BA Business Class - worth it?

[EddieHowesShithousingMags]

Hoping to go to NYC for a short break in September, wanting to book in the BA sale, for three people (adults).

Using avíos we can fly from our regional airport via LHR, economy outbound and business on the way home for £3153 total.

Flying economy each way we’d save about £1500 and could get our hotel included for a similar price to what we’d pay for flight only with business class inbound seats.

For context the flight home would be a night flight.

Is it worth it? That additional £1500 we would pay is affordable but we’re not so aFfluent that we wouldn’t notice it. Plenty of other things we could spend it on!!

Just like the BA galleries lounge then! If you have an eligible Amex card the centurion lounges are good and they cap the numbers and bring it a waitlist to ensure there’s always space- last time I used one I had to wait but got my text before I’d had chance to choose a book from the Hudson news!

I agree though that the NY route isn’t worth it for business class. The flight is so short and in Club they still do a full dinner and breakfast service pushing trolleys up and down with all the lights so at best you’re getting a couple of hours of sleep and inevitable that you will feel like shit afterwards. It’s more luxurious IMO to do the day flight in premium economy especially if you can book American Airlines codeshare because their premium economy is really good, huge seats (same as domestic first class), they give you fastrack security which is a business class perk with BA and they’re really generous with the food!

Oh dear. To be fair the only lounge I have been in since covid definitely has gone quite a bit downhill. I didn't realise it was universal. That is disappointing!

(Edited for spelling)

I've never travelled anything other than economy even london to LA. Itd been pre covid since I last flew and when I went to LA I was considering upgrading as its a brutal flight but glad I didnt becuae as I walked through I didnt feel that impressed. OK sure you can lie down and maybe seats are a bit wider but it felt very cocooned. I just didn't think I could justify paying so much or using so many points for it.

Also with world traveller plus the arm rest doesn't go up, hate that.

Business is amazing for long haul, so so comfy, but I'd prob do Premium for an NY trip.

We’re also looking at the same - economy out / business back, partly because if we do business out we will dread the home flight! But having done this flight many times economy both ways we just don’t want to do it again. If we can we will do BC both ways but if not then the return flight we will as we’re looking at an overnight flight so will want to sleep

I think I’m convinced that maybe the BC isn’t worth it but considering PE on the route home. Options are American Airlines or BA. Much difference?

There's not much in it, I'd just go with the best price / most convenient flight times.

Both the same price and departing flights within 30 mins of each other so virtually no difference!

Wouldn’t bother with business, and would use the money for the hotel etc.
I have flown a lot of business class through work, but have also done long haul economy which is fine. If a very long haul then business would be good, but anything under 8 hours I wouldn’t really bother. See if you can pay for a lounge at the airport instead

Have just seen the other messages about the lounges. Keep your money, and head for the champagne and lobster bars instead. Marginally better food and less crowded

I prefer BA food to AA food so tend to opt for the BA one given the choice.

AA is better for premium economy, if nothing else they give you fast track security which BA don’t. Unless you have global entry for the US which means you’ll be using the pre check channel?

Oh so not worth it! I used to work for BA I only travelled BC, yes it’s lovely but after 5-6 hours it’s done, it’s gone! The value you get back is zero!

you can get a decent present for DC for this cash!

not sure you mentioned it but Amex premium gets you buy one get one free voucher (redemption). Also if you get PE, on the actual day they might have special offer on upgrade so easy to get BC . Also if you’re on PE you can use avios to upgrade to BC

have a lovely trip x

I’ve only had the Amex for 3 months so don’t get my reward flight voucher for a while yet unfortunately.

Gosh I’d say the absolute opposite. The second meal on a BA day flight looks like a 4YO’s lunchbox, especially the portion size. Less of an issue to NY but on a longer transatlantic flight you’re left starving if you don’t bring your own snacks. At least AA feed you and you can choose your main meal in advance.

Oh and another plus for AA over BA- free seat selection at the time of booking and access to all available seats including the extra legroom bulkheads.

The only downside that I can think of is if shit goes wrong EU261 (legally mandated compensation for delays/cancellation) doesn’t apply on arrivals of foreign aircraft. I have had a return flight from the states cancelled, then was downgraded and was relieved to be with BA so I knew that I would get fully compensated, expenses reimbursed and it was a simple enough procedure to claim.

After giving it some more thought, I'd probably fly AA coming back just because it will still feel 'foreign' compared to BA so you'll prolong that holiday feeling a bit longer. And you'll get a tiny DS Durga product in your amenity kit rather than the rubbish BA dishes out. 😜

On my La flight the food from BA was good I was quite surprised I went for the veg pasta and it was delicious I could have had more lol

This thread couldn't have been posted at a better time. I was looking at the exact same flights today for New York, but in April. BC one way (outbound) PE inbound. It's for my 40th so I fancied pushing the boat out and going business as never have before. I've also never been to the states so felt like making it extra special. Now I'm wondering if its worth it!

Any food coming out of the USA is crap compared to that coming out of London.

Happy 40th! The new BA club world suites are lovely! Daytime so you can enjoy is great decision. Night flight from NY, where you’re going to get a terrible night’s sleep whatever you do because the flight too short (if that makes sense) and deplane feeling awful flatbed or not, it’s not worth it unless either the money isn’t significant to you or you’ve found an extremely good deal. Controversial opinion but I actually find PE more restful because it’s not a through cabin- it’s small, business don’t come back, economy don’t come forward, the galley is usually behind so sit near the front and it’s so quiet. Also because the meal service is simpler than business and there are less passengers it’s done very quickly. So if you can get comfy enough in the recliner chair you have the chance of snatching more sleep.

^This.

I fly this route every two weeks. I’d you’re paying yourself or using points, Economy or PE out because it’s a daytime flight so you don’t need to sleep. Business on the way back because the flat bed makes all the difference and you can have a decent dinner in the lounge before you fly.

Get on the plane and go flat the second the seatbelt sign is off, skip breakfast on the plane and ask them to wake you up 30 mins from landing, deplane and have breakfast in the arrivals lounge (and a shower/change). Best way to do the night flight.

Thank you 😊Big day isn't until April but I wanted to make a bit of a fuss for once which I never usually do! Flight out would be daytime, home night and to be honest I don't think it would matter if I was given the world's most comfortable bed to sleep in, I can't sleep while travelling. I can't as a car passenger, on a plane, etc. So no matter how comfy the seat is, I'm still going to be a zombie coming home lol.
I had priced up BC out, PE home and for my husband and myself it was £3315 total which included choosing our seats.
However, PE both ways came in at £1577 with seat selection. That's not an insignificant difference for us. I think I'm more inclined to go PE, and use the money to spend while there. Maybe treat myself to something from a department store. It's not the usual sort of thing I would consider but like the OP that money could definitely be used on something else than seats. Even if turning left once would be nice 😂