Club Europe seating
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 14
Club Europe seating
Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere - I searched but couldnt find any threads.
I recently went with 6 friends to Athens on CE. They were a bit reluctant about the extra cost but I had told them that the service would be good and that the seats would offer much more room. So I was shocked to find that in both the O/B and I/B on an A320 were just economy class seats with the middle seats blocked off and with very little legroom (we are all quite tall). I usually fly BA long haul and havent bought a CE ticket for some time. I dont think I will again if this is standard on CE. Quite honestly we would have been better off flying a low cost airline with exit seats. Is this standard on CE now or were we just unlucky?
I should add that in all other respects the service and meals etc were excellent. Many thanks
I recently went with 6 friends to Athens on CE. They were a bit reluctant about the extra cost but I had told them that the service would be good and that the seats would offer much more room. So I was shocked to find that in both the O/B and I/B on an A320 were just economy class seats with the middle seats blocked off and with very little legroom (we are all quite tall). I usually fly BA long haul and havent bought a CE ticket for some time. I dont think I will again if this is standard on CE. Quite honestly we would have been better off flying a low cost airline with exit seats. Is this standard on CE now or were we just unlucky?
I should add that in all other respects the service and meals etc were excellent. Many thanks
#2
Join Date: Jan 2022
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,535
Yep. Thats the standard. And its the same on basically any European carriers business class. Been that way for ages. As you say, the seats are exactly the same with the middle blocked. You get lounge access and a half decent meal (hopefully) but youd likely get much more for the same money ina. Nice restaurant in Athens. You also get way more tier points if youre chasing status. Each persons utility function is different and it will depend how much the premium is. It can range from a massive amount to not very much at all.
#3
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,377
This is standard on BA and has been for years, and indeed many other European short haul airlines operate their business cabins in the same way. It is very much the European market in terms of short haul business - and other markets such as the US or Far East have a different short haul proposition in business.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: London (ne Melbourne)
Programs: Qantas Platinum (Oneworld Emerald)
Posts: 1,025
Short answer is yes, that's standard for intra-European business class (which BA calls Club Europe).
Some other European airlines, like Finnair, are a bit more upfront about it, stating this on their Business Class page:
Some other European airlines, like Finnair, are a bit more upfront about it, stating this on their Business Class page:
On most of our short-haul flights within Europe, the seats are standard Economy Class seats. However, you can enjoy more space and added privacy with the middle seat left unoccupied
#5
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 397
It's also covered in pretty good detail on the BA website https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...ss/club-europe
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
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Of all the major European airlines, only TK offer a 'proper' business class seat on their narrowbody fleet; even then, only on the A321 and some 737s. The rest of the 737s and the A319/A320 fleets have 3-3 economy seating, just like other European airlines.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 148
If you score a seat in row 1 the legroom is pretty good!
Apart from that, priority check in, boarding and lounges are a big benefit! I like a little glass of champagne and a meal too.
Does anybody remember when BA used to squish the middle seat in CE together?
Apart from that, priority check in, boarding and lounges are a big benefit! I like a little glass of champagne and a meal too.
Does anybody remember when BA used to squish the middle seat in CE together?
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#9
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 861
#10
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,276
#11
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: New York
Programs: Bonvoy LifetimeTitanium, UA Plat 2MM, LHW LeadersClub, IHGPlat, HiltonDiamnd, ASMVPG100K, WyndDiamnd
Posts: 1,227
This is standard on BA and has been for years, and indeed many other European short haul airlines operate their business cabins in the same way. It is very much the European market in terms of short haul business - and other markets such as the US or Far East have a different short haul proposition in business.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: British Airways GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond & Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,629
Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere - I searched but couldnt find any threads.
I recently went with 6 friends to Athens on CE. They were a bit reluctant about the extra cost but I had told them that the service would be good and that the seats would offer much more room. So I was shocked to find that in both the O/B and I/B on an A320 were just economy class seats with the middle seats blocked off and with very little legroom (we are all quite tall). I usually fly BA long haul and havent bought a CE ticket for some time. I dont think I will again if this is standard on CE. Quite honestly we would have been better off flying a low cost airline with exit seats. Is this standard on CE now or were we just unlucky?
I should add that in all other respects the service and meals etc were excellent. Many thanks
I recently went with 6 friends to Athens on CE. They were a bit reluctant about the extra cost but I had told them that the service would be good and that the seats would offer much more room. So I was shocked to find that in both the O/B and I/B on an A320 were just economy class seats with the middle seats blocked off and with very little legroom (we are all quite tall). I usually fly BA long haul and havent bought a CE ticket for some time. I dont think I will again if this is standard on CE. Quite honestly we would have been better off flying a low cost airline with exit seats. Is this standard on CE now or were we just unlucky?
I should add that in all other respects the service and meals etc were excellent. Many thanks
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,395
Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere - I searched but couldnt find any threads.
I recently went with 6 friends to Athens on CE. They were a bit reluctant about the extra cost but I had told them that the service would be good and that the seats would offer much more room. So I was shocked to find that in both the O/B and I/B on an A320 were just economy class seats with the middle seats blocked off and with very little legroom (we are all quite tall). I usually fly BA long haul and havent bought a CE ticket for some time. I dont think I will again if this is standard on CE. Quite honestly we would have been better off flying a low cost airline with exit seats. Is this standard on CE now or were we just unlucky?
I should add that in all other respects the service and meals etc were excellent. Many thanks
I recently went with 6 friends to Athens on CE. They were a bit reluctant about the extra cost but I had told them that the service would be good and that the seats would offer much more room. So I was shocked to find that in both the O/B and I/B on an A320 were just economy class seats with the middle seats blocked off and with very little legroom (we are all quite tall). I usually fly BA long haul and havent bought a CE ticket for some time. I dont think I will again if this is standard on CE. Quite honestly we would have been better off flying a low cost airline with exit seats. Is this standard on CE now or were we just unlucky?
I should add that in all other respects the service and meals etc were excellent. Many thanks
#14
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,487
The increased leg room hasn't been 'a thing' for many years. Approximately 2014-2015. Before then, you used to have big, chunky and soft seats and more leg room. I do prefer the harder seats, I like the table in the middle and in row 1 you do get a little more leg room, too.
#15
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,296
The boys have said it all and it has been this way for over 40 years. We are also told how Turkish Airlines has "proper" J seats - what they usually forget to mention is that the fares are probably at least twice or more than British Airways. Anyhow it is much of a muchness on all European airlines west of the Aegean Islands.