British Airways coy on new A350 Club World business class seat
By David Flynn, January 12 2018
British Airways is keeping its cards close to its chest on its next generation Club World business class seat, due to take wing in 2019 aboard the airline's new Airbus A350 jets.
The airline has refused to confirm or deny reports that CEO Alex Cruz has nuked the rumoured 'Club World Mk III' design (below), based on a modernisation of the current decade-old seat, and will instead opt for an off-the-shelf product from leading seatmaker Zodiac Aerospace.
A spokesman for British Airways declined to comment to Australian Business Traveller on plans for the seat, and offered up this press release copy-paste statement: "We are investing £600m specifically in Club World, including outstanding catering and luxurious White Company bedding - plus, from 2019, a new seat with direct aisle access."
In mid-July 2017 British Airways was decidedly more forthcoming in swatting down suggestions that it would adopt an all-new design rather than just 'update and evolve' the current Club World seat, with a spokeswoman telling Australian Business Traveller that "Nothing has changed... plans are well advanced now, and we haven’t changed our tack or design."
The shape of seats to come...
British Airways' current Club World seat, launched to great fanfare at London's Canary Wharf in November 2006 is best known by business travellers for its 'high density' approach to maximising the number of passengers in the available space, as well as a relatively unique forwards-backwards seating layout.
The ensuing decade has seen competing airlines forging ahead: spacious business class seats boasting privacy, direct aisle access plus ample personal and storage space are now the norm.
There's been no shortage of speculation over BA's 2019 Club World seat, fuelled in part by the airline's series of patent applications over recent years.
That includes this radical curvy sofa-seat...
.. which would see passengers adopt a forward-facing position for the taxi, take-off and landing stages of the flight, but stretch out – with an infill section of the sofa creating a continuous surface between the seat and the ottoman – to relax or sleep.
There was also this more conventional 'herringbone' layout with angled seating...
... and this oddball layout which seems to double-down on the forwards-backwards orientation and 'stare at your fellow flyers' position.
This concept is perhaps closest to the British flag-carrier's current Club World configuration....
... and would allow the airline to retain its profitable 'high density' cabin layout, with some benefits from the wider cabin footprint of the A350.
This month's conjecture suggests that British Airways has flicked through the Zodiac Aerospace catalogue and drawn a big red circle around the SkyLounge Core model.
This happens to be the same platform as used by Emirates in its Airbus A380 business class, although BA would undoubtedly see it heavily customised and totally de-blinged.
Whatever British Airways has settled upon, the final design is expected to break cover – officially or otherwise – by the tail end of this year.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jul 2016
Total posts 108
Thank goodness! That is a relief.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 386
The current forward/backward seat is awful. If they move to an all forward facing setup that will be good.
29 Sep 2014
Total posts 13
I seem to be in a minority but I don't mind the current seat. I have never had the "stare at the person opposite" issue (though I understand why some dislike it) and I find the sleeping surface and unconstricted footspace excellent.
12 Jan 2018
Total posts 1
The screens on BA are down at TTOL largely due to regulations, and this is clearly a compromise. But a huge amount of effort went in to create a comfortable seat and bed. Yes, its compromised, but it's still a lot better in comfort terms than many of seats out there. Take note of how many people don't move out of TTOL (taxi, take-off & landing) position because the seat is low and reclined from the moment one sits - not bolt upright with people gagging to push the recline button. Also, being able to turn-over freely due to the unrestricted foot space is much more important in getting a good nights sleep than having a 6' 6" long bed. But it is long in the tooth - we should know - we designed it.
11 Jun 2016
Total posts 14
Anything .... and I mean Anything would be an upgrade to their current set up.
03 May 2013
Total posts 670
That forward backward design is exactly what’s kept me flying BA for the past 10 years on long haul.
03 May 2013
Total posts 670
Correction: Kept me from. Wont even talk about the soft product.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jun 2015
Total posts 13
I think the current layout has great legroom, if fact I'd rate that certainly better than the Etihad narrow enclosed footrest. But like others have said - looking at some random facing diagonally opposite is the deal breaker for anyone seeking out a business class seat. I flew BA a couple of weeks ago, It was adequate / fine.
09 Jan 2016
Total posts 44
Needs it, just flew London to HK and that forward-back system, combined wiht a very cramped BC seat I found once it was lay flat, was just rubbish.
BA Gold
01 Apr 2012
Total posts 191
I heard it from the horses mouth that it will be an off the shelf product with direct aisle access for all instead of an 'in house' design.
12 Jan 2018
Total posts 1
The current club world seat lets the airline down badly. This coupled with the fact BA insists on high density in business class means it is last on my list when looking for premium travel options. It appears Mr Cruz never travels Club World, because if he did he would see what an inferior product BA offers. Please Mr Cruz, face facts, your business class product is awful and significantly inferior to others and a total re-think is required. And I completely agree cooper81 - the service on BA has come on leaps and bounds. Lets hope the hard product follows.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2016
Total posts 11
They are the worst airline in OneWorld in all cabins. They are the only airline to get 7 across in their business class upstairs in the A380...same room as Premium Economy! The length is 180cm and I'm 185cm tall so you can't stretch out. I'm a big ABBA fan, Anyone But BA
18 Mar 2016
Total posts 35
A new J seat is nowhere near good enough for me to fly BA.
I believe you STILL have to pay extra to reserve a seat at the time of booking.
Unbelievable !!!!!!!!
23 May 2014
Total posts 119
Surely not in business though??
11 Apr 2012
Total posts 55
Yes, unless you have sufficient BA /OW status
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Jun 2015
Total posts 17
Tried BA once, was terrible, this won't make me go back. So glad they are NOT in Star Alliance.
18 Sep 2015
Total posts 10
Odd that no one mentions the current gap between the actual seat and the footrest on the current J offering, at least on the 747 and 777.At 6'2'' and being a side sleeper, I tried it only once and never again, as there is nothing to support your knees or calves, so after a single transatlantic night of torture-and zero sleep- I gave up and never came back! Hello OA!!
04 May 2018
Total posts 43
IB A350 just delivered and appears to have version of Zodiac Skylounge seat (see article above).
CX
05 Jun 2012
Total posts 127
A couple of posters have suggested that the seat/bed is long enough (ECCG: constricted footspace excellent; tangerine1 made a similar comment).
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
13 Mar 2015
Total posts 79
I hope they will rid off that "Claustrophobic" high density Club World seat, I Hope the same for NZ, NH and JL...JL an least is a bit wider or at least it feels wider and have more space to allocate things... That CEO of BA is turning that airline into something without identity where it would become more vulnerable to competition because BA seems to be in the low cost carrier side but it has High end attitude or the shadow of the greater airline that used to be...
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on British Airways coy on new A350 Club World business class seat