They were incredibly apologetic when unable to fix the entertainment system on my flight to London, as well as when I had issues with my meal. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. As we noted then, BA had a premium economy class on international flights years before its American counterparts. British Airways premium economy seats are typically stocked at boarding with a pillow, a blanket, noise-canceling headphones and an amenity kit. But is British Airways premium economy worth the cost? BA only offers priority boarding out of Heathrow, so there was no priority boarding for me on my flights that were not out of Heathrow. There were also two USB plugs under the screen, which were helpful for simultaneously charging my phone and Apple Watch. One final note about my seat: As it was in the last row before economy, I was seated directly next to the lavatory. And with dozens of flights a day between the US and London, it's past time for TPG to review the product. Likewise, American Airlines flyers earn up to four times more base AAdvantage miles when booking premium economy than economy. Flight Review: Hong Kong to London In Premium Economy On British ... Report: British Airways 787 premium economy - YouTube Worth The Upgrade? British Airways Premium Economy Vs Economy While I certainly don't expect airlines to cater to the dietary preferences of all passengers, it does seem like a huge miss for airlines to fail to accommodate all dietary restrictions flyers may have, regardless of whether it is an allergy or preference. However, you'll still find two universal power outlets between each pairing of World Traveller Plus seats in addition to a USB outlet. Receive news on auctions & our most popular blog posts. Travel news, tips & reviews of luxury hotels to help plan your vacation. British Airways offers some 300 weekly transatlantic flights between the U.S. and Europe, the most of any foreign carrier. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. British Airways claims that the main course of the Premium Economy meals will be from the business class menu. Similarly, there was a single large gap for the window seats, squeezed in on either side by an equipment box. British Airways Premium Economy: What to Know - NerdWallet The flight to London did not offer Wi-Fi, but it was an option on the way back. World Traveller Plus | Premium Economy | British Airways For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Which aircraft have British Airways premium economy? As someone who does not consume dairy or gluten, I generally have to call airlines ahead of time to see if they offer a meal that is both gluten- and dairy-free, which is generally not the case. I think Seats 21A and 21K are the best Premium Economy or World Traveller Plus seats on the British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner if you like a view. Two universal power outlets were in the console between each pair of seats. In addition to bigger and better seats, British Airways provides notably better food and drink service in premium economy as compared with economy. The three aircraft had similar screens and entertainment systems despite the differences in age. All Rights Reserved. The cash upgrade price generally depends on the route and availability. COPYRIGHT 2014 - 2023 LUXURY TRAVEL DIARY. I also thought the seats were surprisingly spacious with 32 inches of pitch and 19 inches of width. The choice of mains was between a full English breakfast or omelets. But the flight attendant reported that they weren't allowed to serve alcohol until they left the ground in Montreal, blaming "customs" — likely meaning that the airline would have to pay a fine or fee for serving alcohol on the ground in Canada, rather than an actual prohibition. With the exception of the blanket, the amenity kit was the same on both of my flights. I received cold and impersonal service from most flight attendants across my three flights. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. For my flight back to Washington, D.C., the aircraft looked almost identical to my departing flight, with just a slight difference in the rows. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. I cannot say enough good things about the friendliness and overall demeanor of the BA flight crew, including the flight attendants, gate staff and pilots with whom I had the pleasure of interacting. I chose the latter. That said, for most US-based travelers, I'm not convinced that the slightly wider seat, extra legroom, somewhat improved catering and extra recline are worth the price premium that British Airways is charging. It is worth noting that much of this cabin overlooks the wing, so if you like a window seat with a view, it is worth selecting one towards the back of the World Traveller Plus cabin in rows 20 or 21. I chose the latter. And British Airways certainly delivers in this regard. Recaro cuts 10% weight with PL3810 premium economy seat How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2023? I chose white wine and was offered two small bottles of them. Do not sell or share my personal information. British Airways utilizes a distance-based award chart with peak and off-peak dates. By providing my email I agree to receive Forbes Advisor promotions, offers and additional Forbes Marketplace services. © 2023 Forbes Media LLC. As I had learned my lesson on my first flight, I made sure my seat for this leg wasn't in the last row, so the overhead bin was full-sized. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for websites like GoAbroad and Go Overseas. In these trip reports, I review my long-haul Premium Economy, World Traveller Plus experience on my last two flights on their Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. I have flown in Premium Economy and would not hesitate to fly it again. Megan Lee joined the travel rewards team at NerdWallet with over 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. Flight Review: British Airways 787-8 in Economy — LHR - AUS In this review, I review British Airway’s World Traveller Plus, also known as Premium Economy, on their new Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner on my trip from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to London. Coming in March: Everything you need to know about British Airways ... All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. These are at the back of the cabin but are the furthest from the wing so that you will get the best view. Premium Economy Class Comparison Chart - SeatGuru BA failed to say anything until we were approaching Dulles. Although I could not enjoy either the vegan cucumber and mint sandwich or the croissants, I did eat the orange, cacao and cashew granola bar provided, Read more: Combat high fuel surcharges, earn flexible Avios: British Airways Visa Signature credit card review. The seats felt comfortable and could be reclined quite far back by using a few buttons on the side. Find out more about both the 787-8 and 787-9 from our expert insiders, take a virtual tour both inside and out, and discover your dream 787 destination. I was also offered some bread, although the stewardess could not explain what type of bread it was. Flight attendants pass through the cabin shortly after takeoff to provide a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. British Airways dubbed the new cabin World Traveller Plus. DUPLICATION OUTSIDE OF LUXURYTRAVELDIARY.COM IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN. Despite these significantly better-than-coach dimensions, it seemed rather crowded on our flights — especially in the four-seat middle section on the 747. Some five hours later, the vegan breakfast meal was once again unsuitable for my dietary restrictions. I have to give major props to BA for the availability of vegan condiments, though they didn't have enough on my flight. The cost of British Airways premium economy is obviously a major factor in whether or not the experience is worth it. It seems that this 747 was one that British Airways has refreshed to keep it flying for another 10 years. TPG last reviewed British Airways' premium economy cabin, World Traveller Plus, in 2018. The IFE screens also tilted to compensate against the recline, but the viewing angle still wasn't ideal. If you are checking bags, you would also get two complimentary bags in this class. I was going to eat the salad until reading that the salad dressing had milk in it, so I ate the fruit and rice cake. Flight attendants pass through the cabin offering pre-departure beverages of orange juice or water, served in real glassware. I awoke midway through my red-eye flight on the 787-8 to the sun rising. The amenity kits contained a cheap plastic eye mask, socks, a pen, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste. Flying in economy just isn't what it used to be. Note: All benefits & upgrades subject to availability & Terms & Conditions, enquire for more information. So, you’ll need to pay additional Avios to connect onward. British Airways 787-10 Details - One Mile at a Time I charged this booking to my Amex Platinum Card for the 5x points on airfare purchases. After all, BA currently offers 13 different meal types, so what's one more for those of us who are both dairy- and gluten-free? The other major way to save money on your next airfare purchase is to have an AARP membership. First is the only class that offers it for free. 16F, an aisle seat and one of 39 in a 2-3-2 cabin configuration with priority boarding included for World Traveller Plus passengers. We struck up a conversation during boarding, and he fondly recalled working as a British Airways flight attendant on the Boeing 747-100, the first model of the Jumbo Jet. The eight first class seats are similar to the current 787-9 first class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration. There are a total of 6 rows of seats. transfer Avios between British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Qatar, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Houston, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Amenity kit, pillow, quilt, noise-canceling headphones. Around the turn of the millennium, British Airways became the first airline to introduce lie-flat seats in business class. This a cool feature on some new planes including Dreamliners, though it's not always "enabled" by flight attendants. Our opinions are our own. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. But you can count on getting two free checked bags—plus a cabin bag and personal item—on flights between the U.S. and Europe. You'll get a bigger seat with extra legroom and recline. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Seat Map British Airways Boeing 787-9 (789) - Flight Seat Map and ... Since Loyalty Points are based on mileage earnings, you'll also earn quadruple the elite status credits. Complimentary Upgrades For Your Vacation, Plus Travel Auctions, News, Tips & Reviews Of Luxury Hotels, Copyright © 2014 - 2023 Luxury Travel Diary Limited. British Airways World Traveller Plus passengers board no later than Group 3 boarding. These extra miles and elite status credits can help justify the increased cost of premium economy for those debating if it's worth upgrading. However, it’s limited to round-trip flights departing the United States solely on British Airways flights. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. On the flight back, the amenity kit was nearly identical, except for a softer blanket. Passengers were provided small menu cards during boarding. British Airways also still flies the superjumbo, though its economy seats are just 17.5 inches wide. BA's premium economy class is one step above World Traveller (their version of economy) and you pass through Club World (business class) to walk to your seat. This product was newly launched a few months before, and I was eager to try it. So please, if you are paying the premium to fly in these “World Traveller Plus”, make sure you select a route and plane with the updated and more modern seats, or you will be disappointed. If you were looking to check two bags for an economy fare that didn't include checked bags, you could expect to pay an additional $65 in advance online or $75 at the airport for one bag, and $90 for bag two ahead of time or $100 at the airport. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. OR was it? I don’t expect the World Traveller Plus Class seats to look very different on the 787-9 Dreamliner. Below the in-flight entertainment screen, British Airways installed a storage tray. When flying in Premium Economy, you do not get access to any British Airways. The in-flight entertainment system had a decent range of movies, TV-series, and music. Best Premium Economy Seats On British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ... Travel news, tips & reviews of luxury hotels to help plan your vacation. Complimentary Upgrades For Your Vacation, Plus Travel Auctions, News, Tips & Reviews Of Luxury Hotels, Copyright © 2014 - 2023 Luxury Travel Diary Limited. British Airways uses different brand names for its cabin classes. Credited to AAdvantage, my BA-marketed flight earned me 5,165 miles. Both crews constantly checked on me to see if I needed anything throughout the flight, particularly a flight attendant on my return trip named Ka-ell, who went above and beyond to ensure I had a good flight. Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The first meal in British Airways premium economy is typically a hot meal served on real plates along with metal silverware. World Traveller Plus at a glance Previous Slide Pause Animation Slide 1 (Current Slide) So, let’s compare the two products head-to-head across several factors. British Airways no longer publishes this award chart. Let’s dig into more details about the product and how much it costs to book to help you make just that decision. Read more: Everything you need to know about British Airways’ fare classes. For wine, you could choose between two red options (merlot or cabernet sauvignon) or two white options (chardonnay or sauvignon blanc). Extra baggage allowance: British Airways premium economy typically allows two free checked bags at no additional cost. I am often asked which are the best seats to choose on a flight, or in this case, what are the best Premium Economy or World Traveller Plus seats on the British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner? We have also reviewed First Class On The British Airways Dreamliner B787-9 as well as Business Class on the B747 Jumbo and Business Class on the B777. I initially overshot my seat, which was in the last row of the premium economy cabin, and walked into economy, as I found the seat numbers rather small and difficult to read. Those traveling to London will be traveling in on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with a choice of three cabins-World Traveler (economy), World Traveler Plus (premium economy), and Club World (business). TPG last reviewed British Airways' premium economy cabin, World Traveller Plus, in 2018. A big bonus traveling on BA in Premium Economy is that you get ClubWorld standard meals (with fewer choices) served on proper crockery with a real napkin. Now we review the cost, seat, food, check-in, and airport lounge that you will experience if you book BA Premium Economy. The Boeing 787 Dreamliners are among the most modern aircraft in the BA fleet and come with a number of upsides for passengers (modern IFE system, better cabin pressurisation and cool window blinds). The thematic driver behind the seat's development, chief executive officer Mark Hiller tells Runway Girl Network, is "embracing premium space", and the seat certainly accomplishes that. Boeing 787-9 | About BA | British Airways A revamp of the product in 2019 introduced a new premium economy seat with 50% larger in-flight entertainment screens, new amenity kits, pillows and blankets. - YouTube #britishairways #premiumeconomy #boeing789Fly with us on British Airways' Longest. I can 100% say that I would rather pay extra for food via BA's Speedbird Cafe in economy, seeing as I would be able to ensure ahead of time if there is food I can count on eating on board. Soon, the breakfast service began. All Rights Reserved. Impressively, the screens were crisp when I was looking straight at them, but my immediate seatmate could only see a blur, at least in bright light, giving me privacy when it came to my viewing choices. I would say that the British Airways Premium Economy is a good product and worth paying the extra if you can afford it. This is a subjective question, but after much time spent studying the seating plan of the British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, I have concluded the best and worst seats on this Dreamliner. Here are our picks for the. The bifold tray tables felt especially small, measuring 16.5 inches wide by 10 inches deep when extended. All in all, I would say that the British Airways Premium Economy flight was quite enjoyable. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. There is no advantage to flying Premium Economy in this respect. Details on British Airways Premium Economy | Aviation Blogs British Airways passengers can upgrade to premium economy using cash or Avios — either in advance or at the airport. Unsubscribe at any time. The braised short rib on my flight from Montreal was cooked perfectly. Just like dinner, the food was decent, but nothing spectacular. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The first five rows, row 16-20, have 7 seats across, configured in a 2-3-2 pattern, while the last row, row 21, only has the 2 aisle seats on each side. Even better, you can use this code to book up to eight friends and family with you on the same flight. There are just 39 Premium Economy seats on the British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (less than the 42 in Club World). One thing I also noticed was the ability to change the tint of the window to block out light depending on the time of day, as shown below. I especially appreciated the latest album and a two-hour set by my favorite DJs, the British trio Above & Beyond. When it comes time to board, British Airways premium economy passengers get priority boarding—although that means getting Group 3 out of nine boarding groups. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Book your vacation with us for complimentary upgrades & VIP benefits like free breakfast at your favorite luxury hotels. When it comes to premium-economy products, British Airways turns out to be rather mediocre. If you're going to fly premium economy and are deciding between airlines, check out our transatlantic-flight reviews of Aeroflot, Air France, Iberia, LOT Polish, Virgin Atlantic and United's new premium-economy seat. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The pitch of the seat, wider than economy at 18.5 . Get a complimentary room upgrade at Luxury Hotels, Review: Premium Economy On British Airways Dreamliner 787-9, Best Premium Economy Seats On British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Complimentary breakfast for two per bedroom, $100 USD equivalent Hotel experiential credit per room per stay, Early check-in / late check-out (subject to availability). The Boeing 787-9 is a mid-size, dual aisle, twin engine jet and Boeing's most fuel efficient aircraft to date - 20% more fuel efficient than the similar sized commercial jets it is designed to replace. Are you sure you want to rest your choices? This was also the case for the seats in the middle section. Composite materials make up 50% of the primary structure, including the fuselage and wings. You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. As of 2022, the company has 12 787-8s, 18 787-9s, two 787-10s in its fleet. 27.7K subscribers Subscribe Share 92K views 3 years ago A review of my flight with British Airways from London to Doha in Premium Economy on a B787-9 Dreamliner. You can’t use Avios to upgrade at the airport or onboard. The best British Airways Premium Economy seats are on their Airbus A380, Boeing 787/777-300ER, and retrofitted Boeing 767/777-200 aircraft and offer increased recline, personal in-seat power, and a 60% larger IFE monitor. The flight attendants were incredibly apologetic and offered me extra fruit and other snacks throughout the rest of the flight. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. However, you cannot purchase an upgrade once onboard. British Airways begins direct flights between CVG and London ... - FOX19 Routes between 8,001 and 10,000 miles round-trip cost just 62,000 JAL miles. The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. The lights began to dim shortly after, and the combination of fatigue and comfortable seats made me fall asleep easily, even though the seat wasn’t a lie flat! As British Airways is part of the Oneworld alliance, travelers can also book British Airways premium economy using miles from several partner airlines. I would not hesitate to take it again. There is not a dedicated British Airways Premium Economy check-in, so you have to check-in with all the Economy passengers. British Airways provides two options — typically one vegetarian and one meat-based meal. You get 2 hold suitcases when traveling in Premium Economy, which is a big bonus. Unsubscribe at any time. If you prefer the aisle seats, I will choose 16B and 16J because these seats are at the front of the cabin, so furthest away from the toilets so that you will have less passing traffic. Bid & win a luxury hotel stay or travel item for your next vacation. The omelets were served with potatoes, mushrooms, and half a tomato. On my seats on my latest Premium Economy flight was an oversized pillow, a blanket, a small amenity kit, and a large pair of headphones. Here's what that looks like in practice. DUPLICATION OUTSIDE OF LUXURYTRAVELDIARY.COM IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN. My wife, Katie, needed to get to a conference in California, so I tagged along for a mileage run, as American Airlines AAdvantage is quite generous on partner premium-economy flights. Meals are generally served with a salad, a packaged roll, a dessert and a choice between several types of wines — typically two reds and two whites. There was just a single large open gap in the middle for the seats to share. » Learn more: How (and why) to upgrade your British Airways flight using Avios. Receive news on auctions & our most popular blog posts. If you are planning to book a flight, it is worth reading our 10 tips to find cheap long-haul business class flights. This was my first time flying in premium economy, and first time flying the airline since 2013. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Enter a Goldilocks middle ground: premium economy. While US-based carriers are finally getting around to installing true international premium-economy products, British Airways has had a premium-economy cabin called World Traveller Plus on its long-haul aircraft for years. I also felt there was a decent amount of recline for sleeping, but when the person seated in front of you reclined their seat there was hardly any room to access underneath. Priority boarding: British Airways World Traveller Plus passengers board no later than Group 3 boarding. Use this seat map to get the most comfortable seats, legroom and recline before booking. I also received a grey blanket, which the flight attendant said was from the business class cabin. Review: BA Premium Economy on the B787-8, 787-9 and 747 - The Points Guy UK British Airways World Traveller Plus passengers also get better amenities and additional perks like priority boarding. However, each partner airline charges a different award rate for British Airways flights. On my London-San Jose and Los Angeles-London routes, water, juice and sparkling wine were available as a pre-departure beverage. Photo: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock The next morning, Aug. 2, passengers were offered a croissant for breakfast, with either cheese or turkey and cheese. British Airways Boeing 787 British Airways Boeing 787 Seat Maps British Airways British Airways operates the following models of Boeing, the 787-8, 787-9, 787-10. . Tall passengers rejoice: British Airways premium economy gives you around 7 inches of additional legroom — measuring 38 inches of pitch vs. just 31 inches of pitch in economy. The Boeing 787-9 features an evolution of our First cabin, with just 8 seats compared to the usual 14, increased range and is 20 feet longer and four inches taller than the 787-8. You’ll get a $100 statement credit for economy or premium economy award bookings or $200 statement credit for business and first class flights. For my flight back to the U.S. on Aug. 8, I requested a vegan meal so I could compare it to the gluten-free option. Read More. The Dreamliners had large remote controls built into the armrest, complete with a full set of buttons and a keyboard on the back. In my experience, flight attendants proactively provide doubles of alcoholic beverages. Under that screen, passengers can store their passport, boarding pass, phone and other small items in a well-designed tray. Published Feb 17, 2020 British Airways is looking forward to receiving its first Boeing 787-10 later this year. Airlines; Cheap Flights; Comparison Charts. Check here before booking an award fare. Although this slightly reduces seat width, it means that you shouldn't need to battle your neighbor for control of the armrest. British Airways will receive its first later this year (not pictured). Another point of difference between the aircraft types: The Dreamliners had two USB plugs under the IFE screen, while the 747 had only one. There are a total of 6 rows of seats. I had the Grilled Indonesian red snapper as my main. British Airways' Boeing 787-10 can seat 256 passengers with 8 . However, when arriving at a destination, particularly after a long-haul flight, I do appreciate being able to get off the plane ASAP. Each row is configured with two window seats on each side and either three or four seats in the middle section.