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By Yvonne Yorke
British Airways New Club World
I am at New York’s JFK airport for my British Airways Club World business class flight to London. Like many travelers these days, I try to make my journey and navigation through the airport as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Towards that end, British Airways customers can book online at ba.com, as well as utilize the ‘manage my booking’ tool on the site, which enables them to insert any advanced passenger information, select a seat, order a special meal, or print their itinerary. Within 24-hours of their flight, British Airways passengers can check-in online and print their boarding pass.
At the Airport:
 With the check-in procedure taken care of, I left my luggage at the ‘Fast Bag Drop’ desk at the airport and made my way towards the British Airways lounge in Terminal 7. While BA shares their lounge with a few other airlines, only BA First class and Club World passengers, as well as Gold Executive Club members on long haul flights can access the Elemis Travel Spa and enjoy a selection of complimentary 15-minute treatments specially created for British Airways. These include four types of “flying” customized facials (presumably to counter the drying effects of the onboard cabin air), a stress-away shoulder to scalp massage, power back massage or a hot-stone foot massage. While all this might sound very tempting before a flight, unless you show up at the lounge at least 3 hours prior to your flight, you have next to no chance of securing a sought-after appointment with a therapist. However, as a sort of consolation prize, there are a number of state-of-the-art massage chairs, which are so comfortable and relaxing, that you might not want to get out of them when the priority boarding announcement for Club World customers are made.
Onboard Cabin & Seats:
At the gate, the boarding procedure was handled efficiently. British Airways’ new Club World cabin is on all their Boeing 747-400 aircraft, and all their Boeing 777 planes will be fitted with the new cabins by January 2010. Their Boeing 767 fleet will retain the original Club World cabin. Since I knew I was on a two-tier 747 plane, I had specifically requested a Club World seat on the upper deck. These are the preferred seats in the business class category as the cabin is quieter, and the window seats have additional storage boxes alongside the window.
The Boeing 747-400 planes have 70 Club World seats with 50 seats in the lower deck in a 2-4-2 configuration, and 20 seats on the upper deck with a 2-2 configuration. The seats are designed so that with each “pair” - one is facing the front and the other is rear-facing. If choosing a rear-facing window seat, you will have the distinctively different experience of taking off “backwards” at the plane’s ascent. If that doesn’t concern you, the most coveted window seats in the upper deck, and the ones I would recommend, are 64A and K in the last row since you don’t have to climb over another seat to get to the aisle, and 62A and K which is the exit row. A flight attendant was kind enough to direct me to the empty window seat at 64A after the doors closed since I had asked to be moved to a window seat, if there was one available. For me, it was like obtaining the BA flying equivalent of the Holy Grail.
November of 2008, British Airway unveiled its next generation of business class flat beds. They are 25% wider and offer more privacy and more storage space. Each Club World seat has a width of 25 inches, a 73-inch pitch, and fully reclines to a six feet six inches long, flat bed position. For extra comfort and convenience, there are four preset seat positions and a headrest with memory foam.
A touch button, opaque screen between each seat ensures privacy and a laptop locker underneath each seat where passengers can stow electronic items, hand or other bags, and shoes, offers added convenience. For those who wish to work during the flight, there is a large table and a standard 110 volt US style in-seat power socket… please note that a UK/USA adaptor is required.
The overall feel of the revamped cabin interior is sophisticated and relaxing with a neutral color palette of warm grays and blues. The thick taupe quilts and pillow fabrics complete the understated look. Much appreciated are the in-flight amenity kits, which are by Elemis, and designed to address the drying effects of flying. In addition to the usual, The Kit contains an Elemis lavender facial mist, pro-collagen marine cream, a lip balm and a pro-collagen hand and nail cream.
In-flight Entertainment:
British Airways has made significant strides in their in-flight entertainment system. Known as audio and video on demand (AVOD), the airline can offer passengers over 200 entertainment choices including 100 films and TV shows, 50 CDs, radio channels and audio books. With their touch-screen menus, customers have the flexibility to choose their selections whenever they wish, as well as fast-forward, rewind and pause features for their programs. During my flight, I was able to see the latest blockbuster movies that have not even been released onto DVD yet, as well as browse through a library of classic films and foreign language movies. Young passengers are also looked after with a “Skyflyers Kids’ selection of films, TV programs, music and stories geared towards those under the age of 12.
Other channels include a ‘Your Journey’ section which enable passengers to browse through screens detailing onboard service, an in-flight retail outlet and arrival videos. Also popular are the 20 interactive games featuring blackjack, roulette and my favorite, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”, although it is the UK-oriented version with questions such as, “Which supermarket chain has a royal warrant from Her Majesty the Queen?” Huh? At any rate, with this much entertainment to offer, who has time to sleep?
Meals:
I was curious about British Airways’ meal selections, as the airline has collaborated with many top chefs in the UK for their onboard food service. On my flight, the chef featured was Vineet Bhatia – the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star for his Rasoi restaurant in London. He has since gone on to develop new restaurants in hotels in Mauritius, Dubai, and Moscow. There was a choice of two starters (one vegetarian), a salad, and choice of five main courses including Vineet Bhastia’s spicy chicken masala with lemon and cashew nut pulao rice (tasty but lacking heat - tempered no doubt for in-air considerations), and lamb cutlets with paloise sauce (A British Airways Classic – which means that they are established favorites with BA passengers). There was also a main course salad option, a fish and a vegetarian pasta selection. For dessert, there was a choice of a passion fruit and coconut soufflé tart or a cheese plate with blue and French goat cheeses, followed by a selection of fruit and chocolates, served on the flight I was on.
Throughout the flight, there is a complimentary bar available serving alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. Cocktail nightcaps include Kir Royale, and Buck’s Fizz. There are Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve and Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top champagnes onboard. White Wines include an A to Z Oregon Pinot Gris 2007 and a Sancerre 2007, Domaine de la Chezatte. Reds include Artesa Napa/Sonoma Meritage 2005 and a Crozes-Hermitage 2007, Eric Texier.
And, for those that need a little something more substantial during the flight, there is a Club Kitchen set up in the gallery area on the main deck where passengers can help themselves to the light snacks and drinks available between meals. This includes a sophisticated sandwiches selection of Irish Cheddar with Bramley apple and fig chutney, and a spicy roast chicken with carrot and coriander. Sweets include a lemon and Earl Grey mille-feuille.
Finally, before arrival, there was “breakfast in bed” with an energizing fruit smoothie made with XanGo juice, fresh seasonal fruit, cereal, yoghurt, and a selection of warm breads and breakfast pastries.
On Arrival:
Since I had a connecting flight to Istanbul in a couple of hours, I headed straight for the lounges in the new British Airways terminal at Heathrow Terminal 5, which looks like a futuristic boutique hotel. LCD-paneled walls with digital clocks track time in different world cities, and modern art sculptures hang from the ceiling. Collectively, the six lounges known as the ‘Galleries’: three Club Lounges, an Arrivals Lounge, the First Class Lounge, and the Concorde Room (which is for their First Class VIP and celebrity guests) cost £60 million to build, and can accommodate 2,500 people.
The Galleries Club Lounge I was in has 830 seats, and is open to passengers traveling in First, Club World and Club Europe, as well as Gold and Silver Executive members. Facilities include a chef’s theater, which is essentially a table with hot and cold food selections, a deli and coffee house, a 20-seat cinema, desktop computers and printers, free Wi-Fi access throughout, a complimentary Silver bar and a Kids Zone. There is also an Elemis Travel Spa with complimentary 15-minute treatments as was the case at JFK, and 20 shower suites. I emerged from the lounge refreshed and fortified after my full-body jet, steam shower and a full English breakfast in time for my next BA flight.
For information on flights and other information, go to www.britishairways.com.
© August 2009 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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