BA's Old Club Seats - 11% Of Them Are Quite Good!

[@shehebehsuebwisshgauwbevsjs]

Your focus on BA (always fair) really sets you apart! Strong point of this channel!

[@MattsPlanet]

Thanks!

[@hanrau7349]

More SQ content would be appreciated :)

[@kevinlong6482]

A great video, I do like your style and also your realistic real world way of putting your views across Thank you

[@MattsPlanet]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevinlong6482]

@ keep em coming👍

[@robp4682]

Thanks for a another great video

[@MattsPlanet]

Thanks for watching it!

[@steve-marsh]

I just can't get over seats a quarter of a century old! I was YOUNG when these were unveiled :o

[@MattsPlanet]

I remember 1999.... Vaguely... Filson was just cotton bulbs blowing in a field...

[@khalid969]

As a Saudi, I was very proud to see that we no longer allow dozens of taxi drivers to stalk arriving passengers like many other countries still do. Welcome to the new Saudi Arabia.

[@MattsPlanet]

Thanks! There were one or two trying to persuade me to ditch Uber in their favour!!! But is was very manageable!

[@JamesFerguson-ej2cc]

Look forward to seeing more of Saudi Arabia.

[@MattsPlanet]

It was fascinating....

[@FrazerThomson]

Flew that LHR - Jeddah (old terminal) route a few times and loved the early morning flight back to london as a lot of offshore guys were heading home, so there was a healthy party atmosphere. I came unstuck in a small Jeddah restaurant one time and a local guy, realising that I was struggling to work out how things worked, helped me out and let me sit with him and his friends, his only condition was that if I ever saw a foreigner struggling in my country, I’d help them. I’ve been keeping that promise the last 17 years, it was a fair trade.

[@MattsPlanet]

Thanks for that - I was on the morning flight back from Jeddah and it wasn't so much of a party for me.... Middle Eastern hospitality can be amazing - thanks for sharing

[@asasmee]

Still Yin Yang Club World on 787-9. Only a couple of -8 and the -10 fleet with club suite on 787

[@MattsPlanet]

It does seem I made a whoopsie in the commentary.... The inaugural I booked on must have been a 787-10 as I certainly reserved a club suite seat when I booked

[@gregepps4710]

I worked in Jeddah for 6 months and absolutely loved my time there. Didn’t fly BA though 😉

[@MattsPlanet]

A fascinating place - the old town was quite remarkable

[@brianhappydays2023]

Great video as always. I’m 1.98m / 6’6’’ in old money and actually appreciate the old layout (although I still can’t lie flat.) also my wife and daughter sit together in the middle two and I fly as wingman in the aisle seat. Have two flights booked to San Diego (LHR T5) and Tampa (LGW) that I believe still older layout so not bothered. BA cabin crews have been really good for us; let’s hope they keep it up.

[@MattsPlanet]

I don't think there's a business seat in the sky where a 6'6"-er can get flat!!! The two in the middle when its 2-4-2 can be quite cosy if you're travelling with a young'un

[@MarkSmith-ku4fu]

Very helpful Matt, as always. I lived in KSA (Riyadh) for 3 years in the 90s, visited Jeddah a few time - the city with roundabout art! - so looking forward to your video on that. I have learnt from you the the old style BC will remain at Gatwick for some time to come. Didn’t know that Matt. I really do like Gatwick but I’ll really need to rethink flying from there if BC upgrades aren’t happening for some time. Cheers.

[@MattsPlanet]

I passed through Riyadh this trip - it will have changed a lot if you were to go back!!! And Gatters flights will have the old seat for some years yet...

[@mrfrisky6501]

Great video again Mat! 👏

[@MattsPlanet]

Thanks for watching!

[@davenorth2903]

Great video Matt. Let’s not tell too many people the secret of the back row in business class where the window seat has both privacy and direct aisle access! :). Incidentally Jeddah is a very nice airport with a great lounge. Riyadh a whole other story.

[@MattsPlanet]

I have a track record of giving away secrets.... T5B lounge anyone??? I departed JED and RUH on this trip and you are right - RUH is comical.... A new terminal is under construction though....

[@andrewstorm8240]

Looking forward to the Saudi video

[@MattsPlanet]

It's going to be interesting!

[@MonsieurWaffle]

It’s definitely worth checking up on these old seats; many passengers will still end up on these nowadays rather than the newer suites!

[@MattsPlanet]

They'll be around for many years yet....

[@Allan-Lauder]

Your shadow puppet skills are impressive 😂😂😂

[@MattsPlanet]

Years of practice....

[@thomasmooreCQ]

For me Jordan and Oman would be interesting countries to visit. I remember years ago, thinking it would be fun to try BA's first class on their 787-9 to SCL. Which I believe is their longest flight.

[@MattsPlanet]

Jordan and Oman are both fascinating places and are well worth a visit.... And I have an eye on that SCL flight as I really fancy a visit to Chile

[@adamingleton8529]

Really appreciate the reviews, as I feel AVIOS are the easiest airmiles to collect in the UK, so while BA can be hit and miss, it is far more achievable for most to get the airmiles for a premium cabin etc So can represent good value when you collect avios for free etc

[@MattsPlanet]

Absolutely - it may take a while but any cabin on BA is achievable with some careful saving and the right credit card voucher

[@Crazy_Charo]

Great video Matt. Glad to see someone else put out a generally positive report on BA, just like Phil (Grey Gap Year) did recently. I flew that seat on the A380 from LHR to JNB (and back), and was climbed over and stepped on... not fun, but the lack of a footwell means that theres ample room for me as I constantly turn during sleep. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to more vids.

[@MattsPlanet]

Thanks - its great for those allergic to foot coffins...

[@tonyracks2956]

hi matt great video as usual we have them seats on a A 380 to mia hope they are ok i thought you would have the new BRUNCH thanks matt hope you are fit and well keep in good health

[@MattsPlanet]

All good here thanks... A 19:20 departure so no risk of bunch and no abbreviated dinner either....

[@alfaa_44]

Another great video I was meant to fly on a 787-9 from Johannesburg to London but now we have had a equipment swap on to a 777-300er so we have the new club suites and I am very excited to fly them for the first time and not the old club world seats!! Which I think are quite overated

[@MattsPlanet]

Not often an equipment swap works out - buy a lottery ticket!

[@alexmcwhirter6611]

Thanks for the video, Matt. I was lucky to visit Jeddah almost 30 years ago but back then you needed to be sponsored if a non-Muslim. FYI I arrived with GF from BAH and, as it's shorter flight, no alcoholic drinks were served. Yes BA was the first with those fully lie-flat CW seats. VS followed but its version was a failure and was scrapped after a couple of years. I think back to their global rivals who, at the time, dismissed fully lie-flat seating in J class, and could not understand how BA managed it. They all maintained that angle lie-flat seating was the way to go. It took years before rivals to BA and VS caught up.

[@richardstreet7518]

2 787-8s done the 787-9 is old CW great upload again.... originally BA were going to do 2-4-2 in economy and they had a mock up at HQ.... only JAL currently offering this config. I can't see the Gatwick 777s being refitted....

[@RandomLifeProductions]

I have chosen that seat 3a several times on this old style seat unless I am on the BA flight with the upstairs seats which are the best…

[@MattsPlanet]

Upstairs you get the jumbo bin as well.... On the 787 this seat is the winner....

[@gavincashman]

I recon the seats could updated

[@MattsPlanet]

Or ditched in favour of the club suite...

[@JacobTarzi]

the feeling when a matts planet video appears on your home page

[@MattsPlanet]

For me its - yeah! Another one done....

[@jasondurden2803]

Another good informative watch, which had me nodding in agreement. I flew to the US from Gatwick last month in the Club Dorm on a redemption. I flatly refuse to pay cash prices unless it's a Club Suite. 1B suited as a day flight privacy isn't a massive issue for me and I thought I'd beat the system with the back row window seat for the overnight on the way home. Right up until they changed the aircraft for one without a forward crew rest area and I was bumped back to 1B at check in. Not great but the rest of the flight was surprisingly good and BA complaints team offered a £150 voucher, which was appreciated, given it was a redemption.

[@MattsPlanet]

Ouch... Spend the £150 wisely!

[@jamiesawicki7715]

If you can nab that seat, it’s really quite an enjoyable experience. Alternatively, if with a partner, the larger 777 2 in the middle I also enjoy. But it is time to say goodbye…. The club suite is one of the best out there for its cost / redemption cost. Not q suite / jet blue (desperate to try that!) and emirates but we simply have such a soft spot for BA. They miff us right off, but we do keep coming back, as they do tend to apologise when things go wrong!

[@BCO44]

Just returned from my Colombo tier point run and thought the new BA safety video was a big improvement on the last one. And i haven’t seen either downerton or bridge abbey

[@MattsPlanet]

It is quite fun and distinctive...

[@BCO44]

@ agree 100%. It beats the last one hands down

[@oliverbatt3559]

Another great video, Matt. Are you sure the flights on the previous two days were carrying fare-paying passengers? It seems unlikely these days, but they could have been press flights or even just training / shakedown flights (particularly if the crew rosters demand using crew without experience of Riyadh - Saudi Arabia is still enough part of the "other world", including with the alcohol restrictions, that it may have given management pause for thought). Looking forward to seeing your video on your time there.

[@MattsPlanet]

Pretty sure they were proper flights... If BA ever responds, perhaps I'll know! Given BA is so tight for aircraft I very much doubt they'd run anything non-revenue....

[@ScottMatthews-gk8ef]

Cheers for highlighting the hideous 787 lockable window shades. I always avoid flying the 787 at all costs although heading to Toronto soon where I don’t think there is any alternative BA equipment. At least BA kept them unlocked for you on this flight.

[@peetbothma1500]

Thanks for another good one Matt👍 Great to hear the meal was excellent, clearly better than Virgin😊 There is another way to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the family Visa, my 3 sons live and work in Riyadh. 2 in the Restaurant industry and one with the British international school. They have what is know as Iqama, i.e work and residence visa's. Been regularly and the immigration is really the quickest, warmest welcome and efficient process I have experienced anywhere in the world. Our visa is valid for 12 months, multiple entry but no more than 90 days at a time. Fantastic place with brilliant food, shopping and an ancient history. Best place to have suits bespokely made at extremely good prices. Yes I still wear those in my trade😂. If you are ever there, I will gladly share info on the city and their restaurants. Really world class. Going there again in 3 weeks😎🇿🇦👌

[@MattsPlanet]

Thanks - interesting info. I spent a bit of time in Jeddah and Riyadh and got a very positive impression from a short stay...

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Good review. Take a bonus-point for the shadow-puppetry. Lee Mack will be in touch.

[@MattsPlanet]

I'm standing by my phone.... One of my many talents!

[@ss-xy2im]

Those climb over seats 🙈 The number of times i was woken up 🤬

[@MattsPlanet]

They were great when they launched! But it is funny these days... More videos on the Apex suite coming up...

[@ss-xy2im]

You expect a response from BA within 6 days? 😂 I wrote to them asking about an avios adjustment i saw on my account, i asked if it was for a particular booking, after 9 weeks i got i response "Yes it is" and it didn't even include the original email, had to scratch my head to figure out what that email was!

[@MattsPlanet]

I'd like to think the media / press team works to different KPIs....

[@timtony7153]

Great video as Usual Matt! The seat is not bad, its only 31 out of 35 that are awful 😅...your humour is as dry as the weather in SA!!!! Surely asking staff to walk up and down the cabin with hot food, glassware etc in a blacked out cabin is a health and safety issue? Guess it is one way to not have see your shortcomings as a company! You switch the lights off!! Stay well Thomas

[@MattsPlanet]

Darkness hides a lot of sins!

[@SireMoon]

Excellent review. It also made me quite irritated - not you I hasten to add - but the dinner offering which showed what BA can do . As you rightly point out, when they get their catering act together like they obviously did on this flight they are capable of putting out something very good. And, as you and others have noted, Virgin seem to have lost their way and arguably for one of the few times since Virgin started, BA have had the upper hand. So what do they do - press home that advantage and put some serious clear blue water between them and Virgin? No - they shoot themselves in both feet with this brunch and supper nonsense. You can almost imagine the BA meeting going something like "well folks, Virgin are pretty bad at the moment so we can afford to dumb down our own offering to something cheaper and nastier and get away with it". I really thought BA had turned over a new leaf permanently however it is at least somewhat reassuring that they still seem to be managing to dish up something worthy of a premium cabin on flights not inflicted with the new offering.

[@aviationtrainsfc1]

I would not want to sit backwards on a plane

[@MattsPlanet]

Its more of a mental thing than a physical thing....

[@Maiiftl]

90 degrees C? :o

[@MattsPlanet]

90 C would be really toasty....

[@BarryOnCaroline]

Although very familiar with this particular BA seat, as always an enjoyable and informative watch, sadly the preferable seats are becoming too well known about. Hidden away with the rear window seat on the A380 Upstairs I like it (when it doesn't go tech that is) . A really pity about that poor definition screen, even non teccy types are now used to high quality video, so very obviously dated.

[@MattsPlanet]

Like AUH - CGK and the T5B lounge, I didn't think it was that big a secret!!!