Nick Morrish/Rachel Hosie/Business Insider
I travelled in both British Airway's brand new business class Club Suites, and its short-haul alternative.
- British Airways' business class offering was described in a recent study as being like "Ryanair but with free food," but is this really true?
- It's safe to say the experience differs wildly depending on whether you're flying long or short-haul.
- I realized this when I experienced the new long-haul business class service followed by the short-haul the next day on a British Airways press trip.
- Is it really worth paying to fly business class on a two-hour flight? Here's how the long- and short-haul services differ.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Things haven't been plain sailing for British Airways of late.
Despite the airline celebrating its centenary this year (complete with a visit from Her Majesty), becoming the third carrier to use ginormous A350 planes, and unveiling swanky new business class Club Suites, it's had to weather some storms.
If pilot strikes and cabins filling with smoke weren't enough, BA's business class offering has just been slated in a study by consumer group Which?.
Which? described the airline's business class service as akin to "Ryanair but with free food," although it's unclear whether the long-haul or short-haul service was reviewed. Ryanair is a famously low-cost UK airline where customers have to pay for a number of add-ons - food included.
The airline's business class or "Club" offering varies wildly depending on whether you're traveling short-haul within Europe (Club Europe) or long-haul (Club World).
This was hammered home to me particularly clearly when I had the privilege of flying on a British Airways press trip to Madrid as a taster flight to launch BA's new Club World seat, and then a flight back in a standard Club Europe seat.
Here's how the two compare.