British Airways: A Good Choice For Your Next Trip?

is british airways good to travel

British Airways is the UK's flag carrier and one of the largest airlines in the world. It is a full-service airline that flies to more than 180 destinations and serves 26 airports across the U.S. The airline has a robust loyalty program called Executive Club and is rated as a four-star airline by Skytrax. While British Airways offers various cabins, complimentary catering, and access to airport lounges, it has received mixed reviews for its services. Some passengers commend the friendly staff, excellent food, and extensive drink options, while others complain about delays, cancellations, poor customer service, and hidden fees. Overall, British Airways can be a good choice for international flights, especially for those prioritising customer experience over budget.

Characteristics Values
Number of destinations Over 200
Full-service airline Yes
Loyalty program Executive Club
Skytrax rating 4 out of 5 stars
Number of cabins 4
Free catering Yes
Lounge access Yes
Delays Common
Customer service Poor
Website functionality Poor

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British Airways' in-flight experience

British Airways In-Flight Experience

British Airways offers four cabin classes on long-haul flights and two on short-haul flights.

Long-Haul Economy Class (World Traveller)

The long-haul economy class, known as World Traveller, offers two types of fares: Basic and Standard. Basic fares include a preselected seat and carry-on luggage only, with no changes or refunds. Standard fares include seat selection 24 hours before departure, carry-on and checked baggage, and early boarding. Passengers in this class receive a meal, a light snack, and beverages.

Long-Haul Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus)

World Traveller Plus offers more legroom and wider seats than the regular economy. Passengers receive a cushion, blanket, and an amenity kit with an eye mask, socks, and a toothbrush. They also have access to noise-cancelling headphones, an in-seat personal entertainment monitor, and a choice of meals from the business class menu.

Long-Haul Business Class (Club World)

The Club World cabin features a 6-foot lie-flat bed with lumbar support and a movable headrest. Passengers receive bedding and an amenity kit designed by The White Company, a 10.4-inch screen with on-demand entertainment, noise-cancelling headphones, and a 3-course meal and snacks from the Club Kitchen.

Long-Haul First Class (First)

First Class features a spacious suite with a 6-foot lie-flat bed, a duvet, pillow, and loungewear. Passengers have access to a dedicated customer service phone line, priority check-in desks, and complimentary spa treatments at select departure lounges. They can also enjoy an extensive refreshment menu, including award-winning wines and afternoon tea.

Short-Haul Economy (Euro Traveller)

Euro Traveller is the short-haul economy class offered by British Airways. It includes leather seating with adjustable headrests, complimentary newspapers (where available), and activity packs for children on flights over 2 hours.

Short-Haul Business Class (Club Europe)

Club Europe offers leather seating with adjustable headrests, dedicated cabin crew, complimentary newspapers (where available), fresh food meals, and beverages.

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The airline's customer service

British Airways is a full-service airline that flies to more than 200 destinations worldwide. It is the UK flag carrier and the biggest airline in the country. It has a loyalty program called the Executive Club, where Avios points can be earned and redeemed for flights with British Airways and partner airlines.

The customer service of British Airways has received mixed reviews. Some passengers have praised the airline for its amazing staff, while others have complained about issues with delays, cancellations, lost baggage, poor customer service, and refund problems.

One passenger noted that the airline's website refused to take payment, and when they called, they were charged 200 pounds more for the booking with no apology or attempt to manage their frustration. Another passenger mentioned that their checked bag never made it to their destination, and they did not receive any updates or information from the airline. They had to spend unnecessary time and money shopping for essential items that they needed during their trip.

Additionally, British Airways has been criticised for its seat selection fees, with some passengers noting that they had to pay extra to select their preferred seats. There have also been complaints about the airline's change and cancellation fees, with reports of flights being cancelled after minor changes were made to the booking.

However, it is important to note that positive reviews do exist. One passenger praised the airline, stating that the staff were amazing and that they would highly recommend flying with them unless something goes wrong.

Overall, while British Airways offers a range of amenities and benefits to its passengers, there are some areas of customer service that could be improved to enhance the overall travel experience.

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British Airways' Executive Club loyalty program

British Airways Executive Club Loyalty Program

The British Airways Executive Club is a loyalty program that allows members to earn and redeem Avios, the airline's rewards currency, across its transatlantic network and beyond. The program is free to join and offers a range of benefits, including:

  • Reward flights, cabin upgrades, hotels and car rentals
  • Free messaging on personal devices onboard
  • The Club magazine, which includes insider tips, exclusive stories and deals
  • Household Account, which allows members to pool Avios with up to six people they live with to earn rewards faster
  • Priority check-in and boarding, lounge access and Fast Track security for frequent flyers

Avios

Avios can be collected in dozens of ways, including:

  • Flying with British Airways and its oneworld® airline partners
  • Holidaying, staying in a hotel or renting a car with British Airways Holidays
  • Shopping with a number of hotel, credit card, car hire and shopping partners

Avios can be spent on a range of benefits, such as:

  • Reward flights
  • Cabin upgrades
  • Hotels and car rentals
  • Part payment for flights or holidays

Tier Points

In addition to Avios, members of the Executive Club also collect Tier Points, which count towards status in the program. There are four published status levels:

  • Blue (starting level)
  • Bronze (after 300 tier points in a year)
  • Silver (after 600 tier points in a year)
  • Gold (after 1,500 tier points in a year)

There are also two additional unpublished levels:

  • Gold Guest List (after 5,000 tier points in a year)
  • Premier (invitation-only)

The benefits of the Executive Club increase with each tier, ranging from priority check-in and boarding to lounge access and priority security.

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The airline's baggage policy

British Airways allows each passenger to carry one piece of hand luggage and one small item (such as a handbag or laptop bag) on board the aircraft. The hand luggage should not exceed 56 x 45 x 25 cm, and the small item should not exceed 40 x 30 x 15 cm. Both items can have a combined weight of up to 23 kg. If your hand luggage exceeds these limits, it must be checked into the aircraft's hold and will be counted towards your checked baggage allowance. You may also be charged excess baggage fees at the airport for this.

The checked baggage allowance for international flights depends on your cabin class and fare type. Each piece of checked baggage must not exceed 90 x 75 x 43 cm, including handles and wheels, and the weight can range from 23 to 32 kg, depending on your cabin class and ticket.

0 x Bags / Hand Luggage Only

2 x Bags at 23KG each

2 x Bags at 32KG each

3 x Bags at 32KG each

Please note that this policy does not apply to flights to/from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, or connecting journeys between India and the USA, Bermuda, or Canada.

Extra baggage can be added either online or at the airport, but it's more cost-effective to add it online. The prices to add extra baggage depend on the route and range from £35-£140 if booked online, and from £75-£165 if added at the airport.

Any checked baggage that exceeds the weight allowance is considered an overweight bag, and a heavy bag fee will apply. The fee is £65 GBP, €75 EUR, $100 USD or $100 CAD per bag per journey. Baggage that is heavier than 32 kg will not be accepted.

Checked bags that are larger than the standard size but do not exceed 190 x 75 x 65 cm will be considered an oversized bag. It's recommended that you contact British Airways in advance as an oversized item may require special handling, and you should also aim to have the item checked in at least 90 minutes before your flight.

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British Airways' route network

British Airways (BA) is the UK flag carrier and the biggest airline in the country. It is also one of the founding members of the Oneworld alliance, serving over 200 destinations worldwide from its hubs in London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

BA owns BA CityFlyer, which operates out of London City Airport, and has franchise agreements with Comair (South Africa) and Sun Air (Denmark), which carry the British Airways brand. The airline also owns a share in Flybe, following the sale of BA Connect in 2006.

BA offers a range of cabins, including economy (known as UK Domestic on flights within the UK and Euro Traveller on flights within Europe), premium economy (World Traveller Plus), business class (Club Europe/World), and first class.

North America

  • Atlanta
  • Austin
  • Baltimore
  • Boston
  • Chicago
  • Cincinnati
  • Dallas
  • Denver
  • Houston
  • Las Vegas
  • Los Angeles
  • Miami
  • Nashville
  • New York
  • Orlando
  • Philadelphia
  • Phoenix
  • Pittsburgh
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Tampa
  • Washington

South America

  • Rio de Janeiro
  • São Paulo
  • Santiago
  • Toronto
  • Vancouver
  • Mexico City

Europe

  • Berlin
  • Copenhagen
  • Paris
  • Amsterdam
  • Athens
  • Barcelona
  • Rome
  • Vienna
  • Zurich
  • Inverness
  • Manchester
  • Edinburgh
  • Glasgow
  • Aberdeen
  • Inverness
  • Newcastle

Africa

  • Cairo
  • Cape Town
  • Johannesburg
  • Nairobi
  • Lagos
  • Accra
  • Addis Ababa
  • Mauritius
  • Seychelles

Asia

  • Abu Dhabi
  • Dubai
  • Istanbul
  • New Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Singapore
  • Tokyo
  • Hong Kong
  • Bangkok
  • Beijing
  • Shanghai

Oceania

Sydney

Frequently asked questions

British Airways is a full-service airline, rated four stars by Skytrax. It offers a range of cabins, complimentary catering on eligible flights, and access to airport lounges. It has a loyalty program called Executive Club and flies to over 200 destinations worldwide. However, some passengers have reported issues with delays, cancellations, poor customer service, and baggage handling.

In a comparison between British Airways and American Airlines, American Airlines was deemed superior in terms of route network, travel credit card availability, loyalty programs, fees, and overall value. However, British Airways was favoured for its in-flight experience, particularly on long-haul flights, with friendly staff and complimentary food and drinks in economy class.

British Airways offers a range of cabins, including economy, premium economy, business, and first class. It provides complimentary catering on eligible flights and access to airport lounges for certain passengers. It also has a robust loyalty program, Executive Club, where members can earn and redeem Avios (rewards points) for flights and upgrades.

Some common complaints about British Airways include delays, cancellations, poor customer service, issues with baggage handling, and unexpected fees, such as seat selection charges. It is important to read reviews and consider the potential risks before booking with any airline.

Experiences vary among travellers. Some people have reported positive experiences with comfortable seats, good food, and friendly staff, especially on long-haul flights. Others have shared negative experiences involving significant delays, communication issues, rude staff, and problems with refunds and rebooking. It is always a good idea to research recent reviews and consider multiple sources before making a decision.

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