British Airways premium economy review
You may not be able to lie flat, but this service presents an economical way to fly in more comfort than cattle class.
You may not be able to lie flat, but this service presents an economical way to fly in more comfort than cattle class.
Flight Number BA15 Boeing 777-300ER
Schedule Departing London 9.35pm, arriving Singapore 6.45pm, Sydney 7am
Seat number 30E World Traveller Plus (premium economy)
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Scheduled flight time 13 hours (first leg); 7hrs 45 minutes (second leg). Delayed almost 90 minutes on takeoff due to technical fault and then concussed passenger after being hit in the head by carry-on luggage.
The cabin
Sitting in the front row of British Airways’ premium economy cabin on the first leg, I have a great view of business class, which only serves to remind me what I’m missing. The jump from a 1-2-1 layout to 2-4-2 feels enormous, particularly in the middle row, but once the curtain closes and the flight takes off, my envy eases. The relatively new seats are roomy and comfortable, and as I find out on the second leg, there is a decent distance (96.5cm) between my seat and the one in front. Seat width is a generous 47cm and the sturdy footrest is a welcome change from those silly net slings some airlines have. In full recline, there’s no sense of someone lying in your lap, and the crew make sure all seats are upright for meal service. A decent blanket and small pillow are provided, along with a natty red, white and blue amenity kit containing toothbrush and paste, eye mask, lip balm and pen. Good quality noise-cancelling headphones take the comfort level up another notch, and there’s a pleasant camaraderie among passengers you rarely find further up the pointy end.
Luggage
World Traveller Plus passengers can take a cabin “handbag” of up to 23kg and carry-on case up to the same weight (with the caveat it may be required to go in the hold), plus a check-in bag of up to 23kg.
Technologyy
Inflight wi-fi is available to all passengers at a cost; it’s complimentary for those in First Class. Pricing starts at $9 an hour, and climbs to $42 for the entire flight. It’s probably not bad value for the 13-hour hop from London to Singapore but the idea of cracking out the laptop in World Traveller Plus is not appealing, even with the extra elbow room.
Dining
Juice or water is offered pre-flight. After takeoff on the Singapore to Sydney leg, passengers are invited to select something a little fancier from a menu of three cocktails and a selection of beer and wine. On London-Singapore, it’s straight into the dinner service with a choice of two mains, a braised British beef or chicken with roast tomato tagliatelle. Each meal comes with an entree of quinoa salad, bread roll and a panna cotta style dessert, all artfully arranged on a single tray. Add wine and water and everyone is happy, at least in my row; the food is fresh, tasty and hot. After a long nap and a brief stop in Singapore, it’s time for meal No. 2 and on this occasion there’s a run on the chicken, leaving only a seafood curry by the time the crew reach my row. It would have been my choice regardless but for anyone with seafood allergies it could be problematic. A pre-landing breakfast snack of a savoury toastie is quickly devoured along with drinkable coffee, a rarity in any part of the aircraft.
Entertainment
There’s an egalitarian approach to in-flight entertainment, which is the same in every cabin category, even though the screen size may differ. In World Traveller Plus, the screen is 27cm, a full 20cm smaller than in Club World (business) but still perfectly watchable. Selections are broad, with an extensive range of foreign films, TV box sets and new releases to while away the hours. Since I travelled, British Airways has added Paramount+ to its IFE, including the entire Star Trek series, and other popular programs such as Yellowstone and iCarly. Music lovers will also find plenty of listening material, with the likes of Adele and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Service
Cabin crew really can make or break a flight, and on this occasion the cheery demeanour of the flight attendants lifts the experience well above the ordinary. Not even grumblings from some passengers when directed to stow blankets before takeoff fazes the World Traveller Plus crew who explain such items can be an impediment to free movement in an emergency. A fresh team on the Singapore-Sydney leg is just as pleasant; it feels like business class service. A shout-out too to the flight crew, who on both legs make a point of keeping passengers informed about minor tech issues and a streak of turbulence.
On the ground
Lounge access is not a normal inclusion for World Traveller Plus passengers but I score a pass to the Galleries Club Lounge at British Airways’ Heathrow terminal (5). My expectations are perhaps too high. The club lounge has seen better days, even in the dim light of the evening. Food offerings are underwhelming, although my salad and pesto pasta taste better than they look. A self-serve beverage area is in dire need of a tidy-up. On the plus side, there is plenty of space, and flight announcements are clear without being deafening. Downstairs is a Concorde Room and Galleries First Lounge for passengers travelling further up the aircraft along with eligible loyalty club and Oneworld members.
In the know
British Airways flies daily London to Sydney via Singapore and return and has a solid on-time performance, despite the often challenging circumstances of Heathrow and Changi. Boarding begins around 9pm local time for the 9.35pm takeoff, and arrives into Sydney between 7am and 7.30am after a solid 23 hours of travel.
The verdict
The World Traveller Plus cabin is a great asset to British Airways, providing a perfectly comfortable way to fly the long distance from London to Sydney. It is definitely a step up from economy with two fewer seats per row, even if it feels like a galaxy away from British Airways’ Club World business class. The difference is reflected in the fare, at roughly half the price of business yet more than twice that of an economy seat. Return flights in March were priced at about $2000 in economy on sale, $5000 in premium economy, and $10,000 to $11,000 in business (return Sydney-London).
Robyn Ironside was a guest of British Airways.