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EXCLUSIVE: We reveal the changes to British Airways World Traveller Plus premium economy

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British Airways has been touting improvements in the World Traveller Plus ‘soft product’ (food, bedding etc) for some time.  I’ve now managed to get hold of some information on what is coming as well as some not-seen-elsewhere promotional images of the new meal service.

The changes will come in two phases.  The first phase, starting on 1st February, involves the new food options.  The second phase later in the Spring will involve new soft furnishings and a brand new amenity kit.

Here is a new World Traveller Plus menu, which has been redesigned:

New British Airways World Traveller Plus food

There will be three main courses to choose from, including one vegetarian option.

The starter and dessert will be improved and will no longer be taken from the Economy / World Traveller meal.  This puts BA on a par with Virgin Atlantic which serves a totally different meal in Premium.

New British Airways World Traveller Plus food

Both the main meal and the second meal will be served on china and with ‘real’ glasses.  At present only the main meal uses glass.

New British Airways World Traveller Plus food

Here is another mock-up:

New British Airways World Traveller Plus food

The image below is a typical ‘second meal’ for a longer flight.   Hot food will now be guaranteed for the first time, instead of the pre-packed sandwiches often provided at present.  On shorter flights it will be a  hot hand-held snack and on longer flights you will get a hot meal tray, with a choice of two options, such as the one pictured below.

New British Airways World Traveller Plus food

If the second meal is breakfast, it will come like this:

New British Airways World Traveller Plus food

I need to confess that I have never flown Premium Economy on British Airways, Virgin Atlantic or Norwegian so I am not sure how this compares to what the competition offers.  It certainly appears to be a major improvement on what BA is offering at present.

New British Airways World Traveller Plus food

Regular HfP readers will know that British Airways is rolling out a new World Traveller Plus seat.  It is currently being installed on the Boeing 777-200 fleet, initially on the Gatwick aircraft.  This is the smart-looking seat you can see in the photo above.  You will also find a version of the ‘larger TV’ seat on the A380, Boeing 787 and Boeing 777-300ER fleets, but not all of the Boeing 747 fleet.

These ‘soft product’ changes do not fully close the gap with Virgin Premium, however.

We did a comparison last year of British Airways World Traveller Plus vs Virgin Atlantic Premium, which you can find here.  In almost all respects, the Virgin Atlantic product is better.  Norwegian also offers an impressive Premium service which we reviewed here, although Norwegian is no longer offering lounge access on Premium Economy tickets unless you buy a flexible one.

New food may be welcome but, based on the analysis we did last April:

Virgin Atlantic offers free seat selection in Premium whilst BA does not

Virgin Atlantic has a 2.5 inch wider seat than BA

Virgin Atlantic offers dedicated Premium check-in desks, whilst BA does not

Virgin Atlantic offers priority baggage handling to Premium passengers, whilst BA does not

Virgin Atlantic has dedicated cabin crew for the Premium cabin, whilst BA does not

In my view, the best reason to book World Traveller Plus is to upgrade it to a flat-bed Club World seat using Avios.  

The cost to upgrade is the difference between a Club World and World Traveller Plus ‘100% Avios’ redemption plus any additional taxes.  New York, peak dates, is 120,000 Avios for a Club World return flight and 80,000 Avios for World Traveller Plus.  An upgrade from WTP is therefore 40,000 Avios return or 20,000 Avios one-way.  This is excellent value.

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Category

British Airways and Avios, Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

Comments (108)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • MrK says:
    17 Jan17 January 10:27

    Literally flying out of Heathrow on BA in WTP on Feb 1st. Will let you guys know this new offering is if I get to experience it!

  • Nick_C says:
    17 Jan17 January 10:43

    I found Rob’s article confusing as well.

    Actually it sounds like the new seats on the LGW 777s are an improvement on the seats on the 787, and the leg rests are back.

    More details here http://mediacentre.britishairways.com/pressrelease/details/86/2018-247/9236

    • Rob says:
      17 Jan17 January 11:15

      They are an improvement, I was trying to differentiate between ‘big TV’ and ‘small TV’ seats though which confused it, because some planes have the big TVs but an older seat version.

      • Prospero says:
        17 Jan17 January 16:56

        Rob, the IFE screens fitted in BA’s 86J aircraft are 15.5 inch, roughly the same size fitted to the 2010 WTP seat. There are still a number of 747s in service with the old 9″ screens but the numbers are dwindling fast through aircraft withdrawals and refurbishments

  • Riku says:
    17 Jan17 January 11:44

    The best PE i’ve flown on is Japan Airlines. The seat is a shell seat with a hard back around it (a bit like a non-bed version of a club world seat). Nobody ever reclines into your space and nobody can grab the back of your seat to use it as a grab hold (very nice when you’re asleep) or tap furiously on the touchscreen keeping you awake for a 10 hour day flight when you want a bit of a kip.

    • Nick_C says:
      17 Jan17 January 12:00

      As JAL is one of only two airlines to have the recommended config of 2-4-2 in economy on the 787 (along with a few original ANA planes), I would expect their PE to be something special.

  • Rma says:
    17 Jan17 January 12:20

    This is a very useful piece of information about Japan Airlines. BA’s WTP is comfortable as long as the passengers in front of you don’t recline their seats. As you can’t be sure of availability of the front row seats when booking, you should be aware that you may have a claustrophobic journey. One of the advantages of using American Airlines is that their website shows seat availability before confirming booking. If only BA would offer passengers this information.

    • Alan says:
      17 Jan17 January 12:24

      VS also show availability before booking, which can be handy. Of course, offering “free” seat selection is also good.

    • Nick_C says:
      17 Jan17 January 12:37

      BA show seat availability before confirming booking, but during the booking process. But they charge for seat selection, unless you have status or are travelling in F.

      AA show seat availability during the booking process, but helpfully do this before selecting a specific flight. Last time I checked, seat selection was free at the time of booking (usual supplements for exits, extra leg room etc).

      I always check seat availability and aircraft type before committing to a specific flight.

  • JohnK says:
    17 Jan17 January 12:35

    I fly ex-LHR WTP quite often and that catering is a welcome change. Not so sure about the seat design though – those movable armrests make it look worryingly like a slightly larger WT seat. Hope they don’t come to Heathrow

  • Graeme says:
    17 Jan17 January 12:59

    I’m a regular user of both BA and VS PE. IME the VS seat is much wider and feels a lot like the old first class on American carriers. BA had the chance to raise the bar when the 787s arrived and IMO still fail to compete with the VS offering. Virgin wins hands down in almost every aspect of PE for us, save for the smaller tv screen. Apart from 64k in CW on the jumbo, our favourite seats are 24H/K in the bubble on VS. Will be a sad day when the 747s leave the fleet.

    • Doug M says:
      17 Jan17 January 13:33

      Each to their own. I def agree on 64K, although I’d add 64A and 62A/K. This along with all the comments on Rob’s picture and which WT+ seat you’ll get shows how important it is to research things as much as you can, all seats are not equal, certainly in CW. Of course you’re always at the mercy of short notice aircraft swaps, but so many seats in a given class are just poor compared to others. You learn what you like, but flying an airline in a particular class is not representative of how much you’ll enjoy it next time if you’re not in the same seat on the same aircraft type. There’s a lack of consistency that’ll not disappear any time soon. 24HK in the bubble would certainly seem wider, this more as a result of being a pair, and the space between the fuselage wall and the seat, how would you feel about 17E/F 🙂

      • Graeme says:
        17 Jan17 January 18:39

        I agree. Closest thing to a private jet the PE upstairs, wide aisle and cubby by the window do make it feel spacious. I believe VS are bringing out a new PE seat on the 350s. Often we take 19A/C on the westbound to get off first but have always found it just as pleasurable!

    • journeying john says:
      18 Jan18 January 19:35

      Sounds good be interesting to hear if it’s actually delivered!
      At least with Virgin you know what screen you’re gettign, BA are still flying many PE cabins with occasionally partially functional Rockwell 5″ screens from the late ’90’s and let’s not get started on BA’s Beyond Abysmal cleanliness, catering or customer “service”

  • kevbar says:
    17 Jan17 January 14:06

    I booked WT+ via Amex Travel to get the Amex offer, so cannot upgrade in theory. Has anyone managed to upgrade using Avios by phoning BA or at the airport, ie last minute availability?

    • Alan says:
      17 Jan17 January 14:12

      I remember seeing someone who had been hit by this – Amex Travel seem to be selling T class fares I think? They managed to pay £5-10 for Amex to reissue the ticket in a class that could then be upgraded (they shouldn’t be selling them as standalone tickets anyway, only as part of a package!)

    • TripRep says:
      17 Jan17 January 15:18

      Interested in this too, anyone know the valid WTP fare codes for airport upgrade?

    • BlueHorizonUK says:
      18 Jan18 January 22:40

      This happened to me a few weeks ago. They sold me an unpublished fare at the same price as BA and only when I called BA did they tell me what happened. Called Amex and the lady knew what I Was talking about immediately and put me on hold and then told me to pay £1 extra to convert it into a published fare. Couple hours later ticket was reissued and BA was able to process the upgrade.

      • Alan says:
        19 Jan19 January 01:15

        Ahh thanks, it was your case I was remembering – I just couldn’t remember the precise details!

  • mutley says:
    17 Jan17 January 15:32

    O/T I don’t know if this has been covered but Virgin have a newish promotion with Avis, 1000 flying club miles per day plus the base 1000 for a 7 day rental. The reservation period is 9th – 31st January 2019. The rental period is 1st February – 31st May 2019.

    • Rob says:
      17 Jan17 January 15:34

      Covering tomorrow, looks good if the rate comes out ok

    • TripRep says:
      17 Jan17 January 20:49

      Mentioned the Avis deal the other day, Alamo is cheaper in FL, if it’s your $$$

      Good to see Rob covering it.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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