Back in 1929, the airline was founded by the Chilean Air Force Commodore Arturo Merino Benítez. Fast-forward a few decades to 2010, when the original airline finally merged with a Brazilian airline and formed the LATAM Airlines Group, it’s now the largest airline corporation in Latin America.

I had the pleasure of flying from Costa Rica to Peru with LATAM. They’re an efficient airline with tons of destinations in the Americas which makes them one of the best airlines to take while traveling in that part of the world.

My flight departed on time, and the staff was friendly and attentive. All in all, it was a seamless experience that left a good impression and was a great way to begin my journey in South America. 

Where You Can Fly LATAM 

Flying across Central and South America is affordable, thanks to LATAM. They serve 133 international destinations across 26 countries, in spots between North, Central, and South America, and Europe.

They also fly to Johannesburg, South Africa, Melbourne, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand.  

LATAM Lounges

If you’re someone who wants to relax in an exclusive lounge before your flight, LATAM has just the place. Currently, LATAM has five lounges of their own and other contracted lounges.

Those five lounges are in Santiago, Chile, Bogota, Colombia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Guarulhos, Brazil, and Miami, Florida. There are also dozens of third-party VIP lounges. 

To gain access to the LATAM Lounges, you need to hold one of the following: 

• LATAM Pass Black Signature membership: With this, you can enter a lounge with your family, plus one companion. When you’re on a partner airline, you can only enter with yourself and one companion.
• Black and Platinum membership: You can enter with one companion.
• Santander World Member: You can enter with a companion to the LATAM VIP Lounge in SCL airport (Chile).
• Premium Business or Premium Economy Ticket: Either of these boarding passes will unlock access to their lounges.

LATAM Pass

If you’re a frequent LATAM flyer, then signing up for the LATAM Pass might be a great idea.

Every time you fly on LATAM and associated airlines (Delta, Aero Mexico, Alaska, British Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar, SWISS, Virgin Atlantic), you’ll earn miles you can put towards future flights. 

Elite Membership

LATAM has an Elite membership with five different categories: Gold, Gold Plus, Platinum, Black, and Black Signature. Depending on your membership, you’ll receive different perks and benefits, including miles, Cabin Upgrade with segments, customer service, and more. 

You’ll earn an extra percentage of miles as a result of your membership for international flights: 

• Gold: 20%
• Gold Plus: 40%
• Platinum: 80%
• Black: 100% 
• Black Signature: 120%

My Experience Flying LATAM

The line for immigration and security at SJO airport in Costa Rica was long. I recommend arriving at least three hours before an international flight if you’re departing from that airport.

I don’t know if this is usually an issue at SJO, but I felt much better in having enough time. If I’d have arrived much later, it would’ve been pretty stressful. 

SJO is a nice airport with plenty of coffee, dining, and drinking options. Luckily, I found a delicious restaurant next to my gate called Malinche Restaurant, which served up one last Costa Rican meal before I boarded my flight. 

One of the downsides to flying LATAM was having to pay $57 for my carry-on bag. That wasn’t even for a checked bag! I didn’t want to risk getting charged at the gate, so I figured paying for it beforehand was the safest option. 

This flight had a 3-3 seat layout. It was a full flight, so I felt pretty cramped against the wall – but I was very grateful to have a window seat (anything but the middle!).

A window seat makes me feel as though I have a little more space if I can see outside, and although most of the flight was through the evening, as we departed Coat Rica I caught a beautiful sight of a rainbow. 

The flight was pretty barebones. There weren’t any charging ports, and there wasn’t any in-flight entertainment system. I spent most of the flight listening to my own music!

They did offer a pillow and blanket on every seat. LATAM also strives to be a more sustainable airline. The pillow and blanket were wrapped in a small piece of cardboard, and said “I replaced a plastic bag”. 

Halfway through the flight, they handed out a ham and cheese sandwich, a piece of chocolate, a portion of banana bread, and complimentary drinks.

Now for the big negative that may be a huge thumbs down for some of you. The aircraft offered only one bathroom for the entire economy section of the plane, which meant there was always a line to use the bathroom.

Usually, there are at least two bathrooms on flights to avoid this problem.

Once we arrived, immigration in Lima, Peru was fast – before I knew it, I was in an Uber and on my way to my Airbnb.

Meals on Board 

Because LATAM is a Latin American fleet, their cuisine reflects just that. I believe Latin America has some of the best food in the world.

Unfortunately my flight to Peru was so short, I didn’t get a full meal, only several very welcome snacks. You only get a full meal if you’re flying for 3-and-a-half hours or more. I’ll look forward to flying with them on a longer flight to trial their flight meals, and will be sure to update on here when I do!

LATAM’s sustainability practices are standout. On every flight, they try to use reusable or sustainable materials and reduce the amount of single-use plastic on board. I love this, and many airlines aren’t yet doing it as well as LATAM.

You know what else I love? LATAM values its local culture. So much so, its dishes are produced by female chefs from different places in Latin America.

Entertainment on Board 

Depending on which flight you are taking, LATAM may or may not offer in-flight entertainment. On my flight, there was no in-flight television, but on longer flights there is.

If you’re on a longer flight with onboard entertainment, LATAM have Disney+ movies and different premieres every single month. Some of them also offer free messaging and Wi-Fi plans. 

Checking a Bag 

I did not check a bag at the airport, nor did I have to check in with anyone at a desk. I checked into my flight the night before, paid $57 for a carry-on bag, and received a mobile boarding pass. 

LATAM charge different fees for checked bags. It depends if you’re flying domestically, within South America, between Central and South America, and so on. 

For example, between Central and South America, if you decide to check a bag 48 hours before a flight, they charge $50. Between 48 hours and 6 hours before the flight, they charge $65. Between 6 hours and 1 hour before the flight, they charge $80. 

Paying for Seats 

If you want to select your seat with an economy ticket, you can expect to pay anywhere from $9 to $20.

They also have the option to sit in a LATAM+ seat, which offers more space. You can comfortably stretch out your legs.

You’ll also get to board and disembark before everyone else on the plane, have 10 extra inches of legroom, and have a seat that reclines 40% more than a regular seat. There’s also an exclusive compartment to store your overhead bags. 

How to Book with LATAM

Booking a flight on the LATAM website is easy. After entering your departure airport, arrival airport, and intended dates of travel, the website will bring you to the next page, where you’ll be offered four different LATAM fares:

No matter what your budget is, LATAM has something to suit your budget. I usually go for the light fare when I’m traveling with only a carry-on, which is what I did from Costa Rica to Peru.

There’s a difference of $200 and more between the Basic and Premium Economy ticket prices.

Conclusion

LATAM makes traveling around North, Central, and South America easy, affordable, and fun. Their fleets are safe, the flight attendants are friendly, and they cover tons of destinations across several continents making traveling easy.

LATAM work hard on becoming a more sustainable flight with their reusable packaging and limited use of plastic.

Flying from Costa Rica to Peru was smooth, seamless, and worth the budget-friendly fare. We departed on time and arrived on time.

Even though the flight did not have in-flight entertainment or charging ports, it was still an enjoyable journey that got me to my destination comfortably and for a great price.  

Overall, LATAM offers a cost-effective way to travel around the Americas and several destinations around the world. With their delicious on-board Latin American cuisine, friendly staff, and stellar efficiency, they’re a great option whether you’re on a tight budget or looking to travel in style. 

The best way to explain this airline is that British Airways is the parent company, and this is a smaller branch of the BA brand. It flies solely out of London Gatwick Airport and initially serves 35 destinations, with views to expand.

I’ve found the EuroFlyer opening story really interesting. It’s a fascinating business strategy from British Airways, which aims to compete with Gatwick’s low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air. 

These budget airlines almost entirely dominate the European flight routes from London Gatwick. By opening the EuroFlyer as a subsidiary, British Airways can compete with those airlines by reducing its prices and costs without damaging its original brand image.

It’s pretty smart, isn’t it? In this guide, I’ll introduce you to BA EuroFlyer and everything you need to know before flying with this airline. It only opened in 2022, so there’s a lot to learn about.

What Is BA EuroFlyer? 

The most important thing to get your head around is who owns this airline. British Airways is the parent company, and it runs EuroFlyer as a special lower-cost service, specifically from London Gatwick Airport.

It is wholly owned, meaning only British Airways oversees this airline. 

A subsidiary company just means that it belongs to another company. In BA EuroFlyer’s case, this translates to being a bit of British Airways in miniature.

Even though BA EuroFlyer has its own name, it is essentially just British Airways — a key point, because it explains the almost identical experiences. 

Take the fare options, for example. You can expect a normal BA service, with Euro Traveller and Club Europe choices:

Euro Traveller

Euro Traveller is the economy option onboard, with complimentary water and snacks included. You get leather seats with headrests, with new seat designs rolling out gradually through aircraft as of May 2024.

There is the option for Wi-Fi access, although it’s worth noting you have to pay for this, which I found a bit irritating. 

In terms of baggage, each one includes a cabin and a handbag. The fact that BA EuroFlyer still sticks to BA’s generous luggage allowance really sets it apart from other airlines from Gatwick.

Ryanair and easyJet are especially known for slightly stingy luggage policies, so generous luggage at cheap rates with BA EuroFlyer is pretty enticing.

Club Europe

Club Europe is the Business option onboard, with premium check-in, lounges, and a gourmet meal and bar service included. The full meal is a nice touch, offering breakfast, afternoon tea, or dinner. 

The seats are almost identical to those in Euro Traveller, the only difference being that the middle seats are always left empty. This means you are guaranteed either an aisle or a window seat and just that extra space. The middle seat is either left empty or has a table on top. 

The main bonus of flying Club Europe is its lounge access beforehand. You don’t get the whole suite experience onboard, but you have more space, good food, and relaxation time beforehand.

What Routes Does BA EuroFlyer Serve? 

BA EuroFlyer operates all over Europe, specializing in short-haul flights. You can fly to all sorts of destinations, including ski break destinations like Geneva or Turin. 

You can also catch winter sun getaways in places like Lanzarote, and come spring and summer, dozens of beach holidays. There are perfect summer routes to Corfu, Mykonos, Agadir, and Morocco.

I was impressed by the variation in BA EuroFlyer’s routes. There’s enough diversity to ensure that it can operate with different holiday themes (winter sun, snow activities, spring city breaks, and summer beach holidays) all year round.

The airline also continually adds to its routes, so keep your eyes peeled for updates. 

What Does BA EuroFlyer Mean For Points Collecting? 

The good news is that BA EuroFlyer makes absolutely no difference to how you usually collect Avios and Tier Points. You’ll continue to clock them up in the usual way.

Since the airline is basically just a mini version of British Airways, there’s no difference in the passenger experience when collecting points. 

Obviously, the usual rules apply. You’ll earn more flying in Business than in Economy, a rule that applies to Tier Points and Avios. 

I guess it’s also important to note that since BA EuroFlyer solely operates short-distance flights, the average earnings will naturally be lower than those of longer flights. With shorter flights, you’re also less likely to incorporate stopovers, so you don’t get to boost point earnings there.

Of course, you’d find these limiting factors across most of BA’s short-haul fleet anyway. It’s something to generally remember when maximizing your points with BA.

EuroFlyer Vs BA’s Existing Short Haul Fleet

Quite frankly, there is not a lot of difference between EuroFlyer and BA’s existing short haul fleet. The main difference between them is just the name ‘EuroFlyer’.

EuroFlyer is associated with lower prices, although spokespeople for the airline vehemently deny being ‘low-cost’ — a subtle difference in quality associations, I guess. 

BA EuroFlyer is officially a subsidiary company, meaning it is owned wholly by British Airways but functions under its own name. It is a bit of an experiment and was cooked up over COVID-19 as the realization hit that London Gatwick was seriously not profitable.

Only opening in 2022, it is still very much in its early days and could go in many different directions regarding creative vision and success.

BA’s existing short-haul fleet goes by the names Euro Traveller (economy) or Club Europe (business). The service is identical, with the same classes and inclusions; it just has different prices and flies from airports all over Europe, while EuroFlyer flies just London Gatwick. 

In summary, these are the main differences between EuroFlyer and BA’s existing short-haul fleet:

• EuroFlyer only operates out of London Gatwick, while BA’s short-haul fleet is Europe-wide.
• EuroFlyer is a subsidiary company, while BA’s short-haul fleet is part of the original main company.
• EuroFlyer is new from 2022, while BA’s short-haul fleet has operated since the 1980s.
• EuroFlyer’s prices are lower on average than BA’s usual short-haul rates. However, critics say there have been more operational cost cuts than fare drops.

What’s probably equally impactful to know is their similarities; I mean, just look at how identical they are:

• The same aircraft are used in EuroFlyer and BA’s short-haul fleet.
• The same fare classes are available, with the exact same inclusions.
• You can still collect Avios and Status Tier Points in the exact same way.
• Even the onboard staff still wear the same uniforms.

Why Does BA Create Subsidiaries? 

I’ve already touched upon the story behind BA EuroFlyer’s creation, but in this section, I’ll really give you all the juicy details. Did you know that British Airways has two subsidiary airlines – BA EuroFlyer and BA CityFlyer? 

While BA EuroFlyer flies to and from London Gatwick, BA CityFlyer uses London City Airport as a base.

The main difference is that EuroFlyer mainly uses Airbus planes (six seats split in two by a single aisle), while BA CityFlyer uses regional planes (four seats split in two by a single aisle). These airlines operate under the total control of British Airways but with different names.

The question that begs is, why bother? Especially when considering how similar the subsidiary airlines are to British Airways. 

There are a few layers when answering this question, so I’ll split it into sections:

To Cut Costs

The first thing to consider is that British Airways took a real hit over COVID-19. The airline was making insanely lower profits, so cutting operational costs with subsidiaries was a real solution. 

Subsidiaries are a smart business decision. When you open a new company, you can cut unnecessary costs. By improving operational efficiency, you can make the overall business model more profitable and sustainable in the long term. 

For instance, running short-haul British Airways flights from London Gatwick Airport wasn’t profitable. By opening BA EuroFlyer, British Airways has a chance to completely re-organize and optimize operations.

To Compete With Dominating Airlines

British Airways was struggling to compete against Gatwick’s low-cost airlines. As a short-haul carrier, it offered higher prices to the same destinations; you can see why people opted out and chose other airlines. 

Airlines like Ryanair and easyJet were dominating London City Airport and London Gatwick Airport. By creating subsidiary airlines BA EuroFlyer and BA Cityflyer, British Airways was attempting to better target customers in a competitive market without changing BA as an entirety.

Whether or not it works long term, we shall see. However, by providing similarly priced flights through subsidiary airlines, British Airways can compete without sacrificing its main brand image. Speaking of which…

Keeping Brands Separate

Opening subsidiaries protects the main brand image of British Airways. The airline opened in 1919 (originally Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited), making it over 100 years old. 

The British Airways brand image has been carefully curated and nurtured over the past century. The last thing you’d want to do is risk the consistency of your brand by making changes to your leading company and operations. 

By diversifying and opening subsidiary airlines, British Airways has put a small barricade between itself and these changes. This keeps its original associations and values while developing a new branch of experiences and branding.

The Criticism & What People Are Saying

I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t tell you the full story. If you’re considering flying with BA EuroFlyer, you need the warts-and-all version. 

The main criticism is that there isn’t much of a price difference between BA EuroFlyer and the main BA flights.

Initially, BA EuroFlyer advertised flights at around $40, intending to price match low-cost competitors. However, people have quickly taken to flight search tools and found that EuroFlyer often matches standard BA prices. 

Of course, if that’s the case, it begs the question of what the real difference is and whether a subsidiary creation was justified from a consumer perspective. If you listen to the most ferocious critics, they argue that it was entirely born out of necessity and industry survival. 

This is definitely something to keep in mind. Of course, if you are looking to fly from London Gatwick or London City Airport specifically, it won’t make too much of a difference.

Just don’t choose the airline only for low prices, and if budget is important to you, compare competitor options. If anything, all this just reasserts that flying with BA EuroFlyer isn’t a different experience from flying with BA short haul.

I don’t really see a strong negative to this. Just do your own due research beforehand and make the most of extra flight connections from Gatwick.

British Airways Fleet Types: 4 Ways To Fly

While we are on the topic of British Airways’ subsidiaries, it’s a great time to cover the different British Airways fleet types. Which travel type you experience all depends on where you fly from and where you fly to.

British Airways varies its travel experiences based on travel distance and airport of departure. 

For instance, if you fly from London Gatwick, you can fly with BA EuroFlyer. If you fly from London City Airport, you have the option of flying with BA Cityflyer.

If you fly long haul, you’ll go with World Traveller/Club World. In short haul, you’ll go with Euro Traveller/Club Europe.

There are four main categories that you should know about when flying with British Airways and its airlines. I’ll introduce you to each one now.  

1. BA’s Short Haul Fleet

British Airways has a whole fleet dedicated to flying short haul around Europe. This fleet offers an entirely different experience to flying long haul.

Euro Traveller and Club Europe are the two main classes on British Airways’ short haul fleet. This special fleet consists predominantly of A320, A321, and A319s. These planes typically carry up to 170 passengers and have a single aisle, with two lots of three-seat rows. 

You can choose between flying in economy, which is Euro Traveller. When flying in BA’s short haul fleet, economy includes a snack, a bottle of water, and a carry-on bag with additional personal items. 

Alternatively, you can fly Club Europe, which is business class on this fleet. As mentioned, this includes premium check-in, a gourmet meal and bar service onboard, and lounge access before your flight.

The seats aren’t suites, but they leave an empty middle seat, often covered by an extra table, to guarantee more space.

2. BA’s Long Haul Fleet

Of course, British Airways also has a long haul fleet. This offers an entirely different experience to the European fleet, with many more inclusions and fare options. 

British Airways’ long haul fleet uses a mixture of Airbus A350, A380, and Boeing 777 and 787s. Its planes all feature twin aisles, and some are double-decker designs (we are looking at you, Airbus A380s).

I really favor BA’s long haul fleet, mostly because of its excellent safety record — I can be a little paranoid about booking flights with new airlines. But I also like the inclusions and onboard experience.

You can book the following fare classes:

• Economy
• Premium Economy
• Business Class
• First Class

These are roughly split into World Traveller for the Economy fares, which include one or two full meals, depending on the flight duration. You also get a personal entertainment screen with a headset, a personal blanket, and a pillow.

Club World is for business and above fares. In Business Class, you get lounge access, a private suite that converts into a flatbed, and a gourmet menu to choose from.

First Class is even more elaborate, with loungewear and an amenity bag to enjoy in a private suite and luxury lounges beforehand.

BA EuroFlyer

BA EuroFlyer is the subsidiary option for lower-priced flights, specifically from London Gatwick Airport. You can use BA EuroFlyer to travel all around Europe, with nearly 40 different connections around the region. 

This fleet uses a mixture of Airbus A320 and A321s, running a near-enough experience identical to British Airways’ short-haul flights. You can still choose from Euro Traveller and Club Europe. 

The only thing that sets BA EuroFlyer aside is its eye-catching low prices and Gatwick-specific departure point. The airline opened in 2022 and is a relatively new enterprise under the BA brand umbrella.

BA Cityflyer

BA Cityflyer is the other subsidiary option when flying specifically from London City Airport. Like EuroFlyer, Cityflyer is known for its slightly lower prices and was intended to rival low-cost airlines at LCY.

Unlike EuroFlyer, though, this airline uses regional planes — primarily the Embraer 190.

If you fancy a more regional experience with British Airways, BA Cityflyer is your only real chance to do so. Its planes offer just four seats per row, divided into pairs by a single aisle. 

This airline operates UK domestic routes as well as connections with Europe. You can fly to destinations in Malaga, Faro, Berlin, and Edinburgh. It connects London City Airport fantastically with the wider European region with a network of great short haul flights.

To Summarize: Flying With BA EuroFlyer 

Hopefully, you now feel confident booking a flight with BA EuroFlyer. I’ve got to emphasize that this airline is more a business strategy than a massively different offering. You won’t experience much difference from flying with BA’s Euro Traveller or Club Europe.

If you are based near London Gatwick, flying with BA EuroFlyer is potentially a way to save some money. The airline purposely runs cheaper flights than its parent company.

BA EuroFlyer’s main edge over its competitors, like Ryanair and easyJet, is its luggage allowance and fare options. 

You can fly Business and get a generous cabin bag —- which hugely differs from the boarding experience with the other two.

I’ve found that flying with Ryanair and easyJet makes the boarding experience pretty stressful. It feels like boarding staff are constantly breathing down your neck trying to find overweight luggage.

It’s alright if you’re looking to get somewhere fast and cheap, but there’s undoubtedly a market for more comfortable short-haul travel. 

Flying with British Airways feels much more relaxing. It feels like a win-win now that EuroFlyer has matched the general price levels.

The only potential limiter is that it operates only out of London Gatwick, and the jury is still out on whether it actually keeps ticket prices low and remains different enough. It will be interesting to see its profitability and future long-term. Let’s keep an eye, shall we?

Despite my lame impression of a Tom Cruise Mission Impossible-style run through Dubai airport to make my connection, I did indeed make the flight departing Dubai to London Heathrow to allow me to bring you this Emirates A380 First Class review.

First Impressions

As I was rather hurriedly connecting flights, I unfortunately didn’t have time to access the Emirates First Class Lounge. So my first impression when I ran onto the plane as pretty much the last passenger to board, was that I was definitely the last First Class passenger to board.

I had started my journey in Bali, which is renowned for having poor airport lounges and has no dedicated Emirates lounge (read my Bali Lounge review here) – and as Emirates do not offer a First Class service from Bali, I had travelled Business Class up until this point.

This was my first Emirates A380 First Class experience. Despite sweating, being horrendously out of breath and stressed because I was convinced I wasn’t going to make this flight due to a 3-hour delay at Bali, I was bowled over by the welcome.

A very personable greeting by my flight attendant and the immediate offer of champagne (or any other drink I wanted), a hot towel (although at this stage I really wanted a cold one), and then being shown to my suite, the first impression was exactly what I had expected – opulence.

First really is a big step up from Business.

The privacy afforded by the sliding doors, the attentiveness of the staff who are with you within seconds of hitting the call button, and of course the large bathrooms – this had the makings of a very comfortable final leg of my trip home.

There was a sting in the tail end of this story, which I will get to later – but for now, everything was pure bliss as my heart rate lowered back to it’s normal resting range.

Pre-Departure

Despite my rushing to catch the plane (it was at final call before I disembarked my preceding flight), we had time for three glasses of champagne prior to take-off.

I asked for one, and the free-pouring flight attendant just kept topping me up as soon as he noticed I was nearing empty.

The Dom Pérignon 2013 might not be the 2003 vintage that we used to see on Emirates, but at around $230 per bottle and a good year for the brand, it is still a very enjoyable sip.

I spent most of my time getting comfortable in my suite, which has ample space to keep your carry-on bag, as well as an array of snacks and drinks to keep you going during take-off and landing.

I also took this time to inspect the Bvlgari toiletries bag. This gifted a generous 30ml Bvlgari Le Gemme Gyan Eau de Parfum worth over $100, aftershave balm, emulsion, cleansing towel, razor, shaving foam, dental kit, deodorant, tissues, and a hairbrush.

Between swigs of champagne, I also checked out the Emirates pajamas, and got myself familiar with the ports and plugs for all my charging needs.

Before we took off, I was also asked when I’d like to take my shower. I opted for 90 minutes prior to landing. They also asked if I’d like my food straight after take-off. This was my preference, as it was a nighttime flight.

Main Service

I opted for skipping the breakfast options and went straight for the caviar (with all the trimmings) to start, followed by the mezze as my actual starter, and the spiced lamb with rice as my main.

I was asked if I wanted a foie gras amuse-bouche, which was hard to turn down – so the food was already flowing thick and fast.

In fact, if there’s one criticism of most First Class services, it’s that there’s simply too much food.

Anyway – the amuse-bouche was delicious, as was the mountain of caviar that I was presented with. I polished off the blinis and some of the melba toasts that accompanied it, and moved on to the mezze.

The mezze was my first mistake. I mean it was delicious, but it was a meal in itself. Even the flight attendant commented that it was a lot of food as he cleared my half-full plates.

Then came the lamb, which was slow-cooked, plentiful, and simply delicious. I had a glass of the Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Louis Latour 2012, which retails at around $200 per bottle. This was a very large glass as you will see from my photographs, but was very enjoyable (if not to my taste completely).

What I love about the First Class experience with Emirates is that you can have what you want, when you want. I decided after the meal that I’d change into my pajamas, check out the lie-flat seat, and grab a few hours’ sleep.

The Bathroom

Before heading to my slumber, I visited the bathroom to change. This was perhaps the most impressive part of the whole experience for me. Having ample space to change into pajamas without feeling like you are performing some sort of contortion act is a real luxury at 40,000 feet.

The bathroom is even more spacious than I’d imagined after watching plenty of videos showing it. It is well kitted-out with a range of amenities, and has towels and additional toiletries should you need them.

Now you might think it would be too decadent to put a heated floor in the bathroom of an airplane, but that’s exactly what you get here. And when changing into your nightwear just before bed, that heated floor is just the ticket to help you feel relaxed.

More on the shower later… I headed back to my suite for a slumber.

Lie-Flat Seat

Back at the suite and I had made my bed lie flat. I have read that often the attendants will have made your bed for you, but as I hadn’t indicated to them that I was changing into my night clothes, they probably didn’t know to do this.

Anyway, I promptly made my seat lie flat with the touch of a button, and placed my mattress in place. I decided not to use the hefty blanket that was provided, as I was still quite warm – and on the previous flight I had been too hot when sleeping.

The difference between Business and First when it comes to the lie-flat seat is vast. This experience was as close as I have ever come to feeling 100% comfortable and as though I am in a real bed while flying.

What makes the experience even better is the sliding door to give you almost complete privacy. I closed the door, put my belt on, and went to sleep.

I slept for around 3 hours – which is a little less than I’d intended, but I’d already had around 2.5 hours’ sleep on my 9-hour flight from Bali to Dubai, so I was happy overall with that.

More Service

Upon waking, I pressed the call button and within 10 seconds the attendant appeared. I didn’t fancy breakfast or any of the other on-demand dining options, so asked for a cup of tea. I was promptly presented with a pot of tea and a selection of chocolates and biscuits.

All of which were delicious and some of which I saved to take home.

At this point I was gearing up for my in-flight shower, so used the supplied Emirates bag to pop my clothes into, and was promptly escorted to the bathroom by one of the attendants.

Emirates A380 Shower

The flight attendant offered to show me how everything worked in the bathroom – although it’s all very self-explanatory.

You get five minutes of hot water in the shower itself, but you can switch this on and off as required. They didn’t explicitly tell me how long I could spend in the bathroom, but I’m guessing around 25-30 minutes would be the limit.

Either way, I didn’t need anywhere near as long as that and was done within 15 minutes.

There is a helpful monitor that shows you how much hot water you have remaining, and this automatically shuts off at 25% remaining – just in case you are getting carried away, I suppose.

The heated floor is a lovely touch, the shower itself is pretty powerful – I’ve certainly had worse on the ground – and overall, this is a fantastic way to start or end your flight.

I was really glad to have chosen the end of the flight for my shower, as after two long flights I arrived at Heathrow feeling refreshed.

The array of a VOYA toiletries and a fresh towel are placed in the bathroom for you when you take your shower. I didn’t use any of these, but I am sure they are all great.

There are also extra dental kits, shaving kits, cotton buds and shower caps should you need them.

Having space to dry off in the large bathroom and dressing with space to swing several cats (although not advised) is a joy. Then, it was back to my seat for some pre-landing treats.

Pre-Landing & Exiting

As I hadn’t ordered any more food, I was presented with some fresh fruits and a mint tea. All very pleasant and pretty refreshing considering it was now early morning local time (around 6.30am).

I was also offered more chocolates (which I decided to take home for the kids), the pre-landing clean-up had commenced, and we were very quickly on the ground.

There was an issue at Heathrow with the airbridge, so it took a good 15 minutes to leave the plane. First Class of course were first off, and the attendants were holding back the hoards of Business Class passengers who were almost fighting to exit.

Not the best experience at the end of the flight, but not something that Emirates could really do much about, I guess.

An Unfortunate End

Upon arriving at the luggage collection, it soon became evident that only a handful of people had their luggage. Due to the floods in Dubai, Emirates seemingly prioritized boarding passengers and not the luggage – as there were around 100-150 people without any luggage.

This might not have been a massive issue if there had been adequate staff to deal with the reporting of lost luggage – but this wasn’t the case.

To cut a long story short, I manage to fill in a form and hand it in (this took around 45 minutes) and my luggage arrived three days later to my house.

Although not all of this was Emirates’ fault, they are not off the hook entirely.

As mentioned, the airport staff was lacking at baggage claim – but there were zero Emirates staff at their desk on exit.

Emirates have a chauffeur lounge at Heathrow, where you can meet your chauffeur to drive you home. This was being renovated, so I was told by one of the builders to go to the desk opposite – but there was no-one there.

Luckily, my rather abrupt chauffeur had called me and told me where to meet him. He wasn’t easy to find, but I located him eventually and the journey home was swift.

Not a great ending to what was otherwise an exceptional flight and terrific experience.

I decided to treat myself and upgrade the flight to Business Class, meaning I’d get to experience flying in Club Europe for the first time. 

Flying in Business Class for a short haul flight with British Airways is completely different from flying Business Class in long haul. British Airways primarily uses smaller planes with just a single aisle for their short-haul flights, meaning less room for traditional Business Class suites.

So I was intrigued by what the difference would be and, moreover, whether it was still even worth flying Business with BA’s Euro Traveller fleet.

Chances are you’ve already seen the criticism floating around about the seat situation. It is a point of controversy. 

In this guide, I’ll run you through exactly what there is to know about flying Business with BA Euro Traveller. You’ll get straight definitions, an overview of how the short-haul fleet differs, and a tell-all review of my experience.

You’ve come to the right place for a warts-and-all take on whether or not you should book Club Europe seats on your next flight.

What Is BA Euro Traveller?

Let’s be crystal clear about this: BA Euro Traveller is a special British Airways fleet dedicated to short-haul flights. Since BA operates out of London, Euro Traveller serves flights around Europe.

As a short-haul fleet, Euro Traveller only provides Economy and its own version of Business Class. However, its inclusions are the same as World Traveller’s: onboard dining, pre-flight lounge access, fast-track security, and an extra luggage allowance. 

World Traveller is BA’s long-haul fleet and operates flights worldwide to places like America, Australia, and Asia. It uses a different fleet, purpose-built for longer journeys and carrying more passengers.

As such, the World Traveller fleet has more room than Euro Traveller for onboard suites and fancier Business and First Class experiences. 

It’s worth reiterating. The main thing to remember about flying long-haul with BA versus flying short haul is that you’ll use different fleets:

Euro Traveller

A short-haul fleet of mostly A320s offering economy seats and an adapted version of business class.

World Traveller

A long-haul fleet of A350s or Boeing 777s offering economy, business, and first-class seating.

My Experience Flying In Business Class With BA Euro Traveller

I started my return journey from George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD), checking in online around 24 hours before at my hotel.

While flying is usually an inflight experience, the main benefit of flying Club Europe is that it makes the pre-departure experience more of an experience. Things like checking in and waiting to board are much more enjoyable. 

I jumped out of the Uber and walked straight into the departure hall, where my Euro Traveller status for today gave me eligibility for fast-track security.

This was a real benefit, and kind of set the tone for a more relaxing pre-flight experience. You just scan your boarding pass as usual and get waved straight through. 

In reality, you save yourself around 10-15 minutes. But the real draw is the calmer atmosphere. There’s less frantic scrambling and more leisurely scanning and repacking of items. 

I didn’t bother checking any baggage for the flight, as I was only in Belfast for a couple of days. So, I just sent my cabin bag through security as normal before emerging into Duty-Free.

One of the best parts about flying Club Europe is that you get lounge access. At BHD, this means access to the Aspire Lounge, located by Gate 4.

The entrance process was breezy; I just walked up and met a very pleasant lady who scanned my boarding pass to establish my complimentary entry.

I spent three hours in the Belfast City Aspire Lounge, enjoying a quieter workspace with a buffet and unlimited drinks included. Having that lounge time really sets you up for a more relaxed flight, and it’s a real bonus that it’s included on short haul, not just long-haul Business fares.

Boarding & In-Flight Experience

When it’s time to board the plane, you get priority boarding with Euro Club status. This means limited queuing, especially since most A320s only have 7 rows in Business Class – translating to a maximum of around 28 passengers.

This was my first glimpse of the seat layout. I put my cabin bag in the locker overhead and squeezed past the tabled middle seat. 

I can see why some people would be miffed. These seats do just look like Economy seats (they actually are the same seat), just with a table wedged into the middle seat. It reminded me a little of flying back from Sydney during COVID-19; I’d had a row to myself because nobody else was flying. 

In essence, you are paying for the luxury of having no immediate neighbor and avoiding sitting in the middle. Of course, if you’ve experienced either of those things, you’ll know this is certainly an advantage.

It’s a pretty comfortable setup, but definitely an adaptation of Business Class rather than what you’d typically envision as traditional Business Class.

This is by far the biggest difference between Euro Traveller’s and World Traveller’s Business Class experiences. However, you can see why BA offers this short haul, as the A320 is just too narrow to offer suites in a financially viable way.

This is arguably better than just four seats per row, too; otherwise, you’d always get a neighbor.

Overall, the seats are comfortable. The charging ports are in front of you, and they whirr into action when the seatbelt lights turn off after take-off. The tray seat is pretty handy, too.

The only slight disappointment was the lack of onboard entertainment. The Wi-Fi (presented via QR code) also cost, which seemed cheeky given that we’d already paid for the Business Class.

Luckily, the food service whirred almost immediately into action to distract me from this bugbear.

The seat belts are barely off before the crew begins making food service preparations. Today’s menu includes afternoon tea with vegetarian or meat dishes. I choose the vegetarian option and a glass of champagne.

I was pleasantly impressed by the service, which squeezed a rapid fine dining experience into an immensely short flight. I had been a bit dubious about the afternoon tea as well, but while it was a little low in quantity, the food quality was excellent.

I particularly liked the tangy miniature roll, which was packed with goat’s cheese. The scone was good, too, served piping hot with clotted cream and strawberry jam. With a melt-in-your-mouth-style glass of champagne to match, this part definitely felt like a Business Class experience. 

As we ate, the crew came back, offering top-ups of champagne and hot drinks. I had around 15-20 minutes to eat leisurely before we began descending into London.

The crew had this down to a fine art, and miraculously, just 10 minutes before landing, all our empty plates were whisked away. The onboard service was honestly fantastic. It’s amazing how clockwork the process is, and this and the pre-departure experience make Business Class short-haul worthwhile. 

After we landed, we got priority disembarking. There’s no security or immigration when traveling domestically, so I just whizzed out past baggage reclaim anyway. 

However, if you were flying internationally, you can see why this would be a draw. We all know how frustrating it is to arrive at immigration and find a 30-minute queue because you were last off the plane.

My Takeaway: Is It Worth It?

I’d say that flying in BA Euro Traveller’s Business Class is worthwhile.

Level your expectations, as you won’t get a glitzy suite or any fancy seats onboard. However, given the fact BA uses single-aisle planes, you can totally understand why the seating is the way it is. 

What made it worthwhile for me was that smooth pre-departure experience. Having lounge access, fast-track security, and priority boarding really lulls you into the flight. Instead of being thrust into chaos, you get to indulge in flying as a luxury. 

Similarly, the onboard experience helped to pass the time more enjoyably. The staff were lovely, and the service felt intimate since there were less than 20 passengers in my flight’s Business section.

The fine dining-style experience definitely upped the tone of the flight; just tasting that goat’s cheese and sipping champagne makes you appreciate the experience for what it is. 

Overall, flying Business Class with Euro Traveller is great if you need a relaxing experience rather than a hectic flight. It forces you to be more mindful while taking stressors off your plate for you.

And while it might not be your ‘typical Business Class experience’, it’s certainly enjoyable.

Would I recommend spending your hard-earned Avios on short-haul BA Reward Flights or Club Europe upgrades? Probably not. You wouldn’t get the same value from the experience as you would with World Traveller. 

However, if you happen to see modestly priced Business tickets short haul (they only tend to be a couple of hundred in difference), I’d wave the green flag to treat yourself. Better yet, book them on an Avios-earning credit card to maximize your Avios earnings.

To Conclude: Flying In Business With BA Euro Traveller

I believe everyone should experience flying in Business with BA Euro Traveller once. It is a different version of the stereotypical Business Class experience. And if you fancy some luxury short haul in Europe, it’s by far your best option.

Not many airlines offer Business Class flights on short-haul fleets around Europe. British Airways definitely holds the market for that. For a whistle-stop business class experience, BA Euro Traveller ticks the box.

Did you know that Airbus introduced the A320 in 1984? That makes this small yet reliable aircraft over 40 years old.

It is a real backbone of the short- to mid-haul flight industry and is used by other airlines such as United Airlines and Spirit Airlines. If you’re flying Business short haul, chances are you’ll find yourself on an A320. 

For the sake of this article, though, we’ll focus on flying on the A320 with British Airways. The A320s at British Airways have that classic layout, with two sets of three seats, making up six seats across, broken up by a single aisle. 

Hold fire if you are weighing up whether to take the plunge and book a Business Class experience on an A320.

I’ll give you a rundown of my experience with British Airways and what you can generally expect from this aircraft type. I’ll pool all the facts together for you so that you can make the best call for you.

The Layout Of An Airbus A320

Now that you have a general idea of what A320s are all about, let’s take a more detailed look at their most typical layout.

After all, if you’re paying or upgrading to Business Class, you’ll want to know what you’ll experience for your money. Personally, I like to get a sneak peek before flying as well, so you aren’t alone there. 

An Airbus A320 holds between 140 and 170 passengers when offering Business Class seating. It has twin engines and, as you know, was officially launched in 1984.

An Airbus A320 offers Business and Economy seating, meaning no First Class – book long haul for that. The exact number of Business Class seats per row may vary per airline.

However, generally, with A320s there are 7 Business Class rows followed by 22 Economy rows.

A single aisle runs throughout the plane, with toilets at the front and back of the aircraft. Emergency exits are at the front and back, and two in the middle by the economy rows 10 to 12.

When it comes to food service, there are two food preparation areas: one at the front and one at the back. The one at the front typically only serves Business Class, while the one at the back is responsible for the Economy seating.

The two fare areas are divided by curtains drawn once the aircraft is stabilized in the air.

My Experience Flying BA Business Class In An A320

I’m really familiar with the A320 aircraft, as I grew up in Europe, and it’s by far the most popular plane for short-haul travel.

When flying around Europe, you are never more than 4 or 5 hours away from your next destination, usually only a couple at maximum.

This means that the A320 has historically ruled the skies and, to be honest, continues to do so. Nearly every European-serving airline has the A320 in its fleet.

In this particular experience, I flew from Belfast to London Heathrow on an A320 with British Airways. The pre-departure experience had all the typical Business Class inclusions, including fast-track security, access to Belfast City Airport’s Club Aspire Lounge, and priority boarding.

This is the overarching similarity between flying business in an A320 and other aircraft types —- the pre-departure inclusions obviously stay the same.

When it came to boarding, passengers were directed to front and back boarding. In Business Class, I was directed towards a boarding tunnel at the front.

BA’s seven-row Business Class configuration has six seats per row. However, as you can see in the picture below, the middle seats are blocked to give extra space. 

There’s some controversy about the set-up, saying that the seating is identical to that in the Economy, with the middle seat blocking a bit of a low-effort upgrade. However, I did like the extra space. 

It feels a bit like you got lucky with a half-empty plane. And on a short-haul flight, I think the A320 provides great space for Business Class, given its single-aisle size.

I also prefer this layout to having four seats per row and having to sit directly next to someone. Call me an introvert, but that personal space buffer feels worth its weight in gold.

Would it be better to have reclining flatbed seats or suites? Absolutely. However, I think the A320 is creative when it comes to making the most out of a smaller aircraft space.

It’s worth noting that there’s no onboard entertainment built into seats either; bring a book or connect to the Wi-Fi to work or relax as you fly. Chargers in each seat turn on once the seatbelt sign pings off overhead, so you can use your mobile without worrying about draining its battery.

The overhead luggage storage on the A320 is fairly standard (the official British Airways cabin bag guidance is 22 inches x 18 inches x 10 inches). There’s also more than enough room at your feet for a small bag I used for my laptop bag. 

Of course, when flying Business Class, you also tend to get complimentary checked luggage. British Airways offers 2 x 32 kg checked bags, but I was flying light for a weekend, so I stuck with a cabin bag and a laptop bag.

Luggage-wise, the A320 felt spacious, and with British Airways offering so much complimentary hold storage, you can see why. The overhead lockers were practically empty in Business, with most Business passengers simply checking luggage into the hold and bringing a handbag or laptop bag.

It wouldn’t be a Business Class experience without gourmet food, would it? While the food menu isn’t particularly A320-relevant, I will mention a few things about the food preparation area and service. 

Given the smaller cabin, with just 7 rows of Business Class slotted between the Economy curtain and the cockpit, you get a really intimate service experience. The A320 has food preparation areas at the front and back of the aircraft, which helps split things into two different experiences.

Since the front preparation area stewards were entirely dedicated to the Business Class seats, I found it a much more relaxing experience. It didn’t feel like the stewards were rushing through numbers, even though the clock was ticking with only an hour in the air from Belfast to London.

I even got to chat leisurely with a few stewards, and they had the chance to pause and give genuine recommendations for drinks and food options. Having that smaller area made for a more positive dining experience, so that’s a big tick for A320 and its pocket-size Business seat compartment.

Finally, disembarking was equally positive, with passengers leaving from the front and back of the plane. Business passengers were off in less than a minute.

This was helped by only having 28 Business seats and by the fact that only a few people had even bothered with the overhead lockers, thanks to the complimentary hold policy.

To Conclude: Flying In A320 Business Class

Flying in Business Class on an A320 is undoubtedly a more intimate experience. You have a much smaller cabin than you find on long-haul aircraft like the Boeing 777s, with just a single aisle and creatively adjusted seating to maximize space.

Given that the A320 is a short- to mid-haul carrier, you also naturally spend less time in the air. 

It is much more tailored to dining than sleeping (with no reclining chairs or suites), but that makes sense. You wouldn’t expect to prioritize sleeping reclined on a three-hour flight.

Instead, you get a gourmet meal and somewhere comfortable to work on your laptop or read.

I’d say that you should definitely level your expectations flying Business Class on an A320. You’ll have a jolting shock if you waltz in expecting twin aisles and spacious suites.

However, when you do your research, you can appreciate the experience for what it is — an intimate type of Business Class experience on a smaller short-haul plane. 

I’ve spent the last couple of months researching ahead of an upcoming long-haul flight to Miami with British Airways. I’d love to get bumped up a class for the trip. The problem is, I’m not the sort of person who feels comfortable asking for anything — let alone an expensive upgrade. 

A lot of advice on scoring upgrades is along the lines of “complain about something trivial and then ask for an upgrade to compensate”. One article even mentioned bringing a present for the airline staff, which seems a little transparent and icky. 

If you’re in the same boat as me and feel uncomfortable with either of these methods, don’t worry. In this guide, I’ll run over some more subtle ways to increase your chance of an upgrade with British Airways. 

I’ll cover all the recommended tips and tricks (with a few icky cliches for good measure), as well as ways you can guarantee yourself an upgrade independently. Extrovert or introvert, these are the best British Airways flight upgrade tricks.

What Upgrades Can You Get With British Airways? 

First, let’s establish what upgrades are actually possible with British Airways. There’s no point jumping on a Euroflyer (British Airways’ short-haul fleet) and trying to bag a first-class upgrade, because it doesn’t exist. We’ve got to set realistic expectations. 

British Airways has different fleets for different route lengths, predominantly Euroflyer and World Traveller. These planes have different classes and inclusions, so your upgrade will vary depending on which one you are flying with. 

I’d recommend looking into this to set realistic expectations and see if it’s worth using your Avios to upgrade. Sometimes, it might be worth holding off your Avios for a long-haul flight rather than a short-haul if you want the proper upgrade experience. 

Here’s what you should know. 

Euroflyer Upgrades

Euroflyer is the British Airways flight dedicated to short-haul journeys — think European flights, like London to Barcelona or London to Nice. Euroflyer services nearly 40 destinations and is a great option if you stay in a major European capital.

Euroflyer has two classes, with the following inclusions:

1. Euro Traveller (Economy)

Euro Traveller is the lowest class when flying with Euroflyer. You get a complimentary bottle of water and a snack and can buy extra food and beverages onboard. 

You can opt for additional booking levels of Economy Basic, Economy Plus, and Economy Plus Flex.

However, these economy tiers just give you access to refunds and more luggage allowance. It isn’t really worth paying extra for if you want to invest in an in-flight upgrade experience.

2. Club Europe (Business Class)

Club Europe is the highest class you can fly in with Euroflyer. It has the same seating as Euro Traveller (a point of slight controversy), but the middle seat is kept free with additional table space, so you have more room and privacy during the flight.

You also get an included meal of breakfast, afternoon tea, or dinner.

The benefits of upgrading to Club Europe include:

• Access to business class lounges
• Fast-track security at London airports
• Special check-in desks
• Priority boarding
• Extra baggage allowance
• A meal rather than a snack, with hot and cold drinks included

World Traveller Upgrades

World Traveller is British Airways long-haul fleet. It covers major routes like London to Sydney or London to Miami, and because of this, it has more class options onboard. 

These are the four you should remember:

1. World Traveller (Economy)

World Traveller is the lowest class you can fly with British Airways on long-haul flights. 

It is comfortable and affordable, with one or two meals included depending on the flight distance. You get a private flat screen with headphones, plenty of films, and onboard entertainment.

Luggage-wise, you get 23kg with the Economy standard. 

2. World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy)

World Traveller Plus is a step up from World Traveller. The main bonus is fewer rows in the cabin, meaning a quieter and more spacious experience. You also get a guarantee of two meals, no matter the flight length. 

It’s definitely worth the upgrade for a more peaceful flight, and you earn more Avios and Status Points on Premium Economy flights. 

3. Club World (Business Class)

Club World has seats that convert into flat beds and you get cozy bedding to really settle in for your flight.

The food and drink allowance is generous, too, with a starter, main, dessert, and cheese. You can choose from a variety of hot and cold drinks — both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

That’s not all; you also get access to lounges prior to boarding, which typically include complimentary food and drink. The pre-boarding experience is further streamlined with priority check-in and boarding.

Club World is where you really start to see the ‘upgrade experience’, and I’d recommend aiming for this level.

4. First

First class is the highest fare you can travel with World Traveller. It is quintessentially British, with complimentary Temperley London loungewear and Elemis skincare products provided.

You get your own private suite with a seat that turns into a flatbed. Flying First Class with British Airways is the creme de la creme of taking to the skies on a commercial flight.

There’s fine dining onboard with a range of complimentary fine beverages. And just the experience of having your own miniature suite is worth the upgrade alone. 

If you want to aim for the stars, First Class is the upgrade to bag. It offers the most privacy and a real luxury experience. 

Why Would Airlines Offer Upgrades? 

Airlines don’t just offer upgrades from the goodness of their own hearts. Actually, offering too many upgrades can damage the airline’s reputation, which is why an empty seat doesn’t guarantee anyone a spot.

Firstly, dishing out upgrades can make it hard to justify premium pricing to those who’ve already booked upgraded seats when Economy ticket holders are getting free spaces at a cheaper rate.

It brings down the exclusive aspect, which is much of what classes are all about.

Secondly, it reduces the incentive to opt into loyalty programs and point building. Airlines would much rather be able to sell last-minute upgrades at a reduced rate to help make up any potential losses.

So why would airlines such as British Airways ever offer upgrades? There are a few good reasons for them to:

Overbooking in lower cabins

A big reason is due to overbooking in lower cabins. If the Economy is absolutely packed with customers, especially too many customers, the airline may consider upgrading a passenger or two. 

In compensation

You may be upgraded if you are unfortunate enough to encounter a mishap on your flight, such as an airline-caused missed connection or lost luggage. 

To market new changes

There are rumors that airlines will upgrade more frequently when major cabin changes occur. This typically gives people a taste of the higher-fare cabins, making them more likely to splurge again.

So your chances for an upgrade are on the rise when the new British Airways seats roll out.

As goodwill gestures

Don’t feel too enthusiastic about this one – British Airways is not known for upgrading out of goodwill unless there’s a reason, like compensation.

This is more common amongst American airlines like United, who are known to upgrade frequent flyers on birthdays, or simply as a nice surprise if there are seats available. Generally, being offered a fight upgrade just because it’s your lucky day is less likely, but possible.

6 Recommended Ways To Bag An Update 

We’ve covered a lot there. I hope you’ve now got a general idea of what an upgrade with British Airways could look like, and an understanding of why the airline might offer an upgrade in the first place.

Now we’re fully briefed, I’ll take you through the six most recommended ways to bag an upgrade.

1. Be Tactical With Check-In

Did you know that the time you check in can impact your likelihood of getting an upgrade? I didn’t, but you can bet that I’ll be thinking about this moving forward. I’d typically check in the night before — very likely smack bang in the middle of the invisible line. 

But actually, you should either check in extremely late or very early.

If you check in really early, the admin staff are more likely to upgrade you in advance. As they already know where you are sitting and that you are checked in, you are in a smaller pool of the first upgrade candidates.

If you check in late, you may lose your spot if the flight is overbooked, which is incidentally great grounds to negotiate an upgrade or be offered one without asking.

Simply put, check in early to maximize your chances with admin staff, and check in late to maximize your chances with check-in staff.

2. Travel in Peak Times on Busy Routes

This is a crucial tactic when trying to get an upgrade. Overbooking is one of the biggest reasons British Airways upgrade their passengers. So, to maximize the chance of that happening, travel in peak times and on the busiest routes.

Peak times include school holidays, Fridays and Saturdays, especially for short-haul flights between typical business locations. The more likely a flight will be overbooked, the more chance you have of an upgrade.

3. Be Nice

Kindness should not have an ulterior motive. You’ll feel better for it (and less stressed in a busy environment) by being considerate to other passengers and airport staff alike.

And you never know when karma could swing into action. A smile and good, friendly manners at check-in cost nothing.

If a staff member has an upgrade up their sleeve, they’re never going to offer it to the rude and impatient passenger. This is particularly true when things go wrong, like lost baggage or delayed flights.

Patience and understanding go a long way in making your own experience that much better, and increase your chances of an appreciative staff member choosing you when a seat is available.

4. Travel Solo

Traveling solo is a another way you can improve your chances of upgrading. Upgrading one person is much more likely than four or even two. If you can travel by yourself, I’d suggest doing so.

Upgrading one person rather than a group is also much more subtle. British Airways is known to avoid elaborate upgrade announcements, especially since it dishes them out far less frequently than airlines like United.

The less attention it will draw to other passengers, the more likely the upgrade is.

5. Dress to Impress

Sometimes, first impressions actually do count. Nobody expects anyone to be catwalk-ready when heading to catch a flight, but it’s important to look put-together if you want an upgrade.

Remember that airlines won’t want you to stand out, as that attracts attention to someone getting upgraded for free while other higher-fare customers pay full price.

You should be able to blend perfectly into the general attire of someone already planning to fly Business or First Class.

6. Complain If Necessary, But With Discretion

Unnecessary or obnoxious complaining isn’t a good way to get in anyone’s good books. However, discreetly and politely speaking up if there is a genuine issue can be an excellent and fair way to get an upgrade.

For instance, if you have a real issue with a seat neighbor, you can approach an airline steward and explain the situation. It may be necessary for you to be moved or even upgraded.

Please remember that airport staff are very switched on to passengers conjuring up fake complaints. It doesn’t work, and will only make you look petty. If there’s a genuine issue, they’re there to help you, and it may involve a much better seat.

How Likely Are Flight Upgrades? 

The official stats say 1 in 5 people got upgraded across all airlines in the last two years. Of course, this covers many different upgrade policies, and British Airways won’t be as generous as other airlines.

However, that’s actually still a pretty high chance, and that stat doesn’t include the amount of people who upgrade through Avios. 

It isn’t like you are trying to get struck by lightning; getting an upgrade with British Airways is actually feasible.

A 20% upgrade rate in two years sounds good to me. You can also increase that chance even further by abiding by our tips and tricks, like dressing the part and traveling on tactical routes. 

How To Guarantee an Upgrade

If you’re anything like me, you prefer some things set in stone. Promotional sales and points are two ways to guarantee an upgrade without forking out the standard fare price.

This way, you won’t have to rely on remembering to smile when you’re actually quite stressed, or checking in at a time you wouldn’t usually, or strangely hoping for a nightmare seat neighbor to get that upgrade.

If you want to set out for the airport already knowing you have an upgrade waiting for you, these are your best two choices. 

1. Use Promotional Sales

Cabin upgrade sales often become available on the actual day of travel or occasionally the day before. You can ring before setting off to the airport or enquire at the check-in desk. You can also check online on your Manage Booking page. 

It runs on a first-come, first-serve basis, and it only runs when there are spaces that are actually free. You can buy an upgrade at a reduced price and get all the entitlements of the upgraded cabin, including lounge access.

It’s a great way to guarantee an upgrade if it’s available.

2. Upgrade With Avios

Upgrading with Avios is one of the main benefits of the British Airways reward program. By collecting Avios through things like credit cards, eligible flights, and hotel stays, you can quickly accrue a lot of reward currency.

One of the things you can redeem this currency on is flight upgrades. 

For instance, if you are flying in Economy Premium, you could use Avios to upgrade to Business Class. It’s a great way to get value for money. I’m saving all my Avios for this, as I want to upgrade on a Transatlantic flight before the end of the year.

You should note that you can only upgrade to the class directly above you when upgrading with points – for instance, upgrading from Premium Economy to Business. It also relies on Avios Reward Seats being available on the flight; nobody can help you if no seats are available.

It is still a first-come-first-served process, but it is about as guaranteed as British Airways upgrades can get. You can also upgrade with Avios way in advance, either when booking or managing your booking, which is handy.

How Many Avios Do You Need For An Upgrade? 

So, you’ve decided that upgrading with Avios is your jam. How many do you actually need? I’ll break it down for you.

Of course, it depends on what you are upgrading from and which class you’d like to upgrade to. Here’s a rough breakdown of what you could expect to part with on different routes, for an upgrade from Premium Economy to Business:

• London to Abu Dhabi: 37,500 to upgrade
• London to New York: 32,500 to upgrade
• London to Sydney: 65,000 to upgrade

As a general rule, you’ll need a minimum of around 20,000 to 35,000 Avios to upgrade on a mid-range flight. 40,000 to 70,000 points is a better goal for super long-haul flights.

Final Thoughts: Do Flight Upgrades Work? 

Yes, flight upgrades definitely work. I know I’ve heard plenty of anecdotes about upgrades over the years, and there are lots of interviews with airline staff who ‘spill the beans’ on what prompts them to upgrade passengers.

The stats don’t lie, either; 1 in 5 passengers gets upgraded in a two-year period. 

I’ll be trying out these tricks on my next BA flight — and you guys will be the first to know if I hit the jackpot. I am also heavily investing in upgrading via Avios. Instead of spending on Reward Flights, I am concentrating on saving to upgrade my flight class. 

People hyper-fixate on ways to trigger the secret upgrade button and woo the airline staff into giving that magic ‘yes’. Yes, it’s worth hedging your bets by abiding by those top six tips and tricks we covered earlier.

But you can also be proactive by saving your Avios and simply guaranteeing yourself an upgrade. 

British Airways isn’t known for lavishly dishing out upgrades. Still, I’d definitely recommend that you cover all bases, just in case. You never know when you might get lucky with an overbooked flight or a particularly cheery staff member.

And in the meantime, get collecting those precious Avios.

So, when I was planning a complex trip to Asia, I researched them and decided to look for a seat from the US to the UK. I remembered a sleek, chic cabin with purplish mood lighting, a fun attitude, and comfy seats. 

I was extremely happy with the experience we had! The airplane felt fresh and new, and the environmentally conscious choices made a real impact on me. The menu felt inspired and trendy, and the service was on point – comfortable, yet attentive. 

The Airline

Sir Richard Branson and his Virgin Empire embody cool. An entrepreneur since the tender age of 16, his empire began with a mail order record company, which went on to become Virgin Records, signing acts including the Sex Pistols, The Rolling Stones, and Culture Club (one of my all-time favorites).

From trains to spaceships, this guy has done it all! His adults-only cruise line, Virgin Voyages, is geared toward the younger hip set and is on my bucket list for sure.

Branson founded Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984, with the original name of British Atlantic Airways. Its main hub is London Heathrow, with a secondary hub in Manchester, UK.

The COVID-19 pandemic nearly bankrupted the company, and they have since joined the SkyTeam Alliance, which is great news for points junkies! The airline is partially owned by Delta, which is also a key consideration when booking flights on Virgin with points.

The airline currently partners with all of the major transferable points ecosystems: American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One, Citibank ThankYou Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy points, and BILT Rewards. 

So, you can transfer any of those points to Virgin and get great redemption rates for flights that pass through LHR. In addition, you can often find great deals on Delta flights through the Virgin Atlantic site.

But look out for hefty fees and keep in mind that you cannot transfer Delta SkyMiles to Virgin. 

The Fleet

The Virgin Atlantic fleet consists of the Airbus A350-1000, the 787-9 Dreamliner, the Airbus A330-300, and the Airbus A330Neo, each of which is named after “iconic women in British culture, both real and imaginary”. Some examples include Billie Holiday, Eliza Doolittle, and Uptown Girl. 

The Details

The airline’s destinations include 32 cities over 5 continents, including Shanghai, Dubai, and Cape Town, and there is a surprising density of stops in the Caribbean. 

Virgin’s aircraft feature 3 classes of service: Economy, Premium (Premium Economy), and Upper Class (Business Class). Wi-Fi is provided onboard for a small fee, and every seat has an electrical outlet, so you can stay plugged in for the entire flight. 

Their frequent flyer club is called, creatively, ‘Flying Club‘, and has three tiers – Red, Silver, and Gold. Benefits increase with each tier and are similar to what you will find with other airlines.

Virgin Points can be earned by flying, through their branded credit cards, and by joining Virgin Red and earning points on everyday spend. You can shop through their shopping portal or transfer points from the abovementioned programs. 

Lounges

One of the best parts of traveling Business or First Class is the experience on the ground. Lounges introduce you to the airline and set the tone for your trip.

Virgin Atlantic has 5 lounges called Clubhouses at London Heathrow, JFK in New York City, San Francisco International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

There is also an arrivals lounge at LHR called Revivals, which is open in the morning (5am till 12:30pm) and accessible to passengers flying Upper Class or members of the Flying Club Gold Tier. More about this later.

If the airport you are flying out of doesn’t have a Clubhouse and you are flying Upper Class, you can use Delta Sky Club. These are consistently nice, with a good selection of hot and cold items on the buffet, a full bar, and comfortable seating. 

Because Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam, passengers traveling on a SkyTeam airline in the Premium cabin and SkyTeam elite members can access their lounges, as well as Plaza Premium members (but only if your membership came through Capital One, not Amex), and Priority Pass members (during limited hours). 

I personally visited the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK in Terminal 4 several years ago, and I was impressed. It was busy but did not feel crowded because of its open-floor plan and abundance of seating.

The decor was contemporary and trendy, decorated in shades of gray with pops of red and purple.

You can access the menu via a QR code and place your order. Shortly after, a server will bring your selected items. We found the service to be excellent and the food contemporary and delicious.

Showers were available, and when we visited the spa was still open. Unfortunately, the spas closed down during COVID and haven’t opened back up. 

Mission Statement / Unique philosophies

Virgin certainly stands out from other airlines. It has a very different vibe that I find refreshing and fun. But the differences go far deeper. 

I like the fact that they take steps to minimize their impact on the environment and are committed to sustainability. Their goal is to reach net zero carbon by 2050, which is an ambitious but admirable goal for an airline.

They offer responsibly sourced, recyclable products onboard, and have replaced 90% of their single-use plastic since 2019.

They have regulatory standards for the items used to create their menu, using ethically sourced foodstuffs, fair farming, and sustainable fish, among other measures. The menus in their lounges are 70% plant-based and use locally farmed items. 

I also love their dedication to inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. They are making efforts to honor gender neutrality, providing uniform choices that cross gender lines, and including preferred pronouns on employees’ name tags.

They support LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, ethnic diversity, and embrace people with visible and invisible disabilities. This is great for the employees, and great for the customers, because happy employees provide better service!

Overall, I’d say Virgin is looking toward the future and I am thrilled to do my small part to support their efforts. 

Our Experience

Booking

We were on our way to Vietnam for an epic adventure. I found Upper Class seats on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Atlanta, Georgia to London Heathrow for 99,000 points and $98 each. I transferred points from my American Express card to book the seats on their website. 

When I search for the same flight today, I am seeing seats in Upper Class available for 47,500 or 89,000 points plus $997 (USD) for that same flight.

If it were an option, I would choose to book this flight in the other direction, from LHR to ATL, so I could make use of the Upper Class Wing and the Flagship Clubhouse at LHR. The fees are a bit hefty, though!

Departure Lounge

Unfortunately, there is no Clubhouse in Atlanta. The good news though is that Atlanta is a Delta hub, so we had our choice of Delta Sky Clubs. 

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta has 9 Delta Sky Clubs. As one of Delta’s main hubs, there are Sky Clubs in every terminal – A, B, C, D, E, F and T.  Any of these lounges are fine, but if you have time, the lounge in Terminal B is worth the extra legwork (unless you need a shower – those can be found in the lounges in terminals E and F). 

This lounge is gorgeous! It boasts soaring ceilings and tons of seating options.

Its floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the runway and the city skyline, while the buffet offers a nice selection of chef-created seasonal dishes alongside a bar menu that is more than adequate. The decor is modern and colorful, enhanced by local art. 

Our Flight

We made our way to the gate about 50 minutes before our flight. I drive my husband crazy, because I like to be at the gate as soon as boarding begins, even when flying coach!

I like to get settled in and claim my overhead bin space. When we are flying Premium, I want as much time as possible on the plane! I like being among the first to board. 

Our aircraft was an A350-1000. At the time, I didn’t know they named their aircraft, so I didn’t notice whose namesake ours was, which is a shame.

Entering the Upper Class cabin kinda felt like walking into a chic ultralounge, with the magenta mood lighting that I remembered from my first experience with Virgin. This cabin had 44 open suites in a 1-2-1 layout, with 6’7” long, 20” wide lie-flat beds. This may have been a little tight for larger customers, but there was plenty of room for me, at 5’2”.

I chose middle seats, 3D and 3G, since there were two of us. There was a divider between the two seats, which could be closed or opened.

I always choose seats near the front, but I avoid bulkheads. I find that the noise and light from the galley and toilets annoy me. And, when sitting in a regular seat, I like to put my bag under the seat in front of me for easy access, and you can’t do this when sitting in a bulkhead seat. So, rows 2 or 3 are my usual choices.

On some flights, there are larger suites called Retreat Suites. These are geared toward sharing, and have ottomans which double as a second seat, so that a companion can join you for dinner.

The screens are larger at 27”. Availability for these suites does not open up until 14 days in advance. So, if you are booked in Upper Class and want to select one of these as your seat, you need to get online at that time and snag the seat (for a fee).

The window seats had overhead bins, but there were none in the middle, which really gave the cabin an open feel. The seats were spacious and decorated in a minimalist fashion, which I like. The muted gray colors are soothing to the eye, and the dark eggplant leather of the seats add interest without overpowering the visual image. 

Plenty of storage was available, with little cubbies on the side and room under the footrest. The amenity kit and recyclable can of water were in the side cubby, a pillow was in the seat, and bedding was in the overhead bins.

The TV was 18.5 inches and had a touch screen. There was no remote, but you could pair your phone and use that instead. There were tons of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and music selections, and the headsets were fine – not super high-end, but fine. 

The amenity kits were not the most luxurious I’d seen, but I appreciated that they used sustainable and recyclable materials. Sometimes there is a trade-off, and I think Virgin has struck a great balance between luxury and environmental responsibility. 

The zip up pouch for the amenities was made out of recycled paper and labeled ‘Goodie bag‘. It contained basic items to make your flight more comfortable, including an eye mask, socks (mine were black and red striped!), ear plugs, a pen, a dental kit (including a bamboo toothbrush), and REN natural skincare products. 

The bedding was soft and comfy, with a fluffy white duvet and poofy pillow. The flight attendants will make your bed with a mattress pad if you’d like. 

Shortly after settling in, our flight attendant brought pajamas. My husband refers to the PJs we get on these flights as “dystopian future pajamas,” and these fit that moniker perfectly – soft, yet drab long-sleeve gray shirts and black pants.

There was no obvious branding that I noticed, but they were nice. They come in three sizes, and I chose the S/M. I think they tend to run large, so keep that in mind.

The Upper Class cabin had a seating area for eight called The Retreat, where you can mingle and share cocktails, or watch a movie on the big screen. We never noticed anyone sitting there, but it would be fun if you were traveling with a group. During the flight and between meals, you can find snacks in this area.

The Menu / meal service

Our flight attendant came around with a tray of pre-poured, pre-departure beverages including water, sparkling wine, and orange juice. Of course, I chose the sparkling wine.

Full transparency – I don’t know what type it was, but it was nice and pretty dry. There were four on offer (only one true champagne), all retailing for $40-50 USD per bottle.

Their menus change periodically, and ours was great. For dinner, I chose the smoked salmon with Asian slaw, sriracha mayo, and micro greens. For my main course, I had the three-cheese ravioli with a glass of the South African pinotage, and for dessert I chose the cheese plate.

The appetizer and cheese plate were delicious, while the ravioli was OK.

As this was an overnight flight, I watched a movie and settled into sleep. A neat feature available on our TVs was a screen notification that lets the flight attendants know whether you want to be woken up for breakfast, and I did. 

About an hour and a half before landing, I enjoyed the full English breakfast with a strong cup of black coffee, and we landed a little early at LHR.

Arrival Lounge

We had a long layover in London before our First Class experience on Emirates from London to Dubai. We landed at Terminal 3, passed through customs, and headed to the Arrivals Hall.

We had made reservations at Excess Baggage Company to leave our bags while we got out and explored London, which cost us 15 GBP per bag for 8 hours of storage. 

We noticed a sign for Arrivals Lounges. We had never visited one, and didn’t realize we had access, but we decided to check it out anyway. Look for a yellow sign that reads ‘Arrivals Lounges’. Underneath, you will see ‘Virgin Atlantic/Delta,’ and a set of elevators. Follow the signs and you will find it!

We entered the lounge, and the receptionist took our information, granting us access! 

The lounge is only open from 5:30am to 12:30pm and is designed for those of us leaving overnight flights to freshen up for the day. You can access the Revivals Lounge if you:

• Are a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class passenger
• Are a Delta One passenger
• Are a Flying Club Gold member on a Virgin Atlantic or Delta flight into Heathrow
• Have a Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion card and are flying from the US to London to Heathrow on a Delta or Virgin Atlantic flight
• Have a Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion card and are flying from the US to London to Heathrow on a Delta or Virgin Atlantic flight
• Have a Virgin Australia Velocity The Club card and are flying into London Heathrow on a Virgin Atlantic flight
• Have a Virgin Australia Velocity Club Platinum card and are flying into London Heathrow on a Virgin Atlantic flight

This was a nice, unexpected treat! The lounge is decorated in Virgin’s Signature style, splashes of red and purple on a palette of neutral grays.

The seating and dining areas were relatively small, as this lounge is more purpose-oriented than loungey. It is more of a ‘get in, freshen up, grab a snack, and get on with your day’ kinda place.

There are 20 shower rooms available, and we made use of two. The shower rooms were spacious and sparkly clean, stocked with REN toiletries and fresh white towels. They will even press your clothes while you shower, but we didn’t make use of this service. 

As for breakfast, you can order directly from a server, or scan the QR code provided on your table and order that way. We chose the latter, and noshed on Eggs Benedict and coffee before making our way to the train so we could explore the British Museum and grab some fish and chips. 

Verdict

Virgin Atlantic play by their own set of rules, and are working hard to provide a unique, luxurious, modern experience, while minimizing their environmental impact and giving back to the community. The hip vibe, modern decor, and social awareness are enlightened and current. 

Feelings and cultural sensitivity aside, the hard and soft products are top notch, luxurious without being wasteful, and in vogue. Looking toward the future, I hope Virgin adds more destinations to its portfolio and continues to make luxury travel more environmentally sound.

This trip actually started out as a completely different adventure – a flight to Quito, Ecuador for a cruise in the Galapagos Islands. But hey, that’s the beauty of travel, right? Sometimes things take a detour (like when your travel buddy throws out their shoulder – ouch!).

Luckily, we were able to use our flight credit for a fabulous trip to Rio de Janeiro for New Year’s Eve and a cruise to Buenos Aires, Argentina!

Polaris Overview

Now, about that Business Class – let me tell you, I was surprised and very pleased.

United States carriers are not known for their premium products. Typically Asian, Middle Eastern, and European airlines receive more accolades and have superior hard and soft products. United Airlines has stepped up their game with their Polaris Business Class.

Back in 2016, bigwigs at United realized they needed to improve their Business Class product. After numerous snafus and setbacks, the new product was rolled out in 2017, and United’s entire fleet of widebody aircraft was upgraded to Polaris by July of 2023.

So, all of their 767s, 777s, and 787s currently feature Polaris.

United has discontinued its First Class cabin on International flights, so Polaris is the highest level you will find in their premium cabins. 

We originally paid around $2,000 for the seats to Quito, which might seem steep, but trust me, it was worth it. Especially considering the economy seats on this Rio flight were over $1,200!

Plus, when we rebooked, we only had to pay an extra $400 each for a flight that was twice as long. Score!

United Lounges & How To Access Them

United has three types of lounges: United Club, United Club Fly, and Polaris. 

United Club fly Lounges have the same access rules as United Clubs, and at the time of writing, there is only one Club Fly, located in the Denver International Airport.

This is a grab-and-go lounge where you can stop by and grab snacks for your next flight.

There are 45 United Clubs in 30 airports around the US, and here are the methods of access:

Membership

You can purchase membership for $650 or 85,000 miles per year. This also gives you access to COPA and Star Alliance Lounges around the world.

How You Fly

By flying international Business or First Class on United or Star Alliance partners, including flights to and from Canada.

Certain Credit Cards

The United Club Infinite Card and the United Club Business Card give you United Club membership.

These are United’s premium cards and come with hefty annual fees, which could be worth it if you fly United often. Fees are $525 for the personal card and $450 for the business version.

They also give you priority check-in and numerous other perks.

Other credit cards give you two annual passes: The United Explorer Card and the United Business Card, which have lower annual fees of $0 the first year and $95 each year after that for the personal card and $99 for the business card.

Other Memberships & Status

If you have Star Alliance Gold status and are flying United or a Star Alliance partner, you can bring one guest.

If you are an Air Canada Maple Leaf member flying on a Star Alliance flight.

Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum, Gold, and VIP members can visit United Club locations and United Club Fly at departure airports.

You will need a same-day boarding pass for an international United or Virgin Australia-operated flight. You can bring one guest to United Club locations.

Single Entry Fee

Purchase one-time access for $65 when flying United or a Star Alliance partner.

Note: United Clubs are not part of the Priority Pass Lounge network.

United Polaris Lounges are located in 6 airports in the US and 5 outside of the US: 

Check In

To use United’s Premier Access check-in line, you must:

• Be flying United Polaris Business Class or domestic First Class;
• Be flying in the premium cabin of a Star Alliance partner airline;
• Carry Elite status on Star Alliance;
• Have one of the United Airlines Premium credit cards; or
• Have purchased Premier Access.

When flying United Polaris, you can check two bags weighing up to 70 pounds each, for free.

United Economy Class from Little Rock, Arkansas to Houston, Texas

The first leg of our trip from Little Rock to Houston was in Economy Class.

Even in coach, the flight attendants were awesome! They kept us well-informed, the service was friendly, and the snacks were surprisingly good.

Now, the actual seats themselves? Not so great. They were on the small side, legroom included, and even for a short stack like me (5’2″!), it felt a bit cramped. 

The stroopwafels eased my pain a bit! I was informed that the proper way to eat a stroopwafel is to place it over the top of your hot cup of coffee for a few minutes, allowing the caramel filling to warm up and melt just a little. Divine!

United Polaris Lounge, Houston, Texas

Our first flight landed in one terminal and departed from another, and Houston has basic United Clubs in Terminals A, B, C, and E since it is a United hub.

We could have used any of those United clubs but, knowing we had a luxurious oasis waiting in Terminal E, we hopped on the airport train for a little detour to the Polaris Lounge. Let me tell you, it was absolutely worth the extra legwork!

Dining Options

In addition to snack and beverage stations set up around the lounge, there were two main choices for your dining pleasure: the buffet and the main dining room.

Buffet

They had a fantastic buffet spread with something for everyone. Cheese lovers rejoice!

There was an impressive selection, alongside cured meats, perfect for a light nosh. But it wasn’t all finger food. For a more substantial bite, they offered an extensive hot buffet with a number of South American-inspired dishes including ‘pollo arvejado’ – a Chilean chicken stew.

And of course, no meal is complete without dessert. The Polaris Lounge offered a decadent choice between pumpkin pie (a classic for a reason) and a creamy Italian custard that looked delicious.

The Main Dining Room

The buffet was great, but if you have time for a full dining experience, take the time for a three-course dinner in their bistro-style restaurant. 

The menu changes throughout the day, offering breakfast options like French toast served with fig and drizzled with caramel, or a more heart-healthy grain bowl.

Lighter fare like yogurt and pastries are also available.

Dinner and lunch take a more adventurous turn. Starters like butternut squash soup or ceviche whet your appetite, while cheese plates offer a classic indulgence.

The main course options on our visit were truly tempting: cauliflower with gochujang, short ribs, sea bass, and the legendary Signature Polaris Burger.

Speaking of legendary, that Polaris Burger lives up to its fame. A juicy patty comes loaded with all the classic toppings – bacon, cheese, veggies – plus some exciting extras like egg and avocado. The fries were perfectly seasoned but a touch undercooked.

I opted for the pan-roasted sea bass, served with sides of couscous and wilted kale, which was a light and flavorful dish that left room for dessert.

It was impossible to resist trying both options: the cheesecake with apple crisp and the fig tart. They were both delightful little bites, the perfect ending to a fantastic meal.

The impeccable service by our server, Jay, just added to the overall restaurant-quality experience.

This lounge was not just about the food (although it was amazing!). The entire experience was designed for relaxation and comfort.

The bar offered a curated selection of beer, wine, and liquor, perfect for unwinding before your flight. Feeling adventurous? The creative cocktail menu, updated regularly, offered exciting options.

While the lounge itself was surprisingly busy, there was ample seating to choose from. We even spotted a few families with children, but thankfully none were disruptive.

The seating arrangements were varied, with conversation sets for two to four, as well as individual pods with tables for those needing to get some work done. The overall décor was a step up from your typical United Club, offering a classy and sophisticated atmosphere.

Beyond the food and drinks, the lounge boasted other amenities.

If you needed to make any travel changes, friendly agents were on hand to assist you. Feeling a bit travel-worn? The Polaris Lounge offered shower suites, perfect for freshening up before your flight, and plenty of sparkly clean restrooms.

United Polaris Business Class from Houston to Rio de Janeiro

After what felt like a quick visit, we made our way to Terminal C for our departure. We arrived just in time for boarding, and walked right onto the plane.

Our 10-hour flight was on a Boeing 767. The Economy Class cabin had 184 seats and Business Class had 30 lie-flat semi-private seats, carrying a total of 214 passengers.

We had a slight delay, which only prolonged our enjoyment of this experience!

The Premium cabin had 10 rows of seats, arranged in a 1-1-1 configuration, with each seat having access to the aisle. For folks traveling together, you really don’t have options for sitting close enough for conversation.

Bedding

The passenger seat was designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates and Priestman Goode, and manufactured by Zodiac Seats in the UK. It was furnished with premium bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue.

This included a small pillow, a lightweight throw blanket with a colorful design, and a sealed kit containing a larger cooling gel pillow and a comforter. Notably, pajamas were not provided on this particular flight, but you will receive them on extended journeys exceeding 14 hours.

If you would like a mattress pad, be sure to request one ahead of time.
I hear United does not carry enough for every seat. I didn’t need one.

Amenity Kit

United has upgraded its amenity kits since we traveled three months ago – now amenity kits are larger and include an ‘Away‘ brand hard travel case.

When we traveled, we received practical items including socks, ear plugs, a dental kit, a sleep mask, tissues, and a baggie containing Therabody brand facial moisturizer, revitalizing eye serum, facial mist, hand lotion, lip balm, and a face wipe. All of these items were contained in a stylish gray fanny pack.

Personal Storage

The seat pod offered ample storage space for passenger belongings. A small cabinet located on the aisle side housed a bottle of water and headphones.

Additional storage options included cubbies beneath the armrest and under the footrest for carry-on items, and a compartment nestled under the personal entertainment system display, suitable for smaller electronics such as mobile phones.

For added convenience, the seat provided a standard electrical outlet for charging devices, a reading light for nighttime travel, and a remote control for the in-flight entertainment system.

Pre-Flight Fun

I’m a sucker for a good in-flight menu! Especially when you’re flying in Business or First Class, browsing those options beforehand really gets me excited for the trip.

Plus, it guarantees you get your first choice – popular dishes can disappear fast. On this flight, I went with the short ribs, which sounded incredible.

Boarding & Take-Off

Shortly after we were seated, the flight attendant brought around a tray of pre-departure beverages. I chose champagne, and she also offered orange juice.

Our delay just meant more time to enjoy the comfy seats and dig into the entertainment options! They had a great selection of movies, so I wasted no time getting stuck in!

Turbulent Start, Expedited Service

We hit some bumpy air early on, which pushed meal service back a couple of hours.

The silver lining? Once they got the go-ahead, the flight attendants really hustled to expedite our meal service. They knew we were probably eager to get some sleep.

Even on flights where meals are served on time, you can request ‘Express Dining‘ if you’re looking to rest earlier.

The Meal

The food itself was delicious! I started with the salad with prawn lemon zest confit, which was refreshing.

But the real star was the main course – those seared short ribs with Asian flare. They were melt-in-your-mouth tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. The stir-fried vegetables and steamed jasmine rice were great accompaniments.

To finish things off, I treated myself to the selection of cheeses, fruit, and crackers, which hit the spot. The whole meal was paired with a nice Bordeaux – a delightful choice.

Snacks were available any time, but I was way too satisfied from the main meal to even think about them! I hear there is a made-to-order sundae menu available, but I didn’t even consider it. 

Breakfast & Landing

About 45-60 minutes before landing, the flight attendants came around with breakfast. I opted for the egg bites, made with egg whites, peppers, and Monterey Jack cheese, which were a light and delicious way to end the flight.

Overall, a fantastic in-flight dining experience!

Verdict

United Airlines has significantly upgraded their long-haul international Business Class offering with the introduction of Polaris Business Class.

Inspired by the North Star and designed for maximum comfort, Polaris Business Class boasts features like lie-flat seats, luxurious Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, and personal entertainment systems. The in-flight dining experience is also noteworthy, featuring chef-designed menus with global flavors.

Overall, this new offering positions United Airlines to compete more effectively with renowned premium cabins from Asian, European, and Middle Eastern airlines.

While the Polaris Lounges don’t quite match the extravagance of Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines lounges, they still offer a few steps above the standard US airline lounge experience, with a focus on local touches that create a more interesting atmosphere.

In short, United is playing for keeps with Polaris, and that’s great news for flyers who crave comfort and luxury on long international flights.

I flew from Amsterdam to Zurich on the SWISS A220. For the most part, I felt the plane was comfortable and roomy, especially for a middle seat. Indeed, compared to some of the other EasyJet flights I’d taken during my Euro trip, this fleet felt luxurious. 

I fell in love with Amsterdam. It was such a quirky, fun city with an exciting nightlife. It was hard to leave. But once I boarded that Swiss A220 and landed in Zurich, I felt excited for my next journey. 

The flight was fleeting, lasting less than two hours, but it was a very pleasant two hours that geared me up for my new city and country. I was heading to a community home in another town called Darligen, where I spent a few weeks helping out with their vegetable garden and cooking for the other volunteers.

It was a wonderful trip, but I’m here to talk about what my flight was like on board the Swiss A220.

Swiss Lounges

No matter how long or short your flight duration is, a lounge is always a great escape from the rest of a hectic airport.

In Zurich airport, Swiss Air’s First Lounge offers pure luxury. There are two hotel rooms, mini suites, a champagne bar, and two restaurants. You can even soak up glorious views of the Swiss Alps from their terrace.

You won’t go hungry either, since the chefs in the lounge’s 5-star à la carte restaurant cook up some delicious cuisine. It’s also a peaceful working space if you’re a digital nomad, while boasting an extra touch of luxury with its wine humidor, containing over 1,000 bottles of wine from around the world.

In Geneva, there’s a similar Swiss Air lounge with a reserved area for VIPs, and you’ll be escorted to your flight when it’s time to board. The Senator Lounge has an extensive buffet, where you can unwind.

The lounge is located next to the gates, which I find helps me switch off from worrying about the rush to board! And if you fancy an alcoholic beverage to begin your trip, it doesn’t matter what time it is – they always offer alcoholic beverages at your convenience. 

Lounge Access Voucher

If you’ve booked a flight in Swiss Economy or Swiss Premium Economy, you can purchase a lounge access voucher. This is where you’ll get a spacious lounge to relax in before your flight, comfortable seating, bathrooms (some with showers, some without), complimentary hot and cold dishes, quiet desks, and complimentary alcoholic beverages.

This is in partnership with the Lufthansa Group, which Swiss Air are a part of. 

You can purchase these vouchers online for $55 and up. Once you get to the airport, you show reception your boarding pass and your voucher. Unfortunately, I decided not to purchase one since my flight was so early in the morning, but it is a great way to get a taste of a Swiss lounge without having to be a full-time member or hold a certain membership status.

In Zurich airport, the Swiss Lounge is located in the new, modern SWISS Lounge area above the E gates, and the Non-Schengen Area. The lounges are easy to find, and well signposted. At Geneva Airport, the Swiss Business Lounge is just after security. 

Fly Sustainably With Swiss

You can fly more sustainably by booking a Green Fare, which is available in all travel classes with the Lufthansa Group, including Swiss Air.

This is something that all airlines need to consider for the future! The Lufthansa Group is paving the way for a greener future. 

These sustainable flights use Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) that help reduce flight-related CO2 emissions. These make up 20% of the flight-related individual emissions, which helps offset the remaining 80% of flight-related CO2 emissions.

By purchasing this flight, you’ll also get extra status miles and flexible rebooking options. 

Recently, Swiss introduced Green Fares for intercontinental routes. This will reduce 10% of individual flight-related CO2 emissions by using Sustainable Aviation Fuels, which will offset the other 90% of individual flight-related CO2 emissions. 

With domestic flights between Geneva and Zurich, Swiss offers fares already including offsetting the CO2 emissions. 

This is available on the following routes: 

My Experience Flying SWISS

Though my experience with SWISS Air was on a short-haul flight, I had a delightful experience. I would definitely fly them again and will consider using them for a cross-continental long-haul flight. 

I had a very early flight that left at 7 AM, which meant I had to be at the airport by 5 AM. Luckily, I slept a few hours the previous night and managed to arrive at the gate 15 minutes before boarding.

I waited for my group to get called, which was one of the last ones, and boarded the plane. It was probably one of the most aesthetically pleasing interiors of a plane I’ve seen, with a sleek interior and dark leather seats contrasted by white headrests. 

Unfortunately I was allocated a middle seat, but for such a short flight, I didn’t mind. On this flight, there were 145 seats, in a 3-2 configuration.

The seats were made of leather upholstery and a fixed headrest. There were no charging ports.

The legroom felt a little tight, but it’s to be expected with economy rows and middle seats!

There was no Wi-Fi on the flight. The onboard service was efficient, and they handed out complimentary drinks and a Swiss roll.

But the best part of the flight was arriving in Switzerland and looking out the window to see the Alps, even if I did have to look across the person sitting in the window seat. Because I had taken the earliest morning flight, I had such a beautiful view of the mountains with the early, soft light. 

Meals on Board 

Depending on the duration of your flight, you’ll either get simple snacks or meals while flying with Swiss Air. Because my flight was so short, I only received a complimentary drink and a Swiss roll.

But hold on, flight foodies – don’t be disheartened! If your flight’s a little longer, the menu gets a whole lot more interesting…!

For many European destinations, Swiss Air offers a Saveurs menu, where you can choose exactly what you want to eat or drink. You’ll also get a bottle of Swiss water and a complimentary piece of Swiss Chocolate. 

Some of their food items include a Swiss Angus burger and fries, a club sandwich, a truffle brie sandwich, a butter lye pretzel, and French fries.  If you’re flying Swiss Air Intercontinental, you’ll have a more extensive menu, such as meals with artisanal food.

If you need a special meal or have a dietary exception, you can book your meal in advance up to 24 hours before departure. SWISS Air makes it easy to eat on their planes!

Entertainment on Board 

The only downside to a short-haul Swiss A220 is its lack of in-flight entertainment. But then again, you don’t have time to watch a movie on such a short flight across Europe! And it keeps costs down.

There was a small screen on the overhead that displayed the flight’s details, which was fun to watch from time to time and made me feel a little less ‘stuck in the middle’ with my middle seat. Luckily, I had a book with me and could get a few chapters in before we landed.

Checking a Bag 

The baggage allowance for a Swiss carry-on is a mere 8kg, which is practically nothing. When I travel, I like to travel light, but not that light.

Even though my backpack was just about the size of a carry-on, it was still heavier than 8kg, so I checked my bag. However, I probably could have gotten away with it since they didn’t end up weighing anything!

Paying for Seats 

With the Classic and Flex Fares, a seat is already included. With the Light fare, you need to pay to reserve a seat. These start at $18 per seat and up.

And don’t forget my middle-seat-dodging tip, especially if you’re flying solo: sit on the left-hand side, and you’ll have either window or aisle. Perfect!

How to Book with Swiss Air

With the Swiss Air website, it’s easy to book online. This is where you’ll see all of the different fares and the pros and cons of each one. I usually opt for the lowest fares, though the more expensive ones have their advantages!

After entering your departure airport, arrival airport, and dates, you’re taken to the next page where you can select your fare as follows: 

The difference between Economy Light and Economy Flex is upwards of 65 dollars. While booking, you can hold your ticket and fee for 48 hours for a small surcharge of 10 euros ($10.86).

This is a great option if you found an awesome deal on a price, but aren’t sure if you want to keep that exact ticket. Payment follows, and once that’s complete, you’re all set to travel!

Conclusion

If you want to travel around Europe and intercontinental, Swiss Air has you covered. Their fleets are efficient and safe, and they offer top-notch service that will get you to your destination in style. They have hundreds of destinations and even offer the choice of more sustainable travel. 

I loved flying with Swiss Air from Amsterdam to Zurich. Boarding was smooth and the flight departed on time.

While I could have used a bit more legroom while in the middle seat, I did appreciate the Swiss roll and the views of the mountains!

Overall, Swiss Air offers a cost-effective way to travel around Europe and the world, no matter which fares you choose. Whether you need to reach your destination on a budget or want to fly in style, Swiss Air gives you a great way to travel for a fair and reflective price.

I don’t remember the type of aircraft, but my friend and I were flying in Club World, which is their Business Class. I remember having to literally climb over her to access the aisle to go to the restroom.

So, when I upgraded my mom and myself to business class on British Airways on our recent trip, my expectations were low. However, BA far exceeded my expectations and won me over as a loyal customer.

How I Booked

My husband and I enjoy traveling with our parents and like to treat them to a vacation every other year or so. This year, we were going to take them on a Royal Caribbean cruise of the Norwegian Fjords, which left out of Southampton, UK.

To make the most of our travels, we decided to fly into London a few days early and explore the city. 

Royal Caribbean offers packages through their ‘Air2Sea’ program, which they offer as an all-inclusive deal which takes you from your home airport to the ship and back with little effort on your part.

It typically includes flights, transfers to and from the hotel to airports and to the port, and sometimes also includes accommodation. 

I do not usually use this program, because I like to book my own flights. I prefer long layovers and getting to the airport early so we can enjoy the lounges and have a more relaxed experience. 

But, in this case, we were dealing with older folks and the flights were a little complicated. My husband and I were flying from Little Rock, Arkansas to Charlotte, North Carolina, where we would meet my mom and fly together to London.

His parents were flying from Seattle, Washington direct to London. Getting a taxi or Uber with so many of us, including those of us of a more mature age who had some trouble getting around, sounded too complicated. I wanted to leave nothing to chance.

So, I used Royal Caribbean’s Air2Sea program to book flights and transfers along with our cruise. We booked Economy Class tickets for my husband, my mom, and myself on American Airlines. The round trip tickets came out to $1,497 each.

How I upgraded

My status on American Airlines as Executive Platinum allowed me to earn ‘system-wide upgrades’, which could be used on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines. At the time of writing (March 2024), system-wide upgrades can be used on transatlantic British Airways flights, as long as one of the flights on your itinerary is on American. 

These are one-cabin upgrades, so you could go from Economy to Premium Economy, Premium Economy to Business, or Business to First. Our return flight was in Premium Economy, and there were only two seats available in Business Class.

My husband graciously agreed to stay in the cattle car so my mom and I could share the upgraded experience for this 8-hour flight. But this article is not about British Airways Business Class, or Club World, is it?

British Airways Fleet and Classes of Service

British Airways has four classes of service: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First. For flights within Europe, Economy is Euro Traveller, while for International flights it is World Traveller.

Premium Economy is World Traveller Plus. Business Class for flights within Europe is Club Europe, and Business for International is Club World. First is, well, First.

Along with numerous narrow-body, short-haul planes, BA’s 122-strong fleet consists of a variety of wide-body planes.

These include the Airbus A350-1000, the A380, 777-9, 777-200, 777-300, 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10. Some have three cabins (eliminating First Class), and some have four.

There have been three major upgrades to BA’s First Class seat, which occurred in 2010, 2015, and 2020. The A380s and many of the 777-200 and 300s were upgraded in 2010, the 787-9 and 10 in 2015, and more of the 777-300s in 2020.

The cabins updated in 2010 have 14 suites, while those updated in 2015 and 2020 only have 8. Those refurbished in 2020 are the only ones with doors.

Our aircraft was updated in 2010, which was 14 years ago, but it felt new, clean, and modern, not at all dated. The hard product was great, and the soft product excellent!

Boarding Area / Boarding Process

We arrived at our gate at London Heathrow, after a fantastic cruise. We were all exhausted and looking forward to resting on the plane.

We didn’t have time to visit the lounges, because the coach that the cruise line had arranged for us was late. That was definitely a disappointment. Thank fully though, check-in was a breeze, since we got to use the dedicated First/Business Class line.

The boarding area was a bit chaotic, and soon after we arrived, I heard an announcement calling my name.

I approached the desk and the agent said there had been an aircraft change and my mom and I had new seat assignments. I was handed First Class boarding passes, seats 3E and 3F.

This was the second time an aircraft change worked in my favor! This flight was originally on the A350-1000, and we had window seats in the Club World (Business Class) cabin.

The new metal was the 2010 four-class Boeing 777-300, which was equipped with 14 open suites, and we snagged two of them!

Because my mom needs a little extra time to get down the runway, we were placed in a holding area. The attendants were so friendly and kind to my mom.

She was concerned because we had to board a bus and climb stairs to board the plane. This very sweet older gentleman reassured her that he would take care of her, and he did. Climbing the steep staircase was a challenge for her, but we helped and she did fine. 

The Cabin

The 777 First Class cabin was in a 1-2-1 configuration, with 4 rows of window suites on each side, and 3 rows of 2 suites in the center, so everyone had aisle access.

No more climbing over people to go to the toilet! The overall feel was sleek, serene, and exclusive.

The Suites and Amenity Kits

We were both pretty excited to see our seats! I was surprised to see that they were suites, and over the moon that I could share this with my mom. Honestly, no matter how many times I fly, I still get a little giddy, especially when I am trying out a new premium cabin. 

The suites were spacious, but did not have doors. Instead, the sides were open to the aisles, and the walls were probably about 5 feet high.

Since we had center seats, there was a divider between us that could be raised or lowered. We had a good deal of privacy, and I rarely saw another passenger. 

The window suites had large rectangular openings with blinds over 2 ovoid windows.

Blankets, pillows, slippers, Meridian noise-canceling headphones, and amenity kits were already in our seats, and I opened my amenity kit like a kid at Christmas.

The female amenity kits were made by Temperley of London, and each of the makeup bags is slightly different. Ours had floral patterns with butterflies, and were filled with practical and indulgent items.

They included an eye mask, dental kit, a pen, a compact mirror, socks, and ear plugs. There were travel-sized luxury Elemis products including travel-size deodorant, facial/makeup remover wipes, hand lotion, facial mist, facial moisturizer, eye cream, and lip balm.

Very nice! You can buy one on eBay for $45 (USD).

Right away, we met our flight attendant, who raised the flight experience to that extra level! This darling man reminded me of Patton Oswalt and seemed to really enjoy my mother’s company.

She is bubbly and fun, and had never experienced anything like this. Her excitement was infectious, and we both caught it!

Our flight attendant (we will call him Patton so I don’t have to keep saying “our flight attendant”) brought us warm towels, champagne (mom had coke), a packet of nuts, and navy blue Temperley London ‘sleep suits’.

Mom and I giggled about this term, as we had never heard pajamas called sleep suits. Of course, I changed into mine before take-off.

The champagne was lovely, Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle NV, which retails for $250 here in the states. 

The seats were comfortable and spacious. One advantage of being 5’2” tall is that most airline seats have plenty of room for me to stretch my legs. One disadvantage is that I cannot reach the footrest in most First Class suites!

These seats, however, had multiple intuitive functions to allow you to adjust the seat to your comfort, so after take-off, I just raised my footrest.

The full length of the bed is 6’6” or 198 cm, which was way more than enough length for this petite frame, and the width is advertised as 22 inches or 56 cm – but I left my measuring tape at home, so we will have to take their word for it.

There were multiple options for storage, including cubbies under the side table and footrest, a cabinet on the aisle side of the seat, and a mini-wardrobe for hanging clothes.

The toilets were nothing special, but were clean and stocked with dental kits, Elemis lotion and facial mist, and other necessities one would expect.

Service and Menu

The service on this flight was impeccable! Friendly, yet elegant and not at all stuffy or uptight.

After all, isn’t the point of service and, for that matter, etiquette to make others feel comfortable, special, and taken care of? The staff on this flight seemed to understand this, and executed perfectly!

Soon after take-off, Patton presented us with our multi-page menus on fine white paper. We were presented with a trio of canapes, consisting of bresaola (a type of cured raw beef) with melon, smoked salmon with cream cheese and cucumber, and a red pepper roulade with goat cheese.

For my first meal, I chose the double-baked souffle with asparagus and morel mushroom sauce for my starter, which tasted far better than it looked.

For my main course, my choice was the duo of lamb, which included a rack of lamb and braised lamb served with feta and pomegranate jus, with a side of potatoes. Tender, hot, and flavorful.

For my final course, I enjoyed a cheese plate, with a variety of cheeses served with crackers, fruit, and plum chutney. I couldn’t finish it all!

To accompany my meal, I had a glass (or two) of the Chateau Chauvin Bordeaux, which was bold, tannic, and dry, just how I like it. Perfection. 

After dinner, I asked Patton to make my bed, which he did during my toilet break. There were full-length mattress pads, soft, fluffy duvets, and nice pillows which made for a cozy cocoon and a great nap. 

The TV was 23 inches and had a touch screen, although there was also a remote control that reminded me of the portable PlayStations our kids used to have. This was helpful for me, because I have a small frame and the screen seemed to be a mile away.

The entertainment options were endless, and I chose a movie until I fell asleep, donning my eye mask and earbuds, putting up the divider, and closing my door. 

About an hour or so before we were scheduled to land, Patton offered us afternoon tea, which was very lovely. 

Patton brought out two-tiered tea trays with finger sandwiches, pastries, and scones, clotted cream, and jam. The tea was very nice, and mom and I felt oh so British. What a pleasant end to a perfect flight.

Verdict

British Airways has really stepped up its game with its refurbished First Class suites. The hard product is solid, and the soft product excellent.

Our sleep suits and amenity kits were luxurious, and the menu impressive. We enjoyed restaurant-quality, inventive cuisine and excellent wine in a comfortable suite with plenty of entertainment choices. 

If you haven’t flown British Airways recently, give them another try! You won’t be disappointed. I plan to seek out the 777-300 with the 2020 closed suites as soon as I can, and I will let you know how they compare.