travelling on british airways

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Frequently asked questions

How do i benefit from using manage my booking, what can i do through manage my booking, how do i access manage my booking, if my booking contains flights, which are not with british airways, can i still access manage my booking, if i made my booking with a travel agent, can i use manage my booking, are there any restrictions to which bookings i can access with manage my booking, if i make changes to my booking, how do i know that my changes have been stored in my booking, if i make seat and meal requests, are they guaranteed, why can't i request a special meal on my flight, can you tell me about the service where customers are able to print their own boarding pass.

As a British Airways customer, Manage My Booking is a self-service online initiative designed to assist you by:

• Giving you reassurance about your booking by being able to view booking details 24 hours a day at any time up to when you travel for each flight.
• Eliminating the need for you to check your booking details and request booking services by phone.
• Reducing time spent in airport check-in queues.
• Providing travel information relevant to your booking to help you plan and prepare for your travel.

Manage my booking allows you to:

• View details of your travel itinerary.
• View your seat and meal requests.
• Make seat requests from an interactive seating plan.
• Make meal requests from a list of available special dietary meals.
• Provide Advance Passenger Information (e.g. passport and other details).
• Apply for an ESTA if you're travelling to the USA or Puerto Rico.
• Add an Executive Club or partner frequent flyer number to ensure receipt of Tier Points and Avios.
• Email your itinerary to colleagues, friends and family.
• View check-in times and information about Online Check-in and Self-Service Check-in kiosks.
• Check in for your flight online and print your boarding pass before going to the airport.
• Obtain baggage information including allowances or restrictions.
• View city guides and other useful links.
• Access real-time departures and arrivals information.
• Change your flights, upgrade your cabin class and claim refunds.

To access Manage My Booking, you just need your booking reference and last name. Regardless of where you made your reservation, your booking reference can be found on your ticket (in an area called 'PNR code' or 'Locator') or on your e-ticket itinerary receipt. The reference is a series of six characters containing letters and numbers. If you are an Executive Club member and you are logged in to ba.com, you will be able to automatically list your booking references, which contain your Executive Club number. If you are unable to see this reference on any of your documentation, please contact the company from where you purchased your ticket who will have a record of it.

You can access Manage My Booking to view any flights on your booking, provided there is at least one flight with a British Airways flight number. Seat and meal request services, the Advance Passenger Information service, Online Check-in, if available, can only be used on flights with a British Airways flight number.

If you have booked through a travel agent and your booking contains at least one flight with a British Airways flight number, then simply use your travel agent's booking reference to access the Manage My Booking service. There are two key service limitations, which may apply to a travel agent booking: 

• You may not be able to view all of your flights in Manage My Booking. If this is the case, then this is because British Airways does not own the booking and is normally allowed to view it's own flights plus with preceding and succeeding connecting flights (regardless of airline). 
• Changes made through Manage My Booking to British Airways flights will normally not be passed back to your travel agent booking.

You will be unable to access Manage My Booking for any bookings that:

• were made through our Group Bookings team or via a travel agent for a group, which includes any booking for 10 or more passengers
• are for flights that have been flown or cancelled
• include hotels, cars, experiences or transfers booked on iberia.com

Please contact us instead.

You will be notified of any change to your booking by email, where an email address has been provided.

Whilst we will do all we can to satisfy your request, the delivery of seat and meal requests cannot be guaranteed.

Special meal requests cannot be made for travel on any UK Domestic flight. Special meals requests cannot be made on some Euro Traveller flights.

Check where you can request a special meal

If you are travelling on a standby or waitlist ticket you will be unable to request special meals on any route.

Kosher meal requests are not available on all services. Please check here to see where kosher meals are available . Special meal requests are unavailable on all other routes if your flight is due to depart within 24 hours.

Please note: Special meal requests on British Airways flights operated by our partner airlines may differ from above. Flights operated to/from London City airport have complimentary catering.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

From selected locations, customers using Online Check-in can print their own boarding pass at home or in the office and go straight to the central search security area on arrival. This then saves the customer visiting a Self-Service Check-in kiosk at the airport to collect their boarding pass. The Online boarding pass needs to be printed on plain white A4 or letter paper and includes a unique 2D barcode, which will be scanned by airport security staff and checked off against information already in the system. When travelling from the UK, customers will need to provide photographic ID in the form of a passport, identity card or driving licence, along with their Online boarding pass, before they will be allowed to pass through security. At all other airport locations, the passport/identity card check will be carried out before boarding the aircraft. The technology that is being used, along with the requirement for an approved type of photographic ID, means that customers can be reassured that security is in no way being compromised. Customers with onward flights If the Online boarding pass service is not available from the location that your onward journey or return journey departs, customers will need to collect their boarding passes for their onward/return journeys from a check-in or a Self-Service Check-in kiosk where available.

Simple Flying

World traveller plus on british airways: 5 things to know before flying.

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• 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.

1 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?

For the right price, World Traveller Plus offers a much more comfortable flight.

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

A look at the UK flag carrier's premium economy offering.

2 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

The carrier is investing a significant amount of money to improve the passenger experience.

3 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

The airline could be on track to reach pre-pandemic capacity this year.

4 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

Boeing 787-10 deliveries have resumed while Airbus A320neos continue to join the fleet.

• Passenger Experience

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British Airways Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees & More

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Table of Contents

Frequent flyer program, ticketing options, baggage and other fees/add-ons, avoid paying baggage and excess fees by using these credit cards, inflight inclusions, amenities, and seat specs, british airways customer satisfaction, charity partnership, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

British Airways flies from 16 U.K. airports and is a long-standing airline, having celebrated its 100th birthday in 2019.

If you’re looking to take advantage of British Airways’ expansive route network, then everything you need to know about this international carrier, from baggage fees to inflight amenities, is detailed below.

Airline: British Airways

Alliance: Oneworld

Category: United Kingdom’s flag carrier and international airline

Frequent Flyer Program:  British Airways’ Executive Club

Tagline: “ To fly. To serve.”

About/Mission Statement: “We are fully committed to helping each and every one of our customers enjoy the best possible experience, wherever you might be travelling.”

Main Hub:  London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Destinations: 200 destinations across 80 countries

British Airways’ Executive Club rewards members with Avios points when flying with the airline itself and with Oneworld alliance partner airlines.

The more you fly, the more Avios you earn; Avios can be redeemed for reward flights and will also go towards your membership tier status. This gives members additional benefits such as free seat selection, priority boarding, access to lounges, and bonus point earnings.

Apart from flying, there are also other ways of earning Avios , including shopping , chauffeur services, hotel bookings, and financial management.

It’s even possible to pool multiple reward accounts into a household account with family members, and by signing up, you can claim Avios on any flights 3 months prior to membership.

Hot Tip: Once you’ve started earning Avios, check out our article on the best ways to redeem British Airways Avios for max value .

British Airways (BA) has a selection of fare options, whether you’re traveling on a short-haul flight or long-haul flight. The different fare options are:

Short-Haul Flights (European Flights)

British Airways offers an economy and business class on its short-haul flights.

Euro Traveller (Short-Haul Economy Class)

When flying Euro Traveller, you will have the choice of 3 fare types. The benefits for each fare type are:

• Basic: Preselected seat and carry-on luggage only; no changes or refunds.
• Plus:  Seat selection (opened 48 hours before departure), checked and carry-on baggage, and free changes on departure day
• Plus Flex: Seat selection at any time, checked and carry-on baggage, and free changes or cancellations at any time (up to 1 hour before departure and fare differences may apply)

Club Europe (Short-Haul Business Class)

When flying Club Europe, you receive the following benefits:

• Access to British Airways’ departure lounges
• Priority boarding
• Priority check-in desks
• More baggage allowance compared to Euro Traveller
• Earn more Avios for Executive Club membership

Long-Haul Flights

British Airways offers 4 cabin classes when flying on a BA long-haul flight:

World Traveller (Long-Haul Economy Class)

When flying World Traveller, you have the choice of 2 fare types. The benefits for each fare type are:

• Basic:  Preselected seat and carry-on luggage only; no changes or refunds
• Standard: Seat selection (opened 24 hours before departure), carry-on and checked baggage , board earlier than Basic fare passengers, and changes allowed, but for a fee

World Traveller Plus (Long-Haul Premium Economy)

When flying World Traveller Plus, you receive the following benefits:

• 2 checked bags, plus standard carry-on allowance
• Seat selection (opened 24 hours before departure)

Club World (Long-Haul Business Class)

When flying Club World, you receive:

First (Long-Haul Premier Class)

• 3 checked bags, plus standard carry-on allowance
• Seat selection when booking
• Complimentary spa treatments at departure lounges (Terminal 5 Heathrow and Terminal 7 JFK)
• Dedicated customer service phone line

Baggage Fees

British Airways’ baggage policy is pretty straightforward for checked-bag allowance. However, its excess baggage policy is less straightforward, with costs dependent on where you’re flying to and from.

Carry-On Allowance

Passengers can bring a personal item and 1 standard carry-on piece for free.

• Personal item: 16 x 12 x 6 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm)
• Standard carry-on: 22 x 18 x 10 inches (56 x 45 x 25 cm)
• Weight: Up to 50 pounds (23 kg) per item

Lap Infant Carry-On Policy

1 cabin bag is permitted for infant necessities required during the flight.

• Size Restrictions : 22 x 18 x 10 inches (56 x 45 x 25 cm)
• Weight: Up to 50 pounds (23 kg)

Stroller Check Policy

One collapsible stroller per child can be checked at the gate for free. If the stroller meets the maximum dimensions of 46 x 15 x 15 inches (117 x 38 x 38 cm) when collapsed, then the stroller can be checked at the gate and collected from the arrival gate immediately after disembarking.

Strollers that exceed these dimensions will need to be collected at the baggage carousel.

Passengers traveling with a child may also bring an additional item, such as a car seat or travel cot. Infants under 2 are permitted to bring 1 piece of checked luggage with the same size and weight restrictions as the ticketed adult’s bag. This does not apply to passengers traveling on a Basic Economy fare.

Checked Baggage Allowance

• Size Restrictions : 35.5 x 29.5 x 16 inches (90 x 75 x 43 cm)
• Up to 50 pounds (23 kg) for Euro Traveller and World Traveller Plus
• Up to 70 pounds (32 kg) for Club World, Club Europe, and First Class fares

The number of checked bags that is permitted is based on the fare class you’re flying:

• Basic Economy Euro Traveller, and World Traveller: 0 bags included; carry-on baggage only
• Standard Euro Traveller and World Traveller:  1 bag included*
• W orld Traveller Plus :  2 bags included
• Club Europe and Club World:  2 bags included
• First:  3 bags included

*2 checked bags included for economy flights to/from Ghana, Kenya, Japan, and Nigeria, connecting between India and U.S./Bermuda/Canada, and connecting from Saudi Arabia to U.S./Bermuda/Canada

Additional/Excess Baggage Fees

Excess baggage fees start at $46, depending on the departure airport, destination, cabin class, and where the fee is paid.

Other Fees and Add-Ons

Booking With Call Center: $13

• Free for British Airways Executive Club Gold Members booking a reward flight

Booking at Airport Ticket Office: $25

Change Fee:  Free (online); $25 (phone); $35 (at an airport ticket office). A ticket change fee may also be charged depending on your fare type. This ranges from $0 to $275 and will be displayed at the time of booking. Any fare differences would also be payable.

Change Fee for Reward Flight Bookings: $55 (free for British Airways Executive Club Gold Priority members)

Same-Day Change: Free for domestic short-haul flights; fees for international tickets depends on route and fare class. Same-day changes can be made up to 1 hour before departure. Unfortunately, same-day changes are not permitted if you have a flight connection or are traveling on a long-haul flight.

Cancellation : Free (online); $25 (phone); $35 (at an airport ticket office); $55 for reward flight cancellations (free for British Airways Executive Club Gold Priority bookings)

Seat Selection

• Standard Seats: short-haul flights starting at $11, long-haul flights starting at $30
• Twin Seats: starting at $45
• Exit Row Seats: starting at $75
• Standard Seats: starting at $27
• Club Europe: starting at $21
• Club World: starting at $93

Unaccompanied Minor : Accompanied service was discontinued, so adult fare would be charged for minors, 14 years-of-age or over, who will be traveling alone.

Transporting a Pet: Pets are not permitted to be transported in a carry-on.

Refreshments Onboard

Note: Buy on board, prepay, and preorder services are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Where meals are included in your ticket, these are served in an enclosed box to reduce interaction between passengers and cabin crew.

For short-haul flights, food and beverages can be purchased on board. Sweet and savory snacks, fresh food, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks are available to purchase either with a credit card or even with Avios points:

• Fresh food: starting at £3.90 (~$5.23)
• Snacks: starting at £1.15 (~$1.54)
• Soft drinks: starting at £1.50 (~$2.01)
• Beer: starting at £4.45 (~$5.96)
• Wine: starting at £4.60 (~$6.16)
• Spirits: starting at £4.50 (~$6.03)

For long-haul flights departing London Heathrow, a complimentary meal is provided. You can also opt to upgrade your meal to BA’s exclusive online menu. There are 6 meals to choose from, ranging in price from £15 to £18 (~$20.10 to ~$24.12).

Many  travel rewards cards , like The Platinum Card ® from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve ® come with an annual airline credit that can be used to offset baggage fees.

Cardholders of the British Airways Visa Signature ® Card also have 2 ways to offset their baggage fees:

• Pay for the taxes, fees, and carrier charges for your reward flight using Avios
• Receive a statement credit of up to $200 — 3 times per year, up to $600 — when you book a reward flight using Avios and pay the taxes, fees, and charges on your card

Euro Traveller (Short-Haul Economy)

Amenities Include:

• Leather seating designed for maximum space
• Adjustable headrests
• Complimentary newspapers (where available)
• In-seat power
• Activity packs for children (for flights over 2 hours)

World Traveller (Long-Haul Economy)

• Ergonomically-designed seating with lumbar support and a movable headrest
• Cushion and blanket provided
• Eye mask, socks, and toothbrush provided upon request
• Personal in-seat entertainment monitor; available entertainment includes recent films, games, and music
• Meal plus a light snack and beverages

Amenities include:

• More legroom and wider seats than World Traveller
• Lumbar support, footrest, and adjustable headrest
• Smaller cabin with dedicated cabin crew
• Cushion, blanket, and an amenity kit with an eye mask, socks, and toothbrush provided
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Meals, including the option to choose from 2 dishes from the business class menu.
• Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available

• Dedicated cabin crew
• Fresh food meals and beverages

• 6-foot lie-flat bed with lumbar support and a movable headrest
• Power outlet
• Bedding and amenity kit designed by The White Company (on selected flights)
• 10.4-inch screens with on-demand entertainment (17-inch screens in the new Club Suites)
• 3-course meals and snacks from the Club Kitchen

Club World London City (LCY-JFK Business Class)

• 32 seats that transform into a 6-foot lie-flat bed
• U.S., U.K., and EU power outlets
• Bedding and amenity kit designed by The White Company
• iPad for entertainment
• OnAir connectivity service for internet, voice calls, and messaging (international roaming agreement required and billing will be through your provider)
• Gourmet dining plus snacks available at request
• Amenity kit with products from The White Company

• Spacious suite with 6-foot lie-flat bed with a quilted mattress
• Duvet, pillow, and Temperley London loungewear
• 7-piece Elemis skin and body care collection
• 15-inch monitor with on-demand entertainment
• Enhanced dining from an à la carte menu (both courses and selection items available)
• Refreshment menu includes award-winning wines and afternoon tea, depending on the flight time

Hot Tip: Ready to redeem Avios and enhance your inflight experience? See our guide on how to upgrade to business or first class on British Airways flights !

British Airways has a fleet of over 260 planes made up of 12 aircraft types, making BA’s fleet one of the most modern fleets in the world. The fleet of Boeing 747, known as “The Queen of the Skies,” was retired in July 2020.

We’ve included seating specs below for some of its most common planes, but you can view the full fleet here .

British Airways’ customer satisfaction has sadly tailed off in recent years, with stiff competition from low-cost carriers for its short-haul routes and competitively-priced Middle East airlines for long-haul flights.

Historically hailed as the “World’s Favorite Airline,” this doesn’t appear to be the case anymore, with customers taking to social media to voice their disappointment. These complaints are widespread and varied, covering lost baggage, poor customer service, decreased value, delays, and refund issues. Passengers have also voiced that BA seems to be unresponsive to comments on its social media channels, which simply causes more frustration.

Customers were not pleased with the 2017 changes to stop offering free food on short-haul flights. However, BA has formed a partnership with the much-loved British retailer, Marks & Spencer, to try to offset the displeasure of paying for food by offering such a reputable brand for purchase.

There is some good news on the horizon! BA is working through several aircraft refurbishments, and with the retirement of the older Boeing 747s, it looks like it is taking note of customer complaints about tired and outdated aircraft.

Most Common Complaints

No official statistics can be found on the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority website .

Consumer Rankings, Ratings, Etc.

Skytrax Ranking : 4 of 5 Star Airline

Skytrax Customer Rating : 5 of 10

Tripadvisor Airline Review Rating : 3.5 of 5 (averaged from over 54,000 reviews)

Kayak Customer Rating: 7.3 of 10 (averaged from over 22,000 reviews)

AirHelp.com Overall Rating: 7.54 of 10 (quality of amenities, on-time performance, and claim processing)

Safety and Performance

British Airways has a 7 of 7 safety record, as awarded by AirlineRatings.com . This rating takes into account whether the airline has an IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification, in addition to government and crash records combined with information from the world’s aviation governing body.

In 2010, British Airways partnered with Comic Relief to establish the Flying Start program that collects unwanted currency from customers and donates it to many Comic Relief projects around the world. To date, the project has raised over £24 million (~$32 million).

BA also donates to disaster relief projects and flies volunteers and aid workers to relief locations on chartered flights.

With its extensive route offering, preferred time slots at major airports, and professionalism, BA is still many passenger’s choice of airline. Greater competition across its route network has kept BA’s prices from soaring sky-high, with ongoing price wars between BA and Virgin Atlantic, in particular on transatlantic routes.

Now also heavily competing with low-cost carriers in the European market , BA has taken a risk changing up its business model when it had such an established reputation, and although it is striving to regain that respect, it’s not changing quickly enough for customers.

Even with the customer dissatisfaction, we acknowledge that BA offers great routes internationally, including its popular London-JFK route among business travelers, with many additional connecting short-haul flights to all major European cities.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

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Everything you need to know about British Airways’ fare classes

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information.

Have you ever heard someone say something along the lines of, "I'm flying in J" and wondered what on earth they could mean?

Or, have you checked your flight on ExpertFlyer and been surprised by the sea of letters showing for each British Airways flight when you know there are only four actual classes the airline flies — First , Club World / Club Suite (business), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy)?

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Why so many fare classes?

British Airways has 22 fare classes and four redemption classes. Revenue fare classes are bookable for cash whilst redemption fare classes are for Avios or mileage bookings.

Broadly speaking, the different fare classes within each cabin correlate both to the cost of the ticket as well as the flexibility of the fare offered. The lower classes usually sell first, so as a flight gets busier, the lower classes will fill up and BA will only sell higher, more expensive fare classes. Typically, the closer to your travel date, the higher the fare class — either because the plane has filled up anyway or because BA might only sell higher fare classes closer to the departure date, as it knows it can command higher prices for last-minute bookings.

BA's fare classes break down as follows:

• First: F (flexible) and A (discounted) as revenue fare classes and Z for reward redemptions;
• Club World (business class): J, C, D, R and I (with I being the cheapest) for revenue and U for reward bookings;
• World Traveller Plus (premium economy), W, E and T for revenue and P for reward bookings; and
• World Traveller (economy): Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, N, Q, O, G and P for revenue and X for reward bookings.

It's worth noting that based on which fare class you're booked in, the number of Avios you'll get in return will vary.

The table above shows the breakdown of Avios and Tier Points for BA's different fare classes. For example with the lowest economy classes (G, O and Q) you'll earn 25% of the miles flown and 25% of the Tier Points. A mid-range fare, such as this example roundtrip itinerary from Newark (EWR) to London (LHR), will earn you half of the miles flown. In this case, since it's an L class Basic Economy, you would earn 3,458 Avios.

If I book the same flight but choose a Premium Economy seat (a T class fare), I would earn 100% of the miles flown in Avios, which in this case would be 6,916.

It's also worth noting that G class, one of the most heavily discounted BA fare classes in economy, is reserved for travel agent bookings , including BA holidays. That's why it sometimes pays to add a car or hotel to your booking — that way, you might be able to book into G even if booking the flight on its own would only let you book into a higher fare class.

What the numbers mean

In the example above, the sea of 9s doesn't mean that there are only nine seats available in each class. Nine is the highest number that can be displayed for BA (for some airlines it's seven), and the fare classes are all related. For example, if you book nine seats in O class, it's highly likely that there won't be nine available in Q and that number goes down. That's why you might see BA offer four seats for sale on a flight when there's actually only one left .

Looking at a week-long trip to New York in February next year, a return ticket in Y, which is a fully flexible economy class, costs £2,291. The same ticket can be had for £301 if choosing the cheapest option, O class. The latter does not allow any bags or seat selection, and nor does it allow any changes, whilst the former is fully flexible, as the passenger can change the time, date and receive a full refund if it needs to be cancelled.

Despite the £2,000 price difference between the two tickets, the seat and food for those two tickets would be exactly the same. Of course, there are good and bad seats in each — our guides help you pick the best seats in any BA cabin .

The crazy thing about the fully flexible example economy price is that discounted premium economy can be had for £587, and even discounted business class can be had for £1,333 — a saving of £700 from that fully flexible economy seat. Now, that's a sale price (and a decent one from London ) and has no flexibility. In other words, you couldn't change dates nor get a refund.

Bottom line

Understanding fare classes and how you can use them in conjunction with ExpertFlyer can help you find cheaper flights. If the particular flight or day you are looking for doesn't have the price you were expecting or hoping for, it's worth having a browse on ExpertFlyer to find a date that has lower fare classes available. In addition to also helping you understand what you'll earn on the flight, you'll be able to impress your AvGeek friends at the next dinner party.

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Points Programs

Hotel programs, best credit cards, back to airlines, the complete guide to british airways first class.

Last updated: March 31, 2023

Read time 29 mins

British Airways First Class doesn’t get as much attention compared to many other First Class products. Often jokingly described as “the world’s best business class”, British Airways First Class has historically left much to be desired.

That moniker may soon become outdated, though, as the UK flag carrier has taken steps to improve their First Class product in recent years.

In this guide, we’ll dive into those changes and look at everything that is British Airways First Class. We’ll explore what you can expect to find before and during your flight, as well as the routings, aircraft, and the best ways to book British Airways First Class with points.

The British Airways First Class Experience

The British Airways First Class experience saw  an overhaul to the onboard soft product in 2019 , and improvements to the hard product on certain aircraft in 2020.

While the exact experience in British Airways First Class will differ depending on your aircraft type, you’ll always find yourself in a spacious seat that can be converted to a fully lie-flat bed, complete with a quilted mattress, duvet, and your own set of pajamas.

Ground Experience

British Airways First Class passengers have access to a dedicated check-in desks at most airports, as is generally the case when flying First Class. In addition to those dedicated desks, passengers also have access to fast-track security at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and New York JFK airports.

London Heathrow has the First Wing, which is a dedicated First Class check-in area. Here, you’ll find an exclusive entrance and a dedicated security lane that leads directly to the British Airways Galleries First Lounge and the more exclusive Concorde Room.

British Airways has a First Class Lounge in Terminal 3 at London Heathrow, but their superior First Class offering, the Concorde Room, can be found in Terminal 5, opposite from the British Airways Galleries First Lounge.

The Concorde Room is only accessible to British Airways First Class passengers, as well as Gold Executive Club Members with at least 5,000 Tier Points in a single year travelling in any class of service. The Concorde Room has indoor lounge areas, as well as a more open terrace that overlooks the terminal.

You can enjoy à la carte dining in the Concorde Room, including high-quality food and beverage options. A new cocktail menu has recently been introduced, with seven signature cocktails.

There are also private cabanas you can book, where you’ll have your own room with a chair, ottoman, TV, and private bathroom. If you’d like to get some sleep, you can nap in one of the new Restworks technology-enhanced nap pods.

While it’s not a complete lie-flat bed, these nap pods allow you to get some rest and will wake you up with gentle vibration, light, and sounds.

If you’re flying out of New York JFK as a British Airways First Class passenger, you’ll also have access to the Concorde Room in Terminal 7. Note that British Airways is teaming up with American Airlines to open up three new lounges in Terminal 8 at JFK, including a dedicated First Class lounge that should open up in late 2022.

The seat on a British Airways First Class flight differs slightly, depending on which aircraft you fly in. Currently, you’ll find three different variations of the First Class seat, which we will explore in detail later on in this guide.

All First Class products have the option of turning the seat into a lie flat bed that measures 78” long and 22” wide between the armrests. While in the lie-flat position, the seat is designed to line up flush with the arm rest, affording you a bit more room.

Beyond the usual seat controls, British Airways First Class seats are devoid of any fancier technology and gadgets. You’ll find an updated 23” high-definition entertainment screen and a stylish lamp in all First Class seats.

Some of the newer First Class cabins found in the Boeing 777-300ERs have doors, offering additional privacy.

All First Class passengers are given Temperley London amenity bags and loungewear to help make the flight more comfortable.

Food and Drink

British Airways uses a “dine on demand” approach with their First Class food and beverage service. You can order from an à la carte menu whenever you wish during the flight, which includes plenty of gourmet food options.

In addition to the main meal service, high-quality Champagne and other beverages are available. Naturally, you can also try a signature afternoon tea service, providing you with a full British experience in the skies.

If you’re flying with a companion, you can dine together in British Airways First Class. In the same suite, your invitee can join you by sitting on the adjacent ottoman.

British Airways First Class Cabins

The British Airways First Class product comes in three variations: the original First Class Prime seat (introduced in 2010), the updated First Class Prime seat (introduced in 2015), and the First Suite (introduced in 2020).

The oldest version of the three can be found on all Airbus A380s, and on the majority of the Boeing 777s.

Airbus A380 (2010 First Class Prime)

On the behemoth double-decker Airbus A380s, the First Class cabin is on the main deck, where there are a total of 14 First Class seats laid out in a 1-2-1 format.

While the A380 First Class seats are a similar size compared to other aircraft with British Airways First Class, there is around 30% more personal space and 60% more storage space than the same older First Class products found on Boeing 777s.

If you’re flying by yourself in British Airways First Class on the Airbus A380, the best seats will be by the window: Seats 1A, 1K, 2A, 2K, 3A, 3K, 4A, or 4K.

If you’re flying in British Airways First Class with a companion, you’ll want to select one of the middle seat pairs – Seats 2E and 2F, 3E and 3F, or 4E and 4F – in order to enjoy the experience together.

Boeing 777-200ER & Boeing 777-300ER (2010 First Class Prime)

The oldest British Airways First Class model found on the Boeing 777-200ERs and Boeing 777-300ERs also has 14 seats in a 1-2-1 layout.

The best seat choices for solo travellers or anyone travelling with a companion are the same as those on the Airbus A380.

Boeing 787-9 & 787-10 Dreamliner (2015 First Class Prime)

The updated 2015 First Class seat can be found on all Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft.

Both aircraft have eight First Class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 format, with updated and more modern looking finishings.

If you’re flying First Class on a British Airways 787 as a solo passenger, the best seat for you will be along the windows: Seats 1A, 1K, 2A, or 2K.

If you’re flying with a companion, you should choose either Seats 1E and 1F or 2E and 2F.

Boeing 777-300ER (2020 First Class Suite)

The 2020 British Airways First Class update saw some major changes. Although the product is very similar to the 2015 First Class cabin, the largest update came by way of adding two fully closing doors, which provide extra privacy.

Furthermore, these seats have a unique three-point seat belt, which means there is no longer a need for the bulky integrated air bag on the lap belt. The shoulder strap is only required during take off and landing.

This 2020 First Class version can only be found on select Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. On these aircraft, there are eight First Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration across two rows.

If you’re travelling by yourself, Seats 1A, 1K, 2A, or 2K by the windows will be the best choice.

If you‘re travelling with a companion, Seats 1E and 1F or 2E and 2F in the middle will be the best choice.

How can you tell which British Airways First Class cabin is which?

In order to figure out which version of British Airways First Class you’ve booked, you need to look at both the specific aircraft type and the number of First Class seats available in the cabin.

Any First Class seat booked on the Airbus A380 will have the older 2010 First Class Prime seat, and any First Class seat booked on either the Boeing 787-9 or the Boeing 787-10 will have the updated 2015 First Class Prime seat.

Where you need to pay the most attention is with First Class seats on the Boeing 777 models:

• If you’re flying on a Boeing 777-200ER, you’ll be on the older 2010 First Class Prime product.
• In order to tell which Boeing 777-300ER First Class product will be offered on your specific flight, you have to look at how many First Class seats there are. If there are 14 seats, then it will be the 2010 product, and if there are only eight, then it will be on the updated 2020 model with sliding doors.

You can use a tool such as ExpertFlyer to determine the number of First Class seats that are on any particular route.

It’s also important to note that British Airways may switch up the aircraft at the last minute, and you may not be flying the exact First Class product you had originally booked.

There is really no way to avoid this, but you can take comfort in the fact that all British Airways First Class products have the same service and onboard offerings, even if the seats differ slightly.

On ExpertFlyer, you can set up an “Aircraft Change” alert, which will notify you if there has been a change in the aircraft on a particular flight.

British Airways First Class Routes

With First Class cabins on a wide range of aircraft, British Airways offers their most premium cabin on many different routes.

From its hub in London, British Airways offers First Class to the following North American destinations:

Aside from flights to North America, British Airways offers First Class to the following destinations around the world:

Note that First Class availability and aircraft type on any specific route is subject to change. To determine the classes of service available on any particular flight, as well as the specific type of aircraft, be sure to check with British Airways or use a tool such as ExpertFlyer.

How to Redeem Points for British Airways First Class

British Airways is a part of the Oneworld airline alliance, and First Class can be booked with many Oneworld loyalty programs.

British Airways Avios

Using British Airways Avios  for British Airways First Class can be a great option, depending on the distance of your trip and whether or not you’re flying during off-peak or peak travel dates.

British Airways uses a distance-based award chart, which is further separated by off-peak and peak pricing. In the search results, you’ll see a red “Off-Peak” logo for dates with off-peak pricing.

Pricing is calculated by individual flight segments. Therefore, if you have multiple flights on a single booking, perhaps from London to Singapore to Sydney, you’ll be required to cumulatively pay Avios for each leg of the journey.

A one-way flight from London to as far as Chicago in North America will cost you 68,000 Avios during off-peak and 80,000 Avios during peak pricing.

A flight between London and western North America will be 85,000 or 100,000 Avios, depending on if you’re flying during off-peak or peak pricing. The below examples are for a flight between London and Seattle.

Luckily, earning enough Avios for a British Airways First Class flight shouldn’t be too difficult, as the loyalty program is a transfer partner with many transferrable points programs, including:

• American Express (Canada) Membership Rewards
• HSBC Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• American Express (US) Membership Rewards
• Capital One
• Chase Ultimate Rewards

Furthermore, RBC has a co-branded credit card, the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite , so you can earn Avios on your daily spending.

Be sure to keep an eye out for the frequent transfer bonuses from the above programs to Avios. It’s not uncommon to see a transfer bonus of 30 –50%, which essentially reduces the cost of a British Airways First Class flight by the same margin.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Using Alaska miles to book British Airways First Class flights is much more straightforward than with Avios. For flights between any North American airport and London, the flight will cost you 70,000 Alaska miles per direction.

Depending on where in North America you’re flying to or from, and in which season you’re flying, this could wind up being a lot cheaper than using Avios.

Earning Alaska miles is quite easy through credit card welcome bonuses. For example, the MBNA Alaska Airlines Mastercard  gives a welcome bonus of 30,000 Alaska miles upon spending $1,000 in the first three months, and also earns you one Alaska mile per dollar spent on your purchases.

Furthermore, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan at the optimal ratio of 60,000 Bonvoy points = 25,000 Alaska miles. Below this, the transfer ratio is 3:1, but transferring in chunks of 60,000 yields a bonus of 5,000 miles.

Note that there are some more compelling uses for Alaska miles where you won’t incur a large sum of taxes and fees . Consider saving your Alaska miles for redemptions on Japan Airlines First Class or Cathay Pacific First Class instead.

American Airlines AAdvantage

Using AAdvantage miles to fly British Airways First Class is also fairly simple, as it requires 85,000 miles to book a flight to or from any airport in North America and London.

American Airlines AAdvantage is a transfer partner of RBC Avion, albeit at a less-than-ideal ratio of 1:0.7. Furthermore, you can earn AAdvantage miles by transferring Marriott Bonvoy points at the optimal ratio of 60,000 Bonvoy points = 25,000 AAdvantage miles.  

If you have access to American credit cards , there are a number of co-branded credit cards from Citi . You can earn AAdvantage miles quickly through welcome bonuses and daily spending.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Similar to British Airways Executive Club, Japan Airlines Mileage Bank also uses a distance-based award chart when booking partner airline flights.

Using JAL miles, you’d need 65,000 miles for a British Airways First Class flight between eastern North America and London, and 90,000 miles between western North America and London.

Unfortunately, Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles are quite difficult to come by in North America. Your best bet is to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at the optimal ratio of 60,000 Bonvoy points = 25,000 JAL Mileage Bank miles.

Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges

While using points to book British Airways First Class flights can save you a lot of money, you’ll still be responsible for paying taxes and fees. With British Airways, these can indeed be quite hefty, regardless of which program you book through.

A one-way First Class flight with British Airways has surcharges of anywhere from $700–1,200 (CAD) for flights to and from North America. In addition, if you’re departing from the UK, you’ll have to pay a further fee for the UK Air Passenger Duty (APD), which is over $300 (CAD).

In total, expect to pay at least $500+ (CAD) in surcharges for a British Airways First Class flight, unless you originate from a country that imposes regulations on fuel surcharges.

British Airways First Class Award Availability

In order to secure a British Airways First Class seat, you’ll want to search as far in advance as possible. Despite the hefty amount of taxes and fees, passengers who prioritize direct routings over cost can often snatch up First Class award seats quickly.

Expect to find more availability on less popular routes, and less availability between London and major airport hubs with large populations. 

You’re more likely to find a single First Class award seat available with British Airways, but it’s also not uncommon to see two, three, or sometimes even four seats available. Should you require multiple seats, broaden your search to other cities where British Airways First Class is offered, and look for connecting flights with partner airlines.

Tips & Tricks for British Airways First Class

While a majority of the extra fees and surcharges can’t be avoided, if you book a British Airways First Class flight originating from somewhere outside of London, you’ll at least be able to save on the UK APD.

If you’re booking with British Airways Avios, you’ll want to plan to book during the off-peak pricing, if possible, as the Avios amount can be significantly cheaper.

Lastly, if you’re using Alaska miles, you can add in a free stopover if you’re flying on the same carrier. So, if you’ve managed to find availability, you could fly from North America to London, have a stopover in London, and then carry onward to Asia or the Middle East for a nominal amount of additional miles.

British Airways First Class is certainly a step up from business class, but it doesn’t quite have the same glowing reputation as First Class cabins on competing airlines. 

Of course, you’ll still enjoy a refined ground experience, with access to the flagship Concorde Room lounges in London and New York, as well as elevated dining at your leisure throughout the flight.

You can leverage the power of Miles & Points to experience British Airways First Class at a steep discount, although you should be aware that this is the one aspirational product for which you’ll almost always have to pay a hefty chunk of carrier-imposed surcharges when redeeming points.

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Top 10 reasons why I like to fly British Airways (again)

Friday  newsletters  always feature luxury travel  contests ,  tips ,  series , or  news .

Today (May 27, 2019): Top 10 reasons why I like to fly British Airways (again).

British Airways , part of International Airlines Group (also parent of Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus) is one of the world’s leading global premium airlines. The UK flagship carrier has a fleet of more than 280 aircraft – including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 – that fly 123,000 passengers across the globe every day. A British Airways aircraft takes off from somewhere in the world every 90 seconds. The carrier was created in 1974 after the British government decided to merge several national and regional airline corporations. However, the carrier is marking 2019 as its centenary on the basis of the foundation of its forerunner company, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited (AT&T), which launched the world’s first daily international scheduled air service between London and Paris in 1919. I fly with British Airways a lot (cf my trip reports below), and although I was disappointed with them in the past, I noticed that the carrier recently dramatically stepped up its game , hence why they rank again among my favorite airlines for longhaul Business Class . Here are ten reasons why I like to fly British Airways (again) and why they are often my first choice for a longhaul Business Class flight.

• 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

Have you ever flown British Airways? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment .

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10. AN EXCELLENT AIRPORT HUB (LONDON HEATHROW)

British Airways uses Heathrow as its base, one of my favorite airports in the world . Heathrow is the largest of London’s six international airports, the other ones being Gatwick (also a major British Airways hub), Stansted, London City, Luton and Southend. With a record 80 million passengers in 2017, Heathrow ranks as the seventh busiest airport in the world by total passenger traffic. While the airport is not convenient when you have to switch terminals between flights, its newly opened Terminal 2 – officially known as the Queen’s Terminal and used by Star Alliance airlines – and its 10 year old Terminal 5 – which is used by British Airways – are great and airy spaces to spend a couple of hours before a flight. These terminals offer some of the best and most abundant airport shopping and dining in the world, with heaps of high-end boutique shops, a Harrods outlet, and a Gordon Ramsay restaurant. Unfortunately, some British Airways flights still leave from the subpar Terminal 3.

9. DECENT LOUNGES

British Airways’ Business Class lounge at Heathrow (called ‘Galleries Lounge’) is definitely a step up from most airline lounges (especially in Europe and the USA). The enormous lounge features Osborne and Little exclusively designed fabric and embraces the daylight with very large windows that offer nice view of the apron and runways. It has plenty of food on display, with a fresh soup bar, hot and cold entrees, lots of snacks, full coffee stations with all sorts of cappuccino and lattes, and a very broad selection of wines, beers and spirits. Next to the lounge is an Elemis Travel Spa, and all Business and First Class passengers are entitles to a 15 minutes complimentary treatment. There are also over 30 dedicated British Airways departure lounges across the world (e.g. the Boston lounge, pictured below) and more than 100 additional partner lounges you get access to (more than any other European airline).

8. THE LARGEST BOEING 747 OPERATOR

British Airways is the largest commercial operator of the Boeing 747, with 35 of these aircraft – also dubbed the Queen of the Skies – in its fleet. The B747’s distinctive hump upper deck along the forward part of the aircraft has made it one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world. More than 1500 of these jumbo jets have been built, with the B747-400 being the most common variant in service. Flying on the British Airways B747 upper deck is a real treat, since it only features 20 Business Class seats arranged in a 2-2 layout, so there is more space for fewer passengers and it almost feels like are flying in a private aircraft cabin. I like the exclusivity and quiet atmosphere of British Airways’ 747 upper deck so much that I still prefer it over the more flashy Business Class products of other carriers’ single-decked planes. Unfortunately, British Airways will retire all of these old birds by 2024.

7. A CONVENIENT ROUTE NETWORK

With a a fleet of more than 280 aircraft, British Airways flies to more than 200 destinations in 75 countries across the globe. Above all, the carrier offers an unrivaled service to Northern America, with more direct flights from the UK to the USA & Canada than any other airline. This allows you to reach your desired destination in the shortest possible time, so you maximize your time spent in the USA and avoid a stop-over in the USA itself (where you have to recheck your luggage, which can be a stressful event when there is a long line for immigration). British Airways has also teamed up with American Airlines, Iberia and Finnair to offer passengers across the Atlantic Ocean even more perks. Online check in can be submitted from all airline websites, as well as integrated customer service throughout the entire experience. More flights are also available, such as London to New York, where a total of almost 20 flights are available each way every day.

6. LUXURIOUS BEDDING & AMENITY KIT

British Airways partners with The White Company , a luxury lifestyle brand, to ensure a great night’s sleep in the sky. The iconic British retailer supplies excellent bedding and amenity kits in Club World, the carrier’s longhaul Business Class cabin. The bedding now includes a luxuriously soft large pillow that comes in a white cotton pillowcase featuring a day and night design; a super-soft woven day blanket with satin trim; a specially developed luxurious duvet; and a new padded mattress topper to provide an extra layer of comfort to improve your quality of sleep. You also receive an elegant day cushion, which doubles up as lumbar support when working or relaxing on board. The new Club World amenity kit comes in an elegantly designed bag from The White Company and contains products from the retailer’s Restore & Relax Spa Collection, offering a further touch of luxury in the sky.

5. DELICIOUS ONBOARD FOOD

Since last year, British Airways serves DO & CO meals on all its flights leaving from Heathrow. Thanks to an innovate service concept and its high and uncompromising quality standards, DO & CO has been a benchmark in the airline industry for many years. The company provides the onboard meals for Austrian Airlines and Turkish Airlines, which both rank among the best regarded long­haul airlines for Business Class food . As I experienced myself, the new DO & CO food onboard British Airways is a tremendous improvement over the carrier’s previous pathetic Business Class catering. In fact, the meals served onboard British Airways now rank among the best tasting and nicely presented dishes in the skies.  The restaurant-style menu offers you a choice of starters, main courses and desserts, all served on beautiful table settings with proper crockery and cutlery.

4. A WELL-ESTABLISHED FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM

Launched in 1995, the frequent flyer program of British Airways is called the  Executive Club . In 2011, following its merger with Iberia, the flag carrier of the United Kingdom and the founding member of the Oneworld global airline introduced dramatic changes to its Executive Club program, creating a distinct reward currency, Avios. Avios is a coalition program, offering members of the frequent flyer programs of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Meridiana thousands of ways to earn and redeem points for flights, hotels, and even travel experiences. Although Executive Club has some downsides, it scores high in my list of the world’s best frequent flyer programs because it’s the only well-established loyalty program of a major Western legacy airline that is not revenue based (yet). Read here my review of Executive Club, with pros, cons and tips how to make the most of it.

3. A CONSISTENT FLEET-WIDE BUSINESS CLASS PRODUCT

While British Airways’ Business Class (dubbed Club World) raised the bar worldwide two decades ago with the introduction of the first fully lie-flat seat and an innovative “Yin/Yang” seat plan, the seat concept itself is now dated and outclassed by some of its competitors. So you would not expect British Airways to end up in a list with the world’s best Business Class products , but the truth is that it remains one of my preferred airlines for longhaul travel, not only because the seat is extremely private (as long as you don’t end up along the aisle) but mainly because the product is consistent across its wide-body fleet. All of British Airways’ wide body aircraft – which comprises the Boeing 747, the Boeing 787, the Boeing 777, and the Airbus A380 – features the same type of seat and cabin layout. This is a contrast with many other carriers, which often operate different types of Business Class products across their fleet (leaving you puzzled at the time of booking what type of seat you will get).

2. A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED CREW

British Airways employs the most experienced crews in the air and on the ground. It currently has approximately 45,000 employees, including 16,500 cabin crew and 3,900 pilots. Pilots and cabin crew have an average of 15 years’ experience. The airline’s 4,700 engineers have an average of 19 years’ experience each. That is a reassuring thought for a nervous flyer like myself . What also helps is that British Airways not only has an inflight video to ease nervous flyers ( trailer ), but also that their professional and friendly crew always uses the exact same routine for passenger communications. For example, the flight crew always talks over the intercom to the passengers before take-off and 40 minutes before arrival (no matter how short the duration of the flight is), and the cabin crew always addresses the passengers following their flight crew colleagues. Somehow, this predictable routine (often lacking with other airlines) makes me feel a lot more comfortable.

1. INTRODUCTION OF A NEW FABULOUS BUSINESS CLASS SEAT

British Airways recently unveiled its new business class seat – ‘Club Suite’ – which will arrive on the first of its A350 aircraft in July. The airline’s sophisticated and newly-branded ‘Club Suite’ will offer direct-aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy, and luxurious flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Boasting 40 per cent more storage, every aspect of British Airways’ Club Suite has been designed for today’s customer, including a vanity unit and mirror, WiFi, enviable 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens, high definition gate-to-gate programming, and PC/USB power. The first A350 aircraft will start some short-haul flying between London and Madrid to familiarize cabin crew with the aircraft layout. In October 2019, three other A350s will join the fleet and operate long-haul flights to Toronto, Dubai, and Tel Aviv.

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10 Comments

Love flying British Airways was upgraded once to business class and wisI could afford to fly business class. The service was amazing as always.

Caring crew

Worst airline and staff. Each and every time

Recently flew premium economy Bangkok to Heathrow, poor entertainment on a phone sized screen, poor food and apathetic and slovenly staff, remember when booking a flight the pop group ABBA anyone but British Airways.

I totally agree that staff very low on the scale. True to typical british style there are a dozen apologies throughout the flight and most insincere and just a way to exit the conversation and go back to being out of sight.

The author of this “10 best” clearly missed the mark by forgetting how bad the rest of the product is… Terrible food comes first to mind with big fatty chucks of unrecognizable meat. My last 4 BA meals had “designer chef” meals and the only fee was that each item was on a separate plate and if combined would have all fit on a single plate with lots of spare room. I always land starving for a good meal. Eggs and mayo are in every dish (especially afternoon tea!)… Not something you want to eat after sitting in a galley for 10 hours.

What might be a closer 2nd failure are the terrible business lounges, not just in terminal 5, but their international locations abroad. I can’t tell you how many times I find the only food offerings to be potato chips, cookies and bananas. Seriously? That junk is worse than the snacks served in coach.

3rd,,, would be that BA doesn’t give a crap when you point this out to them. (which I do frequently).

Several inaccuracies – new catering is actually on very few flights, certainly not all from LHR. Also the inconsistent between crews is huge, as there are multiple crew/contract types on different routes.

I only had 4 long haul flights with BA. 2 in Business and 2 in First. Whereas the seat was OK, the cabin crew was just awful. Not at all welcoming and they did not even try to make the flight in First a first class experience. But it’s very cheap compared to other airlines. What you pay is what you get.

The last time I flew BA the staff were so rude that I have never flown them since.

A few days ago I flew BA First to Miami on a 747 and it was disgraceful. The plane is so old First hasn’t been updated in years. It’s 2019, how can a First product get away with an SD entertainment system that’s over 10:years old???

I flew first class en route to an important athletic competition; my sole purpose of this trip was my athletic competition. They managed to lose my bike and it took days to find it, with each day passing drawing nearer to the start of my race. It caused extreme stress (to me, clearly not them) in trying to find it. I should have been tipped off by the second rate service I noted once on board in San Francisco en route to Paris- they weren’t the upper crust one expects, and the on-board food was dismal.

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British Airways 777-300ER Business Class (Club Suite) Review

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For a recent flight from London Heathrow to Los Angeles, I managed to avoid having to book the British Airways A380 Business Class cabin in which I had traveled on my way over to Europe and, instead, I booked the airline’s newest long-haul Business Class seat – the Club Suite.

I’ve reviewed the First Wing at Heathrow and the British Airways First lounge a few times in the past so I’m just going to skip along to the cabin, the seat and the flight.

British Airways 777-300ER Business Class cabin

Unlike the antiquated Club World seat that you’ll still find on far too many British Airways aircraft, this Club Suite cabin offers all passengers direct access to one of the aircraft’s two aisles courtesy of its reverse herringbone layout.

There are 76 Club Suites onboard the British Airways 777-300ER and they’re split across two cabins.

Towards the front of the aircraft and just behind First Class, is a small 3-row cabin with just 12 Club Suites.

Behind the Business Class galley is where you’ll find the rest of the Club Suites.

I always choose to sit in a mini-cabin if the option is open to me as often, I often find the mini cabins to be less noisy ( the American Airlines 777-300ER is another aircraft which offers a Business Class mini cabin ).

For solo travelers (or for people who don’t feel the need to be in continual contact with whomever they’re traveling with), the single seats by the windows will be the best choice.

For couples who prefer to sit together of for travelers who will want to communicate frequently during the flight, the center seats will be the best option.

Solo travelers who find themselves in one of the center seats can give themselves some privacy by pulling closed the divider that sits between the two center seats.

On this flight, I was in seat 7K (window seat) at the back of the mini cabin.

The Club Suite

This is what a British Airways Club Suite looks like.

Actually, that’s what 7K on the 777-300ER looks like and it’s slightly different from most other window seats in that it’s missing a window.

Most seats on either side of this aircraft have access to two windows.

Some Business Class travelers may notice that this seat looks familiar, and that’s because it’s not an entirely new seat. It’s the Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seat (found on select aircraft flown by the likes of Qatar Airways, American Airlines and Air Canada) with a door attached to it + a few other customisations.

The door isn’t really a big deal as it isn’t really high enough to offer any kind of meaningful privacy from people walking by (I’m 6ft tall and when I sit upright in the seat, my eyes are just above door level), but it’s great at blocking out light from the IFE screen of the passenger across the aisle.

The seat looks classy – it’s hard to tell from the lighting in these images but it’s understated without being boring – and it has been well thought through.

There’s a small storage cubby (with door) at shoulder height between the seat and the window.

The whole shelf area under the windows (and in between seats in the center section) offers more space for a passenger to store their personal items.

And there’s even more storage space under the shelf.

You won’t be able to store a large laptop in any of these storage areas, but a regular iPad fits into the larger of the two spaces in the shelf and there will still be room left for other items.

There is one issue here, however.

Within the larger storage space built into the shelf you’ll find the seat’s power options and the entertainment controller …

… and if you fill this space up with items that you’d like to keep close to you, a lot of these become hard to access.

This where you’ll find the seat’s universal AC power outlet complete with a USB-A port …

… as well as the input for the headphones (if you want to use the entertainment system) and a second USB-A port.

It’s worth noting that some people may face an issue with location of the AC power outlet.

If you happen to be traveling with a laptop that comes with a large ‘brick’ charger, you may struggle to plug the charger in if you’re using a UK-style 3-pin plug – there may not be enough room between the power outlet and the bottom of the storage area for the brick to fit.

The solution to this is to fit a US- or European-style 2-pin adapter, to turn the brick upside down and to plug it in like that.

Moving on from the ample storage space that the Club Suite offers, we come to the seat’s tray table which deploys from underneath the entertainment screen.

The table can be placed at different distances from the seat, it can be half opened or fully opened, and it’s a very good size.

The controls for the seat are found on a touchscreen built into the shelf, and a light press of the screen puts them on display.

As far as I can tell, you can angle this seat into just about any position that makes you feel comfortable …

… and, crucially, it can be made to lie flat and create a 79″ bed.

Despite the presence of a door (which you can leave open if you so choose), there’s nothing confining or claustrophobic about the Club suite, and the seat is a very comfortable place to relax or work (the large and sturdy tray table is great for working on).

When being used as a bed, there’s ample space around a passenger’s shoulders and head, so most people should be able to find a comfortable sleeping position.

When it comes to seats like these, one point of contention is usually the amount of space that’s left for a passenger’s feet once the bed is in lie-flat mode, as this can be important when it comes to comfort when lying down.

Some modern Business Class seats leave little room for a passenger’s feet, but this Club Suite seems to be ok.

I wear size 10 shoes and I didn’t have an issue with the space above the footrest …

… I’m going to take that to mean that most people will find that there is sufficient room for their feet to get comfortable when lying down. There’s definitely more room for a passenger’s feet here than there is in the fabled Qatar Airways Qsuites .

Ok… so what else do you need to know about the Club suite?

Above the seat, you’ll find some lights but no individual air vents or nozzles, so that’s a slight blemish on what the seat offers.

And as well as the lights overhead (which can be switched on and off via the entertainment controller), there a small reading light to one side of the seat.

That’s just about it.

Overall, this is an excellent seat and a world away from the ancient Club World seat that you’ll find on variety of BA’s other aircraft.

It’s comfortable when upright, angled or in lie-flat mode, it offers plenty of storage space (although a space large enough to house a laptop would have been nice), and despite the presence of a door, it doesn’t feel confining, tight, or claustrophobic.

This is a very good Business Class seat.

In-flight entertainment

The inflight entertainment screen is an 18.5″ HD touch screen, it sits directly in front of the seat, and it’s immovable.

You can’t put it away and you can’t angle it up or down and that last point means that from certain angles, the screen can suffer from glare from the cabin lights.

When your seated upright, it’s easiest to use the touchscreen functionality to control the system, but as you angle the seat back, you’ll find that you slowly get out of touching range of the screen and that’s when the easy-to-use controller (mentioned earlier) will come into play.

There’s no option to pair bluetooth headphones to this system, but British Airways supplies Business Class passengers with adequate (if unspectacular) headphones …

… and passengers with their own wired headphones can plug those into the headphone input and enjoy stereo sound even though BA’s headphones come fitter with a 2-pin jack.

Entertainment wise, there’s a huge variety of options on offer with dozens of movies, TV shows (including some box sets), documentaries, music albums, and games available at the touch of a few buttons …

… and if you want to know what’s playing onboard right now, you can find out by accessing this page of the British Airways website (it will even tell you what’s playing on specific flights).

All of BA’s long-haul aircraft come equipped with Intelsat 2Ku satellite wifi with which I have a love hate relationship. The system has dual personalities.

On some days it will be wonderful while on others, the seemingly endless breaks in service can be very, very frustrating.

On this flight, the wifi behaved itself and I got a lot of work done without having to stop every few minutes to wait for a simple page to load.

Upload speeds weren’t very good, but downloads were fine (I didn’t attempt to steam anything so can’t tell you what that experience was like).

A key thing to keep in mind is that on some flights, the aircraft will travel out of the range of the satellite internet coverage so you may not get a continuous connection even if you pay for full flight access.

As far as pricing goes, this is what you can currently expect to pay on a flight of this length (you can pay in GBP, USD or Euro).

If you have a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, make sure you check what is the best currency to use.

At the time of writing, for example, you’ll find that it’s cheaper to pay in British Pounds than US Dollars and that it’s cheaper to pay in Euros than US Dollars or British Pounds.

Clearly, this may change as the values of these currencies fluctuates.

Upon boarding, Business Class passengers find three items waiting for them on their seats.

• A bag containing a blanket and a thin mattress topper.
• Headphones.

And they find a bottle of water and an amenity kit in the storage cubicle above the shelf/ledge.

The bedding is by White Company and is acceptable. Nothing more.

The mattress topper is on the thin side, and I find that it slides off the seat too easily so I don’t bother using it.

The blanket is much better, but that’s not a high hurdle to clear and anyone expecting it to be in the same league as the blanket you’ll find in Qatar Airways Business Class will be disappointed.

Still, it does a job.

The Business Class amenity kit that British Airways offers (also by White Company) has been around for years and will probably be familiar to a lot of Business Class travelers.

The contents include an eye mask, socks, earplugs, a toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste, a lip balm, a moisturizer and a relaxation spray.

The images do most of the talking here and this is all pretty standard stuff for US/European transatlantic Business Class.

Dining and service

Shortly after boarding, the flight attendants came through the cabin offering pre-departure beverages. The standard selection was available – champagne, orange juice, or water.

I tried the champagne – Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Silver Top Brut – and didn’t like it at all, so I quickly swapped it out for an orange juice which although it was made from concentrate, was a big improvement.

After take-off (and after we had levelled out), the cabin crew handed out menus and took drinks orders.

I noticed that alongside the Champagne, British Airways was offering an English sparkling wine – Wiston, Brut NV – so I decided to see if that was any better than the Champagne.

A quick bit of research also showed that it was noticeably more expensive than the Champagne.

Lunch orders were taken shortly after drinks had been served, and about an hour into the flight, the first meal service commenced.

I had chosen the beef carpaccio for my starter which came served with a creamy root vegetable salad, a mustard dressing, and chimichurri vinaigrette.

A mixed bread roll was also offered as well as a small side-salad with farro (a kind of grain).

The beef was cut too think to be a true carpaccio, but it was very nice.

The faro salad, however, wasn’t.

This was the second flight in a row British Airways served me a salad with farro in it and, disappointingly, I hadn’t learned from the first encounter.  This (along with arugula) needs to be never served onboard again.

Next up was the main course for which I had chosen a fillet of Hampshire pork loin with mustard creamed potato, vegetables, and smoked red pepper sauce.

The vegetables, creamed potato and red pepper sauce were all quite good, but the pork was dry and not even the sauce could disguise that. Disappointing.

Up to this point, the meal service had been moving along at a good pace, but it suddenly slowed right down and there was a long gap between the main course and dessert.

Aside : One of the benefits of having a large side-shelf built into the design of this seat is that at meal time (when all the space the tray table is taken up with food, silverware and tableware), you still have somewhere to rest a device so that you can watch whatever entertainment you’ve brought with you (another positive aspect of the Club Suite).

For dessert, I had chosen a warm caramelised sour cherry and almond pudding with vanilla sauce (if a dessert has the word vanilla in it, I’m almost always going to choose it).

The image doesn’t really do it justice because this was enjoyable. Despite appearances, it wasn’t in the least bit dry and it tasted very nice.

There was a bit of a wait for the remnants of the dessert course to be cleared away, but around 90 minutes after my starter had been served, my tray table was clear and I could get down to work.

A couple of hours before we were due to land (it may have been a little closer to landing than that – I can’t recall), the second meal service commenced.

My chosen starter was a salad of grilled courgette, goat’s cheese and blueberries with broad beans, pine nuts and courgette cream.

This was good. It tasted fresh, it was crisp, and it didn’t look like the caterers had tried to get away with just one or two small pieces of goats’ cheese.

For my main course I ordered the traditional British fish pie which, apparently, contained pollock, smoked mackerel, and marinated garden peas.

I’m not sure there was a single piece of fish in this pie. If there was, it would have taken an scanning electron microscope to identify it. It was all potato.

After eating a bit and then digging around inside the pie to see if I could find any vestiges of something that may have once seen a sea or ocean, I gave up and moved on to dessert.

There was only one option for dessert, but that was ok because I’m a fan of Vanilla panna cotta.

This was much better – well chilled (but not too cold) and flavorful and it nearly helped me forget the potato pie I had been dealing with moments earlier.

Overall…

Both starters and both desserts were nice and I’d happily have them again. The first main course was disappointingly dry, and the second main course appeared to be missing some very key ingredients so you could say that the meals were very much a 50:50 experience.

I expect better than that for the fares that British Airways charges … especially on this route.

Service as mostly very good. Apart from an unusually long pause between the main course and the dessert course of the first meal, everything seemed pretty efficient.

All the crew I interacted with seemed very nice, they performed their duties with a smile (quite an achievement considering they had to deal with a colossal ass several times during the flight) and they were good at passing through the cabin between the meals to see if passengers needed anything.

The food was a disappointment while the crew were not. Far from it.

Good to know

There are a few things that you should know when you fly in Business Class on a British Airways 777-300ER that may not be entirely obvious when you’re onboard.

Firstly, your device may connect to the inflight wifi but may not open the portal that allows you to choose what package to purchase.

If this happens, you need to type shopba.com into your browser and that will then open the options page. This information is provided under the wifi section on the entertainment screen, but if you haven’t got that screen on, this may not be obvious.

Secondly, between the meal services, you’ll find sandwiches, snacks, drinks and water bottles set out in an area next to the galley.

I don’t think this is mentioned or noted anywhere on the menus.

Thirdly (and this may be obvious but it’s worth mentioning anyway), choose a seat that’s at least one row away from the galley. I could hear quite a lot of noise coming from the galley in 7K and on a night flight that would have been annoying.

Finally, The bathroom on the starboard side (between 7K and 8K) is the largest one on board and the best/easiest place to get changed. It’s no A380 upper deck bathroom, but compared to the other options on the 777, it’s huge.

Final thoughts

There’s no doubt that the Club Suite was long overdue and it’s great to now have this as an option on select British Airways flights rather than the old Club World seat which, frankly, is terrible.

As a place to relax, work or sleep, the Club Suite is very, very good and while I’m sure some people will say that the door makes it feel confined and that others will say the footwell is too tight, I would disagree.

For the overwhelming majority of passengers, the Club Suite will offer a great experience and as long as you prepared to take a gamble on BA’s catering (which has been very hit and miss lately) that, combined with the great crews I usually seem to get on BA, makes this a very good way to cross the Atlantic.

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Nice review but would like to hear more about the “colossal ass” the FAs had to deal with. There has to be an entertaining story there!

Just a very rude lady who thought she was a lot more important than everyone else and who didn’t seem to get the message when she was repeatedly (and politely) told to behave. She may have been self medicating but she wasn’t drunk.

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The Guide to British Airways Economy: Euro Traveller vs. World Traveller

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Table of Contents

British Airways World Traveller

British airways euro traveller, world traveller plus vs. world traveller, ways to get good value in british airways economy, british airways economy recapped.

British Airways is a major European carrier based in London. Chances are, wherever you want to go in Europe and beyond, British Airways or one of its Oneworld alliance or codeshare partners can get you there.

British Airways offers four classes of service: first, business , premium economy and economy — although not all of its planes have every cabin type.

What you will find on every plane is British Airways economy class. On long-haul flights, it’s called World Traveller. On most short-haul routes, it goes by the name Euro Traveller.

Here’s what you can expect when traveling in British Airways economy class as well as several tips on how to maximize value should you decide to book a ticket.

World Traveller is British Airways’ economy cabin for long-haul flights outside of Europe. It’s similar to other airlines’ economy offerings on international routes, providing free meals, entertainment options and, in some cases, a baggage allowance. 

There are two types of tickets available to World Traveller passengers: basic and standard. Basic fares will be less expensive, but don’t include as many perks as a standard ticket. 

Here’s what all World Travellers passengers can expect, whether you’ve purchased a basic or standard fare: 

Food and beverage. World Traveller passengers receive complimentary food, including a starter, main course and dessert, plus cold, hot and alcoholic drinks. On longer flights, there is a second meal and mid-flight snacks. Children’s meals are also available.

Entertainment. Personal entertainment screens and headphones are available for all World Traveller passengers, with access to hundreds of films, short-subject programs and music. Children’s programming is available too, and parents have the option to switch on a parental lock for unapproved channels.

Seats. World Traveller seats come with a headrest, pillow and blanket. Across British Airways’ fleet, its World Traveller cabins are in the process of being updated. For that reason, they may vary in style and size depending on aircraft and route. For example, Boeing 777-200 aircraft flying from London Gatwick now have seats with a six-way headrest and movable middle armrests. 

Power outlets. A growing number of planes now offer 110V AC power outlets in addition to the USB outlet available to economy passengers.

Amenity kit. Passengers can request a small amenity kit with a dental set, socks and eyeshades.

Priority boarding for families. Those with infants or children in a stroller can board early.

There are two areas where your benefits will differ depending on if you choose a basic or standard World Traveller fare: seat selection and luggage allowance. 

Seat selection. Choosing a standard fare allows you to select your seat 24 hours before departure. If you purchase a basic fare, you’ll be assigned a seat on the day of departure. Earlier seat selection options are available for a fee.

Baggage allowance. If you purchase a basic fare, you can only travel with a carry-on bag and personal item, whereas a standard fare ticket also allows you to check one bag up to 50 pounds for free. Additional baggage options are available but will cost you extra.

» Learn more: The guide to British Airways Executive Club

Short-haul flying on British Airways is quite different. These flights offer far fewer amenities, which can come as a surprise to those who are accustomed to taking long-haul World Traveller flights.

There are three fare classes for Euro Traveller tickets: basic, Plus and Plus Flex. The basic fare, similar to the World Traveller version, offers fewer benefits for a lower cost, while Plus and Plus Flex give you a few more options.

So, what do Euro Traveller passengers get on British Airways? All passengers, regardless of fare class, will receive:

Food and beverage. Passengers receive a light snack and a bottle of water. Everything else is for sale from the Speedbird Cafe, including coffee and tea. Advance online purchase of meals and drinks is recommended if you want to make sure your selections are available on board.

Wi-Fi and entertainment. Despite the short duration of these trips, the airline offers online connectivity on most flights.

Seats. Euro Traveller passengers will sit in leather seats with movable headrests and in-seat power.

Similar to World Traveller tickets, Euro Traveller benefits, such as seat selection and baggage fees, will vary depending on the type of fare you select. 

Seat selection. Basic economy passengers will receive an assigned seat when they check in — unless they have British Airways elite status , which allows them to select a seat sooner. For Plus fares, passengers can choose their preferred seat within 48 hours of departure, and Plus Flex fares come with free seat selection at any time.

Baggage. Basic fare passengers can bring a carry-on bag and personal item but will have to pay to check any luggage. Plus and Plus Flex passengers can bring a carry-on bag and a personal item and can check one bag for free.

Flexibility: Basic fares only allow you to change your ticket if you pay a fee and any difference in price. Plus passengers can make same-day flight changes for free, but will pay a fee and fare difference for other changes. Neither of these fares offers refunds for canceled tickets. Plus Flex fares allow free same-day changes, a refund for cancellation and the ability to make fee-free changes to their ticket at any time.

» Learn more: The guide to British Airways fees

Travelers with room in their budget might consider upgrading their economy ticket to the airline’s premium economy option, dubbed World Traveller Plus .

The difference between British Airways World Traveller Plus and an economy ticket is that World Traveller Plus offers these amenities:

Fewer rows with more spacious seats in a separate cabin.

A guarantee of two meals, regardless of flight length.

More free baggage allowance. World Traveller Plus passengers can bring both a carry-on bag and personal item on board and can check up to two bags.

Priority boarding in Group 3 (rather than Groups 4-9).

Whether you're booking a British Airways economy ticket using miles or cash, there are a few ways to maximize value. 

Book with miles

British Airways Executive Club operates on a distance-based award system . This means redeeming Avios (the airline’s loyalty currency) for shorter, direct flights will bring you the best value for your miles. 

» Learn more: Best uses of British Airways Avios

Transfer points from partners

Executive Club is a transfer partner with many programs, although the transfer ratio will vary (and there's sometimes a minimum transfer requirement). Transfer partner programs include:

Accor All Live Limitless (2:1).

American Express Membership Rewards (1:1).

Capital One Rewards (1:1).

Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1).

Hilton Honors (10:1).

IHG One Rewards (5:1).

Marriott Bonvoy (3:1).

Radisson Rewards Americas (10:1).

World of Hyatt (2.5:1).

Bonus point transfers

On occasion, credit card companies may offer a transfer bonus when moving miles or points from a credit card program to Executive Club. Keep an eye out for these, and see what’s been offered in the past . 

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Look for Reward Flight Saver awards

Reward Flight Saver awards impose reduced taxes and fees, which vastly increases their potential value. To book one, you need to be an Executive Club member and you must have earned at least one Avios in your account within the past year.

Euro Traveller Reward Flight Saver round-trip awards start at 18,500 Avios plus one British Pound. World Traveller Reward Flight Saver round-trip awards start at 50,000 Avios plus 100 British Pounds.

Pay with Avios and cash

If you can’t pay for a British Airways economy flight totally in cash or totally in miles, you can use a combination of Avios and money. In doing so, you’ll still be able to earn Avios and Tier Points in the Executive Club program, too.

Use miles to upgrade your flight

You may be able to upgrade to a higher cabin using Avios or Avios plus cash if the price makes sense. Just be aware that the lowest airfare classes cannot be upgraded, and upgrade requests must be handled before arriving at the airport.

» Learn more: How (and why) to upgrade your British Airways flight using Avios

Book with the right credit card

As with other flights, when you use a card that provides bonus points for booking air travel, you can really maximize your value. Even if traveling in economy, you may be earning lots of bonus points. We recommend using a card with travel protections when booking a flight. 

Booking through a travel portal

On occassion, there are also bonuses for using credit card travel portals to book your flights. Here are some of the top travel portals that sometimes offer bonus points:

American Express .

Capital One .

Using a travel portal, however, is like using a travel agency. If you have issues with your travel plans, you’ll likely need to work those out with the agency that operates the travel portal. 

» Learn more: The pros and cons of online travel agencies

British Airways offers two economy products — World Traveller and Euro Traveller. Which one you use will depend on the length and type of the flight.

Both are similar to what many U.S. carriers offer on both long- and short-haul flights, which means you should expect more perks on longer flights than on shorter jaunts.

It’s also important to understand the different fare types, even within economy class, as there can be restrictions that can affect your flight plans.

(Top photo courtesy of British Airways)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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British Airways Cabin Bag Size, Baggage Allowance & Fee Explained 2024

How big can a cabin bag be on British Airways? If you’re planning to travel with British Airways, especially with an Economy Basic ticket, knowing the essentials about the British Airways cabin bag size and weight limits is a must.

This helps guarantee that your baggage always stays within the airline's measurements and fits neatly in the overhead cabin. Moreover, you can also avoid hefty charges , which happen with oversized/overweight bags that need to go into the hold.

As far as baggage allowance goes, this post also covers all the relevant information about hand baggage , checked baggage , and fees for extra items you plan to travel with. Grasp all the information, and get ready to jet off on a much-needed break trouble-free!

Overview of British Airways Cabin Baggage Allowances

To avoid confusion, there are three types of baggage that passengers travel with on BA's planes. Handbags (the smallest in size), Cabin bags (the medium), and Checked bags (the largest and also heaviest ones). 

British Airways, BA Cityflyer, and BA Euroflyer hand baggage allowance are the same, which permits a handbag and cabin bag for all of their passengers. This applies to any class of flight. Checked bags, on the other hand, are not available if you’re seated with an Economy Basic ticket. 

Plus, according to the carrier's policy, how much baggage is allowed by British Airways for international flights is the same as for domestic flights. Here are details about each type of luggage, their weight and size restrictions and their place on the aeroplane.

British Airways Cabin Bag Size

Remember to count the wheels, pockets, and handles when calculating your cabin baggage size! Photo by Have a nice day on Adobe Stock

As mentioned earlier, all British Airways flyers can bring one piece of cabin baggage and a handbag on board free of charge.

The cabin baggage must not exceed 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in) - these dimensions already include handles, pockets and wheels. 

How about the handbag? What size backpack will fit under an aeroplane seat? The personal item bag on the BA's plane can measure up to 40 x 30 x 15cm (16 x 12 x 6in) and sit neatly in its designated spot!

What is the size of cabin luggage for international flights? You may ask! As the room in the cabin is similarly allotted for all flights, international flyers also enjoy the same baggage size allowance as domestic ones. 

British Airways Cabin Bag Weight

Besides British Airways cabin bag size, the bag weight also matters. Hand baggage and cabin baggage on British Airways can weigh up to 23 kg (51 pounds). Passengers need to place their hand baggage under the seat in front of their seat and their cabin baggage into the overhead bin.

The airline's rule states that any travellers must lift the cabin luggage into the bin themselves. This means you need to make sure you’re boarding with a bag heavy enough for you to handle.

British Airways Cabin Bag Size, Handbag Size and Checked Bag Allowance For Children

Babies sitting on the lap (under 2 years old) can bring an extra bag for their in-flight must-haves. However, remember that there is still no checked baggage allowance if you and your infant check in with the (Basic) fare ticket. 

Children occupying a paid seat will enjoy the same British Airways cabin bag size and checked bag allowance just as adults.

Note : If your journey includes multiple connecting flights but with one booking reference, your baggage allowance is normally from the airline that covers the longest route.

For multiple flights with different booking references, it would be safe to have a look at all the airlines’ baggage limits (so you won’t have to abandon some pieces of your luggage halfway).

What Hand Luggage Can You Take On British Airways?

Keep your in-flight essentials on your hand luggage, as it will always be on board with you. Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

What British Airways considers as “ hand baggage ” will 100% sit in the cabin throughout the flight, so you should pack anything important, from medicines, battery packs or electronics, with you. The other bag - the cabin bag - can pack anything you want as long as it won’t go over the specified weight and size. 

For usual flights, you can freely bring two of your luggage onboard, as long as they comply with British Airways cabin bag size and handbag size policies. Yet, if the flight gets busier than usual, the airline typically asks their passengers to put the larger baggage - cabin bag - in the hold.

So make sure all your in-flight essentials are in the smaller hand baggage. It's also a wise move to label your cabin luggage the same way you do checked bags in case this happens.

When flying with British Airways, it’s important to choose your cabin luggage right. This will help you navigate through the airport smoothly with your essential travelling items. 

CabinZero 28L bag can help you on this journey! Our bag makes sure to fit in the British Airways carry-on size and weight allowance. They come with compact simplicity, so you can easily pack your things, zip them up and jet off. With a spacious room inside and multiple pockets, packing your belongings also becomes a more enjoyable task. 

British Airways Checked Baggage Allowance & Fees

Like cabin baggage, the number of checked luggage each passenger can have depends on the destination and type of ticket paid. 

British Airways Checked Baggage Restrictions

According to British Airways’s policy, your checked bags should be 35 x 30 x 17in (90 x 75 x 43cm) at most. You should arrive at the airport earlier than you've planned, as they need to be checked in 90 minutes before your departure.

One important note : Your hold bags shouldn't be anything bigger than 74 x 29 x 25in (190 x 75 x 65cm); otherwise, you’ll have to pay the excess fee.

BA passengers can check in up to 10 pieces of baggage as long as they stay within the weight restrictions (including your checked baggage allowance already). 

Bag Allowances Broken Down By Fare

The table below shows the number of free checked bags available to each flyer with different fare types:

Be mindful of your baggage allowance so you won’t leave any overweight baggage behind! Photo by Timur Weber on Pexels

But How Much Does Extra Baggage On British Airways Cost?

If you exceed your baggage allowance, here’s how much you should splash out for each piece of baggage.

Remember, if you want to avoid hefty charges, especially when travelling in economy, keep any checked bags under 51 lbs (23 kg). Once they step over the 51-pound mark, the charge is 65 GBP / 75 EUR / 100 USD / 100 CAD per overweight bag on a one-way flight basis. 

If your bag is over 51 pounds, even when you’re seated first class, British Airways won’t accept it on any of its flights. Instead, you will have it shipped separately as cargo.

Pro tip: British Airways, just like their passengers, seemingly doesn't favour any “ surprise ”, especially at the very last minute. Try to plan ahead and book your extra bags online in advance so that you can avoid higher prices at the airport.  Your carrier also has extra time to plan things out!

You can also travel with these items, normally as checked baggage

• Musical Instruments : Typically, the airline staff will screen musical instruments separately. Large, cumbersome instruments may require more room, which possibly means an extra ticket. To avoid any hiccups right before flying, contact the airline for extra details about flying with musical instruments .
• Sports equipment: From bikes, diving equipment, and snowboarding to kayaks, BA passengers can travel with most sports equipment. Your equipment will count towards your standard bag allowance if it stays within the luggage weight and size limits. Otherwise, you can book them in as a cargo item.

How To Book A Ticket And Check In With British Airways

Where to buy ticket.

You can book your flight directly from British Airways through their mobile phone app, website (BritishAirways.com), or 24/7 Travel Team. 

British Airways' platforms are incredibly user-friendly, with the most up-to-date flight availability, fares, and real-time flight status for travellers to make an informed decision.

The carrier also has a 72-hour hold policy if you book directly. Whether you’re still searching for the best deals around or need to check with your flight companions, just place a small deposit to secure your booking, and the price won’t change within 72 hours.

A direct booking with British Airways can be significantly more convenient. Photo by Isaac Struna on Unsplash

Otherwise, online travel agents (OTA) sometimes offer tempting deals, particularly for long-haul, international flights. 

Yet, more often than not, flyers will have less flexibility regarding delays, cancellations, and booking changes compared with direct booking on the airline’s webpage.

Planning to pack extra bags after booking? You can conveniently pay for them via Manage My Booking if you’re directly working with the airline. 

However, this is not as convenient as when using an online travel website or travel agency. Access to "Manage My Booking" and the option to pay for excess luggage becomes available only when you finalise your booking with the travel agent.

Check-In Process

The check-in process is almost the same, but those flying abroad will need to go for an extra step, which is passport/visa verification. 

For intercontinental or international flyers, get your visa and passport ready for a quick check at the Bag Drop desk before you can go through security. 

If you’re travelling with your hand baggage only, you can skip the Bag Drop section and go to the British Airways’ Assistance desk to complete the procedure.

Check-In Type

Online check-in

The airline’s website checking system allows passengers to check in 24 hours before a scheduled departure. All it takes is entering your surname and your Book Reference via Manage My Booking. 

If you are flying to and from the US with the airline, bear in mind you need to complete the check-in step 2 hours before departing. Plus, since it's an international flight, you'll need your passport to proceed successfully.

Once finished, you can download or print your boarding pass. If you don't print the boarding pass from home, you can do so at various kiosks at the airport.

You can check in up to 24 hours in advance on the BA webpage. Photo by William Fortunato on Unsplash

App check-in

If you prefer to use your mobile phone, you can always do the check-in on the carrier's user-friendly app. This can be done 24 hours to 1 hour before the scheduled departure time. 

With the British Airways app, flyers can also complete the check-in process for up to eight passengers with the same booking. After completing, your boarding pass will be sent to your phone 36-2 hours before your departure.

Airport check-in

BA’s self-service kiosks at the airport will allow passengers to proceed with the check-in without assistance. 

However, if you’re in a rush or this is your first time flying, there is also British Airways’ counter where friendly staff are ready to guide you through the process. All you have to do is have your passport and Booking Reference (PNR) on hand.

AirPortr doorstep - check-in for your luggage

The AirPortr doorstep service helps you avoid the hassle of towing heavy luggage to the airport. By paying the extra fees, you can have your luggage collected and delivered to the airport in advance. 

This way, there’s no need to join the queues at the bag drop and head straight to the security screening. Flights departing from Gatwick, Heathrow, Zurich, Geneva and Vienna are currently open for this type of baggage check-in.

1. British Airways restricted items in hand baggage?

For a smooth flight, keep in mind these hand baggage rules particularly applied to British Airways:

• Powders (on flights from Australia or to the US)
• Plastic bags (on flights to Kenya)
• Infant formula and baby food
• Batteries and electric/electronic devices
• Smoking devices, including e-cigarettes, e-pipes, vapes, etc.
• Fuel cells and internal combustion engines
• Toiletries, aerosols, and medicines fall under the category of checked baggage, not as hand/cabin bags.

For international flights, travellers also need to adhere to local airport regulations where they are heading. If you’re flying to the US, make sure you know what is not allowed in your carry-on bag per TSA .

Choose the right bag, and you will have nothing to worry about British Airways cabin bag size and weight limit. Photo by Yakobchuk Olena on Adobe Stock

2. Can We Carry More Than 7kg In Cabin Baggage?

The answer is a yes since your baggage is well under British Airway’s 23kg-per-piece limits. Yet, be mindful that your bag can’t be larger than the British Airways cabin bag size - 56 x 45 x 25cm (handles and wheels included). 

As a general rule, you may not want to carry electronics, medicines, or anything you need in your cabin bag during the flight. On more crowded flights, this bag may go into the aeroplane’s cargo hold.

3. How Strict Is British Airways About Carry-On Luggage?

The enforcement of the airline's rules depends on the gate agent and cabin crew. So, it's hard to tell if the BA is on the lenient or strict side. If your hand baggage looks like out-of-gauge, it makes sense for the gate agent to re-check it and figure out the next step. 

You might have to check this baggage in the hold if required.  This is more likely to happen on crowded flights when you don't belong to those first boarding groups, and there's not much cabin space left for you. 

Instead of hoping the airline will give your over-allowance baggage some leeway, it pays to nail the right dimension and weight in the first place. You can avoid hefty checked bag charges and get on board with more confidence!

4. How Much Baggage Is Allowed In British Airways For International Flights?

International flights will get the same baggage allowance just as domestic ones. For carry-on luggage, flyers can fly with two items (cabin baggage in the overhead cabin and a handbag sitting under the seat in the front. 

The standard numbers of free checked bags are also the same. So, be sure to check out our table above for the corresponding ticket you plan to book. Each traveller can fly with up to 10 pieces of luggage (free and paid combined) for international flights. 

5. Are Backpacks Allowed As Cabin Luggage?

Yes, backpacks can get onboard as personal items or cabin luggage , as long as they fit in the airline's size and weight thresholds. 

Normally, backpacks go as “personal items”, which means they will slide into the underneath seat in front of the passengers. If they are larger but still perfectly fit the overhead compartment, you can legitimately fly with them as cabin baggage.

Pack Smart To Comply with British Airways Cabin Baggage Size!

Staying informed about British Airways cabin bag size, checked bag allowances, and fees will help you navigate the airport with ease. You’ll also know what to take and what to leave behind. 

It's like crossing off one more thing on your to-do list and more time to plan the fun things. So, next time you're jetting off with British Airways, you’ll more confidently pack your things and enjoy a worry-free getaway! Happy travels!

Sorry but what a crazy idea with 23 kg. 1 man travelling from UK to Orlamdo said he can have 2 handluggage of 23kg each. I never take handluggage except for my handbag because the overhead luggage compartment is always full. We have a Jetstar in Australia & I thank god for them that they only allow 10kg handluggage which includes your handbag. This should be a policy throughout the world. Can you imagine bad turbulence & the lockers open & 1 of those 23kg bags falls on your head. So I request to get rid of it. The airline can make so much more money when people turn up with those heavy things when they are 13kg over. Just make it free to check in luggage.

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‘You’re off the plane’: British Airways under fire as it breaks key rule turning away overbooked passengers

British Airways has been accused of denying boarding to 13 passengers booked on a holiday flight home from Spain – without asking for volunteers to travel on a later flight, as the law requires.

Ross Butters, 59, and his wife Samantha, 56, had confirmed tickets for BA flight 2763 from Palma de Mallorca to London Gatwick on 1 September. The couple from Surrey were in a group of a dozen friends on a golfing break on the island.

Mr Butters, a financial adviser, said problems began when they tried to check in online.

“Three couples were regular fliers and were travelling either Club Europe or had gold tier Executive Club membership and were able to check in online,” he told The Independent .

“The rest of us were not able to check in. After 30-plus attempts, we gave up on the understanding that we would check in at the airport.

“We arrived at the airport in good time and joined the queue to check in and drop bags. By the end of the process 13 of us were advised that there were too many passengers.

“All of us were either couples or singles travelling economy. All had had the same problem trying to check in online.

“We were then told that we would be flying out the next day.”

Overbooking a flight is perfectly legal and widely practised. Most airlines (but not Ryanair ) routinely sell more tickets than there are seats available because they know from experience that a certain number of passengers are likely to “no show”.

Often airlines predict correctly that number correctly and everyone flies as expected. But when more passengers show up than there are seats available, airlines must offer incentives to persuade enough people to postpone travel voluntarily.

Air passengers’ rights rules specify: “When an operating air carrier reasonably expects to deny boarding on a flight, it shall first call for volunteers to surrender their reservations in exchange for benefits under conditions to be agreed between the passenger concerned and the operating air carrier.”

The Independent has repeatedly asked British Airways if volunteers were sought, without a response.

After being denied boarding, Ross and Samantha Butters were taken to the Hotel Palma Bellver, which he described as “awful”. He said: “My bed was collapsing and our view was of a massage parlour.

“Dinner was poor – buffet style – and our ‘free drink’ was a bottle of fizzy or still water.”

The couple both take prescribed medication. They had brought sufficient for their stay, but supplies ran out due to the unexpected extended stay.

Mr Butters said: “It has been a fiasco, I know that we will receive €250 compensation but that’s really unimportant – our time and quality of life is more valuable.

“I’m normally very British and stoical in these situations. But it really has been a farce and should not be allowed to happen.

“My wife and I were both scheduled to work today. If she doesn’t work she doesn’t get paid.”

A spokesperson for British Airways said: “We know it’s frustrating for our customers when their travel plans are disrupted. We’re in contact with this customer to apologise to them and put things right.”

Read more: Is there a ‘pecking order’ for overbooked flights?

The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.

Boeing 787 flight to UK forced into emergency landing in Moscow after mystery 'technical problems'

Air India passengers flying from Delhi to Birmingham City Airport were forced to make an unscheduled landing at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on Wednesday night

• 07:57, 5 Sep 2024
• Updated 08:15, 5 Sep 2024

A UK-bound flight has been forced to make an emergency landing in Russia overnight after experiencing "technical problems".

The Air India flight from Delhi to Birmingham made the precautionary stop in Moscow on Wednesday night after crew were hit by aircraft issues. It was the third flight from the Indian airline to make an unscheduled landing over technical problems in recent months.

Some 258 passengers and 17 crew members were on board at the time when it landed at the capital's Sheremetyevo airport at around 9.35pm Moscow time (7.35pm BST). The airport said in a statement: “The aircraft’s crew requested an unscheduled landing at Sheremetyevo Airport due to technical problems.

“Airport services promptly responded to the crew’s request and prepared to receive the aircraft according to the applicable emergency plan. The foreign crew received full assistance from the Russian airport and specialists under the applicable international convention.”

It comes after another Air India flight from Delhi to San Francisco with 244 people on board had to land in Siberia's Krasnoyarsk airport in July over a potential issue in the hold part of the plane. At the time, passengers were effectively left stranded due to the airline having no dedicated presence at the airport, and had to rely on third-party services to help them board a ferry flight back to the US, the Hindustan Times reported.

Crew on the flight were placed in hotels while passengers were reportedly left stranded in departures in the incident.

MORE ON The Boeing Company Air India Russia

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Passports, visas and API

If you're looking to make a smooth start to your journey, you need to make sure you have the right documents, such as a valid passport and the relevant visas.

To help, we've summarised some of the key considerations and requirements here, but it's not a full list of all possible requirements around the world. It's your responsibility to ensure you have the right documents to be allowed to travel.

Passports and ID cards

To travel on an international flight your passport must:

• Be valid for the required time after your planned return date . This is often at least three or six months after the day you plan to leave your destination. Check the Expiry Date on your passport.
• Meet the specific passport validity requirements for your destination. Check the IATA Travel Centre for more information.
• Be signed by its owner. Please ensure each passport is signed with the owner's signature . You may be denied entry or fined in some countries for travelling with an unsigned passport. More information is available for UK passport holders at HM Passport Office .

If you are not an EU national and wish to travel on an international flight to an EU member state (except Ireland) or any of the following Schengen zones — Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, or Vatican City — your passport must:

• Have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country . Check the Date of Issue on your passport and see the UK Government advice for further information.

If you are not an EU national and wish to travel on an international flight to anywhere other than an EU member state (excluding Ireland) or one of the Schengen zones listed above , your passport must meet the entry requirements of the destination country. Please check the UK Government advice for entry requirements for specific countries.

Children's passports

Children need their own passports to travel internationally, including infants under two. Infant and children's passports are only valid for five years, so please check the expiry date before departure.

EU, EEA or Swiss national ID cards

These are are no longer accepted as valid documentation for entering the UK, unless you’re exempt. Please check the latest UK Government advice for more details.

Please note, it’s your responsibility to ensure you have valid documentation when you travel. If you fail to comply with these requirements, you may not be allowed to travel, or you may be refused entry at your destination and have to pay associated costs.

You do not require a passport to travel within the UK, but you will need to carry one type of photographic ID when travelling with us. Examples include:

• Valid passport
• Valid driving licence, either provisional or full
• Valid EU national identity card
• Valid armed forces identity card
• Valid police warrant card or badge

Children under the age of 16 do not need to show identification when travelling on domestic flights. The adult they are travelling with must travel with photographic identification and be able to confirm their identity.

Children aged 14 and 15 years who are flying alone will need to show identification when travelling on domestic flights. Find more information on the requirements for young flyers travelling alone, including a copy of our consent form.

If you are a citizen of the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man and were born in these areas, you do not need a passport to travel between these destinations, but you do require some form of photographic identification, such as a driving licence.

All other travellers require a valid passport to travel between these destinations.

Processing times for passports vary but it may take six weeks or longer to receive a passport after applying, so we advise that you wait until your passport has arrived before making a booking. Many countries offer fast-track applications where required.

If you need a passport or need to renew an existing one you can apply directly to your nation’s passport office. In the UK, that’s the UK passport service .

If there is a place on your passport for you to sign, please sign your passport with your signature. Your passport is not valid until it is signed . For British passports, you can learn more from HM Passport Office .

If you’d like help with your application , British Airways has partnered with VisaCentral, a company that will do all of the hard work for you. VisaCentral can help with passport renewals and replacements, name changes, second passports and new passports for children. Plus, as a British Airways customer you’ll get a 30% discount on the service fees.

Visas and other travel documentation

How to check if you need a visa

Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your journey, you may need a visa, or an equivalent form of authorisation, for every country you enter as part of your journey — even if you are only in transit or connecting from one flight to another in the airport of that country without going through border control — known as a transit visa.

This is in addition to a valid passport.

There are several ways you can check if you need a visa:

Check if you need a visa via the IATA Travel Centre  — it's free to check and also includes passport and health requirements, as well as customs, currency and airport information.

If you need a visa, our partner VisaCentral can help  — it's free to check and they’ll tell you exactly what documents you need to get one. Plus, as a British Airways customer, you’ll get a 30% discount on VisaCentral service fees should you need help with an application.

Check if you need a transit visa to connect through the UK  — even if you’re only connecting from one flight to another, you may need a transit visa, such as a Direct Airside Transit (DATV) visa or a Visitor in Transit visa, to connect through the UK.

Check if you need a visa via the Sherpa online search tool below . Sherpa can also help obtain many e-visas, and advise of other possible information you may need for your travels.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

An ETA will soon be required for people travelling to the UK who do not need a visa, including children and babies. It will be electronically linked to your passport and will give you permission:

To visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or to study.

To visit the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession .

To transit through the UK – including if you’re not going through the UK border control.

An ETA will be required from 15 November 2023 when travelling from certain countries, with more being added to the scheme over time. Please check if you require an ETA .

Read further information and apply for an ETA or watch more about ETA .

Please note that the sherpa widget will only display in the 'View as published mode' and provided the checkbox for the same is enabled in the page properties - Basic tab.

Please note that Sherpa is a third party service provider that may apply fees for such services. The information provided on this page is for information purposes only and could be subject to change at very short notice. It is your responsibility to check and observe all the health and entry requirements applicable to your journey and you should always check the latest travel guidance from your government before you travel and the guidance provided by the relevant public authorities of your destination. Failure to meet applicable requirements means that British Airways will not be able to carry you, and compensation and care and assistance provisions will not apply. 

Entry requirements and other travel documents

If you're a citizen of a country covered by the Visa Waiver Programme (such as the UK) you are able to travel to the USA with an Electronic System Travel Authorisation (ESTA) instead of a visa.

Make sure you apply for your ESTA at least 72 hours before your departure. You may not be allowed to travel if you arrive at the airport without an ESTA.

You will need a valid e-Passport to use ESTA. These have a microchip symbol on their front cover. ESTAs are valid for multiple journeys for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.

Apply for an ESTA

More about the Visa Waiver Program and ESTAs

When you need a visa

You will need to apply for a visa to travel to the United States and should contact your local US Embassy in the following circumstances:

• If you are a citizen of a country not covered by the Visa Waiver Programme.
• If you have dual nationality with one passport being issued by a country eligible under the Visa Waiver Programme and the other issued by Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria.
• If you have an ESTA and have visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria since 1 March 2011.

Help with your ESTA application

Our partner VisaCentral can take the hard work out of applying, and offers a safe, secure and easy way to obtain your ESTA. Benefits of using its service include:

• Specialist support – access to a visa specialist via phone or email if you have questions regarding your application.
• Automated monitoring - applications not instantly approved automatically get resubmitted or assigned to a visa specialist for review; there’s no need to re-apply.
• Discounted rate – get a 30% discount on VisaCentral's handling fees as a British Airways customer.

Many visitors need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization to travel to Canada. You can check Canada’s entry requirements before flying.

Alternatively, our partner VisaCentral can quickly, securely and easily obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization for you.

If you're travelling to China, you'll need to check what type of visa you require. Transit visas are available if you are staying for less than 144 hours.

If you have a British passport, find out more about visa requirements when travelling to or through China.

If you have a passport from any other country, please ensure you check with your nearest Chinese Embassy .

Alternatively, our partner VisaCentral can quickly, securely and easily obtain a Visa for you.

If you are travelling to India, you may be able to obtain an eTourist Visa online, just four days before you travel. The visa will be valid for 60 days and you will need to present a printed copy when you check in to be able to travel.

Find out more and apply for India e-Tourist Visa.

Alternatively, our partner VisaCentral can quickly, securely and easily obtain an eTourist Visa for you.

While we make every effort to keep this information up to date, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) visa restrictions can change at short notice. Please check the IATA Travel Centre before you book.

Get a visa through VisaCentral.

If you are a pilgrim

If you are a Hajj or Umrah pilgrim, you must enter KSA through Jeddah with a valid Hajj or Umrah visa. Travel must be between the official pilgrimage travel dates.

You cannot:

• travel for Hajj using an Umrah visa
• travel for Umrah using a Hajj visa
• enter, transfer or transit through Riyadh
• travel outside of the official pilgrimage dates determined by the Saudi authorities each year

If you are travelling from the UK, we recommend to book through our specialist partner Masterfare who can arrange your flight and Hajj/Umrah visa through a KSA Ministry of Hajj approved agent.

If you are travelling from another country, or you book on ba.com, it is your responsibility to ensure you get the correct pilgrimage visa from a KSA Ministry of Hajj-approved Hajj or Umrah agent.

If you do not have the correct documentation, or have booked to travel outside the official pilgrimage dates, you will not be allowed to travel or be able to get a refund.

Non-pilgrim visitors

If you are not Muslim, you can enter Jeddah or Riyadh at any time using a business or visit visa.

If you are Muslim, are using a business or visit visa during Hajj, or are travelling in the 6-week period up to and including Hajj, you must enter KSA through Riyadh.

If you are Muslim with a business or visit visa, you will need a Hajj visa to travel during the official pilgramage travel dates.

These restrictions do not apply to residents or citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

KSA visa restrictions change at short notice. Please check the IATA Travel Centre before you book.

Some countries' immigration departments require additional documentation for all children under 18 years travelling into, out of or transiting their country. This varies depending on the country so please check before you travel on the IATA Travel Centre. Just make sure you use the date of birth of your child to receive the correct information.

If you need a visa for your journey, you can apply directly with the embassy or high commission of the country you want to travel to — visit their website or local consulate to learn more about the process.

Alternatively, our partner VisaCentral can do all of the hard work for you:

• it's a safe, secure and easy way to obtain your visa
• it can help save time — VisaCentral will stand in line at the embassy or consulate on your behalf
• you'll get a 30% discount on handling fees as a British Airways customer

Advance Passenger Information (API)

Many countries require us to collect some passport and travel information about who's flying into their country. The information you provide is sent securely to the necessary government authorities.

You will need to supply some or all of the following details:

• your full name (as it appears on your passport)
• your date of birth
• your gender
• your nationality
• your passport number
• your passport expiry date
• the country that issued your passport
• your country of residence.

Additionally, when travelling to the US, you will need to provide:

• the destination address of your first night’s stay
• Alien Registration Number (Green Card) for those who have US residency
• Traveler Redress Number if you have one (this enables travellers who have experienced problems entering the US to avoid future difficulties).

If you're a US citizen and have a 'Global Entry' number, you don't need to provide this as part of your API. When you arrive in the US your Global Entry status will be recognised when you use the dedicated Immigration kiosk.

Some governments require us to provide them with information from flight bookings, which will contain additional passenger details to those listed above.

You can add Advance Passenger Information to your booking on ba.com using Manage My Booking . If there is any information you need to provide, you'll see a red exclamation mark against the passenger information section at the top of the page.

Legal statement for US flights

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the US Department of Homeland Security requires us to collect information from you for purposes of watch list screening, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. section 114, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Providing this information is voluntary; however, if you don't provide it, you may be subject to additional screening or denied transport or authorisation to enter the post-security area. TSA may share information you provide with law enforcement or intelligence agencies or others under its published system of records notice. For more on TSA Privacy policies, or to view the system of records notice and the privacy impact assessment, visit tsa.gov .

Travel Schemes

If you are a national of one of the below countries you can join the 'Registered Traveller' scheme and enjoy faster entry to the UK, as long as you have a biometric passport.

When you apply, the UK Border Force carries out checks to see if you are eligible to join. If accepted, you won't need to fill out a landing card for the UK. You'll be able to enter the UK at the ePassport gates or the UK/EU lanes at several UK airports, including all London airports, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.

UK citizens can get through US passport control faster by joining Global Entry, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) programme. The scheme allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers arriving in the United States. Benefits include:

• no processing queues
• no requirement to complete a paper customs declaration form
• reduced waiting times
• TSA Pre✓® Eligibility (faster, more efficient security screening at participating US airports).

Membership lasts for five years and the application process includes background checks (at a non-refundable cost of £42 payable to the UK government), online enrolment with the US Customs and Border Protection Agency (at a non-refundable cost of USD100) and attendance at a face to face interview at an official enrolment centre.

More about Global Entry and FAQs

We participate in the TSA Pre✓® programme for customers with a Known Traveller Number (KTN) departing from US airports. TSA Pre✓® is a faster, easier security screening process at US airports. Once enrolled, you will be able to speed through security without removing shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets.

Who is eligible?

• Members of the Global Entry scheme.
• US citizens and US lawful permanent residents enrolled in TSA Pre✓®, NEXUS or SENTRI. 
• Canadian citizens who are members of NEXUS. 

Enter your Global Entry, TSA Pre✓®, NEXUS or SENTRI membership number (your KTN) into your booking each time you travel to demonstrate your eligibility. You can add your KTN during online check-in via Manage My Booking on ba.com, at an airport desk or by contacting us .

Even if you are eligible for TSA Pre✓® as a member of a trusted traveller programme, TSA Pre✓® does not guarantee expedited screening.

Find out where TSA Pre✓® is available .

Where a TSA Pre✓® lane is not available, you can show your TSA Pre✓® boarding pass and may receive a form of expedited screening in a standard lane.

You can now submit an electronic arrival card via the Web Service and Mobile App before you arrive in Singapore. You will then be able to head directly to immigration clearance, allowing you to avoid unnecessary delays and save time at the airport.