About British Airways
Throughout its history, British Airways, along with its predecessors, has been at the forefront of innovation in the field of aviation, achieving numerous world and industry firsts -- including the first commercial scheduled service in the 1920s, the first commercial jet, and the first supersonic service. In 2013, BA became the first commercial airline in Europe to operate both the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A380. There seems little doubt that the company's pioneering spirit will keep it at the leading edge of trail-blazing in world air transport.
British Airways in its present form was launched in 1974, after the dissolution of the two national carriers BOAC and BEA, and it is now part of IAG, the International Airlines Group. IAG is one of the world's largest airline groups, with more than 400 aircraft serving over 200 destinations, and carrying more than 55 million passengers each year. The airline's hub is at London Heathrow, and most of its flights go from Terminal 5, of which it has sole occupancy.
First
The new First cabin, that has been installed in most Boeing 777s and 747s as well as the new Airbus A380 superjumbo, is said to offer 55%-60% more personal space than the old cabin. Passengers will immediately notice the electronic window blinds and mood lighting, combining the feel of a futuristic luxury rail carriage with that of air travel from the 1920s, when Imperial Airways, BA's predecessor, began. There is an emphasis on heritage in the décor and colour scheme, including the British Airways coat of arms.
The bed when fully flat is 78 inches long, and is operated by a rotating control resembling the iDrive on a BMW. The 15.4 inch IFE screen has USB and RCA sockets and noise-cancelling headphones, and the LED lighting has 6 presets for different scenarios. The two centre seats now have a large manual horizontal blind between them, to provide extra privacy if required.
Club World
Club World is BA's business class product for long-haul flights. The unique cabin design features an innovative Ying-Yang formation, with some seats facing backwards, and provides a seat pitch of 73 inches, cushion width of 20 inches, and a fully-reclined flat-bed length of 72 inches. All Club World entertainment systems feature more than 130 films, 650 TV shows and 200 radio shows.
Club Europe
Club Europe is the business class product for the short-haul market. As of June 2014, BA have been reducing the seat pitch in the Club Europe cabin to 30 inches, with the new slim-line seats in charcoal grey leather. The seat configuration is 2-2, with the middle seat on each side, B and E, unoccupied and bridged with a central console table for snacks, drinks, and personal devices. The new design includes an eye-level tablet holder on the seat back, and four-way movable headrest.
World Traveller
World Traveller is BA's long-haul economy offering, with various seat configurations, varying from 3-4-3 on the Boeing 747 to 2-3-2 on the Boeing 767. The airline is in the process of redesigning the cabins, with new seats providing in-seat power supply, larger seat-back screens, and greater recline. The seat pitch in World Traveller cabins is generally 31 inches, with a seat width of 17.5 inches.
World Traveller Plus
World Traveller Plus is the premium economy product, in between World Traveller and Club World, providing considerably more comfort and personal space than World Traveller -- the seat pitch is 38 inches, and the seats are larger and more comfortable. Passengers on WTP benefit from noise-reducing headsets, an enhanced amenity bag, and fabric cushions and headrest covers, as well as a free newspaper. In-flight meals are the same as Club World.