Review: Flying British Airways Business Class from Los Angeles to London

By the time I got ready to leave for a business trip in Europe late on a Friday night, I was downright exhausted from a week of personal and professional trials. It was already past my bedtime, and I was hungry, tired, and ready for a reprieve — so I certainly hoped my British Airways (BA) business class seat would deliver a comfortable, restful experience. Here’s how my flight from Los Angeles to London in the Club World cabin on an A380 stacked up.

Boarding and Cabin

I boarded the flight without any issues and quickly located my seat. British Airways’ business class, known as Club World, features seating on both the upper and lower decks.

Photo: Courtesy of British Airways

The upper deck offers a quieter 2-3-2 layout, along with additional storage lockers by the windows. I was seated on the main deck, in seat 10B, which is a forward-facing bulkhead seat in a 2-4-2 configuration.

The flight attendants came around with pre-flight drinks, offering champagne or orange juice, and soon we were on our way.

The Flight

My flight took off on time, which was a relief because I was looking forward to enjoying a good meal and getting as much sleep as possible before a busy workday in Europe.

Photo: Courtesy of British Airways

After dinner, I quickly fell asleep in my lie-flat seat and slept comfortably for over six hours. A flight attendant woke me up for breakfast about two hours before landing, as I had requested. Overall, it was a smooth and comfortable flight, just as I had hoped.

Meal Service

I hadn’t found much that appealed to me in the lackluster Oneworld lounge at LAX, so I was quite hungry for dinner on this late-evening flight.

I started with a tasty soup and a soft pretzel roll—simple, but satisfying. For the main course, I enjoyed a ricotta and kale lasagna with a slow-roasted cherry tomato sauce.

Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin

The lasagna was flavorful and generously portioned, and it paired well with a fresh side salad of quinoa, carrots, and lemon yogurt dressing. For dessert, I had a banana and chocolate dome drizzled with caramel sauce—rich and indulgent, just right to send me off to sleep.

Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin

Later in the flight, breakfast was also enjoyable. It began with a small plate of seasonal fruit, along with buckwheat muesli, quinoa granola, and mixed berries. For my main dish, I chose cinnamon French toast topped with a mixed berry compote and chocolate sauce—a bit too sweet for my taste, but still satisfying.

The Seat

The seat converted into a fully flat bed that extended to 72 inches, offering a decent amount of space at about 20 inches wide, with a bit more room in bed mode. It included USB-A and AC power outlets, as well as a small privacy screen between seats.

The 15.4-inch entertainment screen provided a variety of options, including first-run Oscar-winning films like “Anora” and “Conclave.” However, I found the touchscreen to be unresponsive. The flight attendant suggested using the remote control instead, which worked as a temporary solution but wasn’t my preferred method.

Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin

I sat in a forward-facing aisle seat. While the seat itself was reasonably comfortable, the layout had some drawbacks. Due to the alternating forward- and rear-facing “yin-yang” configuration, the flight attendant had to lean over me to open the divider and reach my window seatmate for service, which was not ideal for privacy or comfort.

Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin

As a solo business traveler, I didn’t find the seating configuration very appealing. However, it could be ideal for couples traveling together.

Photo: Courtesy of British Airways

For example, my husband, who is an Apple enthusiast, once found himself seated next to Steve Wozniak on a British Airways transatlantic flight in this setup, while I sat across the aisle. He was thrilled with the intimate seating arrangement, especially given the unexpected celebrity encounter.

Verdict

My experience in BA‘s Club World was enjoyable and provided the comfort I needed after a long week. While I’m not a fan of the front-to-back seating arrangement, the lie-flat seat, attentive service, and satisfying meals made the flight quite comfortable overall.

Best For

Consistent service across the Atlantic for oneworld customers.

britishairways.com