British Airways unveils spiffing new business class seats

British Airways has unveiled its much anticipated new business class seat, Club Suite, and it looks like it ticks all the boxes. The seat will launch in the airline's first Airbus A350 in July in a 56-seat Club World cabin with a 1-2-1 configuration that gives all passengers direct aisle access. It is part of a  £6.5 billion investment program that is seeing changes to the British carrier's lounges and inflight product as well as new aircraft and routes. READ: British Airways opts for 42 Boeing 777X aircraft. It comes with a suite door for greater privacy and  40 percent more storage that includes a vanity unit and mirror There is also WiFi, PC/USB power and a big 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screen with high definition gate-to-gate programming.

BA chief executive Alex Cruz said the suite door and direct access were design features incorporated as a direct result of feedback from customers. READ:  British Airways puts on the ritz for first class "We've worked hard to ensure every aspect of the Club World experience from the lounges we've refreshed, to the new gourmet menus from Do&Co on flights from Heathrow, and the luxurious bedding we've introduced from The White Company exudes the very British style and quality customers expect from us,'' he said.

"At British Airways we have one of Europe's largest long-haul fleets and most far-reaching global networks, so it will take some time to make the cabin available to everybody. "We hope that as more customers have the chance to experience it, they'll enjoy traveling in it as much as we've enjoyed designing it." As well as a new Club World cabin, the three-cabin A350 will feature the latest World Traveller Plus cabin (56 seats) with new furnishings including a plush new pillow and a warm quilt, new amenity kits and an enhanced service and an improved dining experience. Those traveling in the 219-seat World Traveller (economy) cabin will also benefit from high-speed WiFi. The airline, which is marking its centenary this year, says it will roll out the new suites in a carefully managed program designed to minimize disruption to customers. During phase one, the first A350 aircraft will start some short-haul flying between London and Madrid to allow the airline's teams to perfect their customer service delivery and familiarise cabin crew with the aircraft layout.

In phase two, from October 1, 2019, the aircraft will begin long-haul flying. During this period another three A350 aircraft will join the British Airways fleet and two Boeing 777 aircraft will also be retrofitted with the new cabin. At the start of 2020 phase three will begin which will see British Airways rolling out its Club Suite on further long-haul aircraft across the network.