Differences between Business and First class that you value
Jun 9, 19, 1:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 573
Differences between Business and First class that you value
What are the differences that you value or especially notice on British Airways when you upgrade from Business class (Club World?) to First class ?
I realize the factual differences are detailed online.
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...es/first/first
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...ess/club-world
My question is: Which differences did you especially notice or value ?
Context:
- I'll be traveling Austin to Heathrow round trip, paying with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, not cash.
- In Austin I don't know what BA includes for business or first class
- Unique to Heathrow T5, there is The First Wing
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...the-first-wing
- Cost difference = $2,813 for business or $3,513 for first.
I realize the factual differences are detailed online.
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...es/first/first
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...ess/club-world
My question is: Which differences did you especially notice or value ?
Context:
- I'll be traveling Austin to Heathrow round trip, paying with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, not cash.
- In Austin I don't know what BA includes for business or first class
- Unique to Heathrow T5, there is The First Wing
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...the-first-wing
- Cost difference = $2,813 for business or $3,513 for first.
Jun 9, 19, 1:41 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC - Gold
Posts: 837
First wing
Concorde room food and drinks
Being able to prebook spa appointments
More attentive service
Better food and drink onboard
More space in the seat and smaller cabin
Nicer bedding and amenities
Etc...
Concorde room food and drinks
Being able to prebook spa appointments
More attentive service
Better food and drink onboard
More space in the seat and smaller cabin
Nicer bedding and amenities
Etc...
Jun 9, 19, 1:46 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,445
I think the majority view on here is if you want to 'make the most' of First on a US trip, you're better off doing so on the UK-US leg. CW - especially if 747 UD - will do just fine for the US-UK leg.
That said, you do have more room to sleep in F than CW so if cost difference is reasonable, it can be good for eastbound too.
Have you looked at the cost of doing J out F back?
That said, you do have more room to sleep in F than CW so if cost difference is reasonable, it can be good for eastbound too.
Have you looked at the cost of doing J out F back?
Jun 9, 19, 1:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver (for now)
Posts: 974
Jun 9, 19, 1:53 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,182
For me, the noticeable difference on board is the level of service. CW can feel a tad like youre on a (very comfortable) production line. Flying F, with a good crew, is different because they make you feel as though you are the only customer and you can have what you want when you would like it.
The ground experience ex-London is also nicer.
The cabin is smaller - but for me at least it is about the service levels.
The ground experience ex-London is also nicer.
The cabin is smaller - but for me at least it is about the service levels.
Jun 9, 19, 2:04 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 583
Much better seating layout with more space. I did F yesterday LHR to ATL, and it's akin to the A350 EDI to DOH that I do on QR in Business.....
I like the CCR, which I got both through flying F and also GGL, however I won't make the 5000 TP and will lose CCR and actually won't miss it, Galleries is fine. I do like the dining options in CCR though.
I like the CCR, which I got both through flying F and also GGL, however I won't make the 5000 TP and will lose CCR and actually won't miss it, Galleries is fine. I do like the dining options in CCR though.
Jun 9, 19, 2:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold, Marriot Bonvoy Gold, MeliaRewards Gold, Radisson Gold
Posts: 806
Honestly, after my last First experience, there are a couple of things I would value over business... but not by much.
The CCR is nice - but not life changing
The dine-anytime concept is good on a long TATL flight
The marginally better wines on board and in the CCR
Thats pretty much it for me. I've come to the conclusion that I wouldn't pay for First over CW again unless the price difference was a couple of hundred s tops (maybe 3-400 on a US west-bound west coast) per segment over CW. And only on a day flight - never again on a night flight east bound TATL where i find I can sleep perfectly well in CW.
Honestly I have loved the F experience and I'm lucky enough to have done a few in my time. But I'm good now...don't feel a desperate need to do it again and in future I plan to be a lot less "rose-tinted-glasses" about it. Its very nice yes....but objectively, not worth the financial premium for me. With Avios and a 2-4-1 perhaps - but not on my own coin. I guess as I get older and my eventual retirement looms ever-nearer in my mind I'm probably becoming a little more frugal about everything and those occasional First class splurges are the first to go now, as I focus on over-paying my mortgage. In fact, I'm taking my first ever WTP flight on BA at Christmas LGW-MCO just to sample a day flight in non-business...something I don't think I have done in long haul in nearly 15 years. If that goes OK then it may see the end of F all together for me and I'll take WTP to east coast (CW on the way back) or CW both ways when going West coast from now on.
The CCR is nice - but not life changing
The dine-anytime concept is good on a long TATL flight
The marginally better wines on board and in the CCR
Thats pretty much it for me. I've come to the conclusion that I wouldn't pay for First over CW again unless the price difference was a couple of hundred s tops (maybe 3-400 on a US west-bound west coast) per segment over CW. And only on a day flight - never again on a night flight east bound TATL where i find I can sleep perfectly well in CW.
Honestly I have loved the F experience and I'm lucky enough to have done a few in my time. But I'm good now...don't feel a desperate need to do it again and in future I plan to be a lot less "rose-tinted-glasses" about it. Its very nice yes....but objectively, not worth the financial premium for me. With Avios and a 2-4-1 perhaps - but not on my own coin. I guess as I get older and my eventual retirement looms ever-nearer in my mind I'm probably becoming a little more frugal about everything and those occasional First class splurges are the first to go now, as I focus on over-paying my mortgage. In fact, I'm taking my first ever WTP flight on BA at Christmas LGW-MCO just to sample a day flight in non-business...something I don't think I have done in long haul in nearly 15 years. If that goes OK then it may see the end of F all together for me and I'll take WTP to east coast (CW on the way back) or CW both ways when going West coast from now on.
Jun 9, 19, 2:51 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: York, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, Hilton Diamond, Marriott GOLD, Accor Club Gold
Posts: 694
My take is different to the earlier posts, and I value F fairly highly over J. Going to the UK (I live in the USA), I am keen to get the most sleep I can on the seven hours or so journey from Chicago. I find I sleep far far better in First. It is smaller and quieter, and the bed/PJ experience is better. So the first blessing for me is that I really do much better on sleep and am thus ready for a full day of business on landing.
Coming to the USA, I find I can genuinely work really well with notes/files and my laptop on the F table. In CW, I barely can use my laptop. The tray table is wobbly, and there is less space. So, again, F makes me more productive. And I do think dining on demand adds into this - especially as my pattern flying to the USA is almost always to eat later than food would be served if it were down to the crew to choose the time.
And I do think the wine is noticeably better in F - and I do enjoy that!
Coming to the USA, I find I can genuinely work really well with notes/files and my laptop on the F table. In CW, I barely can use my laptop. The tray table is wobbly, and there is less space. So, again, F makes me more productive. And I do think dining on demand adds into this - especially as my pattern flying to the USA is almost always to eat later than food would be served if it were down to the crew to choose the time.
And I do think the wine is noticeably better in F - and I do enjoy that!
Jun 9, 19, 3:20 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 250
Jun 9, 19, 3:37 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters (+BA Bronze)
Posts: 14,835
For me, the noticeable difference on board is the level of service. CW can feel a tad like youre on a (very comfortable) production line. Flying F, with a good crew, is different because they make you feel as though you are the only customer and you can have what you want when you would like it.
The ground experience ex-London is also nicer.
The cabin is smaller - but for me at least it is about the service levels.
The ground experience ex-London is also nicer.
The cabin is smaller - but for me at least it is about the service levels.
Originally Posted by LTN Phobia
My main ones:
Space
No screen going up and down
Dine whenever I want
Not needing to step over anyone's legs
Space
No screen going up and down
Dine whenever I want
Not needing to step over anyone's legs
Last edited by Jimmie76; Jun 9, 19 at 4:06 pm
Jun 9, 19, 3:39 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 700
Jun 9, 19, 3:48 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,346
Many of the above benefits will be on offer in BA business when the new seat is rolled out ..... so theres much to look forward to there.
Meanwhile all of them are already available in business with a number of other carriers.
