Introverts Rejoice: British Airways Debuts Privacy-Minded Club Suites

Sick of strangers peeking over your shoulder while you read? British Airways has you covered—but only in business class, that is.

In August, BA debuted its brand-new A350-1000 with a short-haul flight from London Heathrow to Madrid. Known as the “Hushliner” for its quiet cabin, AV geeks had been salivating over a chance to see British Airways’ version of the A350. Why? It’s BA’s first plane with their hotly anticipated new Club Suites: flatbed business class seats with dramatically more privacy.

Previously, most Club World passengers experienced a 2-4-2 configuration across BA’s fleet, causing much consternation and grumbling about having to step over strangers to get to the aisle. No longer. The A350’s sleek new Club Suite cabin offers seats in a new 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, with each finally offering coveted direct aisle access.

The pièce de résistance? Each Club Suite seat offers a door for maximum privacy.

For those in window seats, the new product offers direct window views, while passengers in the center have the option of a dividing partition.

Other highlights include shoulder belts in addition to lap belts, 40% more storage plus a mirror and vanity, and 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens. Guests can continue to expect three-course menus with a wide variety of food and beverage selections, plush bedding and amenity kits from The White Company, as well as a myriad of entertainment options.

While airplanes are often thought of as tin-cans in the sky, the A350 will “promote a feeling of well-being, space, and calm,” according to British Airways, thanks to ambient lighting complimenting the time of day, high ceilings, and reduced noise levels, as well as increased levels of humidity and a cabin pressurized to the equivalent of a 6,000 foot altitude.

The aircraft is configured for 331 passengers in three classes: 219 in economy class, 56 in premium economy, and 56 in business, with improvements across the board.

Environmental-minded passengers will especially appreciate the A350’s 25% lower fuel burn, reducing CO2 emissions.

BA has ordered 18 of the new planes in total—select routes between Heathrow and Dubai are already running, with Toronto, Tel Aviv, and Bangalore on deck—and will be slowly rolling out Club Suite across their London Heathrow long haul fleet throughout the remainder of the year.

By the end of 2019, four A350s and two Boeing 777 aircraft will be flying with the coveted new product, one step closer to making the cramped old Club World product a thing of the past, and the Club Suites part of British Airways’ bright future.

[Featured Image: British Airways]