ba 777 200 world traveller plus

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review: Is it Worth It?

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 19/03/2024

In 2017 I flew premium economy with Qantas Sydney to Hong Kong return. It was a fantastic experience.

In fact, it was so good it made me question if I could really justify the extra amount to fly business class if it wasn’t an Australia – Europe/US flight.

So when was looking at flying from London to New York – and then Los Angeles to London return – I thought I would give British Airways World Traveller Plus a shot. Which I did back in 2018 and I recently flew with British Airways World Traveller Plus post-Covid in 2022.

I’m going to kick off with an update from 2022 when I flew from Portland to London Heathrow with British Airways in premium economy. My older review involved flying out of London Heathrow so it has quite a bit of information on checking in at Heathrow etc.

⇒ Click here for Prices and Deals on British Airways

British Airways World Traveller Plus 2022 update

After a long break flying with British Airways in World Traveller Plus I signed up again to try them out in July of 2022. I was flying from London to Washington DC, and then home to London out of Portland. I received an offer that was too good to refuse to upgrade to business class on the flight from Heathrow to Washington DC. This review update covers the Portland to London Heathrow leg in premium economy.

I somehow managed to end up on British Airways’s first (not sure if this is the first ever flight but it was certainly the first for a while) direct flight out of Portland to Heathrow. Everyone was in a great mood and there was even cake and sandwiches at the boarding gate for everyone!

As such, we had a very nice new 787 that I believe was a Dreamliner. Few things make me happier than realizing that I am on a relatively new plane as it always means a huge improvement in the premium economy experience.

When I mentioned to the crew that Virgin Atlantic offers its premium economy passengers prosecco the attendant even went and got me a glass of champagne from business class! As I said, all were in a joyous mood.

To be honest, not a lot has changed since the last time I flew World Traveller Plus with British Airways. The 787 I was on had only three rows of premium economy seats. I quite liked this as it normally means faster service and I feel more of a sense of space when the area is smaller. The seat layout was 2-3-2.

I had booked in my window seat when I booked the flight as I always do on overnight flights (I find it worth it to pay a bit extra at booking to achieve this).

One thing that has improved is the quality of the headphones in premium economy which are now noise cancelling. Also, the quality of the food on offer has improved. I enjoyed a very nice steak.

The Dreamliner 787 also has new touch-operated window screens and better cabin pressurization. If you are able to choose your flight and can see the different planes available, I suggest checking to find the Dreamliner 787 option for world traveller plus as it is definitely a step above premium economy on some of BA’s other planes.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review (2017): Online Check-In

Unfortunately, things with British Airways World Traveler plus did not get off to a good start. Two days before my flight I went on to the British Airways app and was able to reserve one of the aisles British Airways Premium Economy seats – great.

The next day, when I went to actually check in online I was told that my passport number was wrong and that I wasn’t able to check in.

I then had issues with my uber so only arrived at the airport 90 minutes before my British Airways flight.

British Airways Premium Economy: Bag Drop and issues arise

I went and used the check-in machine for my premium economy British Airways flight and my seat had changed to a window – which was good news for me. Then I went to the desk for bag drop.

When the attendant is on the phone for some time when all you do is drop your bag, it is not a good sign. I was told by the attendant that I had been “sneaky” taking the window seat.

I was quite annoyed by this and asked how could I be sneaky when the app had done this for me. I was then told that they had overbooked business class and that seat had been meant for someone who was being downgraded to premium economy on British Airways – which meant they now wanted to move me to British Airways economy class.

I was so annoyed. It really makes me furious when airlines do this. Or should I say when British Airways do this as they are the only airline that has tried to bump me from flights several times due to overbooking.

In what other industry would an organization take your money ahead of time and then when you turned up to experience that service be told that you couldn’t as they had overbooked – and that apparently this was fine?

It is a major problem as a solo traveler as we are at the top of the list when it comes to who gets bumped first when it comes to air travel.

A British Airways staff member once told me that the safest people were those also flying with British Airways from a connecting airport eg Manchester to London and then on to say NY, followed by groups, followed by families and then by couples.

Only the male solo traveler is worse off than the female solo traveler. My annoyance was greater as I had injured my ankle in Nepal earlier that year and absolutely could not have sat in an economy seat for several hours without problems.

Luckily I had a letter from my doctor with me (I had it in case my ankle got worse and I needed medical treatment) so I was able to produce this and say I had to stay in British Air premium economy.

I ended up in British Airways Economy Plus but not without quite a bit of undue stress and frustration. This experience alone has been enough to really put me off flying with British Airways.

I do find it outrageous that you can be potentially bumped like this – and that the staff always seem to act like this is of no consequence and why are you getting upset? OK rant over!

British Airways Premium Economy Review: Getting to the Gate

Anyway, the flight was then at Gate A10 at Terminal 5, which means a very long bus trip. I thought we were driving to New York.

BA World Traveller Plus also means no lounge access and no priority seating.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review: The plane and the seats

The British Airways World Traveller Plus 777 plane was a little old and compared to Qantas it felt a lot less spacious. The seat layout was 4 in the middle and 2 on each side.

I was on the side thank goodness. I would have been very unhappy to have paid for premium economy and to have had one of the extreme middle seats.

I often wonder who ends up in these seats – are they the people that don’t make sure they do early online check-in? Or maybe they are more tolerant than me.

BA World Traveller Plus Review: In-flight amenities

British Airways Premium Economy 747 has good quality headphones which were nice. The British Airways premium economy product also does have a very good in-flight entertainment system.

The British Airways Premium Economy in-flight amenity kit was not bad – socks, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and a pen. Great idea to have a pen as everyone needs one on a flight.

There is a lot of legroom and the seats are comfortable on the British Airways 787 Premium Economy flight. I was also pleased to see that there were 2 USB ports in the seat ahead and then 2 power points between the seats.

The food was a big positive for this World Traveller plus review 777 writer. It did feel like an upgrade from economy. We were also offered a lovely glass of sparkling wine before take-off.

Premium Economy British Airways Review: Some Positives

One of my favourite features of British Airways premium economy 777 is that they have a very useful brochure which explains all the features and benefits of the world traveler plus seat – this is such a good idea.

Every premium economy and business class seat is different and you don’t want to miss out when good features can be used.

There was also a good-sized storage locker next to the window which was handy – another reason trying to get the window seat is one of my top tips.

World Traveller vs World Traveller Plus

In March 2018 British Airways made major upgrades to its World Traveller and British Airways Premium Economy 777 cabins at Gatwick on their Boeing 777s.

Both cabins have had their entertainment screens increased by 50% in size. I’m looking forward to checking out the new six-way headrest.

Interestingly these new planes will feature a considerable increase in the number of World Traveller Plus seats – coming from a reduction in Club World. Premium Economy is on the rise.

So what about the rest of the fleet? World Traveller Plus is a major improvement on World Traveller, which doesn’t offer the best seats. Also, there are few opportunities to upgrade within World Traveller – apart from the exit rows.

If you have a long flight or an overnight flight I think the upgrade cost is absolutely worth it.

Upgrading to British Airways Club World

Theoretically, being in BA World Traveller Plus means it is easier/more likely that you can be upgraded to Club World. BA does offer paid opportunities for upgrades but not all the time – and not necessarily at the best prices.

The best way to check if this is an option for your flight is to visit the Manage My Booking page. The price generally varies between 400 and 700 GBPs.

For frequent flyers, Avios points are a good option for upgrading – or combining Avios points with payment. It is not normally the best use of Avios to upgrade (they tend to be their most effective for less-visited longer trips in economy class in my experience) but it is a good option.

Finally, if you are a frequent flyer and flying World Traveller Plus there is a greater opportunity for an upgrade. This will most likely happen when World Traveller Plus has been booked out and business class has seats.

British Airways Premium Economy: The Verdict

Overall, the seat itself is the key difference between world traveller and world traveller plus on British Airways.

On Qantas and other airlines, there does feel like there is more of a difference between the two cabins – particularly when it comes to service.

I was flying with British Airways when they were having extensive problems as an airline so it could not have been fun to be working for them at that time.

However, I am paying the extra and in my view, I do expect a slightly better service. I would hesitate to take British Airways Premium Economy again – mostly driven by nearly being downgraded to economy.

I don’t want to have to worry about this when I am headed to Heathrow. I, of course, would fly with them if there was a good enough deal, but they have certainly moved down my list after this experience.

Here is BA’s full rundown on their premium economy offer and The Telegraph’s Comparisons of Premium Economy Offers including British Airways Premium Economy Reviews

⇒ Prices and Deals on British Airways

British Airways World Traveller Plus Frequently Asked Questions

What class is world traveller plus on ba.

World traveller plus on British Airways is premium economy. This is a class between economy and business class.

Do you get lounge access with British Airways World Traveller Plus?

No, you do not get lounge access with a British Airways World Traveller Plus ticket.

Does World Traveller Plus on British Airways get priority boarding?

Yes, World Traveller Plus travelers on British Airways get priority boarding and check-in.

Does World Traveller Plus on British Airways get to use the fast track queue for security?

No, World Traveller Plus customers on British Airways do not get to use the fast track queue for security.

How wide are the World Traveller Plus British Airways seats?

The seats in British Airways World Traveller Plus generally have a 38 inch pitch and are 18.5 inches wide. The seats are 1 inch wider than economy and the pitch is 7 inches greater than economy.

Booking Flights:

I use Skyscanner for all my flights – from economy through to business – click here to Check out SkyScanner 

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Who Paid for What in this British Airways World Traveller Plus Post

I covered the cost of my flights on British Airways Premium Economy. This post on British Airways world traveller plus contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and end up making a purchase on that website I will receive a small commission. I wanted to make sure you were aware of this.

READ NEXT: American Airlines PREMIUM ECONOMY REVIEW

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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

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Journeying John

Sunday 5th of March 2023

Glad your food was ok and an upgrade but I have to reportthe reverse, bith in and oit of India, there was no choice and what was actually served was worse than mkat carriers economy meals. As for BA's IT systems and contempt for customers who habe paid for a service they don't recieve. Your experience is far from unique and I wonder if you would ever have got any form of compensation had you not had the ankle injury. BA or the UK brand of IAG are #BestAvoided today.

Amanda OBrien

Wednesday 15th of March 2023

I doubt it on the compensation front John! Luckily BA seems to be getting better but I am still nervous about being kicked off flights when I am travelling solo

Jean-Pierre

Tuesday 21st of February 2023

Interesting you had problems with entering your passport information when checking-in. This has happened twice to me using the BA website. The two occasions have been years apart so BA have not fixed their website.

I eventually found a telephone number to call for website support and after about 40 minutes the agent was able to get my passport info to take. It was very frustrating, especially after paying for the upgrade to World Traveler Plus, the taking more money part of their website works very well.

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In-flight amenities

All seats feature 12 audio channels featuring up to 4 talk-radio channels hosted exclusively for British Airways and the remainder as music channel choices. More Information

Club World Business features personal video screens featuring interactive games and offering up to 18 channels of the latest film and television programs.

In World Traveller and World Traveller Plus, every seat on long haul flights has its own 6.3 inch LCD video screen offering 18 video channels and a flight information channel. World Traveller Plus adds interactive games.

More Information

Club World Business and World Traveller Plus feature in-seat laptop power connections. There are no connections in the standard World Traveller class. Read our guide to in-seat laptop power for more information.

British Airways is in the middle of introducing WiFi on all of their 777-200 aircraft. As of November 2018, 28 out of their 43 777-200s have WiFi.

More information

British Airways offers a variety of complimentary food and beverages, based on the time of day and departure location. An enhanced meal service is offered to Club Europe passengers. Click here for more information about food offered onboard.

Note that British Airways flies more than one version of the 777. There are three classes on this transatlantic plane, but BA also has a 4-class configuration. This aircraft type is based at London Heathrow.

All A, D, F, and J seats in World Traveller class have limited underseat leg and storage space due to the presence of an entertainment equipment box.

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What is British Airways World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) REALLY like? The first question asked when comparing standard economy to premium economy is whether the additional cost (usually double standard economy) is worth the price, and whether the photos on the British Airways website do the experience awaiting justice, or is it a waste of money.

In December 2021 I took a Premium Economy flight on the new 777 Boeing aircraft to really test out the service. I flew Business Class on the way out to the US (my BA Business Class review here) and flew the Premium Economy cabin on the return journey, to really compare the cabins.

I tested everything from the food, to the recline, the entertainment, and everything in the cabin. I tested EVERYTHING and took many photos to be able to provide evidence of the experience and try to explain whether I thought BA Premium Economy was worth it, and how it compared to the Business Class experience.

Unfortunately, no lounge access is included with Premium Economy tickets, so I had to enjoy the standard departure lounge, but did the comfort on board the Premium Economy seat make up for this?

The results may surprise you!

Premium Economy Check-In and Bag Drop

All airports have often different experiences from each other when it comes to the check-in process. The check-ins are managed by the airline though, so my experience is attributed back to British Airways, although I can not of course blame them for the departure area. Unfortunately, during my check-in, there were no Premium Economy check-in desks, so I had to queue with other economy passengers.

Covid checks in the US were strict and thorough, so extra time getting through check-in was expected. The experience was relatively uneventful but so far, at this point in the journey, I didn’t feel that I had experienced any benefits of an upgrade ticket. With no lounge access available on a Premium Economy ticket, I enjoyed the delights of the airport delicacies whilst waiting for the departure gate to be announced.

A short walk to the departure gate meant a wait for my group to be called and could board. Of course, passengers with seats further upfront of the plane boarded first but boarding and seating before the crowds of the standard economy was a (slightly) nice touch.

BA Premium Economy Full Review – Tried and Tested!

Although not my first time traveling in Premium Economy with British Airways, this was my first Premium Economy flight on the new 777 aircraft.

First Impressions

My first impression was generally an improved look-at-feel to what can be a tired and cold cabin. The smaller more intimate Premium Economy cabin felt fresher than before and had very small but nice finishing touches.

The comfort of the Premium Economy Seat

Taking my aisle seat, I instantly noticed a few improvements and changes to the seat and seat pitch from previous Premium Economy flights with BA. The footrest had been replaced with a better design and was certainly more comfortable to use. I am 6ft, so the foot well of the seat pitch is pretty important to me.

I would compare the legroom in Premium Economy to that of extra legroom seats in standard economy. The seat comes with the entertainment system in the headrest in front of you, as you would expect, as well as in-seat power to charge a laptop or mobile phone during the flight.

A pillow and duvet were also provided, although these are available in the standard economy too. The extra wide seat is definitely noticed, especially when compared to standard economy. The width of two seats in premium economy is close to the width of three seats in standard economy.

I had one MAJOR issue with the premium economy seat, but we will come on to that shortly.

Negatives of Flying Premium with BA

These early impressions though didn’t last, and it was from here on that the value puts on Premium Economy passengers against First and Business Class is really felt. For example, onboard other airlines’ Premium Economy seats for similar prices (like Virgin Atlantic) an onboard welcome drink of either champagne or orange juice is provided. It’s a very nice little touch as you take your seat but is not offered by British Airways.

There is also no amenity bag unlike other airlines when flying Premium Economy. Don’t get me wrong, amenity bags are not the reason I fly Premium Economy but when other airlines are improving their Premium Economy experience to add little extras on top of a wider seat, it is something you can come to expect.

After a rather uneventful takeoff, we had to wait an hour before the first drink was offered to Premium Economy passengers, as the crew tended to First and Business Class first.

The free drink was offered with a bag of pretzels. Unfortunately, the cabin crew had run out of alcohol before they reached our seats.

A visit to the bathrooms is going to be expected during a 10-hour flight, but unfortunately, the Premium Economy cabin has no bathrooms. Use of the nearest bathrooms in Business Class is not permitted for Premium Economy travelers.

You have to pass through the curtain separating the cabins and use the bathrooms in standard economy. Queues were at times busy but manageable. One of my biggest frustrations though in Premium Economy with BA and probably the main reason I would choose not to fly this cabin class again is the depth of the seat recline!

If the person puts their seat back in front of you and reclines in full, it feels as if the back of the chair is now in your lap and chest. Personal space completely disappeared. You have little choice but to also fully recline your seat to provide some personal space again – which forces the person in the seat behind to need to do the same.

Being comfortable on a flight is of course important, and why premium tickets are purchased, but this can not come at a cost of personal space whilst traveling for so many hours!

Food and Drink

Being a vegetarian, I was disappointed to see that the vegetarian food options had almost run out by the time our seats were reached by the cabin crew for the meal of the flight. Fortunately, I was able to take one of the last but felt sorry for any vegetarians behind me in Premium Economy, and anyone vegetarian in standard economy.

There of course is an argument for pre-booking a meal before your flight.

I would definitely suggest this when booking a BA flight, although in my defense there were no vegetarian options available for pre-booking. Specially prepared gluten-free and vegan options were available, but Vegetarian was not a pre-bookable option. In the future, I would book a vegan meal just to ensure I could eat a meal on the plane, especially for my upgraded premium economy fare.

The last food to be served was 2 hours and 45 mins before landing, which was a filled roll and a muffin. Unfortunately, the only filled rolls available were ham and cheese. Again, no catering for anyone who does not eat meat.

I do not expect any service to cater to my specific personal eating choices but to provide one food option which contains meat seems a little narrow-sighted in today’s age of choice. That being said, the muffin was nice!

After Landing

As expected, First and Business Class passengers left the plane first with Premium Economy passengers following. Due to Covid regulations, all passengers had to remain seated after landing until their row numbers were called and they could exit the plane. Although a Premium Economy passenger, they were no priority baggage collection available. The wait for baggage took around 45mins from plane departure.

Is BA Premium Economy Worth It?

Value for money is always the biggest consideration when trying to see whether any service or experience is ‘worth it. For me, I would struggle to see the additional value given in the BA Premium Economy service if the cost was more than 30% of the standard economy service.

Especially of other competitor airlines that flew the same route, and also offered premium economy. The service certainly has value. The smaller cabin, extra legroom, and wider seat are certainly most welcome during a long-haul flight of six hours or more.

It is difficult not to consider the lack of food and drink options a factor, but I would also imagine these shortages are perhaps attributed to Covid logistic delays of supplies than being an issue that happens often. The crazy amount of seat recline has to be looked into. People value personal space in equal measure.

It is a shame that little touches like a welcome drink, use of the premium bathrooms, and better food and drink choices aren’t made available to premium economy passengers as they are with other airlines.

Is BA Premium Economy Much Better than Standard Economy

The BA Premium Economy experience does is notably better than the standard economy. A wider seat, and more leg room, are by far the best benefits on offer. Unfortunately experiencing Business Class only a few days before highlighted the service gap between the two experiences but compared to the standard economy alone any passenger will notice the benefits.

Until you reach your seat on the plane the pre-flight experience is virtually the same. One factor I haven’t really mentioned is that Premium Economy cabin seat rows are set in 2-4-2 rows, meaning two seats together before the left-hand aisle then four seats together in the middle, before the right-hand aisle, and a further two seats.

This is great for two people traveling together who wish to sit together without a third person joining you, which is almost inevitable during busy flights. If you are a Gold or Silver Tier member you can book your seats for free at the time of booking. For those with Bronze Tier membership, you can book your seat up to 7 days before you fly.

Those with Blue Tier, or not a current BA Executive Club member, will have to pay in advance to choose your seat or you can choose your seat for free when checking in, which is exactly 24 hours before you fly. If the two seats together are very important to you, and part of the reason for upgrading to Premium Economy, it may be advisable to pre-book and pay to choose your seats to save disappointment during check-in.

Question: Is BA World Traveller Plus the same as Premium Economy?

Answer: Yes, BA World Traveller Plus is the name given by British Airways to their premium economy service. It is worth noting that on smaller short-haul planes, mainly to Europe, there is no premium economy cabin, only Euro Traveller (European short-haul economy cabin) and Club Europe (European short-haul business class cabin). Premium Economy is only available on long-haul flights.

Question: Can you access the BA Lounge with Premium Economy?

Answer: Unfortunately, you can not access the BA lounges with a Premium Economy ticket. The BA lounges are only available to First, Business Class and Gold Tier members, as well as One World Alliance members with the right tier levels. Many airports offer independent lounges where access can be booked in advance for a fee.

BA Premium Economy Review for 2022 – The Insider’s Notes

After a BA Club World journey only a few days before, the BA Premium Economy experience appeared a disappointing alternative. The lack of food options and drink onboard during my flight may not be standard, but little touches like amenity bags and a welcome drink can make a big difference. The seat pitch and legroom are noticeable upgrades from a standard economy seat. Those taller travelers will almost certainly notice the difference. There are definitely ways BA can improve their Premium Economy experience, but if you can get an upgrade to Premium using your Avios or a for a good price against the standard economy price, you will for sure notice the difference!

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Simple Flying

British airways' world traveller plus premium economy cabin: everything you need to know.

A look at the UK flag carrier's premium economy offering.

Today we will look at British Airways World Traveller Plus premium economy and see what it offers and if it is worth the extra money. While the concept of a premium economy cabin may sound relatively new, the idea of providing a nicer economy cabin has been around for just over 30 years. Taiwanese carrier EVA Air introduced premium economy seating on its Boeing 747-400s. Instead of calling it premium economy EVA Air called it "Evergreen Class."

EVA Air's upgraded economy seating did not go unnoticed by other airlines and was soon copied by the United Kingdom-based airline Virgin Atlantic in 1992. British Airways did not want to be outdone by a rival and created its premium economy product shortly afterward.

Premium economy allows you a free second suitcase

Before we talk more about British Airways World Traveller Plus premium economy, it's worth pointing out that "economy" is the key word here. While you may have a slightly bigger, more comfortable, reclining seat and extra legroom, it is in no way comparable to flying business class.

There are, however, advantages to flying premium economy over regular economy. The first is being able to check in a second suitcase for free. British Airways would charge extra for a second bag, which, in some cases, may result in the same total price as what it would cost you to book premium economy.

A friend recently flew on TAP Portugal from Miami to Lisbon and needed to bring two suitcases. When he saw what the Portuguese carrier wanted for the second piece of luggage, it was a no-brainer upgrading to premium economy as it was nearly the same price.

Wider seats and more legroom

British Airways premium economy passengers also get priority boarding which means you are in tier three, with first and business class passengers boarding first. British Airways' World Traveller Plus cabin is between business and economy classes and configured in a 2+4+2 layout.

It offers 18.5-inch seats with an 8% recline, which is great for sleeping but not so good if the person in front of you wants to recline fully, as it intrudes on your personal space. Each seat has individual charging points, and legroom is a generous 38 inches with a footrest. Each seat has a 10.6-inch inflight entertainment screen allowing you to watch hundreds of the latest movies and TV shows.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here !

WiFi is available on British Airways flights, but sadly even though you are flying in World Traveller Plus, you still have to pay for it. World Traveller Plus passengers also get noise-canceling headphones and an amenity kit. Unfortunately, the World Traveller Plus cabin has no restrooms, so you share the toilets with economy passengers.

Food and drinks

World Traveller Plus passengers are offered a welcome aboard drink: water, orange juice, or sparkling wine. Meals vary depending on the time of the day. If you are flying from New York to London, for example, flights are generally in the evening so you arrive in the UK early in the morning.

After taking off, the cabin crew comes round with the drink trolley, and then a little while later, the meal service begins. If you expect to get the kind of food served in business class, you will be disappointed as it is only marginally better than what is provided in economy. Later in the flight, before landing, a second meal service is given, which is more like a snack than a meal.

British Airways

British Airways (BA) Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus) Review

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BA Unveils Its “Densified” London Gatwick Boeing 777

British Airways has unveiled images of its refurbished Boeing 777-200 aircraft at London Gatwick, which will operate on all long-haul routes from the end of 2019.

London Air Travel » British Airways » British Airways London Gatwick » BA Unveils Its “Densified” London Gatwick Boeing 777

British Airways has today, Monday 5 March 2018, unveiled images of its refurbished Boeing 777-200 aircraft which will operate on all long-haul routes at London Gatwick from the end of 2019.

BA took delivery of its first refurbished aircraft last week. It features an entirely new World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabin. The first routes to operate the new cabin are Punta Cana, Cancun and Kingston. Please see here for full details of the expected routes for 2019.

When BA first announced the plan to densify its Boeing 777 fleet it said that 12 aircraft would be refurbished. BA has said today that 6 aircraft will be refurbished by the end of October 2018. The refurbishment will continue in 2019.

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World Traveller – Economy

This biggest change is in World Traveller, and this is the reason why details of the new cabin are so eagerly awaited.

The new World Traveller cabin is now 10 seats across in a 3-4-3 configuration. BA has tried to soften the blow by emphasising improved in-flight entertainment with a larger 10″ screen, USB power and moveable arm rests. However, fundamentally this refurbishment is driven by a desire to increase seats and have a lower seat cost than Norwegian at London Gatwick.

BA also say that the new World Traveller seat will be installed on some Heathrow based Boeing 777 aircraft from autumn 2019.

World Traveller Plus – Premium Economy

The World Traveller Plus cabin has been increased from 24 to 52 seats.

What is noteworthy is that BA has introduced an entirely new seat. This means BA has now 3 different World Traveller Plus seats. The original World Traveller Plus seat (which the new seat replaces) on Boeing 747 and many 777 aircraft; the second World Traveller Plus seat introduced in 2010 (pictured below) that features on many Boeing 777 and all Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 aircraft.

Whilst World Traveller Plus retains its 2-4-2 configuration and the seat appears to have many features of the 2010 World Traveller Plus seat such as the shared cocktail table, adjustable head rest, a leg rest, and USB and three pin power sockets.

BA has not provided any details of the dimensions of the new seat – and the original plan was to increase the cabin size to 42 seats. The 2010 seat is noteworthy for offering a quite deep recline, which can be a bit too deep for some passengers.

The one point we would make is that, for World Traveller Plus, 52 seats is a large cabin and it does lose its “demi-cabin” feel as a consequence.

BA also say that the new World Traveller Plus seat will be installed on some Heathrow based Boeing 777 aircraft from autumn 2019. . BA has since updated its original press release, it is the new World Traveller seat will be installed on Heathrow aircraft.

Club World – Business Class

The Club World cabin has been reduced from 40 to 32 seats. The cabin features the same seat that BA introduced in 2006. However, the in-flight entertainment system has been upgraded.

Inflight Connectivity and Entertainment

The aircraft features an entirely new Panasonic in-flight entertainment system. This should offer a lot of content and be very fast and responsive.

There is no mention of WiFi. It seems that the installation of WiFi is being carried out separately and no refurbished aircraft currently feature WiFi.

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12 thoughts on “BA Unveils Its “Densified” London Gatwick Boeing 777”

Well the aisle cannot be smaller so the seats must be incrediblely smaller in World Traveller(Cattle Class)

Looks like we are travelling in new configuration to Orlando on May 9th. Will let you know thoughts on WTPlus. Are there dedicated loos for WTP if not needing one at short notice will be worse than ever!!!!

This new aeroplane must be extremely cramped and not good for your health

bad idea to cram and reduce comfort legroom and reclining. Like trying to get to the loo inside a can of sardines. we flew to glasgow scotland on american airlines and vowed to go BA to london instead because AA was too cramped for a 10.5 hour flight..Now it sounds to me like my fav BA is sucking up to the canned sardine mental bandwagon as well. More seats for the pound good news for market investors bad news for the lower and middle class average working class Joes and Josies. WELL suck it up customers, the pocket book overrides the need for comfort. Come fly with us in our overcrammed can of sardines….your back will need a spinal fusion when you get to your destination, we hope you have top grade medical coverage. Um…..Nope! I really would hope the almighty buck or pound would not succeed the need for c9mfort and a bit of breathing room. My son is 6 ft with long legs…AA was a joke…Im short and My legs were cramped. Ok for a few hours but…when yourknees are hitting the back side of the seat in front of you all in the name of airline making a few million bucks in exchange for infringing on my comfort and health, it is Criminal! BA…dont do what AA did. Its not worth it. I will be very disappointed if you Stoop to that level of arrogance. Heck there was a time in my life where AA was superior..the Bomb (no pun.), but now I no longer hold my AA in such status…now B rated and Hated. Shame. I bragged and boasted how superior you were for long haul, and now you are shining the brass but reducing the comfort for my axx. I will have to break up with you if you compromise on comfort. aka downgrade comfort for free 1hr wifi and shiney new toilet seats and an extra bag of crisps…Nope sorry Honay..not ever. Dont do it. Just Dont! I want my legroom I want my seat room…I dont want to perform acrobatic maneuvers just to get out of my seat and down the isle everytime I have to pee! Moo moo moo!

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BA, if as I read above your seats are being reduced in size and comfort, I will not be booking any more flights with you sadly! Comfort is paramount, especially on long haul flights. You try keeping people with long legs, bad backs, small children etc comfortable in these situations! Accept slightly lower profits, give bigger seats, and get amazing customer feedback……or you will go out of business! You’re warned!

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Is British Airways premium economy worth it on the Boeing 777-300ER?

British Airways launched its premium economy cabins and service way back in 2000, dubbing it World Traveller Plus.

The product is on all the airline's long-haul aircraft, so travelers (with one "l" here in the U.S.) will find it on most of the airline's major international routes, including to the carrier's U.S. gateways at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and Nashville International Airport (BNA).

British Airways operates several types of long-haul aircraft, but I took a flight from Phoenix to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) operated by a Boeing 777-300ER which departs at 7:30 p.m. daily and arrives in London at 1:25 p.m. the next day at Terminal 5. On the return, it departs London at 2:40 p.m. and arrives in Phoenix at 5:30 p.m.

Here's what British Airways premium economy is like and whether it's worth it.

How to book premium economy on British Airways

Before I decide which cabin to book on any route, I price out my preferred dates in economy and then also in premium economy — especially if it's an overnight flight and I want to sleep. I find I can relax more easily in premium economy, which offers more space and footrests. The seats are comparable in size to domestic first-class recliners.

For the Phoenix-to-London route on British Airways, the economy prices tend to be around $1,200-$1,400 round-trip, but I have seen them over $2,000 on some dates. The premium economy fares for this route can range from $2,200 to over $4,000 round-trip. I booked 30 days out from my departure and paid $2,994.35, which was $1,290 more than the economy fare for the same dates.

I also always price out a one-way ticket versus a round-trip, just to see all my options, and find that British Airways often prices one-way tickets the same as round-trips.

I have flown this route in economy a handful of times, and a few years ago, I upgraded at the check-in desk at Heathrow and paid 300 British pounds (about $385) to upgrade one-way into premium economy for the 10 1/2-hour flight back to Phoenix. I felt it was worth it to gain more space and upgraded service.

If you have British Airways Avios (or can convert credit card points to Avios), you can search for award availability on the British Airways website if you'd prefer to book your ticket as an award. It's easier if you have flexible dates, use the search-by-month tool and look at off-peak days. I ran a few searches outside of the peak summer travel period. It currently shows no award availability on the British Airways leg from London to Phoenix in October, but plenty of space in the opposite direction in economy and premium economy.

Pricing my itinerary out with Avios, it gave me the American Airlines flight as the return option for dates in October at 55,750 miles and $649 in taxes — the taxes are higher on BA than most other carriers. Even pricing a cash economy ticket, the fare was $620 round-trip but the taxes added another $649, making the total ticket price $1,269.

Here are the airfare and award redemption ranges for Phoenix-London round-trips on British Airways over the next several months:

Checking in to premium economy on British Airways

I always like to check in for flights online or using the airline's app on my phone. I was able to check in for my flight to London using the British Airways app, but was not issued a boarding pass pending a passport check, so I stopped by the British Airways priority desk at the airport to claim my boarding pass and check my bag. Normally I would not check a bag, but I packed my medium-size Away suitcase because London was not my final destination and I was going on an extended trip.

Premium economy tickets do get an extra bag allowance, so you could bring a cabin bag plus a personal item on board and check up to two additional bags of up to 23 kilograms (51 pounds) for free.

The priority check-in desk can be used if you hold elite status on British Airways or a Oneworld alliance partner. I have Platinum status on American Airlines, which gives me Oneworld Sapphire status . In Phoenix, there are two agent stations for priority passengers in premium cabins or with elite status, and three for those in economy. The check-in process was quick and easy as this is the only flight that British Airways operates out of Phoenix, and I did not wait more than five minutes. I also arrived three hours prior to the scheduled departure.

Once checked in, I headed through security using my Clear membership and went to the American Express Centurion Lounge , which is near Gate B22 in Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor Airport. I stood in line for almost 30 minutes to get my name on the waitlist and was told it would be another 30 before entry. I walked to the Admirals Club instead and gained immediate access with my status since I was flying internationally.

All this to say that a British Airways premium economy ticket alone does not provide lounge access to passengers unless you either have elite status or hold a credit card with lounge access as a perk.

On the return from London to Phoenix, I somehow missed the priority check-in area and opted to use a self-scanner to check my bag and send it on its way. This is a great timesaver in theory, but my machine was buggy and decided to become "unavailable" midscan, so I had to switch to another scanner. I did, however, make my way post-security to the south end of Terminal 5 to have a snack at the British Airways Galleries Club Lounge , to which I had access thanks to my Oneworld status, while I waited for the boarding time.

Boarding for the British Airways outbound flight from Phoenix always feels a bit like a cattle call as the gate is near the end of the terminal, and there are not really any seats, just long rows to funnel nearly 300 passengers onto the plane. The day I flew, the flight was fully booked because the flight the night before had been canceled, so anyone who could be moved to the next departure was.

The staff managed to board the plane in Phoenix quickly and efficiently, so there was not a lot of time lost at the gate. Boarding started at 6:50 p.m. and was completed by 7:30 p.m. A premium economy ticket entitles you to priority boarding after first and business class, but before main cabin passengers.

On the return flight from London, the plane was parked at a remote stand, which meant passengers needed to board shuttle buses to reach the aircraft and board via stairs instead of a jetway connected to the terminal. The flight was normally scheduled to depart at 2:30 p.m., but there was a mechanical delay announced at 2 p.m. so we didn't end up boarding until 4:30 p.m., and the process was completed by 5:12 p.m. By the time we pushed back, it was almost three hours after our originally scheduled departure, but the staff moved swiftly during boarding to get us on our way as quickly as possible.

How comfortable was premium economy on British Airways?

One of the aspects I enjoy the most about premium economy is the cabin size. It's much smaller and more intimate than the main cabin. There are only five rows in a 2-4-2 configuration for a total of 40 seats on the Boeing 777-300ER, just behind the main business-class cabin.

If I'm traveling with a companion, I try to book a set of two seats by the window, but since I was traveling alone, I opted for an aisle seat in the center section in the second row — 16G. I prefer an aisle seat, and my rationale here is that if I fall asleep, I won't necessarily be woken up by my neighbor if they need to get up since they can exit out of the other side of the row. Conversely, I won't need to wake anyone up if I need to stretch or use the restroom.

The seats are roomier than in economy, too — a full 18.5 inches wide versus just 17.1 inches — which feels equivalent to a domestic first-class seat. There is also a leg rest that can pop out from the bottom seat cushion and an adjustable footrest attached to the preceding seat.

The seat reclines up to 8 inches and offers an adjustable headrest with wings to cradle your head.

I found the tray table and access to two power outlets in the armrest between my seat and my neighbor's. The table popped up and out, and unfolded to twice its stowed size, which was large enough for my 13-inch MacBook. There was onboard Wi-Fi available starting at 4.99 British pounds ($6.40) for one hour, 11.99 British pounds ($15.40) for four hours or a full-flight pass for 19.99 British pounds ($25.60).

I found the Wi-Fi to be slower when trying to load files via Slack while I worked on the plane for a few hours, but it worked perfectly fine for emails and messaging on my MacBook.

Finally, there were two lavatories located directly behind the premium economy cabin and ahead of economy that premium economy and economy passengers shared. Since there were only two other lavatories at the very aft of the plane for economy passengers, there was a wait to use them at times, but it never took too long.

Amenities in British Airways premium economy

Upon boarding, each seat had a small pillow and lightweight blanket, which I found to be soft and comfortable.

There were also basic noise-canceling headphones and an amenity kit.

The amenity kit contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm and hand lotion from Scaramouche + Fandango, socks, a pen and an eye mask. I was surprised there were no earplugs included, like you'll find in many other amenity kits.

The personal entertainment system included a 12-inch screen in the seatback that was adjustable up and down so that when the person in front of you reclined their seat, you could still view the content well. The entertainment on demand included an array of new movies, classic movies, TV and music. The BA High Life Entertainment system includes Paramount+ shows, and I was able to catch up on episodes of "1923" with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren during the flight.

For a break between episodes, I would switch to the satellite-view flight tracker and check our location as we navigated up over Canada and Greenland toward the U.K.

The entertainment system can be controlled with a wired remote that pops out of the side of the armrest, but the same controls are available on the touchscreen. The headphones plug in right next to the remote in your armrest.

How was the food in British Airways premium economy?

As boarding on my outbound flight from Phoenix was underway and passengers were getting settled in, flight attendants came through the cabin, welcoming everyone and offering a predeparture beverage choice of water or orange juice.

Around 30 minutes after takeoff, the crew circulated with warm towels. Drink service started about 10 minutes after that, and menus were handed out. All service in the premium economy cabin was quick and efficient, and the friendly flight attendants made a point to chat with each passenger.

I'm not sure if it's due to the double aisles, but meal service overall on the plane seemed to take less time than on a domestic flight in the U.S. where they only serve drinks and pretzels. The BA crew definitely has it down to a science.

On the outbound flight, dinner service included a starter of quinoa salad. The main course was a choice of:

• A vegetarian Indian dish.
• Beef brisket.
• Roasted chicken with parmesan cheese.

The tray also included a dinner roll and butter, cheddar cheese with crackers and a vanilla bean cheesecake with tropical jelly.

I selected the chicken with roasted potatoes for my entree. The temperature was perfect, and the chicken was tasty. I know it's hard to get a good crisp on roasted potatoes served in the sky, but they were decent. I'm not really a dessert fan so I only took a bite of the vanilla bean cheesecake and decided to eat the cheese and crackers instead. Bottled water and a choice of beverage were also included. The bar menu includes a selection of cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, tea, coffee and soft drinks.

After dinner, the crew dimmed the lights and I watched a movie before reclining my seat, donning my eye mask and sleeping on and off for about four hours. In my book, that's better than nothing!

About two hours after dinner, I was awake when crew members came by handing out Walker shortbread cookies. The buttery goodness is something I always associate with my trips to the U.K. Around midnight U.K. time, the crew circulated with a choice of water or orange juice. I'm still not sure about orange juice at dinnertime or midnight, so I grabbed more water.

About an hour before landing in London, breakfast service was delivered and passengers had a choice of:

• Scrambled eggs with mushrooms, bacon and potato hash
• Cheddar cheese omelet, potato wedges, cherry tomatoes and asparagus

Both dishes were accompanied by a fruit cocktail cup and a muffin. I only ate a few bites of my scrambled eggs and side veggies, which was enough to hold me over until I could grab a full meal once in London.

The food quality on the outbound flight to London was OK but not excellent. However, on the return flight to Phoenix, both dinner service and the light meal before landing were some of the best food I've had on a flight. Around 30 minutes after takeoff, the crew circulated with warm towels, followed 10 minutes later by water, orange juice and pretzels.

Dinner service started just after 7 p.m. (we'd been in the air about 90 minutes) and was a choice of:

• Rigatoni pasta in a slow-roasted tomato sauce.
• Chicken tikka masala with rice pilaf.
• Braised leg of lamb with pea mousseline, roasted cauliflower and rosemary jus.

Lamb is one of my favorite dishes, so I gave it a go and was pleasantly surprised at how tender and juicy it was. I'm not a fan of peas, but whip them up in a mousseline, and they're apparently delicious. The pannacotta was a good balance of passion fruit with a touch of sweetness. The couscous tabbouleh that accompanied the entree sat atop a coriander yogurt sauce that was light and tangy.

The light meal prior to landing was not breakfast this time as the London-Phoenix leg normally lands around 7 p.m. in the evening, so the offerings were:

• Chicken and vegetable pie.
• Aubergine (eggplant) parmigiana.

British Airways hit a home run with two of my favorites on the same flight. I chose the eggplant, and it was delicious. I rarely eat bread on a flight unless it is fresh and warm. This roll was wrapped in plastic so I skipped it in favor of the apple and rhubarb crumble, which was a nice blend of tart and sweet to end the meal.

Dining in premium economy definitely felt like an upgraded experience to the economy cabin. The main entrees, side dishes and most desserts were served on real ceramic plates. The napkins were cloth, not paper, and the silverware was metal, not plastic. Actual glasses came on the tray for your water or other beverage, and cocktails were served in glasses, not single-use plastic cups.

On previous flights in British Airways economy, I remember being handed a dinner tray, and everything was wrapped in foil or plastic. The presentation is definitely elevated in premium economy.

Was British Airways' premium economy worth it? 

Having flown both economy and premium economy on this route, I can say that the premium economy experience is definitely an upgrade and more restful than flying in economy. I am a frugal traveler, though, and I have a hard time shelling out hundreds or even a thousand dollars more than necessary, so I only tend to book premium economy when I know I need to sleep on an overnight flight, and I'm more than happy to fly economy on the return if it's a daytime flight. That helps keep the price of airfare lower.

Booking mixed fares on British Airways is a good way to save at least a little money if you only need to fly something nicer than coach on one of the segments. If you prefer to book using Avios instead of cash, you can also mix fares. Taxes are expensive, though, and can cost over $600 round-trip on this route.

If you are looking for genuinely friendly service and upgraded amenities (like the soft blanket!), then I would definitely recommend flying British Airways premium economy — especially if you want to arrive rested and well-fed.

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