British Airways reveals revamped short-haul seats and new transatlantic first-class timeline
British Airways last night shared details of its transformation plan, which costs 7 billion British pounds (around $8.9 billion). It includes new short-haul seats, new lounges and a rollout plan for its revamped long-haul first class.
Announced at the airline's first "In the Skies" showcase event in London, the airline revealed an ambitious modernization outline spanning multiple areas of operation.
Among the more exciting announcements was the airline's plan to roll out new short-haul seats and cabin interiors on its newest Airbus A320neo and A321neos, with eight aircraft set to arrive starting in May.
The redesigned cabins will be fitted with extra-large bins for overhead luggage, and they will also see the return of Club Europe’s leather middle seat tray tables.
All Club Europe seats will also be fitted with USB-A and USB-C power (60W) charging ports; the Euro Traveller seats will be fitted with USB-A and USB-C (15W) charging ports.
The airline also confirmed that it expects to roll out a brand-new first-class suite between the United Kingdom and the U.S. at the end of 2025 and early 2026. It will be aboard its refurbished A380 aircraft.
There was also good news for British Airways Executive Club members who, from April 3, will be able to benefit from free messaging on a single device using the airline’s Wi-Fi, regardless of the cabin they travel in. Additionally, the airline has also extended its current double-tier bonus offering with British Airways Holidays until the end of June 2025.
On the ground, BA also plans to open a new lounge at Dubai International Airport (DXB). It'll be the first to feature the airline's new lounge design concept, followed by the opening of a lounge at Miami International Airport (MIA) in 2025. There will also be refreshes of the airline's current lounges at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) in Lagos, Nigeria.
It will make investments across the operational side of things with an overhaul of the airline’s website and mobile app. This will offer deeper personalization for travelers and a 100 million pound (around $127 million) investment in machine learning, automation and AI. It will drive improvements in areas such as bookings and baggage handling as well as IT infrastructure (which, let’s face it, hasn’t been the best in recent years).
In addition to the above, we’ll also see a return of British Airways flights from London to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). The services will restart in October and November, respectively.
The airline will operate three flights a week between the Thai capital and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) on a 777-200ER. It will offer daily flights between the Malaysian capital city and London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) on a 787-9 aircraft.
“We’re on a journey to a better BA for our people and for our customers, underpinned by a transformation programme that will see us invest £7bn over the next two years to revolutionise our business,” Sean Doyle, British Airways chairman and CEO, said. “We’re going to take delivery of new aircraft, introduce new cabins, elevate our customer care, focus on operational performance and address our environmental impact by reducing our emissions and creating a culture of sustainability.”
Bottom line
British Airways is investing 7 billion pounds (around $8.9 billion) across its entire business over the next few years to revamp areas such as inflight cabins to improve on-the-ground services. This is in addition to the return of its routes from London to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, expected to restart later this year.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.