British Airways

Seat Reviews


4 star Skytrax Rating
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing TV 12345
Customer rating from 195 reviews
4/10
4 star Skytrax Rating
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6/10

"seats were uncomfortable"

(Germany)

Just returned on roundtrip British Airways flights from Amsterdam to London and onto San Diego. The flight from Amsterdam to London wasn't bad, normal seats and even got drink. The over 11 hour flight to and from San Diego brought me to tears. The man in front of me put his seat all the way back while we were taxing on to the runway. Let me tell you his seat was literally just a few inches from my face, watching a movie on my small screen was difficult because of the close proximity of my screen. The seats were uncomfortable and you can feel every move of the person in front and back of you! Would I take this flight again - never! Do I recommend this route - no way!
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeBoeing 777-200
Seat Layout3×3×3
Date FlownOctober 2015
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
Seat Storage 12345
no
2/10

"a comfort nightmare"

(Canada)

The front Boeing 787 Economy Cabin on British Airways is claustrophobic caused by the divider to separate Business Cabin/Economy Cabin. The IFE Box occupy almost half of your feet space under the seat in front of you, so hard to stretch your legs to sleep or rest. The pitch between seat is horrible. This Boeing 787 is a quite a comfort nightmare.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeBoeing 787
Seat Layout3x3x3
Date FlownOctober 2015
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
Seat Storage 12345
yes
2/10

"worst seats I've experienced"

(United Kingdom)

British Airways seats are probably the worst seats I've experienced on a plane, even budget airline ones are better. The legroom's fine, so it's pointless upgrading to premium economy, as you get the same seat with a bit more legroom. Reclining the seat takes about an hour, and width is fine for me, as I'm really skinny. View of the screen is fine, no power supply, storage great, and the seats are so uncomfortable.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeBoeing 747-400
Seat Layout3x4x3
Date FlownApril 2015
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
Seat Storage 12345
no
9/10

"upgraded cabin very good"

(United Kingdom)

Prebooked seats 25J/25K in Premium Economy as a couple flying to Dubai, upgraded cabin very good seats as last in row of WTP. I agree that seat 25J does have the IFE box slightly in the way, ie if you street your legs out in full it is in the way, fantasic amount of leg room, seat fully reclined has nobody behind you,. Toilet not bothersome, cabin curtain was closed and light issue no problem. Food with two choices from menu and was very nice food, couple of drinks run and attendant service if you require anything else during flight. Staff very good and always helpful, flight took off and landed on time, overall great service.
Seat TypePremium Economy
Aircraft TypeBoeing 777-200
Seat Layout2x4x2
Date FlownSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
Power Supply 12345
Seat Storage 12345
yes
1/10

"very disappointed with this experience"

(Canada)

My partner and I traveled British Airways return from Toronto to London, and specifically chose British Airways because we had heard great things about them. We booked a standard World Traveler seat, and wow, were we disappointed! We had heard that the economy seats were great, so didn't bother to upgrade, although we did try closer to the flight date and nothing was available. We had a 7.5 hour flight over night, and we were so uncomfortable that neither of us were able to catch any sleep. Our first flight was in the middle row, and I was basically rubbing elbows with my neighbour the entire flight. My knees were so sore for a few days after as I was unable to stretch at all. On the way back, we decided to try the seat selection, and thought we had selected the emergency exit row, but we were mistaken as that is not an option to choose. We basically paid $71 extra per seat to be just as uncomfortable. I was very disappointed overall with this experience. If we had known, we would have just gone with a budget airline and saved a couple of bucks.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeBoeing 787
Seat Layout3x3x3
Date FlownSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
Power Supply 12345
Seat Storage 12345
no
8/10

"no complaints about service, aircraft, seats"

(United Kingdom)

Comfortable British Airways return flight Heathrow to Oslo. Have no complaints about service, aircraft, seats. Only a two hour trip each way so was served a sandwich and choice of drinks which was fine, aircraft on return leg had the newer style seating but to be honest both were fine, had plenty of legroom (I'm 5'10"). Would happily fly BA again.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeA320
Seat Layout3x3
Date FlownAugust 2015
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Seat Storage 12345
yes
2/10

"we will never fly BA again"

(United Kingdom)

My review of the new British Airways Club Europe business class seats, and appalled by the refit of British Airways planes. They appear to have concentrated on getting as much money as possible for nothing! My partner is 6ft 4in with long legs and does not fit in an economy seat therefore we paid the substantial amount of money over and above the cost of economy tickets to fly Club Europe. I had only flown Club Europe once before a few years ago but then we had 2 large leather seats with extra legroom and a large armrest between them and the service we received felt very special. This time the 'refit' means the seats are normal economy class 3x3 but the middle seat has a tray top clipped over it! Not only were the seats a major disappointment but we too suffered the same issue as a previous reviewer where we felt forced to pay the extra to 'reserve' seats so that we were assured to sit together, we were not offered a choice in food, we only had one drinks service, our row of seats was the only row in the entire cabin didn't have personal air conditioning and were left feeling absolutely ripped off! I will be pushing for a refund and we will never fly BA again after this experience.
Seat TypePremium Economy
Aircraft TypeA320
Seat Layout2x2
Date FlownAugust 2015
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Seat Storage 12345
no
2/10

"Premium Economy cabin is uncomfortable"

(United Kingdom)

You should know what you are walking into when you approach the British Airways Boeing 747-400 fleet as without exception they are tired and tatty, and should have been retired years ago. As a monthly British Airways customer on the LHR/PHX route I now dread either flight as the Premium Economy cabin is uncomfortable and legroom on all but the front bulkhead seats limited in the extreme due to AVOD boxes being installed under seats, plus the seat fixings are positioned such that one leg is always unable to be extended straight. The seats themselves are uncomfortable, the adjustable headrests will always slip back down irrespective of how they are positioned and the seat adjustment buttons seldom function correctly. As for entertainment, if you can actually see the picture on the SatNav sized screens then you're a better person than me. British Airways is currently offering a premium product in cost, but is actually providing a mediocre one in reality. Cabin staff are hit and miss and for every good member there are half a dozen miserable ones just going through the motions. Not a great airline any more and it'll take many years for them to catch up.
Seat TypePremium Economy
Aircraft TypeBoeing 747-400
Seat Layout2x4x2
Date FlownAugust 2015
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
Seat Storage 12345
no
1/10

"One of the most uncomfortable cabins I've sat in"

(Canada)

One of the most uncomfortable cabins I've sat in. The miserly seat pitch was something I'd expect from a budget airline. British Airways new slim seats, upholstered in a dark grey leather, are attractive to look at, but when you're seated, the seat back in front is practically in your face. I couldn't hold a magazine in front of me to read, and had to twist to the side and hold the magazine in the aisle in order to be able to focus on the print. In future I'll avoid flying British Airways within Europe.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeA319
Seat Layout3x3
Date FlownAugust 2015
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Seat Storage 12345
no
2/10

"decided never to fly British Airways again"

(Singapore)

I travelled British Airways Singapore to London to Miami return. It was a bad experience and I have decided never to fly British Airways ever again. British Airways crew does not enforce the rules that passengers must put their seats upright during meal times. I had to keep reminding the crew to inform the passenger in front to straighten his seat. And on one of the trips, the passenger sitting behind requested me not to recline my seat as it was hitting his leg! The real test came when the IFE was disrupted for several rows of passengers about 3 hrs into the flight. It was not just the IFE but also the overhead reading lights and crew assistance function. The crew made some checks and informed us that the problem could not be fixed. For the next 10 hrs, the affected passengers just had to endure the situation. We could not watch movies or read or do work on computers as this was a night flight and all lights were switched off after the meal service. It was distressing to see British Airways crew treat the situation nonchalantly.
Seat TypeEconomy Class
Aircraft TypeBoeing 747
Seat Layout3x4x3
Date FlownAugust 2015
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat Legroom 12345
Seat Recline 12345
Seat Width 12345
Aisle Space 12345
Viewing Tv Screen 12345
Power Supply 12345
Seat Storage 12345
no

British Airways Photos

British Airways is the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, with its main hub being at London Heathrow Airport where it operates from Terminal 5 and Terminal 3. The airline also has substantial operations from Gatwick Airport. British Airways is a member of Onweworld alliance, and part of International Airlines Group (IAG).

FIRST CLASS

British Airways offers First Class on many long haul routes operated by widebody aircraft (Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777, Boeing 787 and the A380). Most aircraft have 14 flat-bed seats in First Class, and 8 seats on the Boeing 787-9.

flat_seatsFlat bed seat / suite
power_iconIn-seat &/or USB power
No WiFiOnboard WiFi
AVODAudio / video on demand
DiningOn demand dining
WinesFine wines & beverage service
SleepingPillows & duvet / blanket
PyjamasPyjamas / Sleepsuit
AmenitiesAmenity kit

BUSINESS CLASS

Branded as Club World for long haul and Club Europe for short haul services, British Airways was one of the pioneers of flat bed seats in long haul business class. The product is overdue an upgrade, with the seat layout on a Boeing 777 being 8-across in contrast to the more standard 4-across layout. British Airways Club Europe cabin uses a standard Economy class seat, with the middle of each 3-across section left empty. British Airways charges business class customers to reserve seats for both long haul and short haul flights..

LONG HAUL
flat_seatsFlat bed seat
power_iconIn-seat &/or USB power
No WiFiOnboard WiFi
AVODAudio / video on demand
On demand dining
SleepingPillows & duvet / blanket
PyjamasPyjamas / Sleepsuit
AmenitiesAmenity kit

SHORT HAUL
Seat pitchSeat pitch : 31 ins
Seat widthSeat width : 17 ins
In-seat &/or USB power
No WiFiOnboard WiFi
Inflight entertainment
DiningComplimentary meal / snack

PREMIUM ECONOMY

British Airways offers a premium economy cabin on their long haul / widebody aircraft, branded as World Traveller Plus. With the exception of the larger seat, the onboard service and product varies little to the standard long haul Economy class.

Seat pitchSeat pitch : 38 ins
Seat widthSeat width : 18.5 ins
No WiFiOnboard WiFi
power_iconUSB power
AVODAudio / video on demand
DiningComplimentary meal
WinesComplimentary beverages & wines
SleepingPillow / blanket

ECONOMY CLASS

British Airways has been reducing economy class standards recently and now charge for all food and beverages on short haul services. Further cuts are expected to their long haul product standards. The cabins are branded as World Traveller for long haul, and EuroTraveller for short haul.

LONG HAUL
Seat pitchSeat pitch : 31 ins
Seat widthSeat width : 17.5 ins
No WiFiOnboard WiFi
power_iconUSB power
AVODAudio / video on demand
DiningComplimentary meal
WinesComplimentary beverages & wines
SleepingPillow / blanket

SHORT HAUL
Seat pitchSeat pitch : 29-30 ins
Seat widthSeat width : 17 ins
In-seat &/or USB power
No WiFiOnboard WiFi
Inflight entertainment
Complimentary meal / beverages