Upgrade opportunities abound to Africa, Europe, India, and Israel starting at $336 each way.
You may remember when United Airlines’ First Class cabin became less competitive a few years back and the airline was forced to slash fares to fill seats? And then, whoosh! In June 2018, United’s First Class was no more.
Well lookie here, British Airways First Class is on a similar trajectory from one perspective or two, so we can’t help but wonder…
Actually, no. British Airways will continue to operate a First Class product. However, competitive pressure is creating some spectacular savings.
Is British Airways First Class LITTLE Better Than Its Business Class? Prices Suggest So…
While the airline’s First Class offering seems to be in no danger of disappearing, we can’t ignore the fact that the airline’s First Class fares have really bottomed out on some routes: Africa for $4,900, Europe for under $3,000, India for $4,300, and Israel for $3,300. Many of these special fares are 40% to 60% off normal fares.
This price drop reflects the challenge of competition and with excess inventory. BA simply can’t compete when it comes to its First Class product.
By comparison, consider what Air France offers on most of its B777-300 aircraft. It has only four seats in its First Class “La Première” cabin, a much better experience.
The airline recognizes this, and in addition to slashing First Class fares, it is also “upgrading” its First Class “soft product” experience: with items such as better bedding, meals, drinks, and other add-ons like amenity kits, linens, slippers, and the like. Nice to have, but I come for the hard product, thank you very much.
Meanwhile, on its newly delivered B787-900, BA is cutting First Class seats down to just eight, compared to the usual 14 on the B787-800. Currently the B787-900 flies routes to London from U.S. departure cities: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Los Angeles, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Jose.
A Price War You Can Win
All of this competition in quality has forced British Airways into an undercutting battle to fill seats, just like United had near the end of its First Class life. And while BA’s competitors offer impressive First Class experiences, they come at a cost. In short, BA’s First Class cabin may not be First in the way you’re accustomed to, but it’s still a solid experience—and the savings are quite spectacular.
Take the New York > Basel route, for example. With British Airways you pay $3,344 and connect via London. With Air France you pay $7,014 and connect via Paris.That’s a savings on BA of $3,670 or 52%, which means you could buy a second ticket on BA for the price of one on Air France and still have more than $300 left over.
Or take New York > Tel Aviv for $3,344 round-trip on BA, compared to higher-priced airlines such as SWISS at $11,832, a savings of $8,488 (72%).
The opportunities shine brightest, of course, on routes that require a connection (e.g. San Diego > Oslo at just $3,256 for First)–as a non-stop in most any Business Class is better than First with a connection.
Is First Class on BA Really ‘Premium Business’ in Disguise,
and if so, Why Pay for First Instead of Business Class?
Some consider BA’s new Business Class better than its First. While the new seats can be found on almost no routes (selected Toronto routes starting October 8) and therefore are largely irrelevant today, this comparison is highly subjective, of course.
While some travelers may “need” the “privacy” of sliding doors to have a premium experience, I actually think there’s often much to be said for a more open, less claustrophobic feel, in many cases. That’s just me.
Take Turkish Airlines, for example. Its Business Class cabin is wide open, and my legs and feet aren’t jammed into a tiny cubby hole, which many hail as a premium experience. And most Business Class seats nowadays are barely flyable for someone like me, at 6’3” with broad shoulders. Naaa. My knees hit the tiny cubby hole ceiling and my feet prefer more than a shoebox.
So give me British Airways First Class: You get your own very private, spacious suite and treated much better on the ground.
As Low As First Can Go
For those keen to take advantage of these low First Class fares while they’re (still) around, you need look no further than FCF’s deal alerts, summarized here:
Europe First Class: $2,932 R/T to Europe from Texas.
San Diego and Seattle, from $2,930.
Boston, Chicago and New York to Europe Starting at $2,993.
Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle from $3,087.
India First Class: To Delhi from $4,300.
Israel First Class: To Tel Aviv from $3,340.
Africa First Class: To Nairobi from $4,933.
For Africa, India, and Israel, all flight segments are in First Class, not just the U.S. to London segments.
Upgrade Cheaply From Business To First
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If forced to choose between BA’s First Class and any Business Class seat out there, I’d certainly pay more for First on BA everything else being equal. IOW: Privacy doors are overrated. What do you think?