The Old Club World versus Club World Suites versus other long haul business class offerings has been well aired on these boards. Your friends critique of old Club World is perhaps a little harsh (“ghetto”…one wonders what they would make of World Traveller on a 10-abreast 777 😬
, but the points they make are likely agreed with by a great many people - density, stepping over, lack of aisle access. Personally, I am one of the minority who still prefers Old CW as i find it more comfortable and get a better sleep which is a high priority criteria for me. Then again, I am one of the wierdos who would be happy enough in an OCW aisle seat, while plenty of others would throw a strop of epic proportions if they were forced to sit there. It’s all pretty subjective.
I think that’s a point that can often be overlooked. BA is pretty decent if you have status with them. Particularly Gold or GGL. But even from the point of view of this Silver member, I get free seat selection, lounge access even when flying in WT or WT+, and have occasionally had the upgrade gods smile upon me. Plus the benefit of some degree of familiarity with the product on offer, knowing which seats to pick, knowing to use the less crowded B gates lounge at LHR etc.
For the infrequent, statusless traveller, it’s easy to see how seat selection fees, crowded lounges, a hard product that is somewhat long in the tooth, higher likelihood of first choice of meal not being available, could lead to disappointment, especially considering the sums of money being paid. Other carriers probably do a better job at wow-ing the less frequent premium cabin traveller.