british airways world traveller plus premium economy

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The Guide to British Airways Premium Economy

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What is premium economy on British Airways?

British airways premium economy seats, food and drink in british airways premium economy, amenities and other perks of british airways premium economy, how much is premium economy on british airways, 4 ways to save money on british airways premium economy, use avios to book a premium economy ticket on british airways, is british airways premium economy worth it.

Flying in economy just isn't what it used to be. Over the decades, many airlines have reduced legroom, squeezed more seats into each row and cut back on services. Many travelers can't afford to pay for business class, but there is a Goldilocks middle ground: premium economy. Arguably, one of the better premium economy products available is British Airways premium economy, also known as World Traveller Plus.

Let's take a look at British Airways' premium economy, including what you'll find onboard, how the experience differs from economy and how you can save money on these seats.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

British Airways’s premium economy class is called World Traveller Plus. The other classes on its flights include economy (Euro Traveller and World Traveller) , business class and first class.

World Traveller Plus is situated in its own separate cabin, which is closer to the front of the plane than economy. The seats are wider and offer more legroom than the seats in economy. In addition, passengers receive priority boarding, a more generous baggage allowance, two meals, complimentary alcoholic beverages, noise-canceling headphones for the personal entertainment system and an amenity kit.

» Learn more: The guide to British Airways classes

For many passengers, the main reason to book premium economy instead of economy is the larger seats. And British Airways certainly delivers in this regard.

Compared with economy, British Airways World Traveller Plus gives you more space in all directions — more seat width, legroom and recline. Tall passengers can rejoice: British Airways premium economy provides 7 inches of additional legroom — measuring 38 inches of pitch vs. just 31 inches of pitch in economy.

(Photo courtesy of JT Genter)

In addition to a substantial recline, British Airways premium economy seats offer a fold-out leg rest and a fold-down footrest.

Throughout the cabin, you'll find a large, fixed armrest between each seat. Although this slightly reduces seat width, it means that you shouldn't need to battle your neighbor for control of the armrest. At the front of each armrest, a cup tray provides enough space for two glasses. And you'll find a water bottle holder between the footrests in each seat pairing.

Depending on the aircraft type, the British Airways premium economy cabin is either arranged 2-3-2 or 2-4-2. This means there are two seats by the windows and three or four seats in the middle column of seats. This arrangement makes British Airways premium economy a great option for couples traveling together who prefer to have their own two-seat row.

Each British Airways premium economy seat has a large, bright 12-inch touchscreen with seemingly endless entertainment options. This is a substantial upgrade from what British Airways offered prior to a recent cabin refresh.

Below the in-flight entertainment screen, British Airways installed a storage tray. This provides a convenient place to store your phone, passport, boarding pass or other items you want nearby — but not in your pockets — while in-flight.

» Learn more: Basic economy vs. main cabin

In addition to bigger and better seats, British Airways provides notably better food and drink service in premium economy compared to economy.

This elevated service starts before the wheels even leave the ground. Flight attendants pass through the cabin offering pre-departure beverages of orange juice or water, served in real glassware. Although sparkling wine is available in-flight, it's not available on the ground in the World Traveller Plus cabin.

In-flight, British Airways advertises that World Traveller Plus passengers get "two delicious meals, complimentary bar service including signature cocktails (or mocktail)."

Here's what that looks like in practice.

Flight attendants pass through the cabin shortly after takeoff to provide a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. In my experience, flight attendants proactively provide doubles of alcoholic beverages. Plus, you'll get a choice of wine to go with your dinner.

For meal choices, menus aren't provided to passengers. Instead, flight attendants note the meal options as they pass through the cabin. British Airways offers two options — typically one vegetarian and one meat-based meal. Meals are generally served with a salad, a packaged roll, a dessert and a choice between several types of wines — typically two reds and two whites.

While the first meal is hot and meets premium economy standards, the second is generally a cold, packaged meal served in a brown paper bag. Although perfectly adequate, I haven't found this meal to be particularly "delicious" — falling short of what British Airways advertises.

British Airways premium economy doesn't just provide bigger seats and better meals. British Airways World Traveller Plus passengers also get better amenities and additional perks like priority boarding.

British Airways premium economy amenity kit, pillow and blanket

At boarding, World Traveller Plus seats are typically stocked with a small pillow, blanket and a plastic-wrapped package including noise-canceling headphones and an amenity kit.

The British Airways premium economy amenity kit includes socks, an eye mask, lip balm, a pen, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Earplugs are available on request.

Other perks of British Airways premium economy

Extra baggage allowance: British Airways premium economy typically allows two free checked bags at no additional cost. Comparatively, some British Airways economy fares are "hand baggage only" and charge up to $175 each way for two checked bags.

Priority boarding: British Airways World Traveller Plus passengers board no later than Group 3 boarding. Meanwhile, economy boarding groups stretch to Group 9.

Universal power outlets: The recent refresh to British Airways economy cabins only provides USB power outlets in economy. However, you'll still find two universal power outlets between each pairing of World Traveller Plus seats in addition to a USB outlet.

Unsurprisingly, you can expect to pay more than economy — but less than business class — if you want to fly in the premium economy cabin on British Airways.

We did a fare search for a roundtrip flight from New York-John F. Kennedy to London and found that on the 7:35 p.m. flight, premium economy ($1,162) is more than double the cost of economy ($532) and only slightly cheaper than business class ($1,222).

A flight departing just 30 minutes later (and landing in London-Gatwick) was an even worse deal, offering a $608 premium economy seat, which was nearly triple the cost of economy ($233). Business class was significantly more expensive at nearly $3,000.

On the return leg, premium economy was $851, compared to $504 in economy and $1,540 in business class.

If you chose the more affordable outgoing option in premium economy, you’d be looking at $1,459 total for the round-trip flight, compared to $737 in economy. The cheapest round-trip business class option would cost $2,762.

There are a few ways to save money when booking the Traveller Plus cabin on British Airways.

1. Get $65-$200 off as an AARP member

If you’re a member of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), when you book a roundtrip transatlantic flight on British Airways, you can save $65 off economy or premium economy seats and $200 off business class. Although $65 isn’t a huge discount, it could help offset the difference between economy and premium economy.

Although AARP is a nonprofit organization that offers money-saving benefits for Americans over 50, you do not need to be 50 to join. You just need to sign up and the benefits are yours to enjoy. The standard cost of the membership ranges is $16 per year, but the price could be lower depending on how long you want to commit.

Check Cashback Monitor to see if there are any shopping portals offering bonus points for signing up for an AARP membership.

2. Book a British Airways flight through a shopping portal

Another way to save money on your premium economy fare on British Airways is to purchase the ticket through a shopping portal. Browse through Cashback Monitor to see what the current savings are.

The search result shows that Top Cashback is offering up to 1.51% cash back on British Airways. However, you need to look at the details to make sure that the flight qualifies for the discount.

Clicking on the Top Cashback link shows that the discount on long-haul flights is only 1.01%. So, if you were to book a $1,000 premium economy ticket and click through Top Cashback, you would earn $10.10 in cash, which isn’t much but still provides some savings.

» Learn more: How to earn extra points & miles shopping online

3. Use a British Airways credit card to save 10% and statement credits

The British Airways Visa Signature® Card offers several money saving perks on purchase of British Airways flights.

Cardholders get a 10% discount on all British Airways flights originating in the U.S. You would need to book the flight on ba.com/chase10 and use the promotion code CHASEBA10. Assuming you book a $1,000 premium economy ticket, you’d save $100 off that flight.

Cardholders who book award flights to London can earn statement credits of $100 in economy and premium economy and $200 in first and business class. The statement credits can be earned three times per year, maxing out at $600. To earn the credits, cardholders will need to use the British Airways Visa Signature® Card to pay for award taxes, fees and carrier surcharges on the award flight.

This is a useful benefit, especially since taxes and fuel surcharges on British Airways award tickets can be extraordinarily high.

If you have British Airways Avios, you can also use those points to book an award flight. Here’s an example flight search from New York-JFK to London-Heathrow showing three available classes:

If we compare the pricing, in economy, the ticket costs 25,000 Avios + $100 in taxes. Premium economy costs 42,500 Avios + $280 in taxes. British Airways adds on high taxes and fuel surcharges so you’ll need to weigh the price in miles (+ taxes) against a cash ticket.

Using our $608 premium economy flight example from above, if you were to pay for this seat in Avios, you’d extract 0.8 cent per mile ($608 - $280 / 42,500). NerdWallet values British Airways Avios at 0.8 cent per mile when redeemed for economy fares. This probably isn’t the highest value per point you’ll find at the premium economy level, but it’s about the same number of points that you would expect to pay in economy. If the flight in cash was more expensive, using Avios for the award ticket would be much more justifiable.

Another factor to consider is that British Airways used a distance based award chart , so the cost of the flight in Avios will depend on how far away your origin is from your destination.

» Learn more: The guide to British Airways Executive Club

British Airways premium economy is found on all long-haul international aircraft. This includes British Airways:

Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.

Airbus A380-800 aircraft.

Boeing 777-200 and 777-300 aircraft.

Boeing 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft.

British Airways passengers can upgrade to premium economy using cash or Avios — either in advance or at the airport. However, you cannot purchase an upgrade once onboard. The cash upgrade price generally depends on the route and availability. However, Avios upgrade prices are set based on the Avios award price difference between the two cabins.

» Learn more: How (and why) to upgrade your British Airways flight using Avios

Thanks to a recent cabin refresh, the British Airways cabin now appears fresh and sharp. British Airways premium economy consists of four to nine rows of seating — depending on the aircraft — and is found between the business class and economy cabins. Each row is configured with two window seats on each side and either three or four seats in the middle section.

Yes, British Airways premium economy earns more British Airways Avios — or miles if you credit flights to another mileage program. When crediting flights to the British Airways Executive Club, you'll earn Avios at a rate of 100% or 150% of the flight miles, depending on the fare you book. Comparatively, you earn as few as 25% of flight miles when booking economy fares.

Likewise, American Airlines flyers earn up to four times more base AAdvantage miles when booking premium economy than economy. Since Loyalty Points are based on mileage earnings, you'll also earn quadruple the elite status credits. These extra miles and elite status credits can help justify the increased cost of premium economy for those debating if it's worth upgrading.

» Learn more: How to choose which airline miles to earn from your flights

» Learn more:

How (and why) to upgrade your British Airways flight using Avios

How to choose which airline miles to earn from your flights

British Airways premium economy represents a significant step up from economy. You'll get a bigger seat with extra legroom and recline. Plus, passengers get better food and drink options along with extra perks like priority boarding and extra baggage allowance. And mileage collectors and elite status members will appreciate earning extra miles and elite-status credits.

(Top photo courtesy of British Airways)

How to maximize your rewards

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Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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On a similar note...

Review of British Airways Premium Economy

British Airways was one of the first airlines to introduce a Premium Economy cabin on its long-haul aircraft - branded as World Traveller Plus . As such, many of its cabins are showing their age, but still serve their purpose well by offering extra space, better meals and more personalised service. The airline is retrofitting these cabins and upgrading the hard product, but this will take time, so in the interim be prepared for a mix of old and new.

The United Kingdom’s largest airline takes pride in offering reliable and friendly service while carrying the British flag to far corners of the globe.

British Airways is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which means fliers can earn and redeem Avios points on its many partners. Conversely, members of other alliance member airlines can earn and redeem their miles with British Airways.

Airport experience

All British Airways flights pass through London with primary hubs at London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports (and a smaller operation at London City). London airports are known for stringent and sometimes overzealous security procedures, which can be frustrating for passengers adding extra time to the journey. Unfriendly airport security agents are enough to convince some travellers to fly another airline when booking international travel.

World Traveller Plus passengers can access individual check-in desks and a greater baggage allowance – two bags for the hold plus a cabin bag and laptop bag onboard. They do not enjoy lounge access once airside, though. Still, top oneworld elite status cardholders can use the lounges on eligible international itineraries no matter what cabin they are flying. These lounges include open bars offering cocktails, soft drinks, wine, and beer, service desks for assistance with tickets, a wide selection of magazines and newspapers, workstations with computers and free Wi-Fi, and buffets with warm and cold food selections.

Priority boarding is part of the Premium Economy experience.

Cabin & Seat

British Airways fly a combination of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with World Traveller Plus available on each long-haul aircraft. The Airbus A380 World Traveller Plus cabin is found on the Upper Deck behind the Club World cabin in a 2-4-2 configuration over nine rows, while the Airbus A350 has seven rows in a 2-4-2 configuration. The Boeing 777 fleet varies between three and six rows in a 2-4-2 design, while the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft differs between four and six rows and is always in a 2-3-2 configuration.

Even the original iteration of the Premium Economy seat has plenty of space. It varies depending on the plane, but expect a wider seat – typically 18.5 inches (47 centimetres), more leg room with a pitch of 38 inches (97 centimetres), including a foot and leg rest, lumbar support, a recline of around 8 inches (20 centimetres), a small side table and headrest with adjustable wings for better resting positions. Unfortunately, many seats have equipment for the entertainment system that impedes your legroom, which makes it challenging to store carry-on bags or wiggle your feet around during the flight.

World Traveller Plus occupies a more intimate cabin of no more than nine rows with a dedicated lavatory and curtains separating it from economy and Business Class. There are middle seats, which are worth avoiding unless travelling with a companion.

Bulkhead rows prevent someone from reclining their seat into your space, but it does mean that carry-on luggage must be stowed overhead for takeoff and landing. These seats also have television monitors that fold out from the armrest, and they cannot be used on the ground or during takeoff and landing for safety reasons. Four bassinet points are available on the front cabin bulkhead, with another two at the rear of the Airbus A380s.

Not all tickets are eligible for advance seat selection, although those purchasing flexible fares and travellers with oneworld alliance elite status can choose a seat for free in advance. Others must wait until check-in to assign a seat.

Waiting at each seat on boarding is a thick pillow and wrapped blanket, and power and USB  and power outlets are available for each passenger. 

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes images, videos, and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested before making your choice .

British Airways offers a lovely inflight service on fine china and metal cutlery. World Traveller Plus passengers are served some of the same entrees as those seated in Business Class, representing a significant upgrade from economy meal service.

Delivered on a single tray with real drink glasses (instead of plastic), most flights have two meals, including a hot meal after takeoff.

They include a salad and appetiser plus warm bread. Two main course dishes are protein or vegetarian, and the plated dessert offers a sweet finish. Flight attendants can provide snacks and drinks between meals, and passengers can visit a snacking station for self-service.

Before landing, a second meal is served depending on the time of day, which can consist of a hot or cold dish based on the length of the flight.

More than a dozen special meals are available for Premium Economy passengers, including Halal, Kosher and vegetarian options.

After takeoff, flight attendants offer glasses of sparkling wine before rolling out the beverage carts with a variety of complimentary drinks including beer, wine (two white and two red options) and cocktails. Coffee from London’s Union Coffee and an array of Twinings teas round off the menu.

Before the main meal, an aperitif service comes with mixed nuts and a choice of beverage.

Flight attendants are friendly, but have a lot of passengers to serve compared to Business Class. Expect the typical British-reserved service delivery you might find in a hotel or restaurant in the United Kingdom. Many passengers find that the crew adapts to the conversation and informality level of each person throughout the flight. Show them that you like to chat, and they will chat. Show British formality, and they will return the respect.

On flights where a foreign language is spoken at the destination, expect that someone on the crew will be ready to converse in that native tongue. British Airways also has overseas-based cabin crew on many flights; Indian flights, for example, often have crew based in India, which helps with cultural service details.

Entertainment

The seatback screen is adjustable so that if the person in front of you reclines, you can tilt it for better viewing. Noise-reducing headsets complement the solid selection of  entertainment programming , including the latest Hollywood movies, television programs, box sets, a global music collection, audiobooks and games. Screens respond to the touch but can also be adjusted via remote control.

Wi-Fi is available on most of British Airways' long-haul fleet, with  prices available  for hourly service or sometimes for a package to cover the flight. A cheaper offering that covers messaging or texting is also an excellent option for staying connected with loved ones.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on Wi-Fi and inflight entertainment .

Amenities & Facilities

Small amenity kits feature essential products – eye mask, ear plugs, toothpaste and toothbrush, lip balm, flight socks and pen, and a wrapped blanket and pillow are a fluffier upgrade to what is available in the economy cabin. Credit to the airline for making the small stylish amenities bag from recycled plastic.

On long-haul flights, families with infants can pre-reserve a bassinet to use. Children can also enjoy everything from cartoon and youth-themed shows to special toys and gifts to keep them busy.

Short & Medium Haul

British Airways’ short and medium-haul flights do not sell Premium Economy seating, but if the aircraft is flying a shorter route, these are excellent seats worth paying extra to enjoy the extra space that they afford. Most of the long-haul amenities (like hot meals, free drinks and noise-reducing headphones) are not available though. Buy-on-board service in economy class is standard on shorter European flights, which means the only benefit of paying for this seat on those flights is the extra space.

Sustainability

The airline is investing in the most fuel-efficient planes and focuses on reducing emissions both inflight and on the ground. Recycling programs in its lounges and inflight are another eco-friendly measure.

British Airways aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the carrier invests in  carbon-neutral projects  in many of the destinations it serves. On its flights, it has switched to bamboo alternatives instead of plastic stirrers, reduced plastic use for amenity kits and headsets, and serves water bottles made from recycled materials. The airline sends less than one per cent of non-catering waste to landfills. BA's new uniforms are made from more than 90 per cent sustainable fabrics from recycled polyester and only use manufacturers of the 'Better Cotton' initiative. The old uniforms will be donated to charities, recycled into children's toys or contributed to the airline's museum.

The airline also collects loose change from passengers on its long-haul flights to support the non-profit organisation Flying Start. It supports less-fortunate children around the world. British Airways is also the first airline to build a waste-to-fuel plant converting everyday consumer waste to sustainable fuel.

A partnership with the Born Free Foundation has the airline advocating against the captivity of wild animals. British Airways Holidays helps to create a safe sanctuary space for rescued wild animals.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also give a higher score to flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.

What We Love

• Footrests and adjustable headrests to make it easier to sleep
• Business class-quality meals serving British products
• A nice selection of mid-flight snacks as well as an open bar throughout the flight

Read the BusinessClass.com review of British Airways Club World Read the BusinessClass.com review of British Airways First Class

BusinessClass.com searches hundreds of travel sites at once to help you find the best premium travel offers for both flights and the finest hotels.

Is Premium Economy British Airways worth it?

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Simple Flying

Is british airways premium economy worth the upgrade.

For the right price, World Traveller Plus offers a much more comfortable flight.

• Premium economy, known as World Traveller Plus on British Airways, offers better seating and a smaller cabin for a more comfortable flight experience.
• World Traveller Plus fares offer additional luggage allowance and faster check-in on the ground, while in the air, service is faster and meals have more choice.
• Upgrading to World Traveller Plus can earn you additional Avios and Tier Points, making it a valuable option for frequent flyers chasing status.

Premium economy has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more airlines introducing the cabin between economy and business class. British Airways is no exception, and the airline has a good, but not top-rated, cabin and service on offer.

British Airways World Traveller Plus

Like many airlines, British Airways offers a premium economy cabin on long haul flights. It was one of the first airlines globally to do so. The cabin is now offered on all its long-haul widebody aircraft and routes.

British Airways names its cabin products differently. Premium economy is known as World Traveller Plus (with economy class being World Traveller, and business class Club World). The World Traveller Plus cabin is an upgraded offering over an increasingly cramped World Traveller cabin, but it is far from the flatbeds and better service in Club World.

Of course, the value of any cabin upgrade depends on the price. As with any airline, there are large variations in this. On many routes, however, British Airways prices World Traveller Plus very competitively (this is not usually the case with Club World). The cabin can be available for a relatively small price increase, especially during regular sales and promotions.

It is also possible to upgrade to World Traveller Plus using Avios – see our guide to using Avios for more details.

Better seating and a smaller cabin

The main reason to upgrade to the World Traveller Plus is for the improved seating. This generally makes for a much more comfortable flight and is a major consideration on long routes. A day flight to New York might not be worlds apart, but you will really notice the difference on a 14-hour overnight Asian flight.

While there can be small differences between aircraft, British Airways typically offers reclining seats with 38 inches of legroom (seat pitch) and a seat width of around 18.5 inches. This compares with a standard in World Traveller of 31 inches pitch and 17.5 inches width. Seating information here is based on seatguru.com .

The cabin is also smaller, leading to a (hopefully) more relaxing experience and better service. On the Boeing 787-9 there are 29 seats (compared to 127 seats in World Traveller), rising to 56 on the A350-1000 (against 219 in the World Traveller cabin).

There are other small improvements over the World Traveller seat. There is a fold-out leg rest, a larger tray table, and larger fixed armrests. There is no real additional storage (the exception being on the Airbus A380 where there are side storage panels for the window seats).

The seat-back screen is slightly larger, and you are (usually) offered better noise-canceling headsets. The entertainment system is the same (albeit very good) as other cabins, and there is no included WiFi or additional benefits.

Read about the best premium economy cabins on offer

Better service – on the ground and in the air

On the ground, there are some important differences. World Traveller Plus fares (paid or upgraded) offer an additional luggage allowance (of two checked-in bags). This could be an expensive addition if needed on a normal economy fare. Mid and top-tier Executive Club members (and one world equivalents) can take an additional bag as well. You will also get faster check-in (usually with dedicated World Traveller Plus desks) but not access to fast-track security or any departure lounges.

In the air, the differences are arguably smaller. There is no pre-departure drinks service (although this was offered in the past, so may change again). Main meals in theory have more choice (although in recent experience, I have come across very limited loading of some options), and the drinks menu is largely the same. With the smaller cabin, service is usually much faster (especially useful on a night flight when you want to rest as soon as possible).

Flight Review: Hong Kong to London In Premium Economy On British Airways' Boeing 787-9

Don’t forget avios and tier points.

As a final consideration for upgrading, bear in mind the value of the additional Avios and Tier Points. Now that British Airways Executive Club has switched to a revenue-based earning method for Avios, this is much less of a consideration. But if you want to be strategic (and are not interested in status with Executive Club), you could credit flights to many alternative one world loyalty programs (such as Qatar Airways) and earn based on the cabin and flight length. Premium economy traditionally earns much higher here than economy fares.

Love learning about points and miles? Read more of our loyalty news and guides here .

If you are chasing status with Executive Club, choosing a World Traveller Plus fare will make a big difference. On a return flight from London to Hong Kong, for example, any World Traveller Plus fare will earn 200 Tier Points – in the lowest World Traveller fares, this would be just 40 Tier Points (rising to 160 Tier Points for expensive full-fare tickets).

Have you flown British Airways World Traveller Plus? Would you like to share your experiences and value you see in the upgrade to the cabin? Feel free to do so in the comments section below.

British Airways

Review: British Airways 747-400 World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy)

I have to admit, i really enjoyed world traveller plus (premium economy) on british airways. on a daytime flight, it is a nice hybrid between economy and business class..

My day began in Istanbul with a business class flight to London. After a six hour layover, I was anxious to board my nonstop flight home to Los Angeles. I booked using Avios, at a cost of 49,500 Avios and $269.61 for both segments. The LHR-LAX segment was 32,500 Avios alone, though I had taken advantage of a 40% transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards, effectively brining the price to about 23,000 AMEX points.

My flight departed from Heathrow Terminal 5 and I was elated to find that my aircraft featured the classic BOAC livery. Boarding began late, but I finagled my way toward the front of the boarding queue so I could have a few moments to take pictures onboard before the cabin filled up.

British Airways 269 London (LHR) – Los Angeles (LAX) Tuesday, October 01 Depart: 04:15 PM Arrive: 07:20 PM Duration: 11hr, 05min Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 Seat: 36G (“World Traveller Plus” Premium Economy Class)

Onboard, I was warmly welcomed by the purser and directed to my seat. Two flight attendants waiting in the cabin also greeted me. The crew turned out to be remarkable on this flight.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Seating

The premium economy cabin featured three rows of eights seats across in a 2-4-2 configuration. Legroom is 38 inches and seat width is 18.5 inches, 1.5 inches more than economy and 1.5 inches less than “Club World” business class. The seats have footrests. In the first row (34) they extend form the seat itself. In rows 35-36, they fold down from the seat in front. I don’t care for these type of footrests and did not use mine.

Seat recline was adjustable via manual buttons below the armrest. An IFE remote control was also present there. Power ports were located in-between seats. Even in row 36 the seats fully recline.

BA’s 747s feature the older World Traveller Plus seats, cloth-covered and a bit better padded than the new(er) seats found on the 787 and A350. I found the seat well-padded and frankly very comfortable for the journey. I ended up snoozing for several hours and while it simply cannot compare to a lie-flat, I found it immensely better than economy class, which I’ve also reviewed here .

British Airways recently updated its soft product in World Traveller Plus. One of the upgrades was better bedding and pillows. Indeed, the blanket was better than what some airlines offer in business class and the pillow was plush and nicely sized.

Being an older 747, overhead bin space is limited, as the compartments are not meant for larger rollerboard bags.

British Airways World Traveller Plus IFE + Wi-Fi

Last time I flew the BA 747 was in first class and the IFE was woefully outdated. Since then, BA has updated its IFE to a new system with a higher resolution and instant response via touchscreen. A modern IFE system makes the flight so much more enjoyable and I enjoyed a couple movies including Anna and 100 Dinge (things), a thought-provoking German movie about consumption. Games, audio, and TV programming was also available as well as a moving flight map.

I was not expecting wi-fi, but it was also available and worked well. Pricing was not exactly cheap, but the signal was strong enough for me to have (discreet) phone calls over FaceTime audio and stay on top of email.

Noise-cancelling headphones were acceptable, though not excellent. They appear to be the same ones that BA uses in business class and are a big upgrade over the disposable ones in economy class.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Dining

Sparkling wine (a £ 6.00 bottle of  Prospero Brut  available at Tesco )  was offered prior to takeoff in glasses.

Shortly after takeoff, menus were distributed. Today’s selection included three choices:

• Braised British beef
• Prawn Thai green curry
• Autumn pumpkin and parsnip hotpot

Meal service began with drinks, a bag of pretzels, and a hot towel. One of the flight attendants recommended I try the red wine, remarking that it was “actually very good”. Since I planned to order the beef option, I took him up on his offer. The Vina Albali Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 sells for about £4 .00/bottle, but I found it to be perfectly acceptable.

Meals are now served on porcelain, though arrived wrapped in foil.

The plate contained a beet salad, crackers and cheese, cake, and a warm bread roll.

As always seems to be the case on British Airways, the main course looked like a cafeteria-style dish, but tasted good. The beef was tender and the vegetables flavored nicely by the chasseur sauce.

I awoke from my nap just in time for ice cream service, served about halfway through the flight. The Magnum ice cream bar may not have been healthy, but it hit the spot.

About an hour later, a snackbox was served. It included a potato chips, popcorn, and a Twix chocolate bar.

Finally, about 90 minutes before landing a pre-arrival dinner was offered. The choices were chicken tikka masala or conchiglie pasta with mushrooms and sweet red peppers. I opted for the pasta and found it even tastier than teh first meal. It was served with bread and a packaged banana loaf.

I was (pleasantly) surprised by the amount of food offered onboard British Airways in World Traveller Plus. You won’t go hungry in this cabin.

British Airways Premium Economy Amenity Kit

A stylish amenity kit was distributed before takeoff which included:

• Toothbrush + toothpaste

British Airways Premium Economy Lavatory

The lavatory was a bit grimy and certainly showing its age, but stayed clean for the duration of the flight. No extra amenities were offered.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Service

Lastly, a warm shoutout to the crew onboard. The crew was lovely; very professional and yet very friendly. They were attentive too, with frequent checks on the cabin and proactive offers for beverage refills. This was not a “mixed fleet” crew as most had more than 15-20 years of experience as a BA flight attendant.

A particular shoutout to Gail, who worked my side of the aisle and could not have been friendlier. I appreciate that this crew took time to engage with the guests onboard: it was clear they were not just going through the motions. A good-natured crew makes any flight a better flight.

When I boarded, I found my tray table was broken. Gail took it very seriously and immediately found a maintenance worker who was fixing a seat cushion in economy class. It took just a few moments for him to tighten up the screws and solve the issue.

We landed at LAX ahead of schedule and I was soon in my car heading home. I’ve now flown British Airways in all four cabins (first, business, premium economy, and economy) and quite honestly have had pleasant experiences across the board. I will not hesitate to fly British Airways again or recommend it to others. The high award fees in premium cabins are a huge disincentive to fly on BA when redeeming miles, but expect a good flight if you do end up on BA.

> Read More: Lufthansa Premium Economy Review > Read More: United Premium Economy Review

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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13 comments.

“the signal was strong enough for me to have (discreet) phone calls over FaceTime audio”

I can promise you, that unless the cabin was empty, they were not discreet and probably annoyed at least someone.

I just don’t understand the need.

Completely agree. They also usually say that voice calls are prohibited. It’s a shame to hear the flight attendants aren’t enforcing this.

The decay of social etiquette continues.

Matthew, I am waiting for you to do a one month challenge in eating only the more exotic dishes served on planes. You are funny with your predictable ordering of meat or pasta. Next time go Chicken Tikka Masala!

Especially after encouraging airlines to add more Indian dishes!

Sorry, but my journey from Denver to London in a 23 year old 747 was an utter nightmare! Grubby, shoddy and poorly delivered premium service. I wish I’d flown in economy and not been robbed and insulted by the worst flight in my life.

Voice calls are not permitted on board. Frankly this is disappointing coming from someone who has posted before about passenger shaming.

That only works if someone else is supposed to be shamed lol

It would be interesting to have you fly more premium economy and/or at least rank the ones you have flown so far.

Wow! After several years of headline making horror stories (for example, inedible meals, cuts to meal service, urine soaked seat cushions & multiple incidents of passengers arriving at their destination bitten by bedbugs) and many bloggers bemoaning BA’s slide towards another era where “BA” was short for “Bloody Awful” (as it was back in the day before Lord King & Sir Colin Marshall reshaped into the self-proclaimed, but well deserved slogan, as the “World’s Favourite Airline” in the late 1980s & into the ‘90s), it’s nice to see BA once again offering a quality product that’s more like its award winning era as the “World’s Favourite Airline” than when its service was so awful most derisively referred to it as “Bloody Awful”!

Here’s hoping this “upgraded & improved” version of BA is with us for the long-haul! 🙂

The older Premium Economy seats on BA were wider, and there were individual reading lights, which I loved. I’ve been fly6this class for about 10-12 years, and I have found that the seats are getting smaller and closer. It’s not nearly as good of a deal as it used to be.

Great review!

Two “addendums” (if you will):

1.) Assuming you were aboard BA’s “Super High ‘J’” 747-400 (based on the photos seen in your post above), I’m pretty sure the configuration for WTP cabin varies slightly from the “three rows of eight seats across in a 2-4-2 configuration” (for a total of 24 seats in WTP/PE class) as follows:

a.) four rows for the “A/B” left side window/aisle pair and the center four “D/E/F/G” grouped seats

– and –

b.) three rows of seats for “J/K” right side window/aisle pair

– For a total of 30 seat in WTP/PE;

2.) With your seat, 36G, adjacent/across the aisle from a lavatory, and directly in front of a galley separating WTP from the Main Cabin, were there any negatives being in close proximity to either the loo or the galley?

Just wondering?

Personally, I can’t see the appeal of 2-4-2 seating in Club World over 3-4-3 in regular economy class. There’s no way I’d be forking out extra cash and risk running being sested in the two middle seats at the centre of the Club World cabin. It would feel just like World Traveller, regardless of the “enhanced” soft product…

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British Airways World Traveller Plus Review: Premium Economy A380

• FIRST POSTED: 14th October 2013 | LAST UPDATED: 23rd June 2023
• 8 minute read

A review of British Airways World Traveller Plus – BA Premium Economy on the A380

It has been a good number of years since I last tried  British Airways premium economy (or BA World Traveller Plus), on a long haul journey. I pretty much do everything I can in order to fly in Business Class (Club World), or even First  (but possibly just a couple of times a year), but this time it wasn’t meant to be (or planned).

Nonetheless, I was quite excited (or kept telling myself ‘it was OK’) – for one single reason: I was to fly in the new A380 for the first time (BA was quite late to the game). ( I have since flown it countless times in Business Class, and you can read my review here ).

Here’s how my Los Angeles – London Heathrow in BA Premium Economy flight went.

British Airways Premium Economy Review: At the Airport

All flights from LAX depart from the Tom Bradley International Terminal. As a British Airways Gold Executive Club card holder (OneWorld Emerald), I get to check-in at any First counter, which is a lovely perk , irrespective of the class I fly.

There was one passenger being served and as soon as he was done, we were next. Wait time: 3 minutes. Check-in was efficient and the lady who helped us was lovely.

We used the fast-track lane at the terminal, which is a little bit of a joke as it only fast tracks you to the TSA agent checking your boarding pass and passport.

You then merge with everyone else. Sadly, out of 6 lanes, only 2 were open – and I promise you, there must have been more than 20 agents manning them (or just walking around).

The BA Lounge

British Airways passengers use the OneWorld lounge which is located close to the security area. There are two lounges to use: Business (for Business Class, OneWorld Sapphire and BA Silver cardholders) and First (for First, OneWorld Emerald and BA Gold cardholders).

We went into the latter for obvious reasons and got ‘the bonus’: a bit of celeb spotting. I never see anyone in my life (seriously), except on this lounge – and worry not, I behaved impeccably (it was so hard – think: cool band, lead singer, absolutely gorgeous and tall).

This lounge is quite nice (obviously not like BA’s lounges back at Heathrow ) and the food selection was decent, for US standards – we had beef, pasta, vegetables, real cheese (wow) and some yummy cookies.

The drinks selection was rather weird, but still with good wine but no champagne (only sparkling wine) and no ‘normal gin’ (only Bombay Dry). The restroom facilities were very good and the wi-fi was also working well – however, not enough power sockets, which made everyone move sofas in order to find some.

The magazine selection was poor but the newspapers were quite good – both US and UK.

The BA Premium Economy Flight Experience

Boarding the A380

We boarded the plane using the fast-track lane and took the escalators up to the 1st floor of the plane, where the World Traveller Plus (or Premium Economy) cabin is located.

The A380 has two floors and you board directly to your designated area, so it is no different from a normal sized plane. Once on board, we were greeted by name ‘Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. O’Reilly’, which is a nice touch if the crew member can spot your frequent flyer status.

When we sat down, we were offered a glass of champagne or water, which surprised me – but obviously I didn’t say no. I believe it was sparkling wine, and a very nice touch in this cabin – on the outbound flight the options were orange juice or water.

Amenities offered by BA Premium Economy

On our seats, we found a pillow (loved the colour: it was grey!), a blanket and noise cancelling headphones. Weirdly, we did not have the little overnight amenity bag, which usually contains socks, eye-mask, ear plugs, toothbrush and paste and, guess what, a pen.

I have only gotten a pen when I travelled on this cabin, years ago (and quite a few times since it has been introduced), which I find very handy. I actually asked the crew where this was, later on the flight, to be told that they weren’t loaded by the ground staff, which I found quite strange.

I was asked if I needed anything, which she would get from another cabin and I requested a pair of Club earplugs (the best in the world, which I use on a daily basis and my friends kindly save them for me on their BA Club World flights). It wasn’t a problem and the crew member was able to get them for me.

BA Premium Economy Drinks service

Prior to dinner, we had drinks and yours truly went for a G&T. I was also given the choice to select the wine for dinner, and it was quite a moment when I asked which were the wine choices, which were ‘red or white’.

I did smile (and thought it was a rather silly question as obviously I wasn’t in Club or First). I chose the red option.

BA World Traveller Plus In-flight dining

Things seemed promising when we were given a printed menu (I thought it was a really nice touch and wasn’t expecting it). But sadly, this was the most disappointing part of the flight (and interestingly, not so bad on the outbound flight to San Diego).

There were some really good service elements – like a cloth napkin, proper cutlery, proper glasses and your own water bottle – but the way the meal was presented, with the foil covers, could seriously be improved. But in hindsight, it could have been for a reason.

I wasn’t expecting foie gras or anything like that, but I was expecting a decent meal. The fillet wasn’t bad at all (if you removed the crust), and the rest was so bland, it was a real shame. Desert was as plastic as it looked. I tell you what, I was glad I ate dinner at the lounge.

During the flight, the crew was very present (I was awake for most of it, by choice, worry not) and I didn’t go hungry, in case you were wondering! I loved the ice cream and the chocolates which were passed around the cabin. I may have even gone back for seconds. I missed my Club Kitchen but thought that these little touches were very good.

Breakfast sadly wasn’t much better – it did look OK, but the croissant was so hard, we just gave up. I must say that on the outbound flight we had lovely scones with jam and clotted cream. I would have loved those (even if at the wrong time of the day).

BA Premium Economy In-flight entertainment

This is where I went to town. I must fly with BA over 20 times per year every year and actually think the IFE selection is usually very good.

Whoever picks them does a very good job (note: thank you for Veep. I can’t watch it in the UK but every month I can catch up onboard) and on this new plane, it was almost ridiculous. Very good choices indeed and I watched 4 films and all the Veep episodes (sense the obsession).

The screen was much larger than on previous planes and the sound quality is very good – you gotta love new planes. The inflight map was also much more informative than previously and I must confess I am curious with the ‘chat room’ options available – will people really take part in them? I gave it a go but I was on my own… next time!

The British Airways Premium Economy seat

wasn’t bad at all. The pitch is significantly wider and larger than economy and the new seats are comfortable – the headrests are way better than before. What I think could be improved? There is very little leg support – only a teeny tiny footrest which doesn’t do the job on a 12h journey at all. I know I am comparing this to a fully flat-bed, and it may not be fair, but this is where I felt most uncomfortable. The first rows have different versions and they looked slightly better.

I loved the personal storage area by the window, perfect for any items you will need during the flight (so you don’t have to get up and disturb others), and also for any duty free shopping.

Final thoughts on BA’s Premium Economy  experience

Although I obviously prefer Club World (who doesn’t), I think premium economy is a very clever product, which is being extended to many other airlines as we all know.

I was pleased to see many service elements which really put it halfway between standard economy and business class – a smaller cabin (now larger on the A380, usually 4 rows only) which means a bit of peace and quiet, the printed menu, a bit of bubbles, a proper napkin and cutlery and the personal storage space.

Service was very good – I can’t fault it in any way. Everyone smiled and tried to be helpful when needed. We felt welcomed and nothing was too much trouble – everything I expect from BA on any cabin, and I got it.

The only downfall was the food, which I have to say it was way better on the flight from London to San Diego. The plane looked fab – even the loos were much more spacious.

British Airways World Traveller Plus or Premium Economy can cost as little as £150 (each way, £300 return) more than an economy seat from Europe to the USA – for that money, it is outstanding value, you do get what you pay for (and an extra piece of luggage, which is handy).

But supply and demand change prices, as we all know, and seats can sell for more than £3,000 return. So if you usually travel in economy and fancy a treat, I would say do give premium economy a try – I did this 15 years ago and never went back.

If the business class cabins are shockingly expensive (as sometimes it happens – on my flight to San Diego, the difference between Premium Economy and Business was £4,500 more, quite abnormal, but hey full plane, supply and demand!), you will surely survive a long haul flight on this cabin. ( or try one of my tricks for better business class fares! ).

Until the next flight (but hopefully not in British Airways premium economy!)

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PS. To read my review of BA ‘s First and Club cabins, just click here . See all airline reviews .

The best airport lounge in the world… does it exist?

• FIRST POSTED: 17th September 2013 | LAST UPDATED: 18th January 2021

Flight Review: British Airways Club World (BA Business Class) – London to New York

• FIRST POSTED: 17th March 2014 | LAST UPDATED: 9th June 2021

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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

Table of Contents

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

British airways premium economy: bag drop and issues arise, british airways premium economy review: getting to the gate, british airways world traveller plus review: the plane and the seats, ba world traveller plus review: in-flight amenities, premium economy british airways review: some positives, world traveller vs world traveller plus, upgrading to british airways club world, british airways premium economy: the verdict, british airways world traveller plus frequently asked questions, what class is world traveller plus on ba, do you get lounge access with british airways world traveller plus, does world traveller plus on british airways get priority boarding, does world traveller plus on british airways get to use the fast track queue for security, how wide are the world traveller plus british airways seats, booking flights:, boutique hotels in london, who paid for what in this british airways world traveller plus post.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Artist Residence is located in Pimlico which is fabulously central. It is in a gorgeous 5 store regency building and has a cute bar.

⇒ Read reviews on TripAdvisor ⇒ Book Now

The Portobello Hotel is located in one of London’s best known and cutest neighbourhoods Notting Hill. This is also the hotel where Kate Moss and Johnny Depp filled up the bath with champagne.

The hotel is located on a quiet street but is a great location.

The Great Northern Hotel is ridiculously close to Kings Cross and St Pancras stations which is incredibly convenient. The hotel dates back to 1854 but has had a major refurb so it feels fresh and modern.

The Hoxton hotel is in the heart of East London in Shoreditch and is a perfect base for exploration. The rooms aren’t huge but the location makes up for it – as does the great value for London with rooms starting at £99 a night.

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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Virgin Premium Economy vs BA World Traveller Plus – And The Winner Is

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• Virgin Atlantic vs Air France: Which is Better? - August 21, 2023
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If you’ve decided to upgrade the flight for your next trip to the premium economy class you may be wondering whether Virgin’s Premium Economy or BA’s World Traveller Plus is better. In this article, I will share with you my experiences with both airline’s premium economy offerings. Both Virgin and British Airways offer good benefits for choosing their premium economy service.

Virgin Premium Economy seats (up to 21 inches) are a couple of inches wider than BAs World Traveller Plus (18.5inch).  Virgin staff welcome you on board with a glass of champagne which isn’t available on BA. Virgin also won the Skytrax World’s Best Premium Economy award. These, and our own experiences, are the reasons our winner is Virgin Atlantic – there are though considerations that I will explain.

Which Seats Are Most Comfortable – Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy or British Airways World Traveller Plus?

In truth, there isn’t much in it. Both seats are very comfortable for even a long-haul 10-hour flight (which I have flown on both airlines). Virgin Atlantic do advertise their Premium Economy seats as being the widest in the industry. I would agree with them. Sitting in the economy I often find both armrests are pushed into my sides for the entire flight. I’m 6ft and of average build.

On British Airways flights you can definitely tell you have an upgraded seat. More space in front of you and around you, but the Virgin Premium Economy seats really do feel that extra bit special. I haven’t quite worked out why. Perhaps the upholstery, perhaps the quality of the fabrics and padding – or maybe the luxurious purple color scheme telling you you’re flying Virgin.

British Airways have certainly been on a modernizing rampage. They have undergone many revamps in a bid to out-rival their competition, and they are definitely stepping up their offering. Although I would most certainly fly in British Airways World Traveller Plus and enjoy their service, for me I would say the seats are more comfortable on Virgin Atlantic in Premium Economy than on British Airways

Winner: Virgin Atlantic

Do Y ou Get More Leg Room on BA World Traveller Plus or Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy?

Leg room is so important on flights. Especially for those tall people (like myself) among us. Sizing up the leg room and my personal space is one of the first things I look for when taking my seat. Fortunately, both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways do quite well here in their Premium Economy offerings. Both airlines offer the exact same 38-inch pitch. Pitch size is a little more confusing than simple leg room (which airlines shy away from highlighting) but essentially this pitch size will give you around 3 inches to 4 inches of extra leg space.

I know this doesn’t sound like much, but it makes a difference.

Having flown both airlines Premium Economy offerings I would say they do offer the same amount of leg room as each other (as they advertise). The additional pitch space and leg room also mean if the person in front of you decides to recline their seat, they’re not invading as much into your personal space as if they did in Standard Economy.

Even someone like myself who is 6 feet tall really notices a benefit.

Winner: A Draw

Is the food better on virgin premium economy or ba world traveller plus.

I am not a food critic and nor do I confess to be. I like flying, I enjoy eating and I like my travel to be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. If that comes with a nice meal – well to me that’s an added bonus. Having sampled the culinary delights on both Virgin and British Airways I wouldn’t say there is a clear winner here.

Equally, no meals have really stood out either. I do like the Virgin welcome touch of a glass of champagne or fresh orange juice for Premium Economy passengers as you take your seat. This isn’t offered on British Airways – although they do offer a welcome drink once the plane takes off. I think both airlines provide choices and if booked in advance you can request special dietary requirement meals on both airlines.

I would have to score both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic in equal measure on this topic.

Can You Beat the Airport Queues in Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic or British Airways?

One of the advantages of an upgraded ticket is queue skipping. Although we British love to queue, we don’t necessarily enjoy it. Being greeted to a very long snake-like queue for check-in or bag drop after a long journey to the airport is something no-one needs to see. Considering for every flight there are only around 60-80 passengers flying in Premium Economy you would really have to time it badly to have any type of queue waiting for you at the dedicated Premium Economy check-in desk.

Both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways offer a dedicated Premium Economy check-in desk (or in BA’s case a World Traveller Plus check-in desk) helping you skip the long queues. Unfortunately, a Premium Economy ticket doesn’t grant you VIP speedy access through security though. Security fast-track is reserved for Business Class and First Class passengers only I’m afraid.

This is the same for both airlines. Both airlines offer the exact same queue skipping benefits, so again I would have to score both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways a draw here.

Can I Board the Plane Faster in Premium Economy with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic?

On both BA and Virgin Atlantic, you will board based on your cabin class. British Airways have four cabin classes on a long haul, compared to Virgin Atlantic’s three cabin classes. On a British Airway’s flight, passengers in First Class will board first, then Club World followed by World Traveller Plus, and then World Traveller passengers.

On Virgin Atlantic, passengers in Upper Class will board first followed by Premium Economy and then Standard Economy passengers. With two cabin classes above you when flying World Traveller Plus on BA, compared to just one cabin class on Virgin Atlantic, you may feel you board the plane slightly faster when flying with Virgin.

The additional cabin on BA, First Class, can create a bit of a divide between where your class sits you in priority order. It can at times feel both airlines focus attention on their top two classes – which for BA is First and Club World (Business Class) whereas on Virgin Atlantic this is Upper Class (Business Class) and Premium Economy.

Virgin Atlantic narrowly pip British Airways to the post on this one.

Can I Earn More Air miles or Points with British Airways World Traveller Plus or Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy?

Let’s take a look. A flight to New York from London Heathrow in Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic in September 2021 will earn you 6,914 Virgin Flying Club Points . The same flight to New York from London Heathrow in World Traveller Plus with British Airways will earn you 6,916 BA Avios Points Very, very close. Although let’s look at this in a different way. This same flight would cost 35,000 Virgin Flying Club points but would cost you 52,000 BA Avios Points on British Airways!.

The British Airways Avios points are now not as rewarding as they first seemed. Your Virgin Atlantic flight would earn you 20% of the Flying Club Points needed for a similar flight, whereas BA are only offering 13.3% of the Avios Points needed for a similar flight.

No contest here!

And The Winner Is….

Virgin atlantic.

Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy service takes the top spot here. The overall experience is a little more pleasant on Virgin’s service. I certainly wouldn’t rule out British Airways World Traveller Plus by any means. They offer a solid service and provide the benefits those – wishing to move out of Standard Economy but not wanting to pay the extremities of Business Class fares – are looking for.

If you want to try out the Premium Economy experience without the hefty increase in price, it is definitely worth looking at booking an Economy flight one way and Premium Economy seat the offer. Different airport taxes and fees can be high, so it is worth looking at both options to see which offers the better price. Using Virgin Atlantic and the New York trip in September as an example – these are the costs of flying Standard Economy one way and Premium Economy the other:

• £727.52 – Flying Premium Economy from London, and flying Economy from New York
• £1,580.52 – Flying Economy from London, and flying Premium Economy from New York

It will cost more than double to fly inbound in Premium Economy than it would fly outbound for this particular trip.

It really is worth spending some time researching different combinations to get the best possible deal for your trip.

Hopefully, this helps you make the decision for your next Premium Economy flight!

About The Author

The Points Insider Team

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World Traveller

Welcome to World Traveller, our economy cabin on flights beyond Europe. It's packed with all the comfort and benefits you expect from British Airways at an affordable price.

Experience the world

• A range of fares with no hidden charges
• Personal flat screen with headphones
• Family-friendly features
• Stylish interior cabin
• Delicious meals and snacks
• Access to in-seat power

Comfort items

Relax and enjoy the views or settle down to sleep with ergonomically designed seats, little extras and newly crafted comforts based on classic British design.

• An adjustable headrest, lumbar support and recline
• Soft cushion and blanket

Delicious meals and bar service

In World Traveller you can enjoy a starter, main and dessert, with a choice of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks. We also offer mid-flight snacks and a second meal on longer flights.

In-flight entertainment

Stay connected to the world below or relax and leave it all behind in our World Traveller cabin.

There’s high-speed Wi-Fi on most aircraft, and messaging on your personal device is free if you’re an Executive Club Member . 

You'll have headphones and a personal flat screen so you can lose yourself in a blockbuster film or gripping series. Our huge library of new releases includes music, audio books and games, as well as access to Paramount+ with something for everyone to enjoy.

Treat yourself to the airport lounge

Sit back and relax before your flight with Lounge Pass, your key to non-British Airways airport lounges across the globe, no matter what airline you are flying with or cabin you are travelling in. Enjoy light refreshments such as alcohol and food, Wi-Fi and a selection of newspapers and magazines while you wait to board, plus Executive Club Members can collect 5 Avios per £1/€1/$1 spent.

Flexible baggage allowance

Baggage allowances.

As well as carry on baggage, World Travellers can store checked bags in the hold.

Some routes and tickets come with an even greater allowance, and extra bags can be added for a fee.

Doorstep baggage pick-up & check-in

Have your baggage collected from your doorstep, securely transported to the airport, and checked-in for your flight, allowing you to travel to the airport baggage-free and head straight to security when you get there. Available for flights departing from Heathrow, Gatwick, Geneva, Zurich and Vienna.

Long-haul fares to suit you

There’s a choice of two economy fares when you fly in World Traveller: Basic and Standard. This extra choice gives you more freedom to select and pay only for the benefits and services you need.

Economy Basic

• Generous hand baggage allowance (cabin and hand bag)
• Seat allocated when you check in
• Option of paying to add a checked bag, choose your seat, or other extras via Manage My Booking

Economy Standard

• 23kg checked baggage allowance in addition to your hand baggage allowance
• Choose your seat from 24 hours before you fly

Style upgrade and aircraft variation

The World Traveller experience is getting a make-over. We’re giving our aircraft cabins a stylish new interior and fitting our newest, most enhanced seating, which feature a six-way headrest with adjustable ears for added comfort and movable middle arm rests, which is particularly useful for customers travelling with children.

The new cabin will be rolled out across our fleet starting with the Boeing 777-200 fleet at Gatwick. And while a few cabin design elements may vary by aircraft, you can still expect the same top quality food, drink and warm service by our attentive crew wherever and whenever you fly World Traveller.

Refreshed but with room for refinement: A review of British Airways World Traveller Plus on the refurbished 777

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

[tpg_rating tpg-rating-score="74" ground-experience="7" cabin-seat="23" amens-ife="27" food-bev="12" service="5" pros="New fabrics, fantastic bedding and a huge inflight-entertainment selection." cons="Limited foot space, disappointing second meal and awkward service flows." /]

A lot of excitement in British Airways' 100th year has centered around its new Airbus A350 aircraft with the long overdue and highly publicized new Club Suite business-class product. BA has a huge task ahead to install this seat in more than 100 existing wide-body aircraft, a process that will take years.

The very first of the existing aircraft to complete the refurbishment was a Boeing 777-200, which was then assigned on the prized route from London Heathrow (LHR) to New York JFK. I got to try Club Suite on this aircraft , so I also wanted to try out the World Traveller Plus (premium economy) service. Having heard whispers this cabin was also receiving a refresh, I wondered: How would the product compare to other BA WTP flights?

World Traveller Plus flights between London and New York can be a great use of Avios, with one-way redemptions costing 26,000 Avios per person on off-peak days plus about $400 in fees, taxes and surcharges.

We ended up paying the charges using the Platinum Card® from American Express, which earned 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline and with American Express Travel. And with BA as a transfer partner of both American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards , it's easy to amass the points required to book flights. Plus, there are often lucrative transfer bonuses between one (or both) of the programs and British Airways, meaning you'd need even fewer points to score an award.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Ground Experience" tpg-rating="7" tpg-rating-max="10" tail="G-RAES" age="22" departure="12" departure-2="10" duration="7" duration-2="02" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

I arrived at Heathrow Terminal 5, the home of British Airways, around two hours before departure.

Having checked in online but still needing a boarding pass, I tried out the check-in kiosks.

These were efficient, and I had my boarding pass in no time. I headed through Terminal 5 security, which despite the terminal being busy, was quick and efficient. I have never waited more than five minutes at any London airport security in my several years of living there.

From there, it was downstairs to find my gate. No lounge access is included with a World Traveller Plus ticket without any airline status, so I wandered around the terminal itself. The gate areas in the A Pier were heaving on a Thursday morning.

My flight was departing from the B gates, so I headed underground to take the transit train.

The B gates had more seating, though there were no power outlets at each seat.

Shortly after I arrived at the gate, around 60 minutes before scheduled departure, an announcement was made that boarding would be delayed around one hour due to an engineering issue.

Passengers in Club and First cabins were invited to return to the BA lounge in Terminal 5, but with no lounge for me, I decided to just stay at the gate and get some work done.

Despite the supposed hour's delay, boarding was delayed only 30 minutes, and I hoped we might even make up the time in the air for an on-time arrival into JFK.

Boarding was strictly maintained by group numbers. Groups 1 and 2 were boarded before me, and I was one of the first Group 3 members to board.

Other than the slight boarding delay, it was a civilized and organized ground experience and boarding process.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Cabin and Seat" tpg-rating="23" tpg-rating-max="30" configuration="2" configuration-2="4" configuration-3="2" width="18.5" pitch="38" tray="14" tray-2="16" lavs="4" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

I walked through the huge Club Suite cabins, which took up around half the aircraft, and then made it to the World Traveller Plus cabin behind it.

This was laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. I was excited to see the seat fabrics were brand-new following the refurbishment, and the navy blue color looked smart.

The cabin was completely full on my flight, and with only a few seating options, I chose an aisle seat midway back in the cabin.

On closer inspection, I was disappointed to see that the refurbishment of the seats appeared to start and finish with the seat fabric. The casing of the seat had not been refreshed and was scuffed and dented. The IFE screens were also evidently previous-generation, as the buttons were quite faded.

Legroom was definitely a step above economy, and I liked the adjustable footrest.

The problem was there was very limited foot space under the seat in front of me. I do have big feet, but there was little room to fit these under what I expected would be a spacious seat.

There were two seat power sources to share between my seat neighbor and me.

There was a bifold tray table, which in upright position was able to accommodate my 13-inch laptop easily.

The recline of the seat was good, and I was able to fit in a comfortable, quick nap. Note that the seats recline deeply an abruptly: Both my seat neighbor and I were startled when the people in front of us reclined their seats.

The passenger in front of me was restless during the flight, and the seat shook significantly each time he tossed and turned. I could just manage to do some work on my laptop when the seat in front was fully reclined, though my concentration was interrupted numerous times when the seat in front wobbled and rattled because of the passenger's movements.

Although boarding commenced around 30 minutes late, we ended up departing almost an hour late, as the secondary screening for those with a dreaded 'SSSS' on their boarding pass was not set up properly at our gate at boarding time (perhaps because the delay in boarding ended up being far less than expected), so there were still passengers trickling on board well after I thought boarding had been completed.

With the Club Suite cabin taking up so much of the aircraft, the 777-200 featured a surprisingly small single World Traveller (economy) cabin in a tight 3-4-3 configuration -- this was the entire economy cabin.

There were no bathrooms dedicated to the WTP cabin. There was a pair of bathrooms at the back of our cabin shared between both cabins, though they were marked as out of order from boarding until several hours into the flight before a crew member noticed the stickers, checked the bathrooms and decided they were serviceable.

There was a curtain separating the premium and economy cabins, though this wasn't closed until halfway through the flight, which added to the feeling that there was little differentiation between the World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Amenities and IFE" tpg-rating="27" tpg-rating-max="30" screen="12" live-tv="No" tailcam="No" wifi="5.7" wifi-2="0.36" headphones="Yes" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

This was the area where the flight really shone. I arrived to find several goodies waiting for me on my seat.

First was a plush, decent-sized pillow, which would not have looked out of place in business class.

There was a matching blanket, which was plush and large. Both had a really cool blue-and-white striped design that was fresh and stylish.

There was also a matching amenity kit in the same fun design, and headphones.

The headphones, while not noise-canceling, were of good quality and produced good sound. There was also the standard inflight magazine, duty-free magazine and sick bag in the seatback pocket.

While the IFE screens had not received an upgrade in the refurbishment, there were still hundreds of movies and TV shows to choose from. I certainly didn't get bored!

Though the flight map was fairly basic, considering the plane had just been refurbished.

The selections could be navigated by remote control.

Bathrooms were a good size and pretty standard, though I noticed that the mirrors were filthy, even at the start of the flight.

Wi-Fi was available shortly after takeoff and had good speeds: I was able to get quite a bit of work done on the flight.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="12" tpg-rating-max="20" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-meal="2" meals-purchase="No" comp-alcohol="Yes" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

During the boarding process, poured drinks were offered from a tray. The cabin crew said they had "water, juice or Champagne." This immediately struck me as odd, because I didn't think BA served actual Champagne in World Traveller Plus (few airlines do). This is nitpicking, but if it were prosecco or English sparkling wine the crew member really should have described it as such. In any case, it wasn't very cold.

With an 11:20 a.m. departure, I expected a full lunch service followed by an afternoon tea meal shortly before landing, like I had experienced on other carriers on the same route, albeit with slightly later departure times.

As expected, lunch was served shortly after takeoff, beginning with a drinks service. All passengers were offered a premeal drink (a Bloody Mary for me) and asked to select wine for their meal. I asked for a white wine and was told there was only a sauvignon blanc. This was served with sour cream-and-chive pretzels.

There were three entrees. I would normally go for beef but decided to mix it up and selected a Thai prawn green curry.

BA serves World Traveller Plus meals still with the plastic and foil on top of containers. This really affects the presentation, and I wish they would tidy up the tray before handing it to the passengers ( Virgin Atlantic does the same thing).

This is the difference five seconds of tidying would make:

One of the big selling points of British Airways World Traveller Plus catering is that the entree is from the Club World kitchen, meaning you can expect a business-class main course. Unfortunately, while Club Suite passengers on this flight received meals plated in the galley, the same could not be said for WTP meals, which were reheated in the same dishes they were loaded onto the plane in.

This resulted in a fairly unappetizing-looking dish that tasted OK but was dried out around the edges because of the reheating.

I did like the starter, a goat cheese, orange and beetroot tartare. The goat cheese especially was a premium and refined touch. The cookie-dough cheesecake for dessert was also decent and got me ready to be in New York City.

Midflight, a small ice cream was served.

It was already pretty cracked when I opened it.

Around 90 minutes before landing, a second meal was served. I was expecting some sort of afternoon tea like on other flights to New York, but it was a lonely pizza, with tea or coffee offered this time.

While the main dish from lunch was promised "from the Club World kitchen," this was about as economy as it got.

The taste was decent, better than a frozen supermarket pizza and dense enough that it at least filled me up. I found the switch from proper china at lunch to paper cups for the second meal to be strange.

[flight_stats ticket-class="econ" review-stat-section="Service" tpg-rating="5" tpg-rating-max="10" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="No" turndown-service="No" blurb="Delays and disruptions made for an uneven service flown that was little different from economy." /]

The crew on my flight were well-intentioned, but there were several frustrating elements to the flight. As the crew began serving lunch, they asked us both what we would like to drink at that moment and whether we wanted wine with our meal. I chose a Bloody Mary cocktail to start with and then white wine with my meal. This was both served to me before any food was. While that would ordinarily be fine, we then hit some turbulence, meaning the service was suspended for around 30 minutes.

This threw the entire service flow off. Most passengers drank their wine for their meal during the turbulence, and by the time their main courses were served, they had no wine left. The crew did not realize such a long delay would result in empty glasses, and, firstly, didn't both offer more wine when the meals were finally served (seeing glasses were empty), and, secondly, didn't offer any more drinks during the meal service at all.

While we were provided with coffee cups with our meal tray, the crew seemed so flustered that they completely forgot to serve any tea or coffee with lunch.

On this route that I've flown several times, I'm used to a full meal service shortly after takeoff and a lighter meal just before descent. The full lunch was served after takeoff as expected, but then midflight a single (mini) ice cream was served despite us having been served a normal dessert just a few hours earlier. I was confused why I was served two desserts so close together and initially thought that may be the entire second meal. But then around 90 minutes before landing, the crew came through a third time with a pizza, which, while filling because of its carby goodness, was not a patch on the afternoon tea usually served in World Traveller Plus on these flights.

There didn't appear to be any crew members dedicated to the World Traveller Plus cabin -- we were served first, but the same crew members then rolled down to World Traveller and served them. This added to the feeling there was little differentiation between the two cabins.

Overall impression

Given the huge improvement to the business-class cabin on this aircraft, I was hoping for more of an improvement in the World Traveller Plus cabin refresh. While new seat fabrics are nice on a 22-year-old aircraft, this was a pretty middle-of-the-road experience.

I appreciated the extra legroom and recline, and the awesome bedding was a lovely surprise, but this was far from a perfect flight. The lack of any real separation between the World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins was symbolic for the flight: While the premium cabin was served first, it felt fairly economy from start to finish. There wasn't much room for my (big) feet next to the bulky IFE box, and the turbulence with a full cabin seemed to upset the service flow, as things were simply forgotten.

The second meal service was strange: two very light and decidedly economy snacks served separately rather than a proper afternoon tea service.

This aircraft is more than two decades old, as are many flying BA's most profitable route, but in the future I'll be looking for a more modern aircraft where possible.

All photos by the author.

Book premium economy with this airline – it’s the closest you can get to business class

W e’ve all ordered the second-cheapest bottle of wine on the menu, but what about the second-cheapest cabin on the aircraft: premium economy? Is it worth the 50 to 100 per cent bump on economy fares?

The world’s largest airlines would like us to think so. They’re installing bigger, better cabins faster than you can say “upgrade”. The number of premium economy seats on all airlines on an annual basis is projected to treble from 4,000 in 2021 to 11,145 next year, aviation analysts Counterpoint say. 

But, at first glance, the argument for upgrading is not so convincing. Take a look at the cabin. You certainly don’t get 50-100 per cent more space. The seats are only a few inches bigger – although the legroom is 5-6” greater and the seats come with calf- or footrests or both and double arm rests.

The cost per square inch calculation changes, however, if you are travelling in a pair. Grab the window and aisle seat pair and you and your companion have your own row. Almost all economy window and aisle row seats on long-haul jets come in sets of three while premium is 2-4-2 or 2-3-2. 

Snag the front row and no-one can recline their seat into your face and you can get up to stretch your legs or go to the loo without disturbing your companion. Throw in the fact that some premium cabins have as few as 20-odd seats, compared with the 200-plus in economy, and the price bump suddenly appears to be much better value. 

Things get better when you consider the other perks. Most airlines allow premium economy passengers to check in using a dedicated line and to board just after business-class passengers. Baggage allowance is also more generous. 

Now that you’re sitting comfortably, what’s next? The clue’s in the name. Economy. Airlines don’t want to offer a business class-style in-flight service lest too many high-paying business class passengers opt to downgrade. Business-class cabins may make up only one third of the space on a long-haul aircraft but they generate up to 70 per cent of the profits. 

That said, service is improving. Singapore Airlines and Japan’s ANA now offer champagne and the wines on Emirates are as good as business class on some other carriers. All airlines are offering better food and drink, usually served in china crockery and glassware, not plastic. You will be also served more quickly than in economy because the cabin is smaller.

The amenities tend to be basic. You’ll get earplugs, a toothbrush, a flimsy eye shade, a slightly less cheap-feeling blanket and pillow than in economy, and headphones that cancel noise – a bit. You are better off taking your own kit. For overnight flights, I recommend sculpted foam eye shades which enable you to blink easily, Hearos earplugs, and eucalyptus oil nose drops to ward off colds. Melatonin tablets help you to nod off and Elemis instant refreshing gel wakes you up in the morning. And, not sexy I know, but compression socks do help prevent blood clots. 

Boarding and getting off is quicker and easier since the premium economy cabin is in front of economy. Emirates leads here because its premium economy cabin is at the front of the lower deck of the Airbus A380 so you can use the front left-hand door. All other passengers on the lower deck use the middle door. 

The similarities between carriers generally outweigh the differences but there are distinctions which might help you make a choice. Emirates has the snazziest cabin, with cream leather and wood veneer, and it is staffed by a team of cabin crew dedicated to premium economy passengers. On the A380, it offers the best loo-to-passenger ratio – a generous three bathrooms for 56 passengers. The Dubai-based carrier currently has 27 A380s with a premium economy cabin that serve routes between Dubai and London Heathrow, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Singapore, Los Angeles, New York/JFK, Houston, San Francisco, Mumbai, Bengaluru, São Paolo and Tokyo Narita.

Virgin Atlantic calls premium economy Premium, which is way better than British Airways’ word salad of World Traveller Plus . Virgin’s leather seats, softer lighting and more attentive service make its Premium feel more, well, premium than BA’s. On Virgin’s new A330Neo jet the seats have wireless phone charging and there is a self serve snack bar called the Wonderwall.

BA points out that members of its Executive Club loyalty programme earn generous tier points in World Traveller Plus, so it is a good cabin to book if you want to move up from Bronze status to Silver or Gold. On a return flight from London to New York JFK, the lowest premium economy ticket earns you 140 more tier points than the lowest economy ticket.

Qantas ’ is raising the bar on its new Airbus A350 jets, which will soon start flying the 20 hours non-stop from London and New York to Sydney and Melbourne. The 40-inch pitch (the measure of leg room) is two inches more than Qantas’s current premium economy and the same offered by Emirates, currently the class leader. There’s more privacy, too. “We’re redesigning the head rest to create a more pronounced wingback chair to give more visual seclusion, which is great if you’re travelling alone,” says Qantas’s designer David Caon. Caon is also refining “a new special pillow that integrates with the headrest and becomes part of the seat.”

The new seat will aid sleep. “You get a better recline, less because the seat back goes back more, and more because the bottom of the seat tracks forward and juts up, that gives you more of a ‘slung’ position. Combined with the footrest, it’s more like the old cradle seats that airlines used to have in business class,” Caon says.  

ANA, meanwhile, is the only airline to offer premium economy passengers lounge access and drinks from the business class menu on board. 

Singapore Airlines ’ passengers can use its popular ‘Book the Cook’ service to pre-order meals, but be careful: if you pre-order a meal, it’s hard to swap seats if you spot a better one that is free, since your meal is allocated to your seat. On its Airbus A350 jets from the Lion City to New York, it also offers six coveted single window seats at the rear of the plane. There is a new Out of the Woods amenity kit on flights longer than seven hours. (It is not clear why it has this name). 

Lufthansa ’s premium-economy seats are in the same cabin as economy, which betrays a complete misunderstanding of the class system at 39,000ft. All the cabins on the major American carriers have leather seats – but somehow manage to look cheap. 

What’s the bottom line? Premium economy is not as good value as business class since, pound for pound, you get more space and more perks in business over premium economy than you do in premium economy over economy. But choose the right carrier for your needs and snag the best seats and it can be money very well spent indeed.

Premium perks 

Virgin atlantic: best for hungry fliers.

Generous service complemented by the best pantry full of snacks and drinks that you can raid at any time. You can also use the fast-track security when leaving New York’s JFK. 

British Airways: best for night flights

A generous eight-inch seat recline makes BA a good bet for night flights. Book the A380 and you’ll be sitting upstairs so you can, in effect, look down on economy passengers. (It’s the little things…) 

Emirates: closest to business class

The closest you’ll get to business class with a plush cabin, three bathrooms, class-leading food and wine. I recommend the Thai pepper beef with jasmine rice, with  a glass or two of the Château d’Aiguilhe, Côtes de Castillon 2012, St Emilion.

ANA: best for lounge access

The Japanese carrier is the only one to offer lounge access and drinks from the business-class menu.  

Singapore Airlines: best for comfort

The best seats on any carrier, provided you’re on the mammoth, 19-hour trek from Singapore to New York. There are six solo window seats at the back of the Airbus A350-900ULR that it uses for this, the world’s longest flight, with their own storage bins between each seat and the window.

Qantas: best for heading Down Under

The best value and comfort to Australia is premium economy on Qantas’s Boeing 787 direct flight from London to Perth – and soon on direct flights from London and New York to Sydney and Melbourne. After all, who wants to spend up to 20 hours in economy?

Finnair: best value for Asia

With an elegant cabin of only 21 seats on its long-haul Airbus A330s and 24 on its Airbus A350s, Finland’s flag carrier offers a smaller cabin than most carriers and is often better value than BA on routes to Asia, but you will have to change planes in Helsinki.   

This article was first published in February 2023 and has been revised and updated.

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British Airways puts more than 400 half term Reward Seats on sale to Barbados

British Airways has published its next long-haul Avios-Only flight, after its first one sold out in less than nine hours.

The flight will depart from London Heathrow on 15 February 2025, headed for the capital of Barbados, Bridgetown. The return flight will also be an Avios-Only flight, taking place seven days later on 22 February 2025. The launch of the flight comes as British Airways celebrates 70 years of flying to the Caribbean island.

Customers can purchase seats on the flight from just £150 + 70,000 Avios. World Traveller Plus seats are from £330 + 135,000 Avios, and Club World (business class) seats are available from £450 + 200,000 Avios.

British Airways launched Avios-Only flights last year, with the first long-haul one to Dubai selling every seat across all cabins in less than nine hours after it went on sale for travel in October half term 2024.

Avios-Only flights are made up of 100% Reward Seats. Reward Seats are those that can be purchased using Avios at static rates. British Airways guarantees a minimum of 12 and 14 Reward Seats on standard short and long-haul flights respectively, whereas Avios-Only flights mean that every seat is available to purchase using Avios.

Members booking the Avios-Only flight can do so in any cabin as they normally would through ba.com meaning that those with British Airways American Express Credit Cards will also have the option to use their Companion Vouchers. Companion Vouchers entitle Members to a second seat for just the taxes and charges, or one seat for half the amount of Avios. Those with Barclaycard Avios cards can also use their Upgrade Vouchers.

Pricing options

In addition to the Barbados flight, British Airways has also published an Avios-Only return flight from London to Geneva for February 2025. The BA740 from London Heathrow to Geneva on 22 February 2025 is now available, with a return flight on 1 March 2025 also available as an Avios-Only flight. Customers can book seats from as little as £1 + 19,500 Avios.

More than 30 Avios-Only flights have been put on sale since the initiative launched last year, with customers using their Avios to fly to destinations including Corfu, Ibiza and Nice using their Avios.

To book, customers can log into their Executive Club accounts on www.ba.com .

About the British Airways Executive Club

The British Airways Executive Club is a free-to-join reward programme for anyone who loves travel. Its currency is Avios, which can be collected by flying with BA or its partner airlines, taking a holiday, making purchases with more than 1,500 retailers when shopping through British Airways at shopping.ba.com, or through everyday spending with a wide range of partners such as American Express, Nectar, Avis Budget Group and Marriott.

Members can also collect Tier Points every time they fly with British Airways or its oneworld® partners, which offer access a range of exclusive benefits as they climb the Tiers through Blue, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Visit www.britishairways.com/executiveclub for more.

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