British Airways’ New First Class: How Does It Compare?

That was a nice surprise.

British Airways has just revealed a new first-class cabin and seats, set to debut in 2026 on the Airbus A380.

At a time when premium cabins are more luxury than ever, the British flag carrier’s current first class product, which some dub “the best business class in the world,” was long overdue for an upgrade.

I’m going to take a closer look at the features of BA’s new first class cabin to see how it compares to some of the other excellent first-class products offered by airlines such as Air France, Emirates, JAL, and Singapore Airlines.

Will this new product be impressive enough for travelers to choose it over competitors?

Just How Good Is British Airways’ New First Class?

British Airways has described its new first class as “game-changing.”

I’ll interpret this as game-changing for BA passengers and not for first class in general. It would have been very hard, anyway, to change the game as much as Emirates’ aptly-named Game Changer first class or JAL’s gorgeous first class on its new flagship Airbus A350.

BA held an event at its Waterside headquarters in London to showcase the new seat and its standout features, such as a 32-inch 4K IFE screen, 79-inch lie-flat bed, and an at-seat wardrobe for clothes and luggage.

That all sounds and looks great. But just how revolutionary are these features? How do they compare to what’s already out there or what’s on the horizon?

Ultimately, we won’t know for sure until we can try it out in the sky when the first retrofitted Airbus A380 takes off with the new cabin in 2026.

Until then, we won’t be able to compare the full experience, including service and inflight food and beverage.

For now, all we can do is focus on the hard product (the seat and cabin) by taking a closer look at the specifications, descriptions, and images we’ve seen to try and figure out where this seat will rank when it enters service.

Design and Style Are Important Features of Any Premium Cabin

Let’s start with the subjective.

While some appreciate the opulence and bling of Emirates’ premium cabins, others prefer the elegance and understated luxury of Air France’s La Première.

In my opinion, BA’s new first class definitely falls into the latter category.

The color palette of blues and greys gives a nod to BA’s brand, while the soft fabrics and gentle curves evoke a sense of coziness you’d associate with being at home in an armchair, or in luxurious suite at a 5-star London hotel.

Ultimately, I think BA has hit the mark. If there was an aviation equivalent of GQ magazine, this is the kind of contemporary British elegance that would be deserving of a spot on the cover.

In First Class, Size Matters

When it comes to first class, size really is everything. With every new first-class product, we learn of a new longest or widest bed, the largest IFE screen, and the suite with the highest and most private walls and doors.

From the looks of it, the 60-inch curved walls complete with fully-closing door will provide high levels of privacy. It’s certainly the most private seat BA has ever had.

However, if we’re ranking by measurements, this falls towards the bottom of the pack. The best first-class seats and suites aboard Etihad, JAL, and Lufthansa’s jets all have higher walls, and nothing quite compares to Air France and Emirates’ floor-to-ceiling partitions, which take privacy to the next level.

In fact, when comparing measurements of additional features such as the IFE screen and the width and length of the bed, BA is about average.

To be able to compare accurately, I put together this table detailing the measurements of the features of some of the best first class seats out there.

If we’re judging from these numbers alone, I’m struggling to find anything that BA could consider truly game-changing about its new first class.

However, one thing we can’t really know yet is comfort, which isn’t always linked to the length and width of the bed. For example, it’s been said that the bed in Etihad’s apartment, despite being one of the longest, has one of the hardest and most uncomfortable mattresses in first class.

It’s Not First Class if It’s Not Exclusive

Part of what makes flying in first class so exclusive is that cabins have significantly fewer seats than business class.

These days, airlines are typically making their first-class cabins even smaller, to increase the level of privacy and attract elite flyers.

The good news is that BA will follow the trend and reduce the number of first-class seats on its Airbus A380s from 14 to 12. Comparatively, that’s still rather large for a first-class cabin.

Emirates’ Game Changer and JAL’s new first-class cabins have just 6 seats, while Lufthansa’s Allegris First and Air France’s soon-to-be-revealed new La Première have just 3! Now that’s exclusivity.

If and when British Airways decides to upgrade first class on its other aircraft, it may reduce the number there as well. For example, there are now 8 seats in first aboard the Boeing 787-9 and 787-10. That number may be smaller if a new first class is installed.

For now, though, BA’s new first-class cabin will be the least exclusive, in terms of seats available, among its best competitors.

What’s Unique About British Airways’ New First Class?

You would think that, when spending millions on a new first class, BA would have included at least 1 standout, unique feature. Combined with the sleek and luxurious design, this could have given the new seat a true wow factor.

It’s true that there are some features worth noting, as the airline does in its press release. Those include adjustable mood lighting, buddy dining, button-activated window blinds, and technological enhancements such as a wireless control tablet complete with “do not disturb” functionality.

Those are great, but you’ll already find such features when flying first class on many other airlines. In fact, you’ll even find buddy dining, mood lighting, and button-activated window blinds in some business-class cabins.

Credit where credit’s due, I am impressed with the amount of storage the seat offers.

A full-length wardrobe for housing carry-on bags and jackets, and even for hanging clothes after changing into pajamas, is a really thoughtful, customer-centric addition.

There’s even an additional storage space within easy reach of the seat for a smaller carry-on like a handbag or rucksack. The pop of red here is an excellent touch.

I can’t help but think, though, that British Airways has missed a golden opportunity.

We’ve seen JAL introduce in-headrest speakers, Singapore Airlines has a swivel seat separate from the bed, and Lufthansa Allegris’ first-class seats are temperature-controlled.

This is the kind of innovation we’re used to, and that we’ve come to expect, when airlines launch new first-class products.

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Final Thoughts

The new British Airways first class is leagues above its current offering, and I applaud that.

I’m sure BA’s frequent first-class flyers will be counting down the time until they get to fly it, which won’t happen before 2026.

I think a lot has to be said for the seat’s design and for what looks like a near-perfect first-class atmosphere.

However, for an airline that reinvented the wheel by offering the first completely lie-flat seats in business class back in 2000, this new first-class seat looks a little disappointing. That’s especially true for a cabin intended to compete among the best in the world.

The true test of an airline’s product can only happen by flying it, but for now, we can already tell that the new cabin, as elegant as it looks, is missing something truly unique and innovative.