British Airways is usually a dependable choice for UK travellers, whether you’re flying short-haul in Europe or going long-haul. One of the old school aviation companies, BA long built a reputation on ‘you know what you’re going to get’ reliability. The UK flagship carrier flies between more than 200 destinations in almost 80 countries from London Heathrow headquarters, with the North Atlantic representing approximately 32% of total capacity.
Partner airlines
British Airways operates several routes through its partner airlines. It’s a key member of the oneworld alliance, a team-up of major airlines that lets you connect to some 1,000 destinations worldwide. This means you might book on the BA website but end up on a plane operated by American Airlines, Qantas or Qatar Airways.
The parent company of British Airways is International Airlines Group (IAG), which also owns other major European carriers like Iberia and Aer Lingus. While they’re all part of the same family, each airline has its own vibe, fare rules and onboard experience. My pro tip? Always check your flight number. If it doesn’t start with ‘BA’, you’re flying with a partner, so it’s worth a quick search to see what you’re in for.
Executive Club loyalty programme
British Airways’ loyalty programme is called, rather grandiosely, The Executive Club. With more than 13 million members worldwide, it’s well established and free to join. Due to the scale and reach of BA, including membership of the oneworld alliance, it’s complex to understand and use effectively.
You collect points called ‘Avios’ when you fly with BA or its partners, or even when you book hotels and rental cars. How Avios are calculated can feel like advanced calculus, as it depends on the airline, route, fare class and your membership tier (Blue, Bronze, Silver or Gold). For British Airways and Iberia flights, you’ll earn Avios based on how much you spend, while some partner airlines still award them based on distance flown.
When you redeem Avios for a ‘reward flight’, here’s the catch: you only cover the base fare. You still have to pay for taxes, fees, and carrier charges in cash, and BA is known for these being pretty steep, especially out of the UK. So before you cash in your points, always check the final amount. Sometimes saving your Avios for a different trip is the smarter move.
Basics to know before you book
British Airways’ brand has suffered in recent years. What I’ve found is that it’s created two different experiences depending on where you travel. The poorly thought-out digital booking experience and growing discontent over customer service (especially regarding cancelled flights) affect the airline’s once-stellar reputation.
If you’re flying within Europe, BA offers one of the best experiences you’ll find. The short-haul fleet is composed of Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft, including newer A320neo and A321neo models with updated cabins and improved fuel efficiency. BA is well connected and has friendly, professional service. That alone means it shines in comparison to many of its ultra-budget competitors.
For long-haul flights, however, it’s a different story. BA is undergoing a comprehensive modernisation programme, with all Airbus A350-1000, Boeing 787-10 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft now fitted with the new Club Suite business class cabin, though the Airbus A380 fleet refurbishment is still to come. It’s a lottery whether you get a newly refurbished plane or one that feels tired and cramped. Compared to the modern fleets of some other international carriers, it can be a letdown.
How fare classes work
British Airways has four main cabin classes, but your options will depend on the route and the plane. Here’s how it generally breaks down.
Short-haul flights in Europe
On flights within Europe, you’ll typically choose between economy (‘Euro Traveller’) and business (‘Club Europe’). Honestly, I’ve never seen the point in paying a lot more for business on a two-hour flight, especially when BA economy is solid.
While BA can’t compete with the likes of easyJet and Ryanair for fare prices, it’s also not trying to. Basic economy BA fares include a decent size cabin bag in the price, unlike almost every other European carrier. BA doesn’t spring surprise payments on you at every step of the booking process, so the price you first see tends to be the price you pay.
Long haul flights worldwide
On longer flights, you get more choices: economy (‘World Traveller’), premium economy (‘World Traveller Plus’), business (‘Club World’), and First (on selected flights). While First is out of reach for most of us, premium economy is often the sweet spot.
If I’m flying long-haul with BA, I always look for a premium economy upgrade, as long as the price isn’t wild (which it can be). The extra legroom, wider seats, and smaller, quieter cabin can make a huge difference on an overnight flight. In my experience, you’ll find the best deals booking a couple of months out, not too far in advance or last minute.
On board: seats, legroom and facilities
The British Airways European fleet is up to date in terms of newer planes and modern retrofits. While BA regularly updates long haul planes too (it recently deployed new Airbus A350-1000s serving routes between Heathrow and Las Vegas and Phoenix, among others), the sheer scale of the fleet means many are behind the times. In comparison to top-rated airlines like Etihad and Emirates, it’s a long way behind in everything from space and layout to facilities and amenities.
On board short haul
Seats are ergonomic, leather and more comfortable than budget airlines’ typically rock hard, non-reclining seats. Even at 6ft 3, I’ve always found the legroom bearable too. On most BA planes the pitch is 30–31 inches (76–79 cm), though it does drop to a knee-bruising 29 inches (74 cm) particularly in the rear section of the new A321neo planes due to their ‘Space-Flex’ configuration, so it can be worth checking the plane type before you fly.
In economy, you’ll get a free bottle of water and a snack (which used to always be sour cream and chive pretzels, but has recently been switched to things like banana cake or biscuits). Since most flights are short, there’s no seatback entertainment, so be sure to download something before you board.
On board long haul
This is where the lottery really comes into play. Many BA long-haul planes are older, and not all have been updated. This hits economy class the hardest, where you might find worn-out seats and tiny, outdated entertainment screens. I once boarded a flight to find my screen broken, and the crew handed me a portable DVD player. A for effort, but not exactly cutting-edge.
Premium economy is a much safer bet. The smaller cabin means more space all around, but the seven inches of extra legroom is the real game-changer. For anyone over six feet, it’s the difference between a decent night’s sleep and a miserable one. The seats also have leg and footrests, though I find the footrests just get in the way.
Cabin crew
One area where BA consistently shines, in my experience, is the cabin crew. Of course, it can depend on the day and the route, but I’ve always found them to be professional, efficient, and genuinely proud of their work.
This holds true no matter what class I’m flying. Even in a packed economy cabin, the service rarely feels rushed or unfriendly. I’ve never had a problem asking for an extra blanket or another mini bottle of gin for my G&T, and the crew always delivers it with a smile.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up to date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
