Business class one way - would you choose out from Heathrow but day flight or back from Canada overnight?

[FusionChefGeoff]

We are going to Vancouver and with vouchers and Avios want to do one journey business and the other premium. Outbound gets us the super dooper lounge experience at LHR and a day flight to experience the service etc. Inbound means we benefit truly from the lay flat bed on an overnight flight but guessing lounge would be less luxurious

This is a once in a lifetime chance and I’ve got no experience of this so looking for advice to help me make the right decision.

Flying with DH and DC - 15 and 12.

I’d do daytime to enjoy it all. I wouldn’t get a good sleep in a plane whether I was in a bed or not so for a once in a life opportunity I’d want to be awake for it!

Flying by day you will have jet lag on arrival due to time difference and probably won't sleep on the flight but will that night in Canada. Personally I would sleep on the way back as you would have had a full day and likely be tired.

Have a good think about it. Whatever you decide do not get off the aircraft and drive as your body clock will be all over the place and it will be dangerous.

There is no wrong answer here, I fly long haul for work in business. It’s an enjoyable service but on balance I’d pick over night, the beds are worth it, the service and food the same.

the lounge is nice, sure, but depending on which airline I’d not say it’s the decider.

I would go for way back. You will be tired and down at the end of your hol, and probably just wanting to get back home asap*. Watching the hours tick by overnight in economy will be miserable, when you could be sleeping it all away on a nice flat bed instead.

(*Outbound you'll be in good spirits and excited anyway so the journey won't seem as crappy in econ)

Can you pay cash for lounge at LHR - the nice airline one, not the likes of Plaza etc.

I would do it on the flight back. I often fly to Toronto as I have family there and flights back are always overnight. I can't afford business class, but if I could I would book it for the flight home.
Flying overnight in economy is awful. It probably doesn't help that I can never sleep, so a bed would be a luxury.

I have read that lounges are overused nowadays and not quite the luxury you will be expecting.

If your budget can run to it, I’d go out Premium Economy and back Business. You will still get very nice food and comfortable seating out (though not fhe lounge at HR) and you won’t be desperate for sleep.

on the way back you will still get the lovely business class meal, champagne on take off but will also be able to fully recline and sleep which you won’t be able to do in Premium Economy. Or if you don’t want to sleep you don’t have to. You don’t get less meals on an overnight flight so you won’t be missing out on anything. And if you want extra drinks or snacks etc they will bring them to you at night just in the same way as during the day.

it also gives you something to look forward to at the end of your holiday. A long flight home in cattle class at night would be a bit of a downer if you flew out in luxury!

If you’re talking about the BA galleries lounge at Heathrow - don’t base any decisions on that. I was there last week and walked out to sit in Pret and use the public toilets. The BA lounge toilets are “unisex” stinking filthy pods. I told the lounge staff that I was having to leave to use the much cleaner and more fragrant women’s public toilets and they said I was not the only one!
the Concorde lounge is a different matter but the standard business lounge is nothing to write home about and I would certainly not use that as a deciding factor.

Singapore, emirates and Qantas have all got excellent lounges at Heathrow

I would fly home business.

Definitely overnight on the way home.

I’ve done Vancouver a few times - agree with business class overnight coming back for the comfort and you essentially completely a night’s sleep otherwise

The Heathrow lounge isn't that spectacular tbh. I'd check out lounge reviews for Vancouver and go for the lie flat bed coming home. You can also use the terminal 5 arrivals lounge in Heathrow if you have time - check it out, I loved it there, it has spa treatments. Have a great trip.

Way home for sure. The BA lounge is not that worth it compared to the difference between sitting up and getting to lay down on the flight home!

YVR-LHR is also a long enough flight that you will be able to get on, enjoy your seat/the fancy food/ entertainment and then get some sleep and arrive feeling rested.

Vancouver is also my favourite airport and favourite place on the entire planet- enjoy!!!

I'd want the upgrade coming back. If it helps you get more sleep, it'll be worth it.

For me, the jet lag coming back to the UK (short night) is always worse than the jet lag going to Canada (long day).

I’d do the upgrade on the return leg.

You are going Premium one leg and business the other? No question would I do the day flight premium - I’ve done it, it’s nice, the service is good, the seats are good, the lounge is still fab! And return Business, I’ve never done it but that flight is miserable, and only slightly less miserable in premium so I would totally do business. The whole experience of boarding, eating dinner in business and then donning PJs and ‘going to bed’ will be so memorable for you all! Jealous!!

Definitely the night flight. Being able to lay flat to sleep is a game changer.

Whoopee OK that’s pretty unanimous we’ll go for Premium out and Business back - fingers crossed we can get the seats now!! (I’ve got another thread on that so have my strategy planned)

Another vote for business for the night flight.
We were really lucky to get upgraded to premium economy on our day outbound flight recently - it was such a treat! But I don't think we'd have gained much more in business. We already had more room etc. However more comfort still while trying to sleep would be a huge luxury.

I’d go business both ways and bribe the kids with a bit of cash to sit in economy 😂.

I would also do the return business for the overnight, however, sorry to disappoint but the lounge at Vancouver for BA is not that good. If you’re lucky and the flights are same time, you may (and I emphasise may) be able to use the super duper Cathay Pacific lounge if the Cathay lounge is open, however, even when it was open at same time as BA flight when we were there, only Qantas passengers were being permitted to use. Qantas must have held a special deal with Cathay that BA did/doesn’t have despite all part of One World Alliance. This was summer 2025.

The Cathay Pacific lounge at Vancouver is only open to BA passengers who are travelling in First

Agree with others. BA lounge at Heathrow isn’t worth it. Always very busy, difficult to find a seat, and the toilets are dreadful (@nd 5hats after queuing to use them. The B gates lounge is a bit quieter and cleaner. (Flew to Toronto last month and my gate was A)

on a long night flight I would make full use of the flat bed after a few glasses of champagne. If it’s BA you might get the Club Suites which are very nice.

enjoy your flight and your trip.