Podcast episode #18: the most premium aircraft ever — what BA’s striking A380 refit means for passengers and the industry

106 seats in business, 94 in economy, the new must-pinch piece of passenger experience product — and possibly the last-ever A380 retrofit?

By John Walton 2 min read
Closeup on a first class seat with grey fabric, grey leather, and blue/wood surrounds. There is a blue cushion with angular design reminiscent of the BA Speedmarque brand element.

Rhys Jones from the UK-based frequent flyer specialists Head for Points joins us for expert analysis on BA’s big superjumbo retrofits, nose to tail, upstairs and downstairs… including the all-business upper deck.

A monochrome blueprint diagram of BA’s A380 upper deck, featuring all business class herringbone seats facing away from the aisle in four cabins ranging from two to more than a dozen seats.
The upper deck LOPA — Layout Of Passenger Accommodations — diagram comes up a lot in our discussions. Image: British Airways

What have we learned about the new tangerine-designed first class suites — and are they better than Singapore and Etihad? Why are the Collins Super Diamond/Elevation herringbones a particularly smart, if unsurprising, choice for Club World? What about the fascinatingly deep customisation of the third spaces on board, from Club Kitchen grab-and-go spots to the surprisingly blue galley areas? And are there enough lavatories in business class? Spoiler on that last one: probably not.

From first to the third spaces, the updated Club Suite to World Traveller Plus premium economy and World Traveller economy, BA’s A380s are getting a massive refit. Images: British Airways

During the episode, we refer to two YouTube videos British Airways put out to tease these new cabins: the first introduces the A380…

…while the second is more of a cabin walkthrough with the renderings.

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John Walton

Editor in chief of The Up Front, with two decades of experience reporting across the global aviation industry, specialising in business and first class, seats, cabins and the passenger experience.