economie

I got a free upgrade to an $11,500 seat in British Airways’ business class. It was great, but one thing could’ve made it even better.

October 26, 20240
The cabin was cozy, but I still felt like I had a ton of privacy throughout the flight.

Emma Kershaw

When I entered the cabin, my first impression was that it felt a little dated. Parts of my seat looked worn, which made me feel like the cabin could have used a cosmetic update.

Some seats in the cabin also faced opposite directions. This seating arrangement would likely be great for couples traveling together, as it makes socializing easy. However, staring at a stranger for hours isn’t ideal for people traveling alone.

Luckily, my window seat didn’t face another passenger. It also had high walls and a screen, so I had ample privacy during the flight.

My seat was comfy but lacked storage space.
My seat transformed into a bed with just a push of a button.

Emma Kershaw

When I boarded, everything I needed to enjoy a restful sleep — pillows, a comforter, and sheets — was in a bag under the seat. 

About halfway through the flight, I decided to take a nap. To turn my seat into a lie-flat bed, all I had to do was press a labeled button on the wall. My chair lowered until it aligned with the fold-down footrest on the back of the seat in front of me.

The bed was very cozy, and I ended up falling asleep for a few hours.

I ordered delicious food from a British-inspired menu.
The staff served sandwiches, a scone, and cakes before the plane landed.

Emma Kershaw

About an hour before the plane landed, the flight attendants served afternoon tea — something I welcomed as a Brit.

The meal came with mini sandwiches, cakes, and a warm scone with jelly and clotted cream.

The amenities kit was a highlight of the flight.
I had a comfortable flight in British Airways’ business class.

Emma Kershaw

Overall, I enjoyed my experience flying with British Airways in the Club World cabin. As someone who has flown both economy and business class with the airline, I’d happily pay for an upgrade if I could get a discount.

After looking on the British Airways website and playing around with various dates and flight routes, I saw that a business-class seat booked during the same week of my flight cost about £9,000, or $11,680. I had a good experience but wouldn’t book a flight that cost that much.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed my business-class experience. The upgrade was a great way to travel back to Seattle in style.