British Airways’ New Business Class Suite is Finally Coming to Sydney - What's Changed?

British Airways has rolled out the long-awaited new business class suite, and we aren’t holding back the excitement.

Being a specialist travel agency, we are lucky enough to see the comings and goings of each airline’s updates to their aircraft. British Airways’ previous business class suite was renowned for being a little awkward, the configuration not being aligned to what you would expect in this superior class. Understandably, this significant change has had frequent flyers on the edge of their seats.

Like travel plans, and almost every other aspect of our lives, COVID came, creating change and impact in ways we never thought possible. As a result, British Airways cancelled their long-haul flights from Sydney to London. As COVID settled down and travel restrictions have eased somewhat back to normal, those flying from Sydney now have the opportunity to enjoy the new design of their ‘Club World’. The new design has been a part of British Airways’ £6.5billion investment program.

Previous Design

The previous design of their business class seats was released in 2000 with only minor changes until the complete redesign.

Before the upgrade, the design layout in business class was clunky and led to some awkward problems. When it was originally released, it was greeted with excitement; however, over the years, it has become outdated and a style that hasn’t provided the practical needs of a business class seat.

The design was a yin-yang style – one passenger facing forward, the other facing backwards, with a privacy barrier in-between. This layout meant that the passenger in the aisle seat didn’t have a privacy screen or door between themselves and the aisle. It made sleeping during a long-haul flight a little uncomfortable, with little to no privacy, a luxury business class passengers expect.

The odd design also led to awkward scenarios when the aisle seat occupant was asleep. Flight attendants would need to reach over them and open or close the privacy screen to service those in the window seat. Even with the privacy screen in-between seats when food and drink were served on the flight, the screen constantly needed moving.

Additionally, it meant that if you didn’t have the privacy screen up, passengers would awkwardly stare into each other’s eyes throughout the flight – great for those travelling together but not so much if you’re sitting next to a stranger.

What’s Included in the New Design?

Coining the term ‘Club Suite,’ this design is the complete opposite. It is a fully customised version of Collins Aerospace ‘Elements’ business class seat, also known as the ‘Super Diamond’. British Airways wanted to create a completely custom seat; however, starting with this model allowed them to speed up production, which COVID had previously slowed down. We’ve seen a similar design and pattern on China Airlines A350 flights which has proved popular.

The new design is modern, sleek and provides solutions to previous problems. Each passenger receives their cocoon-style seat, which can be made entirely private by shutting their sliding door. The seats are positioned at a 30-degree angle in a herringbone-style pattern to give ultimate privacy. In addition to the complete privacy, the inside of the area is padded to reduce excess noise in the cabin.

Other features include a 79-inch fully flat bed with luxurious bedding provided by The White Company. The iconic company also provides a large pillow, a blanket with satin trim, a duvet and a padded mattress cover for extra comfort on those long-haul flights. When not in use, the bedding can be stored under the seat. Additionally, the amenity bag is also provided by The White Company with sample-size products. All of these features have been added to give passengers added comfort on their long haul flights.

Each contained unit has direct aisle access, making it much less awkward for flight attendants when serving beverages and food. A 17-inch high-resolution screen with all of the latest movies and shows is included.

Unlike the old design, the new seat has ample storage space, including three distinct lockers with lids, one of which contains the power points for charging your devices and a fourth space for a water bottle. In addition to these features, other key features include: 

• Vanity unit and mirror
• The armrest contains a button allowing it to lower after take-off, giving you more space
• Several power outlets for charging devices
• WiFi
• Gate-to-gate programming
• Signature afternoon tea provided on specific routes
• Choice of your main course, and you are then served with a starter, dessert and cheese. 

This design is a transformative update for British Airways and has been long overdue. Whilst the rollout of this update began in 2019, all long-haul flights will be fitted with this update by 2025.

Although this is a massive upgrade for British Airways and its customers, the airline is adamant that the price will remain the same with no increase.

Are There Any Downsides?

Due to the new design, passenger storage and space facilities have increased by 40%. Whilst this is fantastic for passengers flying, the design comes with a reduction in seat numbers. Previously each aircraft would hold 14 passengers in business class.; however, with the new changes, it now only holds 8. The seating configuration was originally 2-4-2 but has now changed to 1-2-1.

Where to Now?

All of the reviews of the new Club World suite have been in good taste – any improvement of the design was going to have a positive result. Most of the reviews have mentioned that the increase in privacy has greatly increased comfort on those long flights. British Airways is a part of One World, just one of the many airlines we work with to provide you with airfare deals and round-the-world flights. Contact our specialists today to book your next trip.

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