British Airways will start flying their brand new business class seat to Abu Dhabi from 31 March 2020.
Dubbed the ‘Club Suite’, it is a vast improvement on the airline’s current eight-across configuration in business class. I was impressed by the Club Suite on a recent flight from London to Dubai.
What’s so good about the Club Suite?
The Club Suite is a reverse herringbone seat in a 1-2-1 configuration. This is by far my favourite style of business class seat. It has a lot going for it:
- Direct aisle access from every seat.
- Sliding doors for added privacy.
- More storage space.
- Fixed screen allowing gate-to-gate IFE use.
One of the big advantages of this layout is that there are no bad seats on the plane. Every seat offers the same degree of privacy and space.
British Airways has also been investing heavily to improve its business class product and experience. This has included new bedding, blankets and pillows from The White Company as well as better food and drinks from Do&Co, the premium inflight caterer.
Which flights from Abu Dhabi have the Club Suite?
It appears the Club Suite is scheduled to Abu Dhabi throughout the spring and summer on retrofitted 777s. However, things can change. The easiest way to see if a particular flight will have the Club Suite is to do a dummy booking and check the seat map. If the seat map shows four-across it is the Club Suite. If it shows eight-across it is the old seats.
British Airways operates a single daily flight between London and Abu Dhabi. The flight departs Abu Dhabi at 1:55 in the morning and arrives into London Heathrow at 6:30 the same day. The return departs London at 12:50 in the afternoon and arrives into Abu Dhabi at 23:00.
At least one of British Airways’ departures every day from Dubai will operate with the Club Suite onboard. Again, check the seat map to see whether a flight has the Club Suite or not.
Is the Club Suite the best way to fly to London?
The Club Suite is definitely a major upgrade for British Airways passengers. The combination of the fantastic new seat and comfy White Company bedding will make the red-eye flight to London a much more comfortable experience than it has been in the past.
Etihad though sets the bar high with the spacious Business Studio and four flights a day to London Heathrow. However, it is definitely good to have more choice and competition on the route between London and Abu Dhabi.
For more on British Airways new business class seat check out The Expat Flyer’s review of the Club Suite on a recent flight between London and Dubai.
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