forward to watching your videos.

[@GLAFly]

It's nice to hear from another sensible person, and not one of these "cream first" weirdos! 😁 Glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for the sub - hope you enjoy my other videos (old, and still to come).

[@gazzis]

Nice work :)

[@GLAFly]

Thanks 🙂

[@76damage]

Nuts in packaging is better. Saves on waste and more hygienic. Meal looked decent.

[@PaulPhilbin-wu5ny]

But 🏫

[@msingh9634]

Cream then jam!! Yummy.

[@mdesjr]

Great video. Love the Scottish accent!

[@GLAFly]

Thanks Michael - glad you enjoyed the video, but I can't really take any credit for the accent 🙂. Thanks for the sub!

[@jogolock1190]

As a Cornishman, you did perfectly well putting the jam on 1st, don't listen to the English lot from Devon, they talk nonsense.

[@GLAFly]

Glad to get an expert opinion! 😀

[@jogolock1190]

@@GLAFly You did indeed, I actually went to school with the current CEO of Rodda's who make the Clotted Cream here in Cornwall. Great video btw, love travel videos and yours was excellently done.

[@GLAFly]

@jogolock1190 Thank you so much - delighted that you enjoyed it 😀

[@davidcole333]

My opinion is that the whole experience looked just average from the lounge to the aircraft to the food to the seat. It's certainly not a bad way to fly, but it just feels like it wasn't up to the standard being set by the Asian and Middle Eastern carriers these days.

[@GLAFly]

I can't argue with that, and certainly if I compare the experience with and airline like Qatar (albeit, i've only had 2 flights with them so far), then it's chalk and cheese. However, I find BA's crew to be consistently good, and reliable. Looking at the likes of AA, where i've had poor experiences with some of their crew (some have been excellent), and poor soft product - even in First, then I kind of know what to expect with BA. Nothing that's going to blow my socks off in Business - but I can count on it being good the majority of the time. As for lounges - eesh - yeah, BA need to up their game there. There is virtually no difference any more between their "First" lounge (which is actually just for BA Golds and OneWorld Emerald members) and the business class lounge - essentially identical food offering (and poor at that), and the ground experience at Heathrow can be hit and miss (if you get a bus gate, for example). So, i don't think it's fair comparrison for BA vs Asian/Middle Eastern carriers, where there is a huge focus on service, but BA are still my preferred carrier where possible, because the crews give me that feeling of being at "home".

[@Andrew.-.-]

Great video . Always travel club or First and find BA to be consistent all the time . Also great to see that starting this year they are to spend billions on improve all aspects of the airline . Following years of Alex Cruise totally ruining the airline with his stupid ideas, great to see them on the up again . I would say now better or on par with most apart from Singapore . The crew are def better that most airlines now . Good on them .

[@GLAFly]

Thanks Andrew - glad you enjoyed it! I'm still a bit skeptical about the investments they have stated they are going to make, and I have a feeling the lion's share of those are going to be on the hard product onboard (fitting out those A380s with Club Suites isn't going to be cheap!). The lounges are looking good with the refreshed furniture, which is great, but at the moment i'm still not seeing much in the way of any improvement to the offering in the lounges (food is still not great - especially in the Gold/First lounge - there is just no differentiation), and service onboard still needs a few tweaks here and there. Great crews by and large, and certainly I've had some of the best flights of my life with great BA crews. Crews, i'd agreed in terms of your comparrison, but food/drinks/lounges, they are still poor compared to the likes of the Asian and Middle Eastern carriers - and even the likes of Air France and Lufty in terms of First Class experience (dedicated F terminal/Car direct to aircraft, etc). Will watch closely to see if these investments manifest - but will still go out of my way to fly with BA whenever I can...

[@stevenlittle2184]

I know Jonathan well!

[@GLAFly]

Cool - small world 😀

[@sandippatel1969]

Scone desecration!

[@GLAFly]

@@sandippatel1969 nonsense - it's the only way! 😁

[@sandippatel1969]

Wars have been started for less. Utterly horrified by this obscene act of sacrilege Btw, I absolutely loved your review (other than that scone scene)

[@GLAFly]

@@sandippatel1969 glad you enjoyed the video, "scone-gate" notwithstanding! 😂

[@colinrenfrew48]

Nice video, but a fairly mediocre service.

[@GLAFly]

Thanks Colin - glad you enjoyed it! To be fair, the crew were good - friendly and attentive - but they can only dish out what has been loaded in terms of the catering etc, so there is still some areas for improvement by BA for their catering onboard (food and drink), and the lounge experience at Heathrow too.