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The First British Airways 787-9 Dreamliner Has Arrived
British Airways took delivery of its first 787-9 Dreamliner at the end of last month and, to celebrate the occasion, they released a time-lapse video of the aircraft being put together at Boeing’s HQ in Seattle:
The aircraft is scheduled to enter service on 25 October when it commences flights to Delhi.
Other routes the 787-9 is set to fly are:
- Abu Dhabi/Muscat from 5 November
- Kuala Lumpur from 10 December
- Austin from February (reportedly)
- San Jose from 4 May
The 787-9 will be configured in four classes with eight seats in First Class, 42 seats in Club World (Business Class), 39 seats in World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy), and 127 seats in World Traveller (Economy Class).
It was reported back in August that the Economy Class seats on the 787-9 will have half an inch more width than the seats on the 787-8 following complaints from passengers. Let’s hope that’s enough to make a difference.
In addition to improving the plight of Economy Class passengers, British Airways has also equipped the 787-9 with its next generation First Class cabin, making it the first European airline to install First Class on any type of Dreamliner.
British Airways First Class Cabin – Image courtesy of British Airways
While the First Class cabin looks nice it doesn’t look like a First Class cabin that you’d expect to see on any of the premium airlines. The way the seats are arranged reminds me of Business Class on American’s 777-300ERs and, now that I look at it, the seat looks a bit like the new American Business Class seat too (although it does look more spacious).
The business class cabin on American’s 77-300ER
Here’s a video that British Airways has uploaded showing the First Class cabin on the 787-9:
I’m unlikely to ever travel on British Airways in First so I can’t really say that I care one way or another, but I can’t help but wonder what the people who actually pay for First Class on BA think of this product….especially if they’ve also traveled in first on Cathay, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Lufthansa SWISS etc…
Earn Bonus Avios With Avis
Avis have brought out a new Avios promotion in conjunction with British Airways which allows travelers to earn a bonus 1,000 Avios (on top of the 700 they would already earn) on rentals of 3 days or more.
The main page for this promotion is here.
The highlights of the Terms & Conditions are:
- Qualifying rentals must be made booked and taken between 1 October and 30 November 2015.
- To qualify, rental length must be minimum 3 days and the rental car group must be minimum car group C.
- Reservations must be made using a British Airways/Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number: Gold members N744400; Silver members N744300; Bronze members N284300; Blue members N744100. Reservations made on ba.com (post-pin) and avisba.com (with Executive Club passenger type selected) will automatically have the correct AWD embedded in the rental.
- Rentals must include the British Airways Executive Club membership number of the first named driver (the “renter”). This Executive Club card number must be given at time of reservation and the card shown at time of rental.
- Valid for all participating rental locations worldwide.
- Qualifying rentals will receive 1,000 bonus Avios in addition to the standard award of 3 Avios per £1 spent, with a minimum standard award of 700 Avios for 3+ day rentals.
- A minimum of 1,700 Avios (made up of minimum 700 standard Avios plus 1,000 bonus Avios) will be awarded per qualifying rental, to a maximum of 10,000 Avios per rental.
- This Avios bonus is not valid on Prestige, Van or Chauffeur Drive rentals worldwide.
- Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other coupon, promotion or mileage offer.
Full Terms & Conditions can be found here.
Has anyone got a reservation on the new 787-9 Dreamliner yet? If you have, are you splashing out on Club World/First or are you going to find out if the wider seats are any good?
Hi, re your comment on feedback from what comments do those travelling first on BA actually think or feedback…. I am one of those passengers and frankly after every flight I send in the same negative feedback :-
1. The new seat looks a bit better but I hate the wasted space at the side of the passenger which I feel could be better utiliised. The existing protruding fixture which holds the dining tray steals what could be fantastic sleeping room and could be built more into the side or could be done in a way that when you sleep it drops recesses.
2. I hate the TV screen having to be put away for landing and takeoff and the new look TV seems a welcome adjustment
3. The food has gone down hill – I recently took 3 first class flights and had to hand back the meal – totally inedible.
When you compare against Cathay in particular, it is no more than a biz class comparison. The Cathay first is probably the next best in my view after Singapore Airlines. The space in the chair and for sleeping is big enough for two people to snuggle side by side and the food is incredible. I can’t drink the BA champagne, it is too acidic and bland whereas Cathay have krug which happens to be my favourite. The BA champers is not cheap I just don’t find it appealing. They do have another choice in first – a blanc de blanc which I prefer but still not on a par with Cathay.