world traveller plus confirmed airbus a350 jet

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British Airways A350: Best Seats With Photos + Tips

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Basically, it’s quiet, it’s beautiful and you’ll feel better if you’re battling jet lag. And for anyone who cares about sustainability in air travel, this plane consumes 25% less fuel than the previous generation of airliners.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gilbert Ott | GSTP (@godsavethepoints)

Here are the best seats on the British Airways Airbus A350-1000 in World Traveller, World Traveller Plus And Club World Club Suites, and a few tips on how to reserve seats before others do. Hint: elite status is easier to achieve than you think, and it gets the best seats for free.

Best BA A350 World Traveller Economy Seats

The British Airways A350-1000 offers two World Traveller economy class cabins, separated by a galley area. The forward cabin on the plane is by far the smaller of the two, and if at all possible is definitely where any traveller will want to aim. Each BA A350 World Traveller seat offers 17.5” width, 31” pitch and a 10” HD screen.

Best BA A350 World Traveller Plus Premium Economy Seats

Premium Economy is the new “it” cabin for airlines, offering an experience that’s in line with what passengers expected in the so called “golden era” of air travel. Think: nicer drink service, better food, more checked bags and lots and lots more legroom, comfort, recline and amenities.

This new BA plane offers a huge step up for World Traveller Plus flyers, with both foot stools and seats which kick up extra leg support, almost like domestic first class. A350 World Traveller Plus offers 18.7” width, 38” of pitch and 12” HD screens.

Best British Airways A350 Business Class Club Suites

You didn’t think we’d leave without talking about these, did you? British Airways has introduced a completely new business class flying experience for the airline, moving away from forward and rear facing seats in a layout many would call ‘dense’; to a set up of all forward facing “suites” complete with privacy door. To put it lightly, they’re fantastic.

It’s sharp, it’s modern, it’s functional but most importantly, it’s downright comfortable and private. If there’s any fear with this sleek new seat, it’s the cannibalisation of first class. In fact, I doctored this photo above to mirror the colour scheme of the current “first” promo pictures. It’s a compelling look.

Big Thoughts On The British Airways A350 And Club Suites

If you want to track the roll out, including which routes will feature the new A350, or the new Club Suites, we’ve got the ultimate resource guide just for you, and no one else. Well, you and everyone with an internet connection.

Aside from a feature like an on-board bar – which would’ve been nice – this plane ticked all the boxes, and British Airways put in serious work to make it a world class aircraft in every cabin. All A350’s feature smaller galleys than previous planes, so don’t expect too much walking around room, but other than that, you really have to love it.

Here’s a review of the Club Suites . GSTP is a proponent of the A350 on any airline, and this airline now offers a fantastic option. If British Airways service standards continue to improve, this is definitely an experience to watch in 2020, and well beyond.

You can check out British Airways Latest Sale for opportunities to try the A350 out for yourself.

Gilbert Ott

Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly... More by Gilbert Ott

Join the Conversation

Great move and an undoubted improvement despite the cost cutting on things like individual air vents and external cameras. From BA’s PR machine you’d believe it was more significant than less than 2% of the fleet… eventually. 98% of 2020 customers will be on the same old seating in the same old cabins. Will BA also now start cleaning & servicing the cabins, delivering working WiFi and loading enough catering for all paying passengers? Perhaps most siginifcantly are they going to revert to offering real customer services rather than automated scripts weeks after a communication?

Please stop trying to spin not having individual air vents as a positive. It’s disgusting in this day and age for cabins that don’t have them, especially one this dense. I flew on the Cathay A350 and it was hot and stale as hell.

There’s no spin. I don’t think they’re nearly as important on the A350 as other planes and prefer the better flow at seat level.

As soon as the BA A350 was announced I changed a LHR-ORD ticket in J to connect via YYZ – so excited to try out the new suite!

• Pingback: British Airways Debuts the New A350 – We Love Beaches

Booked a long haul from Texas to London and managed to score seats 30a for both flights. I thought about changing them a couple times because there is no pocket to store stuff, but after reading this article, I’m glad I kept them!

Hi, useful article, Thanks! One question, you say that in World traveller plus, row 26 is a good option as you can recline the seats with no problem. Seatguru seems to think that they might not fully recline, due to the bulkhead behind. Is there anyone with experience of these seats to advise? Thanks

I agree with the positive experience on the BA A35k.

I upgraded a $1600 CAD PE flight from YYZ to LHR return on a voluntary upgrade for an extra $552 each way. This second flight had just been reinstated and so fares were low. For $2700 , I did biz in style and it was still $100 cheaper than AC premium economy. (AC abused pax by only putting on a second flight earlier this month where economy was sold out every day with a long wait list where you weee held hostage to $2800 in PE and 7 grand in biz. BA need to up their game in wine. They have an overall budget of 5 quid a bottle and in biz it was very uninspiring. The food comes on one tray, which seems a little futile given the runs they already do for top ups. The flights were quiet, arrived early each way with a new combined group of SH, LH and mixed fleet crew who wanted to be there and delivered excellent customer service. It’s just a shame it’s not on the route for Christmas and even today, it’s been subbed with a 777 given there are only 8 x A35ks in the fleet. I suspect they will order more (or at least I hope so)

Does anyone know if the seats in row 26, premium economy, fully recline? I don’t trust what seatguru’s advice. Thanks

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World Traveller Plus On British Airways: 5 Things To Know Before Flying

• Introduced in the early 2000s, British Airways World Traveller Plus offers a premium experience at a more affordable price.
• Upgraded in 2019, improvements include enhanced dining, new amenities, and additional entertainment options such as WiFi.
• Premium economy cabin layout offers more comfortable seating with 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 configuration on long-haul aircraft.

British Airways introduced World Traveller Plus, its equivalent for premium economy, in the early 2000s, marking a shift in the airline’s cabin. The airline’s executives, speaking during an investor call after it had announced its financial results in May 2005, remarked that “World Traveller Plus is doing extremely well and the profitability of that cabin is very important to us.”

Since then, the cabin class, available on international long-haul flights with no short-haul equivalent, has become a staple of British Airways’ offering. During its parent company’s International Airlines Group (IAG) investor day presentation, IAG noted that 66% of the airline’s customers lived in a more affluent area of the United Kingdom, which was why they were more willing to pay for a more premium experience.

At the same time, its customers are becoming more leisure-focused, with 75% of British Airways flying for leisure purposes, meaning that not everybody was willing to splash the cash on a business class ( Club World ) seat. However, premium economy offers a perfect alternative: a better passenger experience while still not stretching one’s budget.

Upgraded in 2019

World traveller plus upgrade was announced on january 16, 2019.

Changes promised:

• New furnishings
• Enhanced service
• Improved dining experience

In January 2019, British Airways announced that as part of its £6.5 billion ($8.2 billion) transformation plan, it will be investing in its World Traveller Plus cabin as well. The changes, which rolled out on a monthly basis, introduced a third main meal option and more substantial hot second meals later in the flight, with new furnishings being introduced as well.

Speaking about the changes, Carolina Martinoli, the then-British Airways Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said that the improvements will result in real changes to the premium economy cabin, which will only improve the airline's customer proposition.

Is British Airways Premium Economy Worth The Upgrade?

New amenity kits introduced in 2019

World Traveller Plus amenity kit upgrades were announced on June 25, 2019

Includes items such as:

• A toothbrush

During the same January 2019 announcement, British Airways promised that it would upgrade the class’ amenity kits, which were finally announced in June of the same year. The amenity kits, made from recycled plastic bottles, were introduced on July 1.

The amenity kits include items that were deemed essential by British Airways, including an eyeshade, soft socks, a pen, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and lip balm. Speaking about the new amenity kits, Martinoli said the new menus that the airline introduced earlier in the year were a huge hit, and now, the new kits will only improve the comfort of the cabin.

British Airways' World Traveller Plus Premium Economy Cabin: Everything You Need To Know

In-flight entertainment options, in-flight entertainment marketed as high life.

Options available:

• High-speed WiFi access (subject to aircraft)
• Access to the Paramount+ catalog

According to the airline, the basic three features that are available to premium economy or World Traveller Plus travelers are a personal in-flight entertainment screen, complimentary noise-canceling headphones, high-speed WiFi (depending on the aircraft), and access to the Paramount+ catalog.

Meanwhile, on March 4, 2024, British Airways announced even more improvements to its passenger experience. While some of these changes, including new routes and new short-haul seats, will not be relevant to World Traveller Plus customers, the carrier did say that a WiFi-enabled customer care solutions, created specifically for British Airways, will be available to customers.

British Airways Reveals New Seats For Airbus Narrowbodies

Seat and airport experience, seating configuration: 2-3-2 or 2-4-2.

• Separate cabin
• Two meals and bar service
• Personal in-flight entertainment system
• Stylish amenity kit
• Access to in-seat power
• More baggage allowed
• Priority boarding

Naturally, one of the main benefits of choosing a premium economy seat is the extra comfort that the seat offers to customers. While typically, British Airways configures its economy class cabins in a 3-3-3 configuration on long-haul flights, World Traveller Plus cabins are laid out in either a 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 aisle, which provides more space to passengers flying the aircraft.

“The seats on our premium economy flights are wider, with greater recline, lumbar support, a head and foot rest, plus extra leg room to stretch out. Each seat also has its own power supply, so you can use your devices on board. A few of our aircraft might need you to bring your own adaptor if they aren’t sold on board.”

Furthermore, British Airways says that World Traveller Plus customers, in addition to priority boarding, can bring more baggage onboard and to the check-in counter. Passengers can have a cabin bag and a laptop or handbag onboard while checking in two bags in the hold.

British Airways 2023 Capacity Reached 90% Of 2019 Levels

Available on all long-haul aircraft, total aircraft types available on: 10.

Aircraft types with World Traveller Plus:

• Airbus A350-1000
• Airbus A380
• Boeing 777-200 (London Gatwick Airport (LGW)-based)
• Boeing 777-200 with first class
• Boeing 777-200ER
• Boeing 777-236
• Boeing 777-300
• Boeing 787-8
• Boeing 787-9
• Boeing 787-10

While British Airways operates four cockpit types, namely the Airbus A350, A380, Boeing 777, and 787, there are ten different aircraft types with different interiors operating for the airline. For example, there are Boeing 777-200 aircraft that fly out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW) exclusively.

Furthermore, the World Traveller Plus cabin is laid out in a 2-3-2 configuration on the Airbus A380, Boeing 787-8, 787-9, and 787-9, while on the Airbus A350-1000 and all of the Boeing 777-200 aircraft, the premium economy cabin is configured in a 2-4-2 layout.

More Boeing 787s & Airbus A350s: The British Airways Fleet In 2023

British airways.

IATA/ICAO Code: BA/BAW

Airline Type: Full Service Carrier

Hub(s): London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport

Year Founded: 1974

Alliance: oneworld

Airline Group: IAG

CEO: Sean Doyle

Country: United Kingdom

Loyalty Program: British Airways Executive Club

Region: Europe

British Airways premium economy review: A350-1000 London to Dubai

Flying British Airways premium economy (World Traveler Plus) has been a long time goal of mine, and I’ve been scouring the interwebs for years trying to find a cost-effective opportunity to make it happen – which isn’t easy on BA.

Long story short, I finally stumbled across a great deal on their A350-1000 (BA017), and I jumped on it as fast as I could. So – for the second time in three weeks, here we go with another SANspotter review of a flight departing London for parts unknown.

Well, the place I’m headed isn’t exactly uncharted territory or anything, but I like the way that sounds so I’m not going back and editing it. Sorry.

BA107 London, England (LHR) – Dubai, UAE (DXB) Wednesday, September 18, 2019 Aircraft: A350-1041 Registration: G-XWBA Duration: 6 hours 18 minutes Seat: 24A (World Traveler Plus / premium economy)

Since I’m still a bit behind on my written reviews, chances are pretty good that you’ve already seen the video I created for BA107 . Well, only if you aren’t royally annoyed by my editing style and quit watching my videos long ago that is.

The music in this video comes from Epidemic Sound, a service I recommend for YouTubers of all genres . If you want to learn more, I’d recommend reading the full review I wrote about it several months ago. I’ve listed out all the pros and cons, and I hope it’ll help you make an informed decision about whether or not it’s a service that’s right for you!

Arriving at LHR for my first ever British Airways premium economy experience

So yeah. I’m in London again! Terminal 5 at LHR to be exact, and I’m just 2 hours away from checking out the new British Airways A350 on a 6 and a half hour flight down to Dubai.

Today I’m flying in world traveler plus, which, is the fancy name for the British Airways premium economy product.

And yes. I spent the entirety of my pre-flight time trying to learning how to say that with a thick British accent. And no, it didn’t go well, so that’s why you didn’t get to hear it in the video .

Inside Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport

Terminal 5 here at LHR is incredibly impressive with it’s glass architecture and high ceilings. It’s also slightly annoying because of how crowded and loud it can be. There are very few places to find peace and quiet in the main building.

Of all the times I’ve flown in and out of London over the years, I do believe this is the only time I’ve done it under clear blue skies. It was perfect weather for plane spotting.

Boarding BA107 to Dubai

Passengers holding a World Traveler Plus boarding pass get to board in group 3. A somewhat awkward group number teetering right on the edge between “spectacularly special” and “nauseatingly normal”.

However, once they finished boarding groups 1 and 2, it seemed as if half the plane was loaded and I wasn’t feeling special anymore. Story of my life really.

Can I just say that gate C61 here at LHR is the longest in the world? It sure felt like it.

British Airways premium economy: first impressions

It’s important to keep in mind that my only two British Airways experiences up until this point have been in Club World (business class) on both the 777-200 and 747-400 . World Traveler Plus was a completely new concept for me at this exact moment.

If you’ve ever wondered what kind of amenities you get in World Traveler Plus here on British Airways (more particularly for BA107), here it is packaged in one compact (and convenient) bundle:

It’s worth noting that noise cancelling headphones aren’t always a guarantee when flying long haul premium economy these days (for example, I only got cheap ear buds when I flew Lufthansa long haul premium economy ). It’s nice to see British Airways being one of the airlines that provides them. 

Overall I was quite impressed with the look of World Traveler Plus here on the A350. Colors are a bit muted in typical British Airways style, and pretty much the polar opposite of the visceral slap in the face I got when stepping onboard the Virgin Atlantic A350-1000 .

The cabin crew came by with menus just as I was bent over filming the recliner button of my seat, which was an awkward moment. Even more awkward, in fact, than trying to open the menu with one hand. Graceful and suave I am not.

Good news and bad news just before departure

Not unexpectedly, the captain had good news and bad news for us as we were pushing off the gate.

The good news: BA107 is ready for departure and we’re pushing off the gate now.

The bad news: We’re gonna go sit in the taxiway for 45 minutes to wait for an open departure slot. I’ll spare you any footage of that and keep this part as brief as possible.

Thankfully that 45 minute wait was whittled down to just 20 minutes, and I couldn’t help but wonder how the captain was able to negotiate that. No matter how he did it, it earned a coveted double fist bump from me.

What’s the cabin service like?

Since I was fully expecting food (and lots of it) to be coming soon, I figured now was as good opportunity to peck at the video entertainment system. As you can see (below), it’s a really clean looking user interface. I liked having the flight information right on the main screen, which can easily be dismissed to get into the movie and tv catalog.

Ok. You wanna know what my biggest gripe bout these World Traveler Plus seats are? It’s the USB and electrical outlets located in the darkness down in between the seats (remember that upside down pic I showed earlier?).

Since I’m complaining about stuff, I might as well voice my displeasure about the sour cream and chive pretzels they tossed at us. It wasn’t really what I was in the mood for.

Oops. I was actually so excited to be on the A350 (and BA107) that I completely forgot to take the amenity kit out of the package earlier. It’s not like there’s much to show anyway, since it was a typical amenity kit fit filled with the usual stuff that I always give away to friends and family.

The first meal service

It’s been a while since I’ve flown a premium airline product, so it’s not hard to understand why I was feeling especially… special ….as I peeled back the cover of my meal.

My initial impression? I thought it looked really good. And the fact that it was served on *real* dish ware that klinked and clacked whenever I touched it with the fork was a huge plus.

Fast forward 30 minutes, and I’ve got to say that was easily one of the best airline meals I’ve had in a good long time. I’m just so glad that the person in front of me was respectful enough not to fully recline as I was eating.

Stuff that happened before the next meal service

Is there nothing more amazing than flying off into the sunset towards a place that’s *nothing* like your own culture back home? Flight BA107 is a special one indeed.

Since I couldn’t think of anything witty and creative to do in the loo this time (eeew), I’d like to take this opportunity to five you my thoughts on the British Airways A350 economy class product:

The second meal service

Not that I’m complaining or anything, but what is it with pizza being the default pre-landing meal served on all flights to and from the Middle East? BA107 is no different from the rest.

As I ripped open the cover, I couldn’t help but to have flashbacks to the pizza they used to serve in elementary school. Isn’t it funny how (after all these years) that disgusting elementary school pizza is still how I guage the quality of all pizza today?

The descent and landing into Dubai

Less than an hour to go now, and…would it kill them to dim the cabin lights a bit? Oh well.

The glaring lights didn’t exactly ruin this World Traveler Plus experience for me, though I was hoping to spend the second half of BA107 bathing in deep blue British Airways mood lighting.

Our approach and landing into Dubai would have been a lot more amazing if it were daytime still, but it still felt really good to see this place once again. DXB is easily one of the most amazing airports in all the world, and it was unfortunate that I couldn’t see any of it when we arrived.

There is some brief footage of our arrival in the video , so do be sure to check that out if you’re feeling like you just gotta see it.

Thanks for coming along with me on this British Airways A350 (BA107) down to Dubai tonight, and I hope I’ve given you a pretty good sense of what this premium economy product is all about.

British Airways A350-1000 premium economy FAQs:

Since the British Airways A350 is such a hot new product at the moment, I thought that it might be beneficial to end this with a FAQ about this premium economy product.

Is it worth paying for premium economy over regular economy?

Yes – especially on any flight over 4 hours since you’ll get a full meal served at a relaxed and professional pace. It’s also enough time to fully enjoy the added recline of these seats. Which leads me directly to the next question:

Do British Airways premium economy seats on the A350 recline more than standard economy seats?

Yes. Quite a bit more actually. While not completely lie-flat (or angle-flat), they will recline far enough to be a massive nuisance to the person behind you if they are eating or working.

Is there direct aisle access from every seat in the premium economy cabin?

No. The World Traveler Plus configuration on the A350-1000 is 2-4-2, and seat pitch isn’t generous enough to be able to access the aisle from an interior seat. Those seated at the window or in the middle of the center section will have to ask the person next to them to move. However, I suppose you could crawl over that person if you’re really good at talking your way out of awkward situations.

What’s it like to sleep in British Airways premium economy?

For short(ish) flights such as London to Dubai, I’d say that it’s perfect for sleeping. For longer flights (where you’d want a full nights sleep after the meal service), the limited recline of these seats (compared to business class) will make deep sleep difficult. Note, however, that the blankets and pillows they provide are of very good quality.

Is the food in premium economy better than business class?

In my personal experience, yes. I’ve flown BA business class (Club World) several times (most recently from San Diego to London ), and the food I got here in premium economy / World Traveler Plus was far better in my opinion. I do need to emphasize that my latest Club World experience was several years ago, so maybe things have changed since then. All I know is that I was extremely impressed with the first meal service on this particular flight in regards to both quality and quantity.

How do these premium economy seats compare to Virgin Atlantic premium economy seats?

As I mentioned in my British Airways vs Virgin Atlantic comparison , I slightly prefer the Virgin Atlantic premium economy seat because of how stylish it is. The BA premium economy seat is perfectly fine, but good looks are important! Functionally, both seats are the same.

Other stuff you might like:

The sobering reality of Delta Connection Embraer 175 first class

Delta A350-900 Premium Select review Seoul to Detroit

United Airlines 757-200 Premium Business Class (P.S.) Los Angeles to Newark

Comments (21), adam kennedy.

Thanks for your TR, I’ve been searching for reviews on this product as I fly out this Saturday on BA107 on the 350 too, I appreciate the pictures and detail and look forward to it!

You’re very welcome Adam. Have a great flight!

Simon Watkins

Old BA premium economy used to have a soft leather seat with a calf rest. BA replaced this with a harder seat with a foot rest. I cannot tell you how annoyed this made me, as it’s now impossible to sleep on their long haul flights as your feet will simply drop off the foot rest as you doze off.

I now book elsewhere when flying long haul.

I hope to fly them home to DC later this summer (2020) if the ban is lifted. Business is too expensive, but Premium Economy is a good price. You’re right – economy is too narrow. What I find odd is that JAL uses the 2-4-2 configuration for their economy class! They got it right.

Keep up the nice work – really enjoy your videos on Youtube.

RK Aviation

British Airways recently started service with their A350-1000s to LAX. It will operate every 2 days from LAX-LHR and back. I’ve also saw on Google Flights that on the SAN-LHR route, their gonna send an A350-1000 for BA! :0 The A350-1000 is too big for SAN though, but let’s see how it does!

Scott (SANspotter)

Yeah, it’s nice to see the BA A350-1000 here at SAN! They used to fly the 747-400 and 777-300/ER here though, so there seems to be enough demand to fill those planes. Can’t wait to try this myself!

For the winter flights, BA is gonna send the 787 to SAN and the 777-300ER to LAX. For SFO, it’s the 787-9 Dreamliner and 777-300ER.

Really nice review! BA Premium Economy, looks pretty comfortable! Although I’m not sure about the look of the cabin. It’s nice, but also a bit…sterile and hospital-like. Virgin Atlantic has much cooler-looking cabins from what I’ve seen. Also, the entertainment looks a lot more modern than when I flew in their 787-8, LHR-MSY. That IFE system looked a bit outdated (it worked fine though), so I’m glad that they updated it. And I agree that the map is the best feature. Lol

Sterile is definitely the best way to describe most British Airways cabins these days lol. Except for the Club Suites. Those look fantastic IMHO.

Sorry for the late reply, but yes, I agree. Although the First cabin looks really sleek as well!

Great review thanks for all the great details and insights. We are on the A350 LHR to SAN this summer flying Premium Economy returning from a trip to Greece! Scored 4 seats via my Alaska Air miles (no easy feat)! #winning

Glad this was helpful! You are really going to enjoy Premium Economy on the A350 I think – it’s about as good as long haul premium economy gets these days. And the fact that you got it using points is going to make it feel better, no doubt. Have fun!

My family’s thinking of traveling to London this summer, and with our Oneworld status we might be able to fly on this product. Nothing’s for certain right now though, and we could just end up on an A320. Hopefully we’ll fly on an A350! I’m not sure if Premium Economy is worth it on a 2 hour flight (MAD-LHR), but it’ll definitely be comfortable.

Also, just curious, what was Dubai like a second time?

Even on a 2 hour flight, you’ll definitely enjoy the larger seat. Hopefully you’ll get to do it! Anyway, that second visit to Dubai was nowhere near as fun as my first. I was only there for about 24 hours, and I spent much of that time working. I didn’t even leave the hotel.

Good review. I’ve booked BA PE for the first time after LH (also in a A350) and AF (in a B772) – for an 11.5 hour flight. The LH seats sound like the BA ones. The main problem is the amount of recline, making any non-aisle seat a problem for those needing the toilet. As you say, anything other than flat does not allow any better sleep in my experience too and the screen in your face does not provide a “premium experience”. Others don’t allow this much recline and AF puts the whole seat in a “shell” where the seat reclines without moving the back of the shell – giving a much superior feeling of “space”. Maybe BA should retrofit the recline mechanism for less recline.

Peter (formerly SDRSpotter)

The larger seat does look worth it, but unfortunately, convenience won out when booking the flights, which is to say that we won’t be on an A350. Oh well, maybe next time!

Bummer! These A350’s are the future of the BA long haul fleet however, so you will eventually get your chance. It’ll be worth the wait!

I returned last week. It was my first time in London and I really enjoyed it! And yeah, it was a bummer that we didn’t get on an A350, but luckily, I flew on my first-ever 737 MAX outbound! (guess which airline) It wasn’t that different from other 737’s, but the SkyInterior and quieter engines were nice. Plus, flying on a 737 MAX is a lot more interesting/exciting than a regular 737-800 (for all the wrong reasons).

Having flown on the 787 & 737 MAX, I’m looking forward to trying the equivalent Airbus products (A350 & A320NEO/A220).

Glad you had a good trip Peter! Yeah, I too was really surprised after my first 737 MAX flight. It’s like a completely different experience.

And can pretty much guarantee that you’re going to love the A350. There’s a reason why it’s the #1 favorite of so many frequent flyers! Actually, there are many reasons… lol

I just found these reviews and I love it! I am about to book my first transatlantic flight ever and I am finding these reviews extremely helpful.

Glad you’re enjoying the content Elizabeth! Flying transatlantic for the first time will be something you’ll remember forever – I still remember my first experience like it was yesterday. Have fun!

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BA100: 71. World Traveller Plus

100 Years Of British Airways: BA’s premium economy cabin, World Traveller Plus.

London Air Travel » British Airways » BA100 » BA100: 71. World Traveller Plus

This article was published in 2019 in a series on the history of British Airways and its predecessors Imperial Airways, BOAC and BEA. You can browse all 100 stories in number order, by theme or by decade.

Many have been updated since first published.

Like long-haul business class, which airline can claim credit for first introducing premium economy depends on who you ask.

Virgin Atlantic claims to have first introduced premium economy in 1992 with its “Mid Class” for full fare economy passengers (this was of course how long-haul business class first originate), later to be rebranded Premium Economy in 1994 and Premium in March 2018.

BA introduced its own premium economy cabin, World Traveller Plus, on 29 October 2000. This took the number of travel classes on long-haul aircraft to four. The cabin was explicitly targeted at premium leisure customers and cost-conscious business travellers, with the emphasis very much encouraging World Traveller passengers to trade up and not Club World passengers to trade down.

This was the first seat, which you’ll still find on all Boeing 747 and non-refurbished Boeing 777-200 aircraft, designed by Recaro:

The seat has evolved over time with new seats on Boeing 777-300, Boeing 787, Airbus A380 and refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft offering improved comfort as well as better at seat power and in-flight entertainment.

In terms of in-flight service, partly for industrial relations reasons, there was initially very little difference in service between World Traveller and World Traveller Plus. BA also offered little by way of enhanced ground facilities. However, the cabin has evolved over time in piecemeal fashion with improved food & beverage and amenities.

World Traveller Plus has become an increasingly popular cabin, partly due to proactive upgrade offers through ba.com and many corporate customers revising their travel policies. Though its value still remains very subjective. Some see little difference to economy. Others see it as a welcome relief.

New and recently refurbished aircraft have significantly larger cabins than when it was first introduced. With many new aircraft not featuring First Class and others having smaller First cabins, as it becomes the effective second class on many more aircraft, it should continue develop and evolve in the coming years.

You can continue reading our 100 part series on the history of British Airways and its predecessor airlines Imperial Airways, BOAC and BEA in numerical order, by theme or by decade.

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Review of British Airways Premium Economy

British Airways was one of the first airlines to introduce a Premium Economy cabin on its long-haul aircraft - branded as World Traveller Plus . As such, many of its cabins are showing their age, but still serve their purpose well by offering extra space, better meals and more personalised service. The airline is retrofitting these cabins and upgrading the hard product, but this will take time, so in the interim be prepared for a mix of old and new.

The United Kingdom’s largest airline takes pride in offering reliable and friendly service while carrying the British flag to far corners of the globe.

British Airways is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which means fliers can earn and redeem Avios points on its many partners. Conversely, members of other alliance member airlines can earn and redeem their miles with British Airways.

Airport experience

All British Airways flights pass through London with primary hubs at London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports (and a smaller operation at London City). London airports are known for stringent and sometimes overzealous security procedures, which can be frustrating for passengers adding extra time to the journey. Unfriendly airport security agents are enough to convince some travellers to fly another airline when booking international travel.

World Traveller Plus passengers can access individual check-in desks and a greater baggage allowance – two bags for the hold plus a cabin bag and laptop bag onboard. They do not enjoy lounge access once airside, though. Still, top oneworld elite status cardholders can use the lounges on eligible international itineraries no matter what cabin they are flying. These lounges include open bars offering cocktails, soft drinks, wine, and beer, service desks for assistance with tickets, a wide selection of magazines and newspapers, workstations with computers and free Wi-Fi, and buffets with warm and cold food selections.

Priority boarding is part of the Premium Economy experience.

Cabin & Seat

British Airways fly a combination of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with World Traveller Plus available on each long-haul aircraft. The Airbus A380 World Traveller Plus cabin is found on the Upper Deck behind the Club World cabin in a 2-4-2 configuration over nine rows, while the Airbus A350 has seven rows in a 2-4-2 configuration. The Boeing 777 fleet varies between three and six rows in a 2-4-2 design, while the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft differs between four and six rows and is always in a 2-3-2 configuration.

Even the original iteration of the Premium Economy seat has plenty of space. It varies depending on the plane, but expect a wider seat – typically 18.5 inches (47 centimetres), more leg room with a pitch of 38 inches (97 centimetres), including a foot and leg rest, lumbar support, a recline of around 8 inches (20 centimetres), a small side table and headrest with adjustable wings for better resting positions. Unfortunately, many seats have equipment for the entertainment system that impedes your legroom, which makes it challenging to store carry-on bags or wiggle your feet around during the flight.

World Traveller Plus occupies a more intimate cabin of no more than nine rows with a dedicated lavatory and curtains separating it from economy and Business Class. There are middle seats, which are worth avoiding unless travelling with a companion.

Bulkhead rows prevent someone from reclining their seat into your space, but it does mean that carry-on luggage must be stowed overhead for takeoff and landing. These seats also have television monitors that fold out from the armrest, and they cannot be used on the ground or during takeoff and landing for safety reasons. Four bassinet points are available on the front cabin bulkhead, with another two at the rear of the Airbus A380s.

Not all tickets are eligible for advance seat selection, although those purchasing flexible fares and travellers with oneworld alliance elite status can choose a seat for free in advance. Others must wait until check-in to assign a seat.

Waiting at each seat on boarding is a thick pillow and wrapped blanket, and power and USB  and power outlets are available for each passenger. 

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes images, videos, and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested before making your choice .

British Airways offers a lovely inflight service on fine china and metal cutlery. World Traveller Plus passengers are served some of the same entrees as those seated in Business Class, representing a significant upgrade from economy meal service.

Delivered on a single tray with real drink glasses (instead of plastic), most flights have two meals, including a hot meal after takeoff.

They include a salad and appetiser plus warm bread. Two main course dishes are protein or vegetarian, and the plated dessert offers a sweet finish. Flight attendants can provide snacks and drinks between meals, and passengers can visit a snacking station for self-service.

Before landing, a second meal is served depending on the time of day, which can consist of a hot or cold dish based on the length of the flight.

More than a dozen special meals are available for Premium Economy passengers, including Halal, Kosher and vegetarian options.

After takeoff, flight attendants offer glasses of sparkling wine before rolling out the beverage carts with a variety of complimentary drinks including beer, wine (two white and two red options) and cocktails. Coffee from London’s Union Coffee and an array of Twinings teas round off the menu.

Before the main meal, an aperitif service comes with mixed nuts and a choice of beverage.

Flight attendants are friendly, but have a lot of passengers to serve compared to Business Class. Expect the typical British-reserved service delivery you might find in a hotel or restaurant in the United Kingdom. Many passengers find that the crew adapts to the conversation and informality level of each person throughout the flight. Show them that you like to chat, and they will chat. Show British formality, and they will return the respect.

On flights where a foreign language is spoken at the destination, expect that someone on the crew will be ready to converse in that native tongue. British Airways also has overseas-based cabin crew on many flights; Indian flights, for example, often have crew based in India, which helps with cultural service details.

Entertainment

The seatback screen is adjustable so that if the person in front of you reclines, you can tilt it for better viewing. Noise-reducing headsets complement the solid selection of  entertainment programming , including the latest Hollywood movies, television programs, box sets, a global music collection, audiobooks and games. Screens respond to the touch but can also be adjusted via remote control.

Wi-Fi is available on most of British Airways' long-haul fleet, with  prices available  for hourly service or sometimes for a package to cover the flight. A cheaper offering that covers messaging or texting is also an excellent option for staying connected with loved ones.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on Wi-Fi and inflight entertainment .

Amenities & Facilities

Small amenity kits feature essential products – eye mask, ear plugs, toothpaste and toothbrush, lip balm, flight socks and pen, and a wrapped blanket and pillow are a fluffier upgrade to what is available in the economy cabin. Credit to the airline for making the small stylish amenities bag from recycled plastic.

On long-haul flights, families with infants can pre-reserve a bassinet to use. Children can also enjoy everything from cartoon and youth-themed shows to special toys and gifts to keep them busy.

Short & Medium Haul

British Airways’ short and medium-haul flights do not sell Premium Economy seating, but if the aircraft is flying a shorter route, these are excellent seats worth paying extra to enjoy the extra space that they afford. Most of the long-haul amenities (like hot meals, free drinks and noise-reducing headphones) are not available though. Buy-on-board service in economy class is standard on shorter European flights, which means the only benefit of paying for this seat on those flights is the extra space.

Sustainability

The airline is investing in the most fuel-efficient planes and focuses on reducing emissions both inflight and on the ground. Recycling programs in its lounges and inflight are another eco-friendly measure.

British Airways aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the carrier invests in  carbon-neutral projects  in many of the destinations it serves. On its flights, it has switched to bamboo alternatives instead of plastic stirrers, reduced plastic use for amenity kits and headsets, and serves water bottles made from recycled materials. The airline sends less than one per cent of non-catering waste to landfills. BA's new uniforms are made from more than 90 per cent sustainable fabrics from recycled polyester and only use manufacturers of the 'Better Cotton' initiative. The old uniforms will be donated to charities, recycled into children's toys or contributed to the airline's museum.

The airline also collects loose change from passengers on its long-haul flights to support the non-profit organisation Flying Start. It supports less-fortunate children around the world. British Airways is also the first airline to build a waste-to-fuel plant converting everyday consumer waste to sustainable fuel.

A partnership with the Born Free Foundation has the airline advocating against the captivity of wild animals. British Airways Holidays helps to create a safe sanctuary space for rescued wild animals.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also give a higher score to flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.

What We Love

• Footrests and adjustable headrests to make it easier to sleep
• Business class-quality meals serving British products
• A nice selection of mid-flight snacks as well as an open bar throughout the flight

Read the BusinessClass.com review of British Airways Club World Read the BusinessClass.com review of British Airways First Class

BusinessClass.com searches hundreds of travel sites at once to help you find the best premium travel offers for both flights and the finest hotels.

Is Premium Economy British Airways worth it?

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Airbus A350-1000

The Airbus A350-1000 is more environmentally friendly and was the first aircraft type to premiere our Club World cabin - Club Suite.

A greener way to fly

The Airbus A350 is one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft operating in the world today. The state-of-the-art aircraft is built from advanced materials. A combination of carbon composites, titanium and modern aluminium alloys delivers environmental benefits such as lower fuel burn and reduced CO2 emissions.

Its nitrogen oxide emissions are nearly a third below the current industry standard, with noise levels also much lower compared to previous generations. It’s a huge leap forward for greener air travel.

The Trent XWB engines used on our A350-1000 aircraft have the lowest specific fuel consumption for any turbofan aircraft in service today, contributing to lowering CO2 emission.

Making your journey a little bit smoother

• On board Wi-Fi keeps you connected with the world below
• The latest Panasonic entertainment system means you can settle down to that movie you’ve been planning to watch as soon as you get on board
• In the cabin, the A350 promotes a feeling of well-being, space and calm due to reduced noise levels, high ceilings, ambient lighting and an optimised cabin altitude of 6,000ft for a more comfortable journey
• Our new Club Suite debuts on the A350 in business class, featuring all-aisle access, privacy door and a luxurious flat-bed seat

Inspired by birds

The A350 has a revolutionary adaptive wing design - inspired by birds – which morphs while airborne to achieve maximum aerodynamic efficiency.

Cabin air in the A350 is renewed every two to three minutes to minimise the effects of jet lag, meaning you arrive at your destination feeling more refreshed than ever.

Technical information

Did you know.

At over 240 feet long, the A350-1000 is nearly the length of a football field.

Refreshed but with room for refinement: A review of British Airways World Traveller Plus on the refurbished 777

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

[tpg_rating tpg-rating-score="74" ground-experience="7" cabin-seat="23" amens-ife="27" food-bev="12" service="5" pros="New fabrics, fantastic bedding and a huge inflight-entertainment selection." cons="Limited foot space, disappointing second meal and awkward service flows." /]

A lot of excitement in British Airways' 100th year has centered around its new Airbus A350 aircraft with the long overdue and highly publicized new Club Suite business-class product. BA has a huge task ahead to install this seat in more than 100 existing wide-body aircraft, a process that will take years.

The very first of the existing aircraft to complete the refurbishment was a Boeing 777-200, which was then assigned on the prized route from London Heathrow (LHR) to New York JFK. I got to try Club Suite on this aircraft , so I also wanted to try out the World Traveller Plus (premium economy) service. Having heard whispers this cabin was also receiving a refresh, I wondered: How would the product compare to other BA WTP flights?

World Traveller Plus flights between London and New York can be a great use of Avios, with one-way redemptions costing 26,000 Avios per person on off-peak days plus about $400 in fees, taxes and surcharges.

We ended up paying the charges using the Platinum Card® from American Express, which earned 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline and with American Express Travel. And with BA as a transfer partner of both American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards , it's easy to amass the points required to book flights. Plus, there are often lucrative transfer bonuses between one (or both) of the programs and British Airways, meaning you'd need even fewer points to score an award.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Ground Experience" tpg-rating="7" tpg-rating-max="10" tail="G-RAES" age="22" departure="12" departure-2="10" duration="7" duration-2="02" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

I arrived at Heathrow Terminal 5, the home of British Airways, around two hours before departure.

Having checked in online but still needing a boarding pass, I tried out the check-in kiosks.

These were efficient, and I had my boarding pass in no time. I headed through Terminal 5 security, which despite the terminal being busy, was quick and efficient. I have never waited more than five minutes at any London airport security in my several years of living there.

From there, it was downstairs to find my gate. No lounge access is included with a World Traveller Plus ticket without any airline status, so I wandered around the terminal itself. The gate areas in the A Pier were heaving on a Thursday morning.

My flight was departing from the B gates, so I headed underground to take the transit train.

The B gates had more seating, though there were no power outlets at each seat.

Shortly after I arrived at the gate, around 60 minutes before scheduled departure, an announcement was made that boarding would be delayed around one hour due to an engineering issue.

Passengers in Club and First cabins were invited to return to the BA lounge in Terminal 5, but with no lounge for me, I decided to just stay at the gate and get some work done.

Despite the supposed hour's delay, boarding was delayed only 30 minutes, and I hoped we might even make up the time in the air for an on-time arrival into JFK.

Boarding was strictly maintained by group numbers. Groups 1 and 2 were boarded before me, and I was one of the first Group 3 members to board.

Other than the slight boarding delay, it was a civilized and organized ground experience and boarding process.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Cabin and Seat" tpg-rating="23" tpg-rating-max="30" configuration="2" configuration-2="4" configuration-3="2" width="18.5" pitch="38" tray="14" tray-2="16" lavs="4" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

I walked through the huge Club Suite cabins, which took up around half the aircraft, and then made it to the World Traveller Plus cabin behind it.

This was laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. I was excited to see the seat fabrics were brand-new following the refurbishment, and the navy blue color looked smart.

The cabin was completely full on my flight, and with only a few seating options, I chose an aisle seat midway back in the cabin.

On closer inspection, I was disappointed to see that the refurbishment of the seats appeared to start and finish with the seat fabric. The casing of the seat had not been refreshed and was scuffed and dented. The IFE screens were also evidently previous-generation, as the buttons were quite faded.

Legroom was definitely a step above economy, and I liked the adjustable footrest.

The problem was there was very limited foot space under the seat in front of me. I do have big feet, but there was little room to fit these under what I expected would be a spacious seat.

There were two seat power sources to share between my seat neighbor and me.

There was a bifold tray table, which in upright position was able to accommodate my 13-inch laptop easily.

The recline of the seat was good, and I was able to fit in a comfortable, quick nap. Note that the seats recline deeply an abruptly: Both my seat neighbor and I were startled when the people in front of us reclined their seats.

The passenger in front of me was restless during the flight, and the seat shook significantly each time he tossed and turned. I could just manage to do some work on my laptop when the seat in front was fully reclined, though my concentration was interrupted numerous times when the seat in front wobbled and rattled because of the passenger's movements.

Although boarding commenced around 30 minutes late, we ended up departing almost an hour late, as the secondary screening for those with a dreaded 'SSSS' on their boarding pass was not set up properly at our gate at boarding time (perhaps because the delay in boarding ended up being far less than expected), so there were still passengers trickling on board well after I thought boarding had been completed.

With the Club Suite cabin taking up so much of the aircraft, the 777-200 featured a surprisingly small single World Traveller (economy) cabin in a tight 3-4-3 configuration -- this was the entire economy cabin.

There were no bathrooms dedicated to the WTP cabin. There was a pair of bathrooms at the back of our cabin shared between both cabins, though they were marked as out of order from boarding until several hours into the flight before a crew member noticed the stickers, checked the bathrooms and decided they were serviceable.

There was a curtain separating the premium and economy cabins, though this wasn't closed until halfway through the flight, which added to the feeling that there was little differentiation between the World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Amenities and IFE" tpg-rating="27" tpg-rating-max="30" screen="12" live-tv="No" tailcam="No" wifi="5.7" wifi-2="0.36" headphones="Yes" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

This was the area where the flight really shone. I arrived to find several goodies waiting for me on my seat.

First was a plush, decent-sized pillow, which would not have looked out of place in business class.

There was a matching blanket, which was plush and large. Both had a really cool blue-and-white striped design that was fresh and stylish.

There was also a matching amenity kit in the same fun design, and headphones.

The headphones, while not noise-canceling, were of good quality and produced good sound. There was also the standard inflight magazine, duty-free magazine and sick bag in the seatback pocket.

While the IFE screens had not received an upgrade in the refurbishment, there were still hundreds of movies and TV shows to choose from. I certainly didn't get bored!

Though the flight map was fairly basic, considering the plane had just been refurbished.

The selections could be navigated by remote control.

Bathrooms were a good size and pretty standard, though I noticed that the mirrors were filthy, even at the start of the flight.

Wi-Fi was available shortly after takeoff and had good speeds: I was able to get quite a bit of work done on the flight.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="12" tpg-rating-max="20" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-meal="2" meals-purchase="No" comp-alcohol="Yes" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

During the boarding process, poured drinks were offered from a tray. The cabin crew said they had "water, juice or Champagne." This immediately struck me as odd, because I didn't think BA served actual Champagne in World Traveller Plus (few airlines do). This is nitpicking, but if it were prosecco or English sparkling wine the crew member really should have described it as such. In any case, it wasn't very cold.

With an 11:20 a.m. departure, I expected a full lunch service followed by an afternoon tea meal shortly before landing, like I had experienced on other carriers on the same route, albeit with slightly later departure times.

As expected, lunch was served shortly after takeoff, beginning with a drinks service. All passengers were offered a premeal drink (a Bloody Mary for me) and asked to select wine for their meal. I asked for a white wine and was told there was only a sauvignon blanc. This was served with sour cream-and-chive pretzels.

There were three entrees. I would normally go for beef but decided to mix it up and selected a Thai prawn green curry.

BA serves World Traveller Plus meals still with the plastic and foil on top of containers. This really affects the presentation, and I wish they would tidy up the tray before handing it to the passengers ( Virgin Atlantic does the same thing).

This is the difference five seconds of tidying would make:

One of the big selling points of British Airways World Traveller Plus catering is that the entree is from the Club World kitchen, meaning you can expect a business-class main course. Unfortunately, while Club Suite passengers on this flight received meals plated in the galley, the same could not be said for WTP meals, which were reheated in the same dishes they were loaded onto the plane in.

This resulted in a fairly unappetizing-looking dish that tasted OK but was dried out around the edges because of the reheating.

I did like the starter, a goat cheese, orange and beetroot tartare. The goat cheese especially was a premium and refined touch. The cookie-dough cheesecake for dessert was also decent and got me ready to be in New York City.

Midflight, a small ice cream was served.

It was already pretty cracked when I opened it.

Around 90 minutes before landing, a second meal was served. I was expecting some sort of afternoon tea like on other flights to New York, but it was a lonely pizza, with tea or coffee offered this time.

While the main dish from lunch was promised "from the Club World kitchen," this was about as economy as it got.

The taste was decent, better than a frozen supermarket pizza and dense enough that it at least filled me up. I found the switch from proper china at lunch to paper cups for the second meal to be strange.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Service" tpg-rating="5" tpg-rating-max="10" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="No" turndown-service="No" blurb="Delays and disruptions made for an uneven service flown that was little different from economy." /]

The crew on my flight were well-intentioned, but there were several frustrating elements to the flight. As the crew began serving lunch, they asked us both what we would like to drink at that moment and whether we wanted wine with our meal. I chose a Bloody Mary cocktail to start with and then white wine with my meal. This was both served to me before any food was. While that would ordinarily be fine, we then hit some turbulence, meaning the service was suspended for around 30 minutes.

This threw the entire service flow off. Most passengers drank their wine for their meal during the turbulence, and by the time their main courses were served, they had no wine left. The crew did not realize such a long delay would result in empty glasses, and, firstly, didn't both offer more wine when the meals were finally served (seeing glasses were empty), and, secondly, didn't offer any more drinks during the meal service at all.

While we were provided with coffee cups with our meal tray, the crew seemed so flustered that they completely forgot to serve any tea or coffee with lunch.

On this route that I've flown several times, I'm used to a full meal service shortly after takeoff and a lighter meal just before descent. The full lunch was served after takeoff as expected, but then midflight a single (mini) ice cream was served despite us having been served a normal dessert just a few hours earlier. I was confused why I was served two desserts so close together and initially thought that may be the entire second meal. But then around 90 minutes before landing, the crew came through a third time with a pizza, which, while filling because of its carby goodness, was not a patch on the afternoon tea usually served in World Traveller Plus on these flights.

There didn't appear to be any crew members dedicated to the World Traveller Plus cabin -- we were served first, but the same crew members then rolled down to World Traveller and served them. This added to the feeling there was little differentiation between the two cabins.

Overall impression

Given the huge improvement to the business-class cabin on this aircraft, I was hoping for more of an improvement in the World Traveller Plus cabin refresh. While new seat fabrics are nice on a 22-year-old aircraft, this was a pretty middle-of-the-road experience.

I appreciated the extra legroom and recline, and the awesome bedding was a lovely surprise, but this was far from a perfect flight. The lack of any real separation between the World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins was symbolic for the flight: While the premium cabin was served first, it felt fairly economy from start to finish. There wasn't much room for my (big) feet next to the bulky IFE box, and the turbulence with a full cabin seemed to upset the service flow, as things were simply forgotten.

The second meal service was strange: two very light and decidedly economy snacks served separately rather than a proper afternoon tea service.

This aircraft is more than two decades old, as are many flying BA's most profitable route, but in the future I'll be looking for a more modern aircraft where possible.

All photos by the author.

Simple Flying

British airways unveils its first airbus a350-1000 to the world.

British Airways has today unveiled its first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft at London Heathrow. G-XWBA, the latest addition to the British Airways fleet, touched down at the airline’s home on Saturday after its delivery was delayed . 

Having ordered the 18 of the Airbus A350-1000 in 2013, the airline has been waiting around six years for the order. Today must come as a relief to both the airline and travelers alike. The aircraft is expected to call London Heathrow its home for the next few days before its inaugural flight on August 5th to Madrid .

Eight British registered A350s due this year

British Airways will receive four Airbus A350-1000 aircraft this year. By a huge coincidence, long-haul rivals Virgin Atlantic will also be receiving four Airbus A350-1000s this year . This means that by the end of the year, there will be a total of eight British registered Airbus A350-1000s.

Both carriers will be debuting similar business class seats on their Airbus A350s. However, while Virgin has already showcased theirs in April , British Airways showcased the Club World Suite today at the A350’s Heathrow delivery ceremony.

New club world cabin: 

While we’ve mentioned the new Club world cabin, let’s dive deeper into the story.

British Airways’ new Club world cabin will truly revolutionize the British flag carrier’s business class offering.  Currently, the carrier flies a pretty unpopular 2-4-2 business class:

This means that many current Club World seats do not have direct aisle access.

However, all this will change as the new Club Suite cabin features an impressive 1-2-1 configuration. 

Every single seat will have direct aisle access. What’s more, the seat is actually a suite, so while the Airbus A350 doesn’t have a first-class cabin, the new suite is sure to give the carrier’s first-class product on older Boeing 777 aircraft a run for its money.

The Club Suite itself has 40 per cent more storage, including a vanity unit and mirror, WiFi, enviable 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens, high definition gate-to-gate programming, and PC/USB power. In total, there will be 56 Club World seats on BA's new A350.

The new Club Suite's won't just be on British Airways A350's, the airline will be slowly retrofitting the seat across its entire fleet. British Airways exclusively revealed to Simple Flying the first two Boeing 777's which will receive the Club Suite in our article here .

Premium economy and economy:

In total, there will be 56 World Traveler Plus seats (premium economy) and 219 World Traveler seats (economy).

Both economy and premium economy passengers will benefit from top of the range high-speed WiFi allowing travelers to browse the internet on their personal electronic devices.

Overall, each of British Airways' Airbus A350-1000's will have a total of 331 seats.

The incredible A350 experience

The A350 aircraft itself will also promote a feeling of well-being, space, and calm due to its reduced noise levels, high ceilings and ambient lighting which is intended to compliment the time of day and outside light.

Customers will leave their flight feeling rested thanks to higher levels of humidity and refreshed air as the cabin pressure is equivalent to an altitude of just 6,000 feet. There are also environmental benefits to flying a state-of-the-art A350, as its 25 percent lower fuel burn significantly reduces CO2 emissions.

One week to lift off

Now, only one week remains until the Airbus A350 takes to the sky with passengers in the Chatham Dockyard livery. The aircraft will fly from London to Madrid as part of service BA460. While the business class cabin on the inaugural flight is reserved for invited guests and journalists, there are still tickets in the economy cabin. However, do remember that unforeseen circumstances could cause the equipment to change.

Following a number of crew familiarisation flights to and from Madrid, the aircraft will make its long haul debut to Dubai on the 2nd September. Additional Airbus A350 destinations currently confirmed by British Airways are Toronto, Tel Aviv, and Bengaluru.

Simple Flying will be on hand to report live from the inaugural flight!

What do you make of British Airways’ first Airbus A350-1000? Let us know in the comments!

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In-flight amenities

Each seat has a personal TV with Audio and Video onDemand that features both albums and radio.

More Information

Each seat has a personal TV with Audio and Video onDemand that features 30 movies, 40 short films, and games. 

All Business Class seats have access to a 110V power port.

All seats have access to an USB power port.

Turkish Airlines provides WiFi on this aircraft

More information

Turkish Airlines allows passengers to download the Turkish Airlines app to enhance their flight experience.

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Turkish Airlines serves complimentary meals, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks.

In 2020, Turkish Airlines will add the Airbus A350-900 to their fleet. Turkish Airlines' A350-900 features a two class configuration with 32 lie flat Business Class seats and 297 standard Economy Class seats.

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Turkish Airlines flies 1 versions of Airbus A350-900.

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Economy Class & Beyond

Korean Air finalises its Airbus A350 order

02/04/2024 by Kevincm Leave a Comment

The firm order covers 33 of the Airbus A350 family. The confirmed  split is:  

• 27 A350-1000 (the stretch variant)
• 6A350-900 (the launch variant) 

Airbus notes the additional range of the A350 will allow the airline to operate to new long-haul destinations – with the airline noting the range of the aircraft being able to operate the Seoul – New York route, thus giving options on the way. 

Meanwhile, Korean Air will use this order to supplement the airline’s long-term fleet operations as it gradually retires its older aircraft, as well as preparing to integrate Asiana Airlines (when all the authorities are satisfied).

The airline has not disclosed any interiors or seating suppliers at this time. 

Jason Yoo, Chief Safety and Operating Officer and EVP at Korean Air said

“The A350’s exceptional range, fuel efficiency and passenger comfort make it a great fit for our global network,” “We are confident that the introduction of the A350 to our fleet will drive operational efficiencies and elevate the overall travel experience for our passengers.”

Benoit de Saint Exupéry, EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus said:

“This order from Korean Air is another major endorsement for the A350 as the world’s long range leader. The airline will benefit from new levels of efficiency across its operations, with significantly reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The A350 will also be the perfect platform for the carrier to take its in-flight product and world class service to new heights. We thank Korean Air for its ongoing confidence in Airbus and its products, and look forward to seeing the A350 flying in the carrier’s iconic livery.”

Confirmed growth

In addition to the agreement to purchase 33 A350s, Korean Air plans to introduce 50 Airbus A321neos, 10 Boeing 787-9s, 20 Boeing 787-10s, and 30 Boeing 737-8s.

For the airline, the upcoming order will give options with their diversified fleet as to how they operate it (which will only grow when the Asiana Airlines fleet merger is completed).

How it will deploy them, as well as what older aircraft will fall by the wayside is a different question – and one that will be interesting to watch. 

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Where are Airbus commercial aircraft manufactured?

Some call Airbus a primarily French company. And there is some truth to that – after all, the manufacturer’s main airport and assembly site are located in Toulouse, France (TLS). TLS is also home to the departure destination of many Airbus’ test flights, including the first one it ever has done, when the Airbus A300 took off on its maiden voyage into the skies in 1972.

At the same time, Airbus is a multi-national company in every sense of the word, as Europe is not the only continent where aircraft, named using the A3XX formula , are assembled and shipped off to customers. Plants in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, Mobile, Alabama, United States and Tianjin, China are all the second home of Airbus.

However, what does each individual plant do and manufacture?

Airbus A300 and A310

The first Airbus aircraft that started it all, the A300 and its little brother, the A310, were assembled in Toulouse, France.

Different components had to be shipped or brought in using lorries, taking up too much time for the company to complete an aircraft. A solution was found to bring aircraft parts using another aircraft – a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser-based Aero Spacelines Super Guppy. From that point forward, Airbus brought in parts using three channels – air, road and water.

The starting point of the A300 parts was several locations across Europe:

Its wings were built in the United Kingdom, by a company called Hawker Siddeley. The aircraft’s aft and forward sections of the fuselage were constructed in Germany and the tail was constructed by engineers in Spain. General Electric provided the GE CF6, while Pratt & Whitney gave the PW JT9D and PW4000 engines as options to power the first Airbus aircraft. Both General Electric and Pratt & Whitney are located in the United States.

The A300 was completed in Airbus’ Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France.

Rest of the family

As time went on and the European aircraft manufacturer designed its next jet, the A320, its popularity amongst airlines pushed Airbus into opening a new FAL in Hamburg, Germany. The first aircraft that rolled out of the plant in Germany was Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 364 A321 in 1993 and was used as a testbed. In 1998, Airbus delivered the same MSN 364 frame to Onur Air, a Turkish operator that still flies the aircraft to this day, registered TC-ONS.

However, most of the final assembly is still based in Toulouse, France. Wide-body aircraft, namely the A330, A350 and A380 are completed in the French city. Narrow-body aircraft are assembled in Mobile (A220 and A320), Mirabel (A220) and Tianjin (A320) in addition to two plants in Europe, located in Toulouse and Hamburg.

ARTICLE: Airbus and China shake hands to increase A320 and A350 production

But production sites, where parts are made, are scattered across Europe. For example, in Germany, there are four different plants:

In Hamburg, in addition to the final assembly of the A320, the manufacturer also equips and completes A380 fuselage sections, including cabin furnishing and painting of the Super Jumbo. Rear fuselage sections of the A330 and A350 are also manufacturer and equipped in North Germany.

Bremen is one of the two plants responsible for wing design and manufacturing in Airbus’ eco-system. In the German city, high-lift systems for wings is designed and manufactured for all Airbus aircraft.

Stade is home to another Airbus factory, where vertical tailplanes for every product on the manufacturer’s list is produced. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts, like flaps or spoilers for such aircraft as the A320 or the A330 are also manufactured here, including pressure bulkheads for the A330 and A380 and the upper wing shell for the A350.

The last German site is Buxtehude, another city near Hamburg. The factory responsible for electronic communication and cabin management systems onboard the aircraft.

French factories

Nevertheless, France remains an Airbus stronghold. The engineering, design, various testing processes, including flight tests are located. Four more sites are scattered across the south European country:

In Toulouse, Airbus engineers and designs, tests structures, and conducts flight testing from the main facility in the city. The Beluga fleet is also based here. Another site in Toulouse, Saint-Eloy, produces engine pylons (parts that connect engines with the wings).

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In Saint-Nazaire, in the west of France, the plant equips and tests front and center fuselage sections for every Airbus aircraft.

The Nantes factory produces and assembles center wing boxes for every jet in the family. The plant is also responsible for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic parts that are used in structural assembly. Here, Airbus manufactures radomes that protect radars onboard the aircraft, ailerons for the A330 and the A380, air inlets for the A320neo, A350 and Airbus A380.

UK and Spanish sites

In the United Kingdom, Airbus has only two factories: one in Broughton, Wales, the other in Filton.

In Broughton, the site is responsible for the wings of the entire family of aircraft, from the A320 to the A380, including the manufacturing, assembly and equipping. Filton, meanwhile, designs and tests wings, landing gears and fuel systems.

Lastly, in Spain, there are three crucial manufacturing sites for the European company:

Getafe is responsible for the manufacturing of fuselages using metallic and advanced composite materials, building and testing horizontal tailplanes for all Airbus jets. In addition, the central Spain-based plant builds the rear fuselage, tail cone and main landing gear doors for the A380 and the rear fuselage of the A350.

Illescas, around half an hour by car south of Getafe, focuses on producing composite aeronautical components, especially large-scale and oddly shaped parts, like the lower cover of the A350’s wing. Furthermore, the site manufactures stabilizers, rudders and spars, sections of rear fuselage and landing gear parts for the Super Jumbo and some rear fuselage sections and internal skin of the wing of the A350.

The third site in Airbus’ Spanish division is in Puerto Real that is responsible for assembly of various moveable surfaces like the rudders and the spars for every aircraft built by the European manufacturer. Puerto Real also ships out large structural components, including the horizontal tail and the belly fairing of the A380 and the A350 XWB’s horizontal tailplane boxes.

Thus, this concludes the long list of manufacturing sites of Airbus. To sum up, Airbus commercial aircraft are manufactured in:

·         Germany (four sites);

·         France (four sites);

·         United Kingdom (Broughton and Filton);

·         Spain (Getafe, Illescas, Puerto Real).

Take a look: Qantas first refurbished Airbus A380

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