TravelNewsAsia.com
Tue, 11 April 2017

British Airways Unveils Plans to Upgrade Travel Experience

British Airways has unveiled a series of investment plans designed to improve the overall travel experience for customers. The investments include:

- First Wing direct security and lounge access at London Heathrow;

- £400 million in Club World business class;

- Introducing Club Europe business class on UK domestic services;

- New lounges;

- Latest generation Wi-Fi fitted on long-haul and short-haul fleets over the next two years; and

- Self-service check-in and biometric boarding gates to speed up the airport journey.

Alex Cruz, British Airways’ chairman and CEO, said, “We will invest and innovate where our customers value it most, and differentiate ourselves with a unique on-board experience and service. We’re investing in Club World, focusing now on improved catering and sleep and in the future on a new seat. We’re investing in the best Wi-Fi in the sky, new lounges and direct access to security and our lounges for our First customers, via our new First Wing at Heathrow. We’re also aligning our business class cabin and service across all our flight by introducing Club Europe on domestic flights.”

British Airways Airbus A380-800

First Wing Check-In Area

British Airways launched its exclusive new ‘First Wing’ check-in area for First customers at Heathrow Terminal 5 on 5 April. It includes a dedicated two-lane security channel and direct access to the Galleries First Lounge and Concorde Room for the first time. The two new security lanes also reduce the number of travellers passing through the current South security lanes, helping to speed up the journey for Club World customers too. A relaxed seating area is located after security for customers to gather their possessions in an unhurried atmosphere.

The First Wing gives First customers and Gold Executive Club members far greater privacy and exclusivity with a dedicated combined check-in and Fast Track space.

Club World Business Class

The airline will be investing £400 million in Club World business class which will enhance the experience of dining at 38,000 feet and deliver a better night’s sleep when flying with British Airways.

From June, new catering will be introduced to the Heathrow business class lounges to improve food quality and extend the breakfast service to 11am.

In the air from July, fresh new linen, bigger pillows designed for sleep comfort, a soft mattress and duvet to give customers all they need for a great night’s sleep will be supplied.

From September, a new restaurant-style premium dining service will begin in Club World business class, with display trolleys allowing customers to select dishes from a choice of freshly prepared starters and desserts served on new table settings. A revamped service approach will be delivered to customers with a new culinary boutique experience.

These changes will launch on flights between London Heathrow and New York JFK, before being rolled out across the rest of the long-haul network during 2018.

The airline is also looking at options for a new seat in Club World with direct aisle access in 2019. Details have not yet been released.

Club Europe Business Class

The changes in service style will also be reflected in the Club Europe business class on short-haul flights, including new crockery, cabin crew pouring wine and champagne for customers and improved menus on board, which focus more closely on the length and time of day of the flight.

Cruz said, “Club World and Club Europe are vital elements of what we offer and play a big part in customer satisfaction levels. We are the only UK airline to have both short-haul and long-haul networks and we want to ensure that customers connecting across our network get a consistent and distinctive British Airways experience.”

New Lounges

First and business class customers will notice a change in lounges too, starting with the new complex at Gatwick Airport's South Terminal. With sweeping views of the runway, the new First and Club lounges have 40% more floor space than the airline's former lounge in North Terminal.

An investment of £88 million is planned on lounge facilities in the US. New York’s JFK Terminal 7 will receive over £52 million worth of investment over the next two years; a refurbishment of the First and Club World lounges as well as improvement to the customer experience at check-in, security and the boarding gates.

Boston’s new lounge has just opened, coinciding with the Airbus A380 starting on the Heathrow-Boston route. The facility is 30 larger than the previous lounge, has direct gate access and stunning views over the stunning Boston skyline.

Next year Aberdeen and Rome’s lounges will be revamped, and the lounge in Geneva will be expanded. Further investment is planned in San Francisco, Johannesburg, Manchester and Chicago. London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 lounges will be revamped over the next few years, starting this month with the flagship Concorde Room for First customers, which will have new furniture and a refreshed look and feel.

Wi-Fi

From this month, customers in all cabins will start to enjoy the latest generation of Wi-Fi as it’s rolled out across British Airways’ long-haul network. Short-haul Wi-Fi will commence later in the year when British Airways becomes the first airline to offer connectivity using Europe’s first ever 4G high-speed inflight network with the aim of having 90% of its total fleet connected by 2019. Customers will be able to use their own devices to browse the internet, access email and check social media. In addition, they will have the ability to stream video content from popular sites such as Netflix and YouTube.

There will be a choice of two options: Simply Connect or Connect Plus. Customers can choose whether they connect for one hour, four hours or the full flight. Simply Connect supports basic web browsing, email and instant messaging with prices from £4.99 while Connect Plus provides a faster connection speed supporting video streaming services from £7.99.

Self-Service Check-In and Biometric Boarding Gates

Technology is also helping customers to simplify and speed up their journeys through the airport, with the opening of the airline’s first three automated self-boarding gates for UK domestic flights at Heathrow Terminal 5.

The automated gates use facial recognition technology to allow customers to simply scan their boarding pass, before walking straight onto the aircraft.

Additionally, customers are now able to self-service bag drop at Heathrow and Gatwick, enabling them to label and drop off their bags before proceeding through security.

Alex Cruz, said, “It’s simple really – we need to deliver what our customers value most, where they value it most. We need to focus on enhancing premium - offering contemporary service, improved catering and lounges and a consistent experience. In economy, where we know that price is the driver, we need to focus our efforts on delivering more seats at the lowest fares and giving customers choices. We have an exciting time ahead. Alongside these initiatives, we’re also making changes behind the scenes to increase operational efficiency and reliability through new technologies including automatic boarding gates and a re-designed baggage arrivals process. And we’re making a commitment to achieve the highest standards of cleanliness and equipment reliability in all our cabins. Our customers will really notice a step-change in their travel experience with us.” 

Headlines: AirAsia Cambodia Prepares for Take Off  Alex Schellenberger Joins Mandarin Oriental as Senior Vice President Brand  Ethiopian Airlines Opens E-Commerce Logistics Facility at Bole Addis Ababa Airport  Routes Americas 2024 Taking Place in Bogota, Colombia  Air Botswana Appoints APG as GSA in 16 Markets  Korean Air to Resume More Flights; Increase Services to Select Destinations  WestJet Appoints APG as Representative in South Korea; Airline to Launch YYC-ICN Flights in May  Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Opens in Fukui, Japan  Rolls-Royce to Expand Engine Build and Services Capacity in UK and Germany  United Airlines to Launch Los Angeles - Shanghai Flights; Increase LAX - HKG Service  Nine Exclusive HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia  AirAsia X Launches Direct Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty, Kazakhstan  Singapore Airlines Revamps Premium Economy Class with New Menu and Amenity Kit  Amadeus Completes Acquisition of Voxel  Minor to Rebrand NH Museum Quarter Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands  U-Tapao Airport (UTP) in Rayong / Pattaya, Thailand - HD Video Interview with Ampika Chadawong  IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Mumbai and Colombo, Sri Lanka  Perth Airport (PER) in Western Australia - HD Video Interview with Stephanie Juszkiewicz  China Airlines to Launch Flights Between Taipei and Seattle, USA  TUMI Launches Capsule Collection in Partnership with NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team  AirAsia Malaysia to Resume Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Pattaya, Thailand  Thai Airways to Launch Flights from Bangkok to Colombo, Kochi and Perth  Munich Airport (MUC) in Bavaria, Germany - HD Video Interview with Michael Haeffner  Japan Tourism, World Expo 2025 and Japan Expo 2025 - HD Video Interview with Akira Watabe of JNTO  BBN Airlines Indonesia Receives Additional AOC from DGCA  Vietnam Airlines to Launch Flights from HAN and SGN to Munich Airport in Bavaria, Germany  Sabre Launches Booking Solution for New and Independent Travel Consultants  AirAsia Malaysia Launches A321neo Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Perth, Australia  Saudi Arabia's Air Connectivity Program - HD Video Interview with Rashed Alshammari, Vice President Commercial  Lui Chong Chee to Succeed Bob Tan as Chairman of the Boards of CapitaLand Ascott Trust  Sabah Tourism Board - HD Video Interview with Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Chief Executive Officer  Berlin Airport (BER) - HD Video Interview with Simon Miller, Senior Manager Market Intelligence  IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Chandigarh and Dharamshala, India  Skyco Partners Airbus; Orders Six H175 Helicopters  Jumeirah Appoints Michael Grieve as Chief Brand Officer  Cam Ranh Airport (CXR) in Nha Trang, Vietnam - HD Video Interview with Le Thi Hong Minh  Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang - HD Video Interview with Hotel GM, Jasmine Keh  Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh Appoints Lenen Mar Porras as ADOSM  United Confirms Flights to Cebu, Philippines as Airline Expands Network  Jumeirah Soft Opens First Hotel in Saudi Arabia  IHG Signs Two Luxury Hotels in KAFD Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Qatar Airways' NDC Content Now Available on Travelport+  Estelle Vassallo Moves to Italy as GM of Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel  Aviation: International RPK Up 20.8% in January 2024  Amora Completes Refurbishment and Rebranding of Hotel in Brisbane, Australia  Scoot Unveils Embraer E190-E2 Routes  IndiGo to Launch Flights from Jagdalpur to Hyderabad and Raipur  Jazeera Airways Appoints Barathan Pasupathi as CEO  Marriott Signs Le Meridien Hotel in Zanzibar  IATA Reports Air Cargo Data for January 2024  BFS Receives GDP Certification for Dedicated Pharma Handling Facility at BKK  Solomon Islands Welcomed 26,036 Visitors in 2023; Positive Outlook for 2024  Vietjet Signs MOU with Airbus for 20 A330-900 Aircraft  Hong Kong Airport Reports January 2024 Passenger and Cargo Numbers  Malaysia Aviation Group Becomes Official Airline Partner of MATTA Fair 2024  AirAsia Malaysia Launches Flights Between Kota Kinabalu and Shanghai, China  Taiwan's Starlux Airlines Orders Five Airbus A350 Freighters and Three A330neos  United Airlines to Resume Flights to Tel Aviv, Israel  Hahnair Appoints Stephen Chung as Regional Vice President Asia Pacific  Korean Air Cargo Expands Partnership with Vienna Airport  IndiGo to Launch Daily Flights Between Bengaluru and Bali, Indonesia  Thai Airways Confirms Boeing 787-9 Order  SkyScape Becomes Eve Air Mobility's First Urban ATM Customer in Japan  Royal Brunei Airlines Orders Four Boeing 787-9 Aircraft  TransNusa Airlines Rebranding as a Premium Service Carrier  Moxy Hotel Opens in Bangkok, Thailand  Peninsula Bangkok Appoints Masahisa Oba as Managing Director  Silk Avia Takes Delivery of First New ATR 72-600 Turboprop Aircraft in Central Asia  Korean Air to Enhance Retailing Strategy with Accelya's FLX Platform  Rohit Pandey Returns to Minor as GM of the Anantara Jaipur Hotel  Marriott Soft Opens First Moxy Hotel in Malaysia  AirAsia X to Launch Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty, Kazakhstan on 14 March  Malaysia Airlines Opens Ticketing Outlet at Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya  Marriott Expands Apartments with Properties Signed in Italy, USA and Saudi Arabia  Stockholders of Hawaiian Holdings Vote to Adopt Merger Agreement with Alaska Airlines  Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2024 Opens Online Registration for Buyers and Sellers  Lore Group's Five Design-Led Hotels Join Global Hotel Alliance  Hilton Partners Small Luxury Hotels of the World  British Airways Using E-Logs Platform to Predict and Enhance Aircraft Maintenance Issues  Surf Air Mobility Secures Early Delivery Positions for 90 Electra eSTOL Aircraft  Nine Exclusive Video Interviews with VIPs at ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos  Thai Airways to Unveil Details of Boeing Aircraft Order at Singapore Air Show 2024  Hong Kong Reports Provisional Visitor Arrival Numbers for January 2024  Accor Hotels in New Zealand to Become Gold Standard Sustainable Tourism Businesses  American Express Opens World's Largest Centurion Lounge at ATL Airport in USA  Minor Hotels Reports Record Full Year Figures  Korean Air's Acquisition of Asiana Gets Conditional Clearance from European Commission  CapitaLand Establishes CLARA Fund II; Acquires Two lyf-Branded Properties as Seed Assets  ATR Receives B-Score from CDP Climate Change  Dassault to Showcase Falcon 6X and Falcon 2000LXS at the Singapore Air Show 2024  IHG's Expanding Hotel Portfolio in Vientiane - Interview with Murali Viswanathan, CGM  Settha Palace Hotel in Vientiane, Laos - Interview with Hala Krimi, General Manager  Vietjet Launches Flights Between Saigon and Chengdu, China  Inthira Vang Vieng Hotel in Laos - Interview with Charles-David Hay, General Manager  IHG Hotels at Dubai Festival City Appoints Pranav Vohra as Cluster Commercial Director  S Vang Vieng Boutique Hotel in Laos - Interview with Sengnikone Bouphaphanh  Full Moon Island Resort in Kaoh Sdach, Cambodia - Interview with Indra Khanitha Lay Prohas  Jetstar Launches Flights from Brisbane to Osaka and Seoul  IHG to Expand Six Senses Brand to Kyoto, Japan  DiscoverLaos - HD Video Interview with Southisack Sayasavanh, Tours Director  Cosi Vientiane Nam Phu Hotel - Interview with Pasin Nopsuwan, General Manager  Hyatt Expands JdV Brand of Hotels to Goa, India  Thailand to See Increase in Chinese New Year Tourism Spend  Lao Airlines - Exclusive Video Interview with Chanthanon Khampheng at ATF 2024  Dansavanh Nam Ngum Resort in Laos - Interview with Michelle Wang, Travel Director  Marriott Hotel Opens on Gurney Drive in Penang, Malaysia  Emirates to Increase Capacity on Flights to Osaka, Japan  Michelle Lee Joins Pullman Bangkok Hotel G as General Manager  Rosewood Makes Changes to Senior Management Team  Smiths Detection to Upgrade Security at Fukuoka Airport in Japan  Standard to Open Residences in Hua Hin and Phuket, Thailand; Video Interview with Amar Lalvani  AirAsia Indonesia Launches Flights Between Jakarta and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia  Philippine Airlines to Deploy Amadeus Traveler DNA  Mantra Club Croc Airlie Beach Completes A$8 Million Refurbishment of All 160 Guestrooms  Vietjet Wet Leases Two Aircraft to Meet Surge in Lunar New Year Travel Demand  Singapore Cruise Centre to Upgrade Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal  IHG Signs New-Build 150-Key Holiday Inn Hotel in Guwahati, India  Thai AirAsia Launches Flights from Bangkok (DMK) to Shanghai and Kaohsiung  TFE Signs New-Build Apartment Hotel in Brisbane, Australia  Ritz-Carlton Hotel Opens in Las Colinas Area of Dallas, USA  8 NTO Press Conferences from the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos  13 Exclusive HD Video Interviews from World Travel Market 2023 in London, England  5 Exclusive HD Video Interviews from APG World Connect 2023 in Monaco, France  15 Exclusive HD Video Interviews from Routes World 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye  Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport in Kazakhstan - Video Interview with Co-Founder  Pictures from Miss International Queen 2023 Transgender Beauty Pageant in Pattaya, Thailand  Exclusive Video Interviews with 17 Miss International Queen 2023 Contestants  Living With One Eye - Six Years On by Steven Howard  HD Videos and Interviews  Podcasts from HD Video Interviews  RSS Feed - Travel Industry News  Ticker - Travel Industry News  Travel Industry News Archives  Travel Trade Shows  High-Res Picture Galleries  Travel News Asia - Latest Travel Industry News 

See latest HD Video Interviews, Podcasts and other news regarding: BA, British Airways, London.

Subscribe to our Travel Industry News RSS Feed Travel Industry News RSS Feed from TravelNewsAsia.com. To do that in Outlook, right-click the RSS Feeds folder, select Add a New RSS Feed, enter the URL of our RSS Feed which is: https://www.travelnewsasia.com/travelnews.xml and click Add. The feed can also be used to add the headlines to your website or channel via a customisable applet. Have questions? Please read our Travel News FAQ. Thank you.

     
Advertising
Advertising
Copyright © 1997-2024 TravelNewsAsia.com