A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I flew British Airways’ first class on the daytime flight from Boston to London. This was my first time flying British Airways first class, and my expectations were low. I had long heard that British Airways’ first class is more comparable to business class than to an actual first-class experience. Additionally, when British Airways updated these planes with their new business class suites, they didn’t update first class accordingly. So, I knew we’d be flying with an old seat configuration. Fortunately, the experience exceeded my expectations.
Bottom Line Review
This was a terrific way to fly to London! We flew the morning flight that was scheduled to depart Boston at 7:20 AM and arrive in London at 6:45 PM. There was a power issue at Boston Logan Airport that delayed our departure by almost two hours, but we were able to sit comfortably in our first-class seats during this time. There’s no question that the seat layout was dated and that it offered less privacy than the business class suites found on the same plane, but none of that mattered to us for this daytime flight. What did matter is that the seats were comfortable with tons of legroom, and the service was outstanding. We felt pampered throughout the flight. In the future, I would probably book business class for a short overnight flight, but for a daytime flight, I’ll definitely look to book first class when it’s available.
Award Booking
British Airways notoriously imposes huge surcharges even when booking with partner miles. Fortunately, Cathay Pacific often charges a lot less. Here are some of the options I had for booking these award seats (prices are per person):
- British Airways Avios: 68000 Avios + $ 1,183
- Alaska Mileage Plan: 67,500 points + $996
- American Airlines AAdvantage: 85,000 miles + $737
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: 100,000 miles + $216
I had lots of Cathay Pacific miles left over from a trip that was cancelled due to COVID, and so this was an easy decision. I happily paid more miles to save hundreds of dollars in cash. Compared to booking the flight with AA miles, I paid 15,000 additional miles and saved $521 in cash. For the two of us, and still compared to booking through AA, that came to 30,000 additional miles and $1,042 in savings.
Boston Airport Experience
At the Boston airport, we made our way to the British Airways lounge. While the lounge itself is decidedly mediocre, the great thing was that business and first-class passengers were able to board the flight directly from the lounge. The lounge also features a small, dedicated area for first-class dining with table service, but we found it to be less comfortable than the rest of the lounge.
Cabin and Seat
The first-class cabin had two rows, each with four seats across. Each seat had direct aisle access. We had chosen the middle seats in the second row so that we could sit together, but I’d be inclined to pick window seats next time, if possible. The window seats were more spacious and had beautiful windows (which I unfortunately failed to capture as a photo).
The seats were about the same width as you’ll find on most modern business class seats, but with more legroom. The primary seat position controller was a knob, which I found to be easy and intuitive, and somehow more satisfying than pressing buttons.
Each seat had a small closet that faced the aisle. This photo shows the closet with the closet door open towards the aisle:
My little legs couldn’t even reach the footrest:
The tray table was massive:
When I was ready to nap, the flight attendant made up my bed:
I staged a photo of me pretending to sleep. To ensure the camera could see my face, I raised the seat back slightly. The curtain behind me, on the left side of the photo, was the curtain that separated first class from business class:
Dining
Snacks were served before breakfast:
For breakfast, they had the wrong physical menu’s on board, so the flight attendant air-dropped the correct menu to us (I’m not sure how this would have worked with an Android phone — maybe only iPhone users are allowed in first class):
I ordered the Eggs Benedict. My vague memory was that the food was all good enough, but not exceptional.
Later in the flight, they offered a light meal (I ordered the lobster roll). I loved that the tea service was provided in a proper ceramic teapot!
His & Her Amenity Kits
The Elemis amenity kits were very nice despite being a bit sexist. Here’s my kit, followed by my wife’s:
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi was free for first-class passengers. I didn’t use it too much, but it seemed fast when I did.
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The Elemis amenity kits were very nice despite being a bit sexist.
What?
Hi Greg, other than the Concorde room and possibly the shared lounges at JFK, what other business class lounges do you believe are better than the Boston lounge?
“Sexist” amenity kits?
Nice review! What type of bedding was offered and did you get PJ’s?
How did you find the daytime flight versus the usual overnight US-Europe?
It’s a sneaky trick to get to Europe without having to attempt to sleep on the plane. It’s only to London, and it’s just out of BOS and JFK. Several airlines offer it (mostly out of JFK).
BOS also has a daytime flight to Iceland via Icelandair so that’s another option.
Just wrapped up our first family Europe trip thanks to this hobby a few weeks ago and one of those daytime flights were a lucky find that we got to try. AA will sometimes release business award space at schedule open on their own metal with a partner connector (usually BA) for 57.5K and minimal taxes, including their daytime route from JFK.
It looks like Virgin Atlantic is pricing some of their daytime JFK – LHR flights for 35K + $540 in business. Honestly with a daytime flight that doesn’t feel crazy long I might opt for PE instead which can come in really low at 16.5K + $240.
BOS-PDL is another daytime departure. It departs at 11:45 AM and arrives Ponta Delgada at 8:50 PM. Nice short 5h 5″ flight
I have friends that have found on cash fares BA 1st being cheaper than biz. It is usually a daytime flight jfk-LHR then connecting to an overnight lhr-xxx in business.
Although it wasn’t in 1st, I’ve flown that BOS-LHR route in PE, which may be one of the hidden bargains to Europe, especially if you have OW Emerald status. We went three years ago for the Queen’s Jubilee, booking through AA meant it’s was only 10k more than economy, with reasonable surcharges, and a decent seat to pass the day. The private boarding area from the lounge was a nice treat.
If you’re ontime, you pop off the plane before almost everyone else, lines are minimal at that time of day, especially if you know the trick to beat everyone to get to Border Control, and you can be in Central London within an hour of touchdown, check-in, and hit a great “late” dinner, which is actually late afternoon for your body clock. Go on a late night London walk, sleep in a real bed, and wake up the next morning completely without jetlag of a neck/back ache from sleeping on the plane, even in Business.
And. . . what is the trick to beat everyone to border control?
When you get off the plane on arrival at T5, you generally take a train to the main building (there are some gates you don’t). When you arrive at the main building, you head toward a set of long escalators. Everyone takes the escalators. It’s actually a set of them, they are slow – ignore them. Instead, keep going, go to the elevators behind them. The elevators are fast and get you ahead of everyone that was on your plane. You gain 2-3 minutes this way. Border Control is to the left after you exit the elevator.
What is the trick?
See above.
@Greg
“My little legs couldn’t even reach the footrest”
“The tray table was massive:”
The reason is the “foot rest'” has a seat belt – it’s a seat desgined for “buddy dinning”
In Dec 2019 we flew BA First on A380 JNB to LHR (then LHR-SEA on the 777. We buddy dined on the A380 a red-eye. We were in 1F/1J. The.BA lounge in JNB was just ok. Buz the Concorde Room was extremly nice – I also booked by email in advance the Elemis Soa Treatment for BA First (I gave P2 my appt) but the C19 killed the spa treatments. I also booked t Cabana with a private shower and a smal.quasi double.bed. You could made.to.order food adukt beverages by phone from the cabana.
It was our first points booking for Intl First (had done cash for Int’l J/PE thru Chase portal and cash for a Biz tix on upoer deck of 747 – but it was before.lie-flat seats.
We booked almost 25hrs in the air in First JNB-PDX for 80K AS miles pp.
Yep I meant to mention the buddy dining option. We didn’t try that since we were sitting next to each other, but maybe we would if we were each in window seats.
Very nice! We flew BA first LHR-SFO back in January on the A380. Like you, I had low expectations but was pleasantly surprised. It’s certainly not world class but I enjoyed it nonetheless. There’s also something to be said for the fact that BA first is much more accessible with miles than many other first class experiences.
Great review !!
What other American and Canadian cities does BA fly 1st from ? Is LHR the only destination ? or are there other UK airports too ?
https://www.britishairways.com/content/en/bb/information/flight-information/our-route-network
Greg, how far in advance of travel did you book this? Thanks.
4 months