Skip to content

British Airways Is Getting Its First A350 Tomorrow

July 25, 2019
4 min read
a350 (2)
British Airways Is Getting Its First A350 Tomorrow
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

The day has finally come for British Airways to take delivery of its first Airbus A350 aircraft. On Friday, July 26, British Airways will receive its first A350-1000 from Toulouse.

Registered as G-XWBA, the A350 making its way to London Heathrow (LHR) on Friday is the first of 18 of the aircraft on order. On Thursday, BA's PR team released a teaser video of the aircraft leaving a hangar.

The aircraft is expected to land at its future Heathrow home at around 2pm local time (9am ET). You'll be able to track the path of the aircraft on its journey from Toulouse (TLS) to LHR tomorrow by using the G-XWBA registration number on FlightRadar24.

The A350 represents a new era for British Airways. Inside, passengers can expect the biggest update to the carrier's Club World business-class product in decades. The carrier's new Club Suite product will be configured in a 1-2-1 set up, with the highlight of the suite being a door. The A350 will feature 56 seats in Club Suite, 56 seats in World Traveller Plus and 219 seats in economy. Notably missing on the A350s is BA's first class cabin.

Initially, the A350 will fly short-haul between London and Madrid (MAD) for crew to familiarize themselves with the aircraft and new product. Then, as of Sept. 2, the aircraft will fly to Dubai (DXB). By the end of the year, BA will have four A350s in the fleet.

The introduction of the A350 into service means the end of the road is near for the Queen of the Skies — BA's 747s. They're expected to be fully retired from the fleet by 2022.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Stay tuned to TPG on Friday for a first look inside the aircraft.

TPG featured card

4 / 5
Go to review
Rewards rate
1XChoose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee
2XEarn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status + $300 of Bilt Cash
Annual fee
$495
Regular APR
26.74 - 34.74% variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Good Credit, Excellent Credit

Pros

  • Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
  • Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
  • $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
  • $200 Bilt Cash annually
  • Priority Pass membership
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • Moderate annual fee
  • Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
  • Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
  • Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
  • 2X points on everyday spend
  • $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
  • $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
  • Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
  • Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
  • Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.