The Definitive Guide to British Airways’ Direct Routes From the U.S. [Plane Types and Seat Options]

British Airways is one of the largest airlines in the world. Great Britain is home to Europe’s financial capital, London, and is frequented by millions of tourists year-round. As the country’s flag carrier, British Airways has a huge fleet and route network to meet global flight demand.

The airline has a storied history in premium flights: British Airways invented the modern lie-flat seat in business class and was once the chief innovator of premium-cabin travel products.

Though the airline has fallen behind in innovation for many years to competitors, including Emirates and Singapore Airlines, British Airways has made huge strides in reasserting itself as a global leader in commercial travel with its new Club Suite (which we’ll get into below).

British Airways operates the most aircraft of any airline by far and performs swaps extremely often — so we have plenty of ground to cover in this guide to your options.

Seat Options by Aircraft Type

British Airways operates a huge variety of aircraft on its flights between America and London, and continues to expand options. Specifically, the airline recently introduced a new Club Suite business class product.

These seats are the absolute best offering in business class, featuring reverse herringbone seats with direct aisle access and a sliding door.

The new Club Suite is available on all A350-1000 and 787-10 aircraft, as well as some reconfigured 777-300ER and 777-200 planes.

Let’s take a look at BA’s route summary chart for reference:

BA Route	Flight Number	Aircraft	Cabin Classes	Frequency
Atlanta (ATL) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 226	787-9	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	6x weekly
Austin (AUS) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 190	A350-1000	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Daily
Baltimore (BWI) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 228	787-8	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Daily
Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 202/212/214/238	BA 202: 787-9 until January 18, 2022, then 787-10 until May 16, 2022, then 787-8 BA 212: 787-8 until January 1, 2022, then reconfigured 777-300ER BA 214/238: 777-200 (4-class) mostly, sometimes 787-9	787-8: Business, Premium Economy, Economy 787-9: First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy Reconfigured 777-300ER: First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy 777-200 (4-class): First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Up to 4x daily
Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 294/296	BA 294: 787-10 BA 296: Reconfigured 777-300ER	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Up to 2x daily
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 192	A380	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Daily
Denver (DEN) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 218	A350-1000	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Daily
Houston (IAH) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 194/196	787-10	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	BA 194: Daily BA 196: 5x weekly
Las Vegas (LAS) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 274	A350-1000	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Daily
Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 268/280	BA 268: A380 BA 280: Reconfigured 777-300ER	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	2x daily
Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 206/208	BA 206: Reconfigured 777-300ER BA 208: A380	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	2x daily
Nashville (BNA) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 222	787-8	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	5x weekly
Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 184/188	BA 184: 777-200 (4-class) BA 188: 787-10	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Up to 2x daily
New Orleans (MSY) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 224	787-8	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	3x weekly
New York (JFK) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 112/114/116/172/ 174/176/178/182	Reconfigured 777-300ER	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Up to 8x daily
Orlando (MCO) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 204	A350-1000	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Daily
Orlando (MCO) – London-Gatwick (LGW)	BA 2036	777-200 (Gatwick 3-class)	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Up to 1x daily
Philadelphia (PHL) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 66	777-200 (4-class)	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Daily
Phoenix (PHX) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 288	A350-1000	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Daily
San Diego (SAN) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 272	777-200 (4-class)	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	Daily
Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 48/52	BA 48: 787-10 BA 52: 787-9	First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	2x daily
Tampa (TPA) – London-Gatwick (LGW)	BA 2166	777-200 (Gatwick 3-class)	Business, Premium Economy, Economy	5x weekly
Washington, D.C. (IAD) – London-Heathrow (LHR)	BA 216/292	BA 216: 777-200 (Gatwick 3-class) BA 292: 787-9	777-200 (3-class): Business, Premium Economy, Economy 787-9: First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy	2x daily

With a huge supply of business and leisure travelers to serve, British Airways’ route network is deeply embedded in the U.S. Each plane can have a different cabin configuration, which complicates predicting seat options.

Before we do a deep dive into the specifics, let’s talk points.

Best Points To Earn To Fly British Airways

If you follow British Airways, you probably know about the insane fuel surcharges levied by the airline. These fuel surcharges can exceed $1,100 to $1,800 for round-trip premium cabin award tickets. One of the ways to reduce your fees is by booking 2 one-ways, which will lower your burden by approximately $200.

Otherwise, fuel surcharges for British Airways-operated flights to/from London are a fact of life.

Some of the best miles to earn for British Airways are Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Avios, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Here’s how the transfer partners shake out:

• American Express Membership Rewards: British Airways Avios and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Brex Rewards: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Capital One Miles: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Chase Ultimate Rewards: British Airways Avios
• Citi ThankYou Rewards: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Marriott Bonvoy: American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Avios, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and British Airways Avios use a distance-based award chart, so the mileage cost will vary depending on your exact route.

For one-way economy flights, American Airlines charges 22,500 miles off-peak and 30,000 miles otherwise. Business class requires 57,500 miles one-way, while first class costs 85,000 miles.

British Airways First Class Options

British Airways serves affluent travelers to and from London with plenty of first class options. Interestingly, British Airways offers first class on the 787-9, which is rare.

With British Airways’ first class, you can expect open-air reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, as well as excellent bedding, solid food options, and great inflight Wi-Fi on a large number of flights.

Service is known to be efficient (if a bit robotic), and the amenity kit is always a great souvenir. Importantly, there are tons of scheduling options that will allow you to arrive in London well-rested.

In this guide, we’ve ranked the available first class products in order from “best” to “worst” (in our opinion), starting with our first place winner: the brand-new, reconfigured 777-300ER first class.

1. British Airways Reconfigured 777-300ER First Class

Our favorite first class seat is on British Airways’ newly reconfigured 777-300ER aircraft. Although British Airways continues to reconfigure these aircraft, all of British Airways’ 777-300ER aircraft flying to/from the U.S. are the newly reconfigured ones!

What makes this new first class suite special? There are sliding doors to enclose the suite, adding privacy. Also, the first class cabin was reduced from 14 suites to 8, making it feel even more intimate.

Here are the routes on which British Airways currently offers the reconfigured 777-300ER first class product:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 212 after January 1, 2022
• Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 296
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 280
• Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 206
• New York (JFK) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 112/114/116/172/174/176/178/182

Bottom Line: British Airways’ refurbished 777-300ER boasts an enhanced first class seat with sliding doors, making it the clear winner in our books.

2. British Airways 787-10 First Class

Our second-favorite British Airways first class product is on the 787-10. There are 8 suites across 2 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each first class seat measures 22 inches wide, 73 inches in pitch, and 73 inches long in bed mode.

We love the 787-10 overall because its carbon fiber construction allows for higher humidity, making for a more comfortable experience while flying.

Here are the routes offering the new British Airways 787-10 first class:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 202 from January 18, 2022, to May 16, 2022
• Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 294
• Houston (IAH) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 194/196
• Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 188
• Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 48

3. British Airways 787-9 First Class

Previously known as British Airways’ most modern and high-tech first class product, the 787-9 first class features comfortable seats, good inflight technology, and great climate control.

The British Airways 787-9 first class section contains 8 seats spread out across 2 rows in a 1-2-1 arrangement. Each of the 8 seats is 22 inches wide and 73 inches when fully laid flat.

Airplanes are typically an incredibly dry environment, but the composite material of the 787-9 preserves moisture and creates a comfortable atmosphere for travelers.

The intimate cabin size and comfortable experience make the 787-9 one of British Airways’ best first class products.

Here’s what the seat map looks like:

As you can see, the lavatories are located on the left side of the aircraft, while the galleys are on the right. The most private seat is 2K, which is furthest from those facilities. Couples traveling together might like 2E and 2F for easy conversation.

You can find the 787-9 on the following long-haul flights between the U.S. and Great Britain:

• Atlanta (ATL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 226
• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 202 until January 18, 2022, and sometimes on BA 214 and BA 238
• Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 52
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 292

4. British Airways A380 First Class

On the A380, BA’s first class cabin contains 14 fully lie-flat seats with direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration. The seats are 22 inches wide and 78 inches in bed length.

The 787-9 ranks higher than the A380 due to the enhanced technology of the 787-9 and less dense first class cabin.

Still, the A380 is the quietest aircraft out there, which will make your inflight experience quite nice. British Airways’ A380 first class cabin arrangement looks like this:

Seats 3A and 3K are the top picks for solo travelers, while 3E and 3F are best for traveling companions. The lavatories are located at the front of the aircraft, and the galley is right behind row 4, making row 3 an excellent compromise between the 2.

Here’s where to find these seats:

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 192
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 268
• Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 208

5. British Airways 777-200 (4-Class) First Class

Our last BA first class product to review is the 777-200 (4-class). There are 14 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, each 22 inches wide and 78 inches in pitch.

The 777-200 is a significantly louder aircraft with less comfortable seating compared to other options, and it has more facilities around the first class area.

The seat map looks like this:

The best seats are in either row 2 or 3, which are a good distance from lavatories and galleys.

You can find this first class configuration on the following nonstop routes to/from the U.S.:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 214 and 238 mostly
• Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 184
• Philadelphia (PHL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 66
• San Diego (SAN) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 272

British Airways Business Class Options

The inventor of the long-haul lie-flat seat, British Airways has many current business class options that can get you to and from the U.S. comfortably. We’ve ranked them from best to worst below.

Keep in mind that the recently-unveiled Club Suite is an enormous upgrade compared to the previously dated business class seat. You’ll always want to book the new Club Suite when given the choice between the old seat and the new Club Suite.

Remember that British Airways offers Club Suites on 787-10, A350-1000, and retrofitted 777-300ER and 777-200 aircraft.

1. British Airways 787-10 New Club Suite

British Airways is slowly rolling out its brand-new Club Suite. These business class seats make the older seats look completely obsolete. Each of these ravishing suites consists of a reverse herringbone seat, direct aisle access, and a sliding door for maximum privacy.

On the 787-10, there are a total of 48 Club Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration as shown below:

The forward cabin has 26 seats, while the rear has 22. The seats are 21 inches wide, 79 inches in seat pitch, and 79 inches long in bed mode.

Routes offering the Club Suite on the 787-10 are as follows:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 202 from January 18, 2022, to May 16, 2022
• Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 294
• Houston (IAH) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 194/196
• Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 188
• Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 48

2. British Airways A350-1000 New Club Suite

On the A350-1000, the Club Suites are arranged in 2 cabins, the forward with 44 seats and the rear with 12.

The setup is a 1-2-1 layout. Solo travelers should pick 9A, 9K, 10A, or 10K seats, as these have 2 windows instead of 1.

For the most privacy, opt for seats in row 17 at the back of the cabin.

Routes offering the Club Suite on the A350-1000 include:

• Austin (AUS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 190
• Denver (DEN) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 218
• Las Vegas (LAS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 274
• Orlando (MCO) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 204
• Phoenix (PHX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 288

3. British Airways Reconfigured 777-300ER New Club Suite

British Airways’ new Club Suite on reconfigured 777-300ER aircraft is identical to those in the A350-1000 or the 787-10. The main difference is that the front mini-cabin has 3 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration, while the rear cabin has 9 rows in a 1-2-1 arrangement.

In general, the 787-10 and A350-1000 are more fuel-efficient and comfortable to ride on compared to the 777-300ER, but comparing them is splitting hairs.

Nonetheless, the reconfigured 777-300ER is flown on these routes:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 212 after January 1, 2022
• Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 296
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 280
• Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 206
• New York (JFK) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 112/114/116/172/174/176/178/182

Hot Tip: Savvy travelers will do their absolute best to fly on a new 777-300ER, 787-10, or A350-1000 aboard British Airways’ new Club Suite product. The enhanced product is just too good to pass up!

4. British Airways A380 Business Class

The A380 from British Airways carries a whopping 97 business class seats, each measuring 20 inches wide and 72 inches in pitch. Interestingly, the upper deck contains a 2-3-2 arrangement, while the lower deck has a 2-4-2 arrangement.

Here’s what the lower and upper deck seat maps look like:

The best seats are in row 59, at the back of the upper deck section. These seats are furthest away from lavatories and will have the least foot traffic nearby.

You can find British Airways’ A380 on the following nonstop routes between London and the U.S.:

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 192
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 268
• Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 208

5. British Airways 787-9 Business Class

British Airways’ 787-9 features business class seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. There are 7 rows for a total of 42 lie-flat seats, each with direct aisle access. The seats are 20 inches wide and 72 inches in pitch/bed length. The seat map looks as follows:

The best seats are 6A and 6K for solo travelers and 6A/6B or 6J/K for couples. These seats are far from the lavatories and located at the front of the business class section.

You can find the British Airways 787-9 on the following nonstop routes to/from the U.S.:

• Atlanta (ATL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 226
• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 202 until January 18, 2022, and sometimes on BA 214 and BA 238
• Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 52
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 292

6. British Airways 787-8 Business Class

British Airways also operates the older 787-8, which features the same 2-3-2 arrangement and has 35 seats in business class as shown here:

The 787-8 is less comfortable and less technologically advanced than the 787-9. The 787-9 is significantly newer, which is why we rank the 787-8 below the 787-9.

You’ll be able to find the British Airways 787-8 on these routes:

• Baltimore (BWI) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 228
• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 212 until January 1, 2022, and BA 202 after May 16, 2022
• Nashville (BNA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 222
• New Orleans (MSY) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 224

7. British Airways 777-200 (4-Class) Business Class

We’re lumping the 777-200 (4-class) and the 777-200 (modified 4-class) together since they share the same business class product and layout.

There are 48 business class seats spread out across 6 rows as shown here:

The best seats are window seats in row 15, which have slightly more legroom and are far from the lavatories. You can find the 4-class 777-200 on these nonstop routes between the U.S. and London:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 214 and 238 mostly
• Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 184
• Philadelphia (PHL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 66
• San Diego (SAN) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 272

8. British Airways 777-200 (Gatwick 3-Class) Business Class

British Airways operates a special aircraft for its London-Gatwick flights from the U.S. Situated aboard the 777-200, this plane is an especially premium-light aircraft. Here’s the seat map:

There are a total of 32 seats spread out across 4 rows in a 2-4-2 configuration. As you can see, this smaller cabin configuration is still very dense. For most preferential seats, row 3 should be optimal, as it is far away from lavatories, but not too close to the rear galleys.

• Orlando (MCO) – London-Gatwick (LGW) on BA 2036
• Tampa (TPA) – London-Gatwick (LGW) on BA 2166
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 216

Hot Tip: British Airways business class on the new 777-300ER, A350-1000, and 787-10 simply outclass its older peers on the A380, 787-9, 787-8, and most 777-200s! All 777s should be retrofitted with the newest Club Suite by the end of 2022.

British Airways Premium Economy Class Options

For those who don’t need a lie-flat seat, British Airways has some solid premium economy options. All of these seats are identical in size: 18.5 inches wide with a 38 inches pitch.

Our ranking focuses on the number of seats, configuration, and the number of preferential seat options.

1. British Airways 787-8 Premium Economy Class

Our top choice is the 787-8, which contains 25 premium economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. The seat map looks like this:

There are relatively few seats and the seating configuration is favorable, with the best seats in row 10. You’ll find this premium economy arrangement on these routes:

• Baltimore (BWI) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 228
• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 212 until January 1, 2022, and BA 202 after May 16, 2022
• Nashville (BNA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 222
• New Orleans (MSY) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 224

British Airways 787-10 Premium Economy Class

The cabin totals 35 seats spread out across 5 rows in a 2-3-2 configuration. Extra legroom seats are in row 20, while the lavatories are in the rear of the cabin.

Here are the routes and flights on which BA operates the 787-10:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 202 from January 18, 2022, to May 16, 2022
• Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 294
• Houston (IAH) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 194/196
• Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 188
• Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 48

2. British Airways A380 Premium Economy Class

Our runner-up for premium economy is the A380 — it’s the quietest aircraft out there, and this not-so-dense premium economy section keeps it near the top of the pack.

There are a total of 55 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration, as shown here:

The best seats are located at the front of the premium economy section. These seats have tons of extra legroom, as there’s nothing in front of them.

You’ll find the British Airways A380 on the following nonstop routes to/from the U.S.:

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 192
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 268
• Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 208

3. British Airways 787-9 Premium Economy Class

Our next best option is the 787-9 — what it loses in cabin size, it wins in the overall design of the aircraft. There are 39 premium economy seats, with each row configured in a 2-3-2 arrangement. The seat map looks like this:

The best seats are in row 16 due to the extra legroom at the front. You can find the 787-9 flown on the following U.S. routes:

• Atlanta (ATL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 226
• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 202 until January 18, 2022, and sometimes on BA 214 and BA 238
• Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 52
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 292

4. British Airways 777-200 (4-Class) Premium Economy Class

The next spot goes to the 40-seat premium economy section on the 777-200 (4-class). The arrangement is 2-4-2, with the lavatories located at the back of the section.

The seats to aim for are in row 21, while the seats to avoid are in row 25, as they are close to the lavatories.

You can find this 777-200 (4-class) premium economy offering on the following routes:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 214 and 238 mostly
• Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 184
• Philadelphia (PHL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 66
• San Diego (SAN) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 272

5. British Airways A350-1000 Premium Economy Class

The A350-1000 has a large premium economy cabin with 7 rows of 8 seats each in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Seats in row 20 have the best legroom and are as far as possible from the economy lavatories, which makes this row ideal for travelers looking for a quiet experience.

Here are BA’s A350-1000 routes:

• Austin (AUS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 190
• Denver (DEN) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 218
• Las Vegas (LAS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 274
• Orlando (MCO) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 204
• Phoenix (PHX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 288

6. British Airways Reconfigured 777-300ER Premium Economy Class

The 777-300 lags behind the other offerings due to a lack of preferential seats. Additionally, the 44 premium economy seats make for a large section, which can diminish your privacy.

Here’s what the 2-4-2 seat map looks like:

The best seats are 22B, 22J, and 21D-G. The main concern with row 21 seats is that they are right behind the business class lavatories.

You can find the 777-300 on the following routes:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 212 after January 1, 2022
• Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 296
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 280
• Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 206
• New York (JFK) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 112/114/116/172/174/176/178/182

Hot Tip: Seats 22A and 22K are highlighted in red aboard the reconfigured 777-300ER because of the protrusion from the exit door. Avoid these as much as possible! 

7. British Airways 777-200 (Gatwick 3-Class) Premium Economy Class

On British Airways’ routes bound for London-Gatwick, you’ll find a specific 777-200 seating arrangement. In the case of premium economy, you’ll see a 48-seat section.

The seats are configured in a 2-4-2 arrangement within the same section. These seats occupy rows 10 to 15 as shown below:

Because of the dense premium economy cabin, this arrangement is generally not a preferred configuration.

Find the 777-200 on the following routes:

• Orlando (MCO) – London-Gatwick (LGW) on BA 2036
• Tampa (TPA) – London-Gatwick (LGW) on BA 2166
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 216

British Airways Economy Class Options

British Airways economy is one of the few ways you can get an affordable flight to Europe on a full-service legacy carrier. These seats are smaller than average, but they are still reasonable for some of the prices you can get.

We’ll rank these products based on the seat size and number/quality of preferential seats, as well as the aircraft itself.

1. British Airways A350-1000 Economy Class

The A350-1000 has an excellent layout and lots of preferential seats, including row 30 seats, 41A/B/C, 41H/J/K, and 31C/D/E/F/H.

These seats have exceptional legroom, allowing you to easily stretch your legs. On average, the 219 seats are 17.6 inches wide and 31 inches in pitch.

Here are all of BA’s current A350-1000 routes to/from the U.S.:

• Austin (AUS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 190
• Denver (DEN) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 218
• Las Vegas (LAS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 274
• Orlando (MCO) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 204
• Phoenix (PHX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 288

2. British Airways 777-200 (Gatwick 3-Class) Economy Class

Our next choice is British Airways’ 777-200 exclusively for London-Gatwick routes. There are 252 seats, each 18.1 inches wide and 31 inches in pitch, arranged in a 3-4-3 configuration as shown here:

There are a lot of preferential seats that provide additional comfort. The best seats are in rows 20, 32, and 33. Just be sure to avoid the emergency door protrusion at seats 32A and 32K.

You can find the 777-200 (Gatwick 3-class) on the following routes:

• Orlando (MCO) – London-Gatwick (LGW) on BA 2036
• Tampa (TPA) – London-Gatwick (LGW) on BA 2166
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 216

Hot Tip: Choosing economy seats as far away from the lavatories as possible minimizes the amount of foot traffic and the general noise level at your seat.

3. British Airways A380 Economy Class

British Airways’ A380 economy seats are slightly narrower at 17.5 inches wide and 31 inches in pitch. Seats on the lower deck are in a 3-4-3 configuration, while seats on the upper deck are arranged in a 2-4-2 pattern.

Here’s what the lower and upper deck seat maps look like:

If you’re a solo traveler, the best seats are 25D, 70B, 70J, 80B, and 80J. Choose 20B/C and 20H/J if you’re traveling as a couple. There are a lot of preferential seats in this layout, but a cabin size of 303 seats drops the ranking of the A380, which you can find on these routes:

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 192
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 268
• Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 208

4. British Airways 787-10 Economy Class

The entire economy section is in a single cabin, spread out in a 3-3-3 arrangement. Each of the 165 seats is 17.5 inches wide and 31 inches in pitch.

Row 30 seats (except for A and K) are preferred, as they have extra legroom. Keep in mind that these seats are close to the lavatories, so you may experience more foot traffic.

To find this economy cabin on the 787-10, fly on any of these routes:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 202 from January 18, 2022, to May 16, 2022
• Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 294
• Houston (IAH) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 194/196
• Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 188
• Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 48

5. British Airways 787-9 Economy Class

The next aircraft is the 787-9, which has several preferential seats. The relatively small economy section of 127 is configured in a 3-3-3 manner as shown here:

The best seats are in row 30, except for 30A and 30K (the protrusion of the exit door will infringe on your leg space).

BA’s 787-9 is a solid choice due to the climate control technology on this new aircraft. It’s flown on these routes:

• Atlanta (ATL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 226
• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 202 until January 18, 2022, and sometimes on BA 214 and BA 238
• Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 52
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 292

6. British Airways 787-8 Economy Class

Next, we have the older version of the 787-9: the 787-8. The seating arrangement is similar, only with more seats — the 787-8 has a total of 154 economy seats as shown here:

As you can see, the exit row seats are located by 3 lavatories, which diminishes their quality. However, if you’re fine with the location of the lavatories, enjoy the extra legroom in row 30.

You can find the 787-8 operated on the following British Airways nonstop routes to/from the U.S.:

• Baltimore (BWI) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 228
• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 212 until January 1, 2022, and BA 202 after May 16, 2022
• Nashville (BNA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 222
• New Orleans (MSY) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 224

7. British Airways 777-200 (4-Class) Economy Class

The 4-class 777-200 has a very small economy section: just 122 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. The seat map looks like this:

In this case, the exit row seats are in row 26, though the proximity of the lavatories decreases the attractiveness of the seats. Still, seats 26B-J are best for extra legroom.

You can find the 777-200 (4-class) on the following BA routes between London and America:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 214 and 238 mostly
• Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 184
• Philadelphia (PHL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 66
• San Diego (SAN) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 272

8. British Airways Reconfigured 777-300ER Economy Class

The next product is the 777-300ER, which contains 185 economy seats in a 3-3-3 arrangement as shown here:

The best seats are 29C and 29H because there is a missing seat in front, which increases your legroom.

You can find this seat layout on these routes to/from the U.S.:

• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 212 after January 1, 2022
• Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 296
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 280
• Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 206
• New York (JFK) – London-Heathrow (LHR) on BA 112/114/116/172/174/176/178/182

Final Thoughts

British Airways seems to operate a gigantic conglomeration of varying aircraft with no rhyme or reason. Additionally, the aircraft are swapped very frequently, which can affect your inflight experience.

You now have a comprehensive outlook on British Airways’ U.S. routes, operated aircraft, and classes of service, which can help you make decisions when booking. Hopefully, you can snag one of those lovely new Club Suites if you’re flying in business class!