The British Airways First Class amenity kit, crockery and bedding improvements are now live
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British Airways officially launched its ‘soft’ improvements to First Class on Sunday, and they should be fully rolled out across the network by today.
SaturdayKid on Flyertalk posted some images, of which I have borrowed a couple. You can see all of his images and some other feedback on Flyertalk here.
General feedback from a couple of HfP readers who are also BA crew is positive with customers being especially happy with the new noise cancelling headphones. The loss of the Liberty amenity kits does seem to be felt, however, with the new Temperley ones not really measuring up in terms of style or bag quality.
Here is the new amenity kit, the new noise-cancelling headphones from Meridian and the new day blanket:
Here is the new sleep suit, also from Temperley – male and female versions are available. Apparently you can now mix and match the sizing of the top and bottom halves for the first time.
Whilst not pictured, your hot towel now comes on a little glass tray!
There is also new crockery, cutlery and glassware. Here are some official BA pictures:
and
The new teapot is also apparently very impressive!
There is also good feedback on the new bedding with praise for the high thread count.
New British Airways First Class food
A new menu has also been introduced. Here is a sample selection for the main meal.
As you will see, canapes have returned, served with the initial drinks service:
Canapes
Shropshire blue cheese with spiced apple jelly and candied pecans, Kinglas smoked salmon with cream cheese and caviar, Cumbrian air-dried salami with sliced black olive, sun-blushed tomatoes and cornichon
Here is a current main meal menu:
Appetisers
Cured beef bresaola with tonnato dressing, anchovies, tomato, caper
Kidderton Ash goat’s cheese with hazelnuts, asparagus, raddish
Seared scallops with truffle pea puree, maple-cured gammon, pea shoots
Vichyssoise soup with Braddock Whites poached duck egg, potato salad
Seasonal mixed leaf salad with spicy lemon vinaigrette or creamy honey mustard dressing
Entrees (why has BA started using the word entree?)
Seared fillet of aged Herefordshire beef with caramelised caper butter, red wine jus, roasted vine-tomatoes, wild mushrooms, pine nuts
Seared fillet of halibut with Brixham crab bisque, preserved lemon, buttered samphire
Roasted breast of corn-fed free-range chicken with Winbirri Bacchus white wine, thyme and bread sauce
Ricotta black pepper ravioli with lovage pesto, charred leeks, black olives, red vein sorrel
All served with side orders of potato fondant with truffle salt, broccoli with almonds, glazed chantenay carrots
Cheese
Belton Farm Red Fox
Fourme d’Ambert
Double-Barrel Lincolnshire Poacher
Normandy Camembert
Desserts
Chocolate and orange delice with almond granola, sugared pistachios
Blueberry and nectarine charlotte
Vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce, raspberries
Chocolates by Lauden
The wine list and champagne list appears much as it was, which means you’re still getting bottles selling for £12.72 retail. However, British Airways has added a cocktail list including mocktails.
All in all, it seems more like evolution than revolution although there is no doubt that the overall standard has improved. I look forward to trying it out at some point.
How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (October 2024)
As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!
In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.
You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:
Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
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Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
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There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
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British Airways American Express
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You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
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The Platinum Card from American Express
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Run your own business?
We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.
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There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:
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There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.
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American Express Business Gold
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Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.
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