Subscriber podcast #18.5: the dining, amenities and lounges parts of the British Airways first and business picture

From knives and forks to glasses and bowls, hidden pyjama tartan, farewell to unloved goodie-bags and disintegrating Heathrow lounge washrooms, there’s a lot to think about when talking British Airways dining, amenity kit and lounge plans

By John Walton 3 min read
A series of mostly plain white plates and some dark blue gradated plates with food on them, shot from above.

Head for Points’ aviation editor and crockery aficionado Rhys Jones returns for a bumper episode of The Upgrade — in which we cordially disagree about BA’s current first class tableware, get our teeth into the new onboard soft product, and dissect the rather complicated plans for refurbishing and expanding the airline’s Heathrow lounges.

For your reference: BA’s new first class tableware (top left), compared with Lufthansa’s in first class (top right) and business (bottom two). Images (clockwise from top right): British Airways, Lufthansa, John Walton, Lufthansa/DeSoto Studios

We also get into the new pyjamas, amenity kits and other benefits just launched across BA first class — plus, what they’re replacing.

Also: what’s the new “First Service Specialist” role within the cabin, and what is that likely to mean in reality?

From PJs to cushions and amenity kits, the near-term future of BA first is taking shape. Images: British Airways

When we discuss Heathrow and BA’s intricate, sequenced plans for new lounges, you may find it useful to refer to Heathrow’s airport terminal maps as a guide.

BA splits its operations (and lounges) over two main terminals plus two satellites.

Its main hub at terminal 5 has two satellite piers (T5B and C) accessible by peoplemover from the T5A area of the main terminal. Separately, there’s BA’s secondary operation at terminal 3 in the main central area of the airport.

We refer to the new BA lounge plans for (clockwise from top left): the T5A Arrivals lounge, the T5C lounges, the T5C Concorde Room’s dining area, the T3 joint BA/AA checkin area, and the T5C Concorde Room. Images: British Airways

The Upgrade is our subscriber-exclusive podcast, with industry insider analysis on the details that really matter — going beyond what’s happening to why, and what it all means for the people who need to know.

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The Up Front PodcastsThe UpgradeBritish AirwaysFirst ClassBusiness ClassSoft productLondon HeathrowLounges
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.