British Airways Business Class Review (A350): London to Hong Kong

Published: 7th April 2026.
This is not a sponsored post & I am not affiliated with any of the businesses or organisations mentioned.

While planning our most recent one month extravaganza to Hong Kong and South East Asia, our excitement to fly long haul on a business class product I had heard so much about almost surpassed our enthusiasm for getting to spend so much time in one of our favourite parts of the world.

On our journey from London Heathrow to Hong Kong with British Airways, my husband and I had the chance to experience Club World on the Airbus A350, featuring BA’s Club Suites. With a 12-hour flight ahead of us, this felt like the perfect opportunity to see whether BA’s business class lives up to expectations.

WHAT IS BA’S CLUB WORLD?

On long-haul routes, British Airways brands its business class as Club World. Alongside the onboard experience, it includes the usual business class perks: access to BA’s business class lounges at Heathrow Terminal 5, a generous luggage allowance and priority check-in and boarding which make for an overall smoother airport journey from start to finish.

THE CABIN: A CALM, UNDERSTATED SPACE

We travelled on an Airbus A350 fitted with Club Suites, and the cabin layout immediately felt modern and well thought out. There are two Club World cabins: a larger one at the very front of the aircraft, and a smaller, more intimate section just behind it.

Boarding took place quite late in the evening due to a delay, and while there was no mood lighting, both cabins still felt calm and inviting. British Airways’ signature palette of dark blues, greys, and blacks works well -it’s understated, but quietly elegant.

British Airways Club Suite is a ‘reverse herringbone’ seat configuration arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, featuring direct aisle access for every passenger, partitions and privacy doors. All seats face forward, angled towards the window or the centre.

I was seated in 9K, a window seat I’d absolutely recommend. It features two windows (as most do, though not all), which makes a noticeable difference when you want to look outside. My husband sat across the aisle which, in retrospective, is not the best way for a couple to seat, but that was on us.

You can check out the exact aircraft seating plan on Aerolopa.

THE SEAT: COSY, PRIVATE & COMFORTABLE

This was our first time flying in Club Suites, and both of us were pleasantly surprised. The seats look somewhat plain in photos, but in person they feel far more inviting -cosy, well-designed and comfortable.

The seat offers multiple recline positions, including a fully flat bed. Much has been said online about the Club Suite door and partition height, with some critics calling them gimmicky or insufficient. Honestly, I disagree. The door does create a real sense of privacy, since it creates a barrier to the corridor. Everyone in the cabin closed theirs as soon as dinner service ended. As for the partitions, they are adequate. You won’t see other passengers while seated, only when someone walks past.

Storage is a bit more of a mixed bag. Small stuff can easily be stored in the multiple storage compartments around you. Larger items (ie a laptop or big book) are trickier. You will either have to get creative or leave them on the surface next to you (which I guess is not a problem unless there’s major turbulence!). My point is, in bed mode, you will have to be ready to use that overhead locker.

A reading light, mirror, multiple charging points along with the large stowable table and side surface are thoughtful additions to a comfortable seat.

BEDDING & COMFORT: GREAT, NOT PERFECT

The bedding is provided in partnership with The White Company, a well-known British brand. The duvet is soft and cosy, and the pillow is large and fluffy. There’s also a thin mattress cover, though it’s more of a separating layer than actual padding -I do wish it were slightly thicker and larger.

Oddly, the duvet and seat cover are nicely protected inside a cover but the pillow is not. Having to store the bedding and pillow on the overhead locker when not in bed mode makes me think that the pillow needs to be protected too. I have seen this in multiple airlines and I don’t know why they do that! BA insists that they aim to reduce single use plastic usage, but maybe a compostable bag would do?

Anyway, despite the thinness of the seat cover, the seat, in lie flat mode, is comfortable and spacious enough that I still managed to rest well for around six hours (which is saying something, as I don’t usually sleep well on planes). My husband agreed. It’s a genuinely comfortable setup for both day and evening flights.

AMENITY KIT: SMALL IN SIZE, BIG IN THOUGHTFULNESS

The amenity kit, also by The White Company, is compact but thoughtfully designed.

BA and The White Company almost do themselves a disservice with using a pouch so small since for many people size matters!

However, it is packed to the brim and I personally think that small is better, as luggage space is at a premium. There’s a very nice quality eye mask (not the cheap polyester kind thankfully), socks, toothbrush and toothpaste and earplugs, all wrapped in recyclable wrapping. There were also a few mini sized cosmetics. The lip balm tastes divine.

ENTERTAINMENT & CONNECTIVITY: SOLID OPTIONS

British Airways offers free messaging (such as WhatsApp and iMessage), while full internet access is available for a fee. You can check prices on BA/wifi. Honestly, I didn’t even try to connect as I preferred to disconnect and enjoy the flight. It’s worth mentioning that BA is currently in the process of installing Starlink to all planes and providing fast internet to all, for free.

The screen was large and responsive and the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system was solid, with a wide range of films, TV shows, games and audiobooks. You can browse the selection in advance on BA/entertainment which is a nice touch. If you struggle to find something there, read my post on Best TV Shows to Binge Watch on a Long Flight.

If you are an aviation geek, you will also definitely appreciate the engaging and very informative moving map.

The provided headphones are decent with moderate noise cancelling function, but not comparable to proper noise-cancelling ones. I used my Bose headphones with a Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 adapter, which worked perfectly. I’d highly recommend that setup.

FOOD & DRINK: WHERE BA QUIETLY GETS IT RIGHT

Given this was an evening departure, service began with a pre-departure drink and a hot towel followed by another drinks round before dinner.

Dinner offered a choice of three starters, three mains, and three desserts, along with an extensive drinks list. The meal itself was excellent -generous portions, well-balanced flavours, and nicely presented without feeling pretentious.

Breakfast, on the other hand, was more modest: fruit, yoghurt with toppings, and a croissant. It was pleasant, but lacked variety and a hot option.

The pacing of service for both meals was perfect and so was the white linen and elegant glassware.

Another detail I particularly appreciated was that service wasn’t conducted from a trolley. This meant the aisle was never blocked, and the experience felt more like dining in a restaurant than being served on a plane.

SERVICE: WARM, ATTENTIVE & THOUGHTFUL

The service on this flight was a real highlight.

Our flight was delayed for a couple of hours, so by the time we boarded the plane it was late in the evening and we were a bit tired and stressed. However, the moment we boarded the flight we were greeted by the most upbeat, smiling crew saying hello and welcome in both English and Cantonese. This really helped us recover and relax.

After settling in, a flight attendant introduced herself and addressed me by name personally -a small but meaningful touch. Throughout the flight, the crew maintained a polite and professional manner without ever feeling stiff. They were attentive in a natural way. Another detail I appreciated: crew members often lowered themselves to speak at eye level, rather than standing over passengers. It’s subtle, but it makes interactions feel far more personal.

Furthermore, the flight attendant taking care of me paid attention to what I was doing and when I woke up, she came straight away and asked if I wanted to have a coffee or other beverage. From what I saw, that was the case with all passengers, and mind you that was one large business class cabin.

My only criticism relates to the window shades. They remained closed for most of the flight and were only allowed to be opened about an hour or two before landing -around 3pm Hong Kong time. While I understand the intention (to help passengers sleep), it wasn’t ideal for those of us trying to adjust to the destination time zone.

CONCLUSION: IS BRITISH AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS LONG HAUL (CLUB WORLD) WORTH IT?

A long-haul overnight flight is where business class truly proves its value and this flight delivered where it matters most: comfort, rest, and a smooth overall experience.

While many people compare British Airways to airlines like Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines, I see things slightly differently. Living in London, the ability to fly direct to so many destinations is a major advantage. I do not see a reason why I would choose to stress over catching a connecting flight when I don’t have to, no matter how good their business class product may be.

So, did we enjoy it? Absolutely. By the time the captain announced our descent into Hong Kong, the 12-hour journey had felt surprisingly short. More importantly, I felt rested and relaxed which, for me, is the ultimate benchmark of a good business class experience.

British Airways does not do glitz and glamour the same way some Middle Eastern or Asian carriers do. In my opinion, though, on its best day, it delivers something distinctly British: no fuss, understated, quiet luxury. Some people appreciate this mentality and how it is executed while others find it… ok…ish. What do you think?

(In case you are wondering, British Airways has not paid for this post or the flight, and I am sure they don’t know this blog exists).

SO, IS IT WORTH THE PRICE TAG?

BA’s Club World does not come cheap (and neither does Qatar, Emirates or Singapore). You can easily spend GBP 3,000 – 5,000 ($ 4,000 – 6,600) for a single ticket one way for a BA flight of this length, in Club World. Is it worth it? If you have to ask the question, you probably can’t afford it! And, by the way, neither do we!

Thankfully, we didn’t pay that much. We paid a lot less, by using Avios (on BA’s loyalty programme). I have a blog post coming up that explains how much we paid, and how we did it. Stay tuned!

For the prices that business class goes these days (for most top tier airlines), I don’t think that there’s anything they can do to make me say it’s worth it, simply because the opportunity cost for a sum of money like that is too great for me. And realistically, for the majority of travellers.

That’s why most people who fly business class do so either on the company credit card or with loyalty points. And then, there’s people who can actually afford it and book it without even asking how much it costs. But, I am not one of them so I can’t speak on that basis.

All in all, based on this experience, for the right price (whatever you may think that is for YOU), I would definitely recommend that you fly BA Club World on the Club Suites.

As always, I hope this was helpful, and see you in business class!

This is not a sponsored post and I am not affiliated with any of the businesses or organisations mentioned.