British Airways Announces New First Class
Intro
British Airways, the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, is known to operate some of the most premium heavy aircraft in the world. However, there has always been one area where they fall behind their competitors: First Class. Years ago, British Airways announced their new business class seat titled "Club Suites", but opted not to refresh these planes with new First Class seats. Well, as of 2026, British Airways will be bringing a First Class product to certain aircraft, and it certainly seems a lot more along the lines of First Class as the current product.
The Details
Beginning mid-2026, British Airways will begin to retrofit their fleet of A380s with Club Suites and this brand new First Class product. Presumably, we would expect BA to install these suites on the 777-9s as well, but at this rate, will those ever get delivered?? 😅.
From multiple sources across the internet, these are the details of what we can expect from the upcoming seat:
The first-class suites will be in a 1-2-1 configuration, with privacy doors and curved walls that are 60″ high. A very nice addition
The seat is 36.5″ wide, and the bed has a length of 79″ which proves to be more than adequate
Ottoman for face-to-face dining
The full partition between the center seats, meaning great privacy
32″ 4K personal television
several charging options (AC, USB-A, USB-C, and wireless charging)
bluetooth audio
The one aspect which bothered me about the old F was the lack of storage, but these seats are expected to have a lot more.
Here are some renderings of the new product:
My Thoughts
Look, I am a huge fan of British Airways bringing in a new First Class product, especially considering how far behind the competition they are in some of the markets in which they operate. However, I have to say that the cabins feel a bit boring and not very British Airways. The first-class cabins that they operate at the moment, along with the color schemes, are lovely, and I would love to see them stick around.
But my two main concerns are these:
This product should have been introduced 5 years ago. Cathay Pacific is looking to build one of the greatest first-class products. JAL has built speakers in the headrest, and the list continues.
The soft product needs an upgrade, especially with that miserable tea service that just commenced. I know that multiple BA fliers were taken aback when the airline announced the end of its partnership with Laurent Perrier. BA needs to secure a good and consistent champagne.
Final Thoughts
British Airways has finally shown the world its plans for its new first-class product, which will debut in mid-2026. On the surface, it is a huge step up from what is currently offered, especially compared to the 777-200s, but this product is 5 years too late. I would love to see BA take a revolutionary stance on their A380 First Class instead of this, but BA has always been an airline that is practical (heck, remember when they introduced Club World).
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