Is BA Business Class worth it? London Gatwick-Tenerife in Club Europe

Is it worth it to pay out extra to fly business class on BA's short haul business product, Club Europe? I tested it out on board an older A320 flying from London Gatwick to Tenerife South. I was quite surprised at the seat, but is that good or bad?! Check out the video for more.
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[@johns4651]

Subscribed, you seem like such a nice man, it is relaxing to watch your air travels

[@PlanetPatrick]

Thanks for the sub! And that's very kind of you.

[@peterfitzdublin]

Great review Patrick. Loved the lounge

[@PlanetPatrick]

Glad you enjoyed it, Peter. The lounge was the best bit!

[@AussieJetSetter]

Nice trip report and very informative!

[@PlanetPatrick]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@drewd9985]

Enjoyed your presentation style. Thank you.

[@PlanetPatrick]

Thanks, Drew

[@Noel50724]

Thanks for another interesting Vlog Patrick, have you considered a review of the Premium services offered by holiday charter airlines, Tui Premium, Manchester to Cancun, and Air Transat Club Class Manchester to Montreal?

[@PlanetPatrick]

Hi Noel, that’s a good shout for future videos. I’ll add to the list. Thanks.

[@gmac5112]

This apart from the food and lounge access makes the seats look like Ryanair🤭. I understand its European business class but your flight to IST was the same duration and that product looks brilliant. I would recommend Eithad Business class if you are looking for long haul. Keep up the great uploads!

[@PlanetPatrick]

It is nice to have that free seat in the middle, of course, but it’s pretty tight on the A320. To be fair, it is an older product. However, I think the Turkish product is in a different league for a similar flight time, as you say. I’m thinking of a comparison video to put them side by side. Yes, I’d love to do the Etihad trip! Better get saving!

[@gmac5112]

@@PlanetPatrick That would be a good comparison video. I booked economy space with eithad and bid for an upgrade to business. The draw back on the bid process is you don't find out until the morning you fly! I am on Turkish to AbuDhabi soon in business class looking forward as it will be the same seat as you reviewed.

[@antoniopalmiero6761]

Why do no use the buisiness cabin with those kind of flight?

[@sarahdutton8237]

Thank you so much for this! I was about to upgrade my Gatwick-Crete flights for £300pp to Business and you’ve put me off 😂

[@PlanetPatrick]

Glad I could help! Kind of!!

[@ricka006]

ive been thinking the same for the exact same flight but now i think ill just save the money and stay in economy. Surprised Business class on these flights arent better than this. Even big airlines Like Qatar offer a much better service on shorter routes.

[@jesulito730]

Glad I check! Business Class for a flight to Europe from London with BA is not worth it the seat is the same with economy class apart from you will be seated in the front row and obviously the lounge but No thanks😊

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Good review. Bonus-point for the camera/pastry/coffee-juggling action. Did you get to use the premium security lane?

[@PlanetPatrick]

Lol, that's a filming challenge! Yes, I did use the Priority or Fastback lane. At the time of year I was leaving (I think January), there wasn't much difference, to be honest. Gatwick's service can be pretty sharp.

[@annamae859]

Glad I watched, I am now reconsidering flying euro club with BA based solely on the lack of leg room.

[@PlanetPatrick]

It would be good for you to check the type of aircraft for your specific flight as the legroom may be better than my flight.

[@annamae859]

@@PlanetPatrick will do, as I'm coeliac provision of a GF is also high up the list of must haves.

[@journeyingjohn3275]

@@annamae859 My last three BA intra Europe flights, special meals (orders more than 2 weeks before departure) simply weren't loaded, so having paid for a meal, I got nothing! 3months on, still awaiting a response other than the automated acknowledgement email... The complaint also covered a no notice cancellation with no support in person, on the phone or online. Based on my experience (20years of circa 70 sectors annually short and long haul with multiple carriers) if you want comfort, reliability or value for your spend, then book elsewhere! BA in 2023 are #BestAvoided because of their failed internal systems and the cost cut service at premium pricing.

[@TarrelScot]

We did a return to Lanzarote about 18 months ago, outbound with Iberia via Madrid (to avoid the early BA departure) and return direct with BA. I'd say the business class was absolutely worth it. Compared to long haul the uplift from Economy in ££ is modest, but you still get the full ground experience, decent food and I wouldn't underestimate the benefit of that empty middle seat. For short / mid-haul, the ground experience actually forms a relatively larger part of the overall trip. Take your point about the legroom though. Iberia was, I'd say, on a par with BA, but the BA personal service was just a little more polished. We had about a three hour layover in Madrid and the lounge there was great; spacious, not too crowded, good food and drink choices - generally chilled and relaxing.

[@PlanetPatrick]

It’s good to hear about your experience with Iberia. An interesting comparison with the BA product

[@DroneViewsMedia]

Great video, Patrick. TBH, if I was going to fly business class, I'd raid the cookie jar and save for an Etihad flight. I actually got a business class seat due to being unwell on an economy flight to the Philippines......I definitely felt better when I got there. As for the WiFi, it seems to be a service hardly worth paying for

[@PlanetPatrick]

Fair enough! I wanted to add BA as some people had been saying their service was better than LOT (though not Turkish) and I got the flight for just over 100 quid. I will save the pennies for some interesting long haul in business later this year. The wi-fi on US carriers has been great (and often free) - this was daylight robbery by BA.

[@DroneViewsMedia]

@@PlanetPatrick A bit like the rip offs you see on ferries, although in fairness, many of them have had starlink installed and you can actually get reasonable speeds

[@Marcho978]

I tried BA Club Europe on LON-FRA and return last week. My opinion of the current offering is that it’s only worth considering and paying cash for if you fly from LHR and NOT an outstation, as you will not have priority check in or security. The lounges at T5 (Galleries South and North) are Ok for the food and drink offered, nothing special at all, although you would tend to benefit more if you were a heavy drinker! But once onboard, the difference between club Europe and economy is marginal. Can’t say much about the food as again, it’s mediocre. I only did mine with Amex points, but if given a choice, I would definitely not pay cash for club Europe!

[@PlanetPatrick]

This is a super fair reflection of the product and lounge options out of LHR - thank you for taking the time and it'll be helpful to anyone reading your comment.

[@yeager913]

Nice review, thank you Patrick. I really find the BA Club Europe offering very disappointing. If only they had two seats across up front and a bit more leg room (like the old days?) Then it would start to feel exclusive. Personally I like the offering from City as the legroom on the Embraer is better. But again, not worth paying the premium for Club on that. Only tend to use it when the companion voucher gives you no alternative. The new Ryanair 737 Maxes have better legroom then these tired old BA A320s (let alone the noisy nasty little A319s) - and quieter to boot. The little bit extra to sit up front on one of those is worth it.

[@PlanetPatrick]

Thank you for the comment. I had much better memories of BA Club Europe too. I agree, some of the more modern planes have better leg room in economy which is a bit embarrassing when such a premium is being paid in some European business class.

[@yeager913]

@@PlanetPatrick Indeed! I wonder if anyone at BA actually bothers to try out the competition - i.e. the new Ryanair 737 Maxes - because (any residual safety concerns to one side) it's a more enjoyable product in many ways than the A320!

[@northbankgooner6126]

I never buy Club Europe with cash, its always AVIOS. Doing London to Madrid next week, 24,000 ish total Avios in total, Economy on the way out with Iberia Express and return BA Club Europe for £50 plus the stated AVIOS. Miles better than Ryan Air and Easyjet, and its not difficult to accumulate a decent amount of AVIOS with the BA Amex Card. On the way back from Madrid I will have access to the Iberia Lounge which by all accounts is one of the best in Europe. Yes the legroom isn't any different from Economy, but the experience is on a different level.

[@PlanetPatrick]

Enjoy your trip (and all those great savings!)

[@doveronefoxtrot4417]

It used to be better than it is now. In particular the seats were much chunkier and comfortable. The legroom is very poor for business class as well. Food isn't too bad though. Overall I'd say it now needs a serious revamp, as it is a very poor second to their worldwide product. To me, its 1980's economy class.

[@PlanetPatrick]

I think that's quite right. Food and service are the two things that save BA's European business class, but the seats are just economy with a guaranteed free middle seat. Not always worth the price.

[@georgeh5075]

I would say it's still worth it if you want the privacy, service and food. Especially if you're downgrading from a private jet or something, if you have that kind of money definitely just get the business class. As an example, LHR-AMS is about 14k for 8 to charter a return turboprop not even a jet. BA business class is about £2500 for 8. This is fairly standard ratios for inter-european flights.

[@PlanetPatrick]

I’m not convinced that the quality of the hard product is there with BA. The food was fine and the staff were very good. Otherwise, passengers need to be aware that many of these older planes aren’t particularly comfortable.

[@fredob43]

Having traveled only once with B/A long hall in B/C I found it like you did a waste of monies. The lounge wasn't that great, and the food on board was poor (That was because they ran out of what I wanted so had to settle for what they had left) seating at best was rubbish. I now travel with any other airline that flies the route I want to go.

[@PlanetPatrick]

I can understand that. On this flight, the food was good but it was the service levels that set them apart. Saying that, I'd carefully check next time what exactly I was getting for my cash or Avios!

[@chickenlady3155]

I don't think I've ever been in an airport lounge. The sausages look nice.

[@PlanetPatrick]

This one was very busy and the sausages were delicious!

[@TheVaughan5]

I couldn’t give a f**k about IFE however on a 4.5 hour flight I would expect more leg room in Business class. Before the pandemic I used B.A. business class on my regular long haul and overall it was very good considering the price asked. It’s about time B.A. redesigned their short haul cabins for Club Europe and offered a genuine business class experience. The best I’ve ever used was on Swiss London to Zurich far better than B.A.

[@PlanetPatrick]

This is effectively economy with the middle seat blocked out. I don't tend to use the IFE much, but I would expect one in a business product. Swiss is good, must review soon.

[@GWJUK]

Nobody seems to take into account you might want to fly business class to earn the tier points? Tenerife return earns 160 tier points.

[@PlanetPatrick]

That’s fair and it’s a perfectly good route for a tier point run.

[@philsam1232]

It looks like you got one of the former BMI A320s on this flight.

[@PlanetPatrick]

Definitely older stock

[@NikauPalmCal]

Same here WiFi didn't work for 80% of the flight

[@PlanetPatrick]

Felt like a bit of a rip-off. I travel a bit domestically in the US and the tendency is towards giving wi-fi free to everyone (at least with JetBlue).

[@NCrist100]

I have to fly to Romania regularly, will always fly business class for comfort and peace from the trouble makers.

[@PlanetPatrick]

lol trouble makers

[@orcaswaling1143]

Just came across the channel, i have just got back from Tenerife (Sat 28th Jan, landed at 20:10hrs.. I fly from Heathrow with BA as i live in Colnbrook, so about 3 miles away.. in Sept 2021, BA were offering good prices for Business Class, so i took one in September, then twice in December & soon earned Silver Status, which i still have until March 2023, however for me, i now just book economy, as i just take carry on bags. I'm not interested in priority boarding even though i have it, it just makes no sense, as you are sometimes put on a bus to the aircraft anyway, in fact i prefer to go last as then i have the pick of seats & sometimes the a Bus class seat is free, so i sit their anyway. The only perk for Silver status for me is the Lounges at Heathrow & Gatwick but also the Lounge at Tenerife South, I just stock up on food & take it on board. I have since flown with BA in 2022 ..Jan, March, June, September, December (twice) & this January..just booking economy & using silver status, however my flight at the beginning of December was from Gatwick as i could not get a Heathrow flight on the dates i wanted & when i came out over Christmas, BA transferred me to Iberia from Heathrow with a Stop in Madrid and the same on the way back, but each time i was upgraded to Business Class , this time from Heathrow T3.. I have to say i loved the Iberia Lounge in Madrid..loved it. Is BA Business Class worth it for me?? Only because i have BA Silver Membership, once that runs out, i don't think i will bother again, short haul wise, the only perks for me was the Lounge access.. and even if you are in economy, if you board last you have the pick of free seats (Business Class included) Oh, And i stay at the Optimist opp the Vulcano all the time. :)

[@PlanetPatrick]

If you're in Colnbrook, then LHR makes much more sense for you, but that upgrade with Iberia to business was worth it! This was a good value business ticket, and was originally booked as part of a tier point run to get that status (haven't pursued). I agree that with silver or gold, booking economy is sensible and you get most of the other benefits (if you choose them). The seats on this A320 were no different than any economy seat.

[@rickreid8572]

not many people interested in Patrick's planet....

[@PlanetPatrick]

😴