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Top 10 Reasons Why I Like Flying British Airways (Again)
British Airways is an airline that seems to attract an unusual amount of criticism. Whenever I publish a post or video about one of the major Middle Eastern carriers, such as Emirates, Qatar Airways or Etihad, readers and followers often rave about the experience. British Airways, by comparison, tends to receive a much harsher judgment. In my opinion, some of that criticism is simply unfair. Take the airline’s Club Suite, for example: while it may not receive the same level of praise as some Middle Eastern Business Class products, I would argue that its hard product is actually better than many of the Business Class seats offered by Emirates, Qatar Airways or Etihad. That said, I understand why some passengers have been disappointed. I had not flown British Airways for quite some time after a number of negative experiences, including disappointing onboard service and several cancelled flights. However, I recently decided to give the airline another chance – on the London to Vancouver route (watch my YouTube video here) – and I was pleasantly surprised. British Airways has clearly stepped up its game, and I was reminded why the United Kingdom’s flag carrier can still be a very compelling choice for long-haul travel. Here are 10 reasons why I once again like flying British Airways.
Have you ever flown British Airways? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.
FYI, here are all my trip reports of my flights with British Airways
- Review: British Airways Airbus A380 First Class Johannesburg to London
- Review: British Airways Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner First Class London to Muscat
- Review: British Airways Airbus A380 Business Class London to Vancouver
- Review: British Airways Boeing B747 Business Class London to San Francisco
- Review: British Airways Boeing 777 Business Class Tokyo to London
- Review: British Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Calgary to London
- Review: British Airways Boeing 777 Business Class (Club Suite) from London to Male
- Review: British Airways Boeing 777 Business Class (Club Suite) from Male to London
10. An Excellent Airport Hub: London Heathrow
One of the advantages of flying British Airways is its excellent hub at London Heathrow, one of my favorite airports in the world. The airport is the UK’s largest international gateway and offers excellent facilities, particularly at Terminal 5, British Airways’ home. The spacious and modern terminal has an impressive selection of restaurants, cafés and luxury shops, as well as dedicated British Airways lounges where eligible passengers can relax before their flight. Heathrow is not without its drawbacks, though, and passengers connecting there should always allow plenty of time between flights. Also, the airport can become heavily congested, and arriving aircraft sometimes have to circle before landing, resulting in unexpectedly late arrivals and less time than planned for a connection. Heathrow is also a large and busy airport, so even after landing, it can take considerable time to reach your connecting gate. I therefore recommend avoiding tight connections at Heathrow and building some extra time into your itinerary. A comfortable connection is far preferable to rushing through the airport or worrying about missing your onward flight.
9. Great British Airways Lounges
British Airways has significantly improved the quality of its airport lounges in recent years, particularly at London Heathrow, where the airline’s Galleries lounges offer a comfortable place to relax before a flight. The refurbished spaces benefit from plenty of natural light, attractive interiors and views of the airport apron and runways, while the food and beverage offering has also improved considerably. In addition to a broader selection of hot and cold dishes, snacks, coffee, wines and spirits, some lounges now feature cook-to-order stations serving freshly prepared food, including burgers. The main drawback at Heathrow is crowding: the North and South lounges can become particularly busy, especially during peak departure periods. If you prefer a quieter environment, however, the lounge in the B gates satellite is usually a much better choice and tends to remain surprisingly peaceful. Overall, the investment in refurbished spaces and improved catering has made British Airways lounges considerably more competitive. British Airways also operates dedicated lounges at airports around the world and provides access to numerous partner lounges.
8. A Diverse Wide-Body Fleet
Another reason I enjoy flying British Airways is the variety of aircraft in its long-haul fleet. The airline operates one of the world’s largest fleets of Boeing 777s, alongside the highly regarded Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It also flies the Airbus A380 and the Airbus A350, the latter being my personal favorite aircraft. For aviation enthusiasts, this makes British Airways particularly interesting, as there is a wide range of aircraft to choose from when planning a trip. Each type offers a somewhat different experience, from the enormous double-decker A380 to the modern and efficient A350 and 787 Dreamliner. The Boeing 777, meanwhile, remains one of the workhorses of the British Airways long-haul fleet and operates on numerous routes around the world. Few airlines offer such an interesting combination of modern wide-body aircraft alongside the iconic A380. For me, the opportunity to choose between several different aircraft types adds another element of excitement to flying British Airways, particularly when booking a long-haul Business Class flight.
7. A Convenient Route Network
Another major reason I like flying British Airways is its extensive route network. The airline has long offered particularly strong connectivity between the United Kingdom and North America, with numerous nonstop flights to destinations across the United States and Canada. For travelers departing from London, this extensive network can save valuable time by eliminating the need for a connection elsewhere in Europe or North America. A nonstop British Airways flight also means avoiding the inconvenience of transferring through another airport and, in some cases, having to collect and recheck luggage like in the USA. British Airways further strengthens its transatlantic offering through its partnership with American Airlines and its wider links within the oneworld alliance. Popular routes such as London–New York are served by multiple daily flights, giving passengers considerable flexibility when choosing departure times. For both business and leisure travelers, this combination of nonstop service, frequent departures and an extensive international network makes British Airways a very convenient airline for long-haul travel.
5. Decent Onboard Food
Onboard catering has historically been one of the weaker aspects of the British Airways Business Class experience, which is why the introduction of DO & CO catering represented such a significant improvement. British Airways now serves DO & CO meals on flights departing from London Heathrow, bringing the airline’s long-haul Business Class dining closer to the standards offered by some of Europe’s best-regarded carriers. DO & CO is well known in the aviation industry for its emphasis on fresh ingredients, attractive presentation and restaurant-style service. From my own experience, the difference was immediately noticeable compared with the previous British Airways catering. During my recent flight with them, meals were better presented, more appealing and considerably more enjoyable to eat. The restaurant-style concept includes a choice of starter, main course and dessert, served with proper crockery and cutlery. For a long-haul Business Class passenger, good food can significantly enhance the overall journey, and the introduction of DO & CO helped transform British Airways’ onboard dining into one of the more enjoyable aspects of the experience.
5. Excellent Inflight Entertainment
Another reason I remain a fan of British Airways is its excellent inflight entertainment, which I believe ranks among the best in the world. Its High Life entertainment system offers an extensive selection of movies, TV shows, documentaries, music and other content, with a user-friendly interface and an impressive choice of recent releases alongside timeless favorites. On a longhaul flight, there is more than enough to keep even the most demanding traveler entertained from takeoff to landing. I particularly enjoy the personality that British Airways brings to its entertainment offering. The current safety video is a perfect example: rather than presenting the usual dry safety instructions, BA has turned them into a hilarious period drama, complete with lavish costumes, elaborate sets and quintessentially British humor. Shortly before landing, BA also screens a video highlighting its charitable work and the positive impact of its Flying Start program. These small but thoughtful touches add warmth, humor and personality to the onboard experience, and help distinguish British Airways from airlines whose inflight entertainment is technically impressive but ultimately rather impersonal.
4. A Well-Established Frequent Flyer Program
British Airways’ Club is another reason I enjoy flying with the airline. Launched in 1995, the frequent flyer program has become an established loyalty scheme for travelers who regularly fly with British Airways and its partner airlines. Its most important feature is Avios, the reward currency used across several airline loyalty programs, including those of British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways and Aer Lingus. Avios can be earned and redeemed for flights as well as a range of travel-related rewards, giving frequent travelers considerable flexibility. The Club is not without its drawbacks, and loyalty programs can change considerably over time, but it has historically stood out from many major Western airline programs because of its points-based structure. For travelers who fly frequently between the UK, Europe and North America, the ability to earn and redeem Avios across a broader airline network can make British Airways particularly attractive. The program therefore adds another layer of value beyond the flight itself.
6. Luxurious Bedding and Amenity Kits
British Airways significantly improved its long-haul Business Class experience by partnering with The White Company, a British luxury lifestyle brand, for its bedding and amenity kits. The partnership brought a noticeably more refined sleeping experience to the Club World cabin. The bedding collection includes a large, soft pillow, a comfortable woven day blanket, a luxurious duvet and a padded mattress topper designed to add another layer of comfort when the seat is converted into a fully flat bed (although I wished the mattress topper was a bit thicker). Passengers also receive a day cushion that can double as lumbar support when working or relaxing. The attention to bedding is particularly welcome on overnight flights, when a comfortable sleeping environment can make a major difference after several hours in the air. The White Company amenity kit complements the bedding with an elegant design and products from its Restore & Relax Spa Collection. Together, these details give the British Airways Business Class experience a more luxurious and polished feel.
2. The British Airways Club Suite
One of the most exciting reasons to fly British Airways is the Club Suite Business Class seat. Designed as a major evolution of the airline’s long-haul Business Class product, Club Suite features a 1-2-1 configuration, giving every passenger direct access to the aisle. The suite also includes a sliding privacy door, creating a much more private personal space than the previous Club World seat. In addition to a fully flat bed, the design provides increased storage, a vanity area and mirror, personal power and USB connections, Wi-Fi and a large 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screen. The new seat represents a significant step forward for British Airways and addresses several of the shortcomings of the previous Business Class product. Club Suite was first introduced on the Airbus A350-1000 in 2019 and has since been rolled out to the Boeing 787-10 and all Heathrow based Boeing 777 aircraft. However, the rollout is still not complete: all Boeing 777s based at Gatwick, as well as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-8 and 787-9, still operate with the older Club World seat. British Airways has announced plans to retrofit these remaining aircraft with Club Suite, meaning that the new product should eventually become available across the entire long-haul fleet.
1. A Highly Experienced Crew
The experience and professionalism of British Airways’ pilots and cabin crew is the most important reason why I enjoy flying with the airline. British Airways has traditionally had a large and highly experienced workforce, with many pilots, cabin crew and engineers having spent years working for the carrier. As someone who is not always the most relaxed flyer, I particularly appreciate the confidence that comes from being looked after by an experienced crew. What I also like is the predictable communication routine on British Airways flights. The flight crew typically addresses passengers before takeoff and again before landing, while the cabin crew follows with its own announcements and service. This consistency may seem like a small detail, but it creates a reassuring sense of structure during the journey. Professional communication, clear announcements and a friendly cabin crew can make a significant difference to the overall flight experience. For me, the people working onboard are therefore just as important as the aircraft, seat or food when choosing an airline.
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I agree British Airways gets a bad rap. Obviously their legacy business class was getting very dated, and their domestic business class product is pretty poor, and there’s really no airlines that can compete with the middle east & Asian premium carriers. But when I’m flying transatlantic from DFW to London, I will always choose BA over American, and it’s mostly for the cabin crew. They’re nearly always great, whereas with AA, you roll the dice on whether you get a long-serving, and angry, cabin crew.
Well, I didn’t have the same experience at all. The outbound business class flight from London to Las Vegas was on an aging plane, in a truly awful business class. And I’ve never seen such stressed cabin crew; everything happened at breakneck speed. Why?
The return flight was a disaster. The Las Vegas business lounge is one of the worst I’ve ever encountered; it felt like being in a corner bistro, very little choice, and far too crowded. But that’s not all. At check-in, I was told I was being downgraded, without any explanation as to why. The reason: overbooking. I had no choice but to travel in economy. The cabin crew was extremely unpleasant, constantly telling me I should just file a complaint. Charming. I’m almost 70 years old; a downgrade could have been applied to a younger person who would have been better able to tolerate the discomfort. I had a connecting flight at Heathrow for a Swiss flight, with a rather tight schedule. The captain, in a nonchalant tone, imposed a 45-minute delay on us, without any explanation.
Could one dream of a worse flight?
Once back home, I demanded a refund for the return flight. No response. After much insistence, I finally received a reply: “But sir, you were refunded four days ago.” Well, good news, but that deserved some communication and an apology by email, didn’t it?
In short, a very bad experience; British Airways won’t be seeing me on their flights again anytime soon. Your description of your flight is idyllic, sometimes far removed from reality.
I agree with you. We flew British Airways First in May/June MIA/LHR/JNB/MIA/LHR. The experience was wonderful. The beds were comfy, the crews were all very attentive and pleasant, the food services were good, the high tea was such a treat with fresh scones and pastries and sandwiches. We were really impressed. And the Dining area in Miami for First pre-boarding was particularly good with excellent service. The First lounge at Heathrow was OK.
i also agree – in the last few months i have flown BA business both LAX and JNB and also experienced long-haul business over this time in Iberia, Lufthansa, Swiss, Etihad and Qatar.and although Qatar is probably somewhat ahead, i think BA compares very favourably indeed to all the rest….albeit that was the Club Suites….i wasn’t so keen on the A380 “non-club suites” offering a couple of years ago.