British Airways business class

[Susan Marks]

Earlier this week I travelled business class London to Sydney with British Airways on a Boeing 787-9. I found the layout of the pods to be very strange and they didn’t work very well. There were two pods next to the window; one facing forward and one backwards. Three pods were across the middle section; two facing forward and the one in the middle facing backwards. When the two facing forward had their feet up or were laying down flat, the person in the middle had no way of getting out other than by climbing over their legs. Totally impractical for many reasons. This was also the case for the person in the window pod.
Also, there is a perspex ‘window’ between the pods that could be open or closed. If the aisle pod person had their feet up or laying flat and the cabin staff were delivering food to the middle pod person, they had to lower the perspex window and pass the tray through for the receiver to place on their table. So many opportunities for items to fall off the tray.
We found the layout to be extremely impractical and would be interested to hear the thoughts of others who may have experienced this pod layout.

 

[SYD]

That’s the 2nd Gen Ying Yang style business seat that’s been around for years. But will be progressively replaced in due course.

The best seats are rear facing window seats and there are some at the end of the cabin that provide free access in/out.

 

[drron]

W e were lucky when we were t o fly on their 787-9 as it got subbed out for a 787-10 with the new J seats. I thought they were very good. A picture from the web.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Earlier this week I travelled business class London to Sydney with British Airways on a Boeing 787-9. I found the layout of the pods to be very strange and they didn’t work very well. There were two pods next to the window; one facing forward and one backwards. Three pods were across the middle section; two facing forward and the one in the middle facing backwards. When the two facing forward had their feet up or were laying down flat, the person in the middle had no way of getting out other than by climbing over their legs. Totally impractical for many reasons. This was also the case for the person in the window pod.
Also, there is a perspex ‘window’ between the pods that could be open or closed. If the aisle pod person had their feet up or laying flat and the cabin staff were delivering food to the middle pod person, they had to lower the perspex window and pass the tray through for the receiver to place on their table. So many opportunities for items to fall off the tray.
We found the layout to be extremely impractical and would be interested to hear the thoughts of others who may have experienced this pod layout.

The first version of this seat appeared in around 2000? So almost a quarter of a century ago! (wow!)

yes, all the things you mention are an issue, not seen today, but the seat itself was revolutionary at the time. Back then everyone else just had regular recliner seats, and sitting in the window or middle sets you had to climb out over people. So stepping over some legs was a minor trade off for a full flat bed!

BA is updating their product now to the traditional all-aisle access.

However, that aside, there are some seats on the yong-yang cabin that have unrestricted aisle access… those immediately facing the bulkheads. So those are the ones to select in future if you find yourself on another plane with the same configuration. The seat itself is also very comfortable and well padded. And long. I sleep really well in them!

 

[SYD]

I sleep really well in them!

My very first experience in the Gen 1 seat was JFK to LHR. I slept so well I completely missed breakfast and woke up on final approach!

They were quite good travelling with someone but slightly awkward flying solo until after the safety demo and the FAs waltz down the aisle pressing the buttons to raise the privacy screens.

 

[Lynda2475]

The window seat in last row of J has direct aisle access and was nice and private.

The middle seat looked like a nightmare.

On the plus side whilst older, it was pretty comfy dfw-lhr and I slept much better in it than on the new finnair non reclining seat.

But the newer BA J window with direct aisle access and the sliding door which I flew LHR-JFK the year before obviously much better.

 

[Susan Marks]

Thanks for all the comments. I had no idea this was an old configuration and that BA are in the process of changing it. Good to hear. I couldn’t help but imagine the difficulty a 90 year old might have trying to climb over someone’s legs. Yes, the seats were very comfortable. The staff and food were also great. No other issues with BA; just the seating arrangement.

 

[andye]

This is the most love for BA yin-yang I have ever seen. I agree with the comfort of old and the face-to-face awkwardness. The new suite is pretty good but not life-changing

 

[OATEK]

Thanks for all the comments. I had no idea this was an old configuration and that BA are in the process of changing it. Good to hear. I couldn’t help but imagine the difficulty a 90 year old might have trying to climb over someone’s legs. Yes, the seats were very comfortable. The staff and food were also great. No other issues with BA; just the seating arrangement.

You were unlucky as BA fly a B777 for part of the year with the new seat, and B787 the balance of the year with the old one. Generally they have the B777 during our warmer months. The B787s will be upgraded, but seem to be at the back of the queue.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for all the comments. I had no idea this was an old configuration and that BA are in the process of changing it. Good to hear. I couldn’t help but imagine the difficulty a 90 year old might have trying to climb over someone’s legs. Yes, the seats were very comfortable. The staff and food were also great. No other issues with BA; just the seating arrangement.

As a 90 year old you'd take the aisle seat, so no climbing over

 

[justinbrett]

They were revolutionary in their day.

One of the pros is ample foot room, something that's usually missing in modern J seats.

 

[Susan Marks]

As a 90 year old you'd take the aisle seat, so no climbing over

Of course.

 

[zig]

The first version of this seat appeared in around 2000? So almost a quarter of a century ago! (wow!)

I took one of my first J flights on this configuration. I thought it was great compared to the recliner seat flights I had previously taken.