I flew on British Airways' Club Suite from New York to London. It's a huge improvement from the carrier's old and cramped business class seat.

Taylor RainsMar 9, 2024, 17:17 IST

I flew on British Airways' newest business class, dubbed the Club Suite, and would recommend it for deep-pocketed flyers or those savvy enough with points.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

British Airways first unveiled its Club Suite business class cabin in March 2019.
The configuration has slowly made its way across the airline's fleet. I recently tried it on a 777.

British Airways unveiled its "Club Suite" business-class cabin in March 2019 as part of a nearly $9 billion investment in the customer experience.

The product first deployed on British Airways' Airbus A350-1000 planes starting in mid-2019 and quickly earned props for its improvement in space and privacy compared to the old business-class layout.

While the company's Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, and Airbus A380 planes still sport the dated cabin, British Airways has so far fit its Boeing 787-10s and most of its Boeing 777s with the Club Suite as it rolls out the new configuration across its fleet.

And all Heathrow-based long-haul aircraft will be retrofitted with the Club Suite by the end of 2026, the carrier said during the IAG Capital Markets Day late last year. IAG is the parent company of British Airways.

Curious if it lived up to the hype, I flew from London to New York in the improved cabin on a British Airways' Boeing 777-200ER earlier this month, and I think it's an overall great transatlantic-travel option.

I arrived at London's Heathrow Airport at 8:30 a.m., giving myself about three hours before my flight's scheduled 11:20 a.m. departure.

Customers can check in online, at the counter, or using a kiosk.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Having checked in online and with only a carry-on in tow, I bypassed the counter and went straight to security.

The author holding her boarding pass and passport.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

A separate 'FastTrack' line is available to Club World ticketholders, which was significantly shorter than the regular queue.

My carry-on liquids had to fit into a transparent, liter-sized plastic baggie.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Right past the expedited security line is one of the several British Airways lounges throughout Terminal 5.

Lounge capacity was displayed on a sign right back the FastTrack lane.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Because my flight was departing from Gate B34, I went to the B-gate lounge and enjoyed breakfast away from the chaos of the terminal.

I thought the lounge was great, with good food options and shower access.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Boarding started around 10:30 a.m., and I was among the first to board thanks to my business-class ticket.

Boarding was quick and easy.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I was seated in 17A, a window seat in the last row of the Club Suite cabin.

The author's corner nook Club Suite seat.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Stepping onto the Boeing 777-200ER, I immediately saw improvements compared to the old Club World product.

British Airways' Club Suite cabin.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Instead of a cramped cabin with up to eight seats per row, the Club Suite featured fully enclosed pods in a 1x2x1 layout with a window seat on each side, two middle seats, and two walkable aisles.

A view of the Club Suite cabin from seat 17A.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Instead of a cramped cabin with up to eight seats per row, the Club Suite featured fully enclosed pods in a 1x2x1 layout with a window seat on each side, two middle seats, and two walkable aisles.

This means all passengers have direct aisle access and complete privacy — something not everyone in the old business class got.

The Club World seats in a 2x4x2 layout. Some passengers have to step over their neighbor to access the aisle. British Airways

Exploring the cozy seat, I was happy to find plenty of legroom and ample storage space.

The Club Suites seats in the middle section of the aircraft have a divider for added privacy.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

On a shelf was a bottle of water and an amenity kit, which came with the basics such as dental items and socks.

The shelf was narrow, but I liked the mirror.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

A universal power outlet and two USB ports were inside the larger of the two cubbies.

The right-side cubby had the remote and power outlets.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

A large 18.5-inch television with an accompanying remote, a reading light, and a large tray table were also featured.

The back of the remote could be used for playing games.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

But there was one particularly annoying drawback — the in-flight WiFi was broken.

The WiFi on board the 777 was not working on my flight.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Ignoring the disappointment, I settled into my seat and enjoyed a pre-flight drink as we pushed back and taxied for departure.

The cubbies double as a large side table.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The first meal service started immediately after takeoff, starting with a beer and a snack.

I loved the BrewDog IPA.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The main courses followed, which included an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert.

The in-flight menu.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I opted for the roast beef, pork loin, and pudding for my three-course meal, and I thought every dish was good.

The author's three-course meal.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The pork loin was my favorite part of the meal, which came with veggies and mashed potatoes.

The pork-loin dish.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I think the food on Singapore and All Nippon Airways was better, but British Airways' was still competitive with Condor and American.

The main course on my ANA flight from New York to Tokyo last March.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

After lunch, I adjusted my seat into lie-flat mode and watched a few movies to pass the time.

The lie-flat bed could be set up using the panel next to the seat.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I was happy to find the bed wide enough to lay on my side or stomach, and I had plenty of space to spread my legs all the way out.

I caught up on "South Park" during my ride to New York.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

And I loved the sliding door, which completely blocked off my little pod and made the journey perfectly private.

This is what my neighbor's little pod looked like with the door fully closed.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

But the provided headphones were basically useless due to loud and constant static. I ended up using my own.

The headset had a scratchy sound that constantly screamed into my ear.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The second meal service started about an hour and a half before landing, and I was thrilled to see it was afternoon tea.

The meal came with three little finger sandwiches.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I loved the little finger sandwiches and sweets.

The meal came with yogurt and bread with jam and butter.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Though I felt well-fed in business class, those feeling peckish between meals can enjoy chips or wine from the Club Kitchen.

A self-serve bar is becoming more common in business class, with Air India adding one to its new A350 product.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I spent the last hour of the flight enjoying the entertainment and lie-flat bed before landing in New York at around 1 p.m. local time.

The time passed by quickly in British Airways' Club Suite.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Overall, I think the Club Suite experience is easily a competitive product across the Atlantic, and I particularly loved the food and sliding door.

The broken WiFi appears to be a one-off issue, so I think the Club Suite is worth the $3,000 airfare for those with the means or points to score it.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

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I flew on British Airways' Club Suite from New York to London. It's a huge improvement from the carrier's old and cramped business class seat.

I arrived at London's Heathrow Airport at 8:30 a.m., giving myself about three hours before my flight's scheduled 11:20 a.m. departure.

Having checked in online and with only a carry-on in tow, I bypassed the counter and went straight to security.

A separate 'FastTrack' line is available to Club World ticketholders, which was significantly shorter than the regular queue.

Right past the expedited security line is one of the several British Airways lounges throughout Terminal 5.

Because my flight was departing from Gate B34, I went to the B-gate lounge and enjoyed breakfast away from the chaos of the terminal.

Boarding started around 10:30 a.m., and I was among the first to board thanks to my business-class ticket.

I was seated in 17A, a window seat in the last row of the Club Suite cabin.

Stepping onto the Boeing 777-200ER, I immediately saw improvements compared to the old Club World product.

Instead of a cramped cabin with up to eight seats per row, the Club Suite featured fully enclosed pods in a 1x2x1 layout with a window seat on each side, two middle seats, and two walkable aisles.

This means all passengers have direct aisle access and complete privacy — something not everyone in the old business class got.

Exploring the cozy seat, I was happy to find plenty of legroom and ample storage space.

On a shelf was a bottle of water and an amenity kit, which came with the basics such as dental items and socks.

A universal power outlet and two USB ports were inside the larger of the two cubbies.

A large 18.5-inch television with an accompanying remote, a reading light, and a large tray table were also featured.

But there was one particularly annoying drawback — the in-flight WiFi was broken.

Ignoring the disappointment, I settled into my seat and enjoyed a pre-flight drink as we pushed back and taxied for departure.

The first meal service started immediately after takeoff, starting with a beer and a snack.

The main courses followed, which included an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert.

I opted for the roast beef, pork loin, and pudding for my three-course meal, and I thought every dish was good.

The pork loin was my favorite part of the meal, which came with veggies and mashed potatoes.

I think the food on Singapore and All Nippon Airways was better, but British Airways' was still competitive with Condor and American.

After lunch, I adjusted my seat into lie-flat mode and watched a few movies to pass the time.

I was happy to find the bed wide enough to lay on my side or stomach, and I had plenty of space to spread my legs all the way out.

And I loved the sliding door, which completely blocked off my little pod and made the journey perfectly private.

But the provided headphones were basically useless due to loud and constant static. I ended up using my own.

The second meal service started about an hour and a half before landing, and I was thrilled to see it was afternoon tea.

I loved the little finger sandwiches and sweets.

Though I felt well-fed in business class, those feeling peckish between meals can enjoy chips or wine from the Club Kitchen.

I spent the last hour of the flight enjoying the entertainment and lie-flat bed before landing in New York at around 1 p.m. local time.

Overall, I think the Club Suite experience is easily a competitive product across the Atlantic, and I particularly loved the food and sliding door.