I tried out British Airways’ new First Class seat: it’s a mini hotel room with cinema screen TVs
Ever tried making yourself look small in an airline seat? It's not easy - yet here I am, feeling like a toddler in an adult's arm chair in British Airways' new First Class suite.
I'm at BA's Heathrow headquarters for the launch of their next-generation First cabin, and their new seat is so wide (36.5 inches, to be exact) I couldn't comfortably reach both armrests at the same time.
And as one of the first Brits to actually slip between the sheets to test out the bedding, I can confirm the sleeping space is equally excessive.
I had enough room to do a proper starfish, all while cocooned within curved 60-inch walls that make each suite feel properly private, without being claustrophobic.
The suite’s swooping curves are meant to echo Concorde's iconic wings, and it all fits together with BA's design plans - from the Club Suite business class I reviewed back in 2019 to their new herringbone economy seats we got a peek at earlier this year.
The TV is basically a cinema screen - we're talking 32 inches of 4K display right in your face and looks a lot like a normal high-end telly as it's not flush with the console, which actually gives it more of the feel of a proper little hotel room.
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The only minus here is that despite it looking like a normal telly, you can't plug in your games console or laptop via HDMI, but BA told me they are working on some AirPlay-style streaming solution so you can at least watch your own stuff.
On the outside, there's a sleek wardrobe setup where you can actually wheel your luggage straight in - no undignified overhead bin struggles here.
There's a separate section for hanging clothes which contains fancy Temperley pyjamas waiting for you when you board.
The whole thing's designed to feel like a proper luxury hotel room, right down to the adjustable mood lighting with settings for 'relax', 'dine' and 'cinema'.
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If you're traveling with someone (and can afford two First Class tickets - first off, congratulations), there's this whole social setup where you can slide open the divider between seats and have dinner together.
The table's also big enough for a proper feast, though with seats this wide you could probably both squeeze into one suite anyway.
There are neat little touches everywhere you look - wireless phone charging built into the side console, a tablet that controls everything from your lighting to a 'do not disturb' setting for the crew, and even a window blind sliding door that closes at the touch of a button.
There's also a glossy black touch screen on the outside for cabin crew to check on passengers (during our demo they were a real fingerprint magnet and I feel for the crew who'll have to keep them looking shiny at 35,000 feet).
The automatic doors have this clever privacy screen built in, like horizontal venetian blinds - you can see out, but passengers can't peek in as they walk past, save for a sort of letterbox peephole for cabin crew to check on you.
The whole thing's kitted out with the poshest British suppliers you’ve never heard of - we're talking leather from the same people who furnished Concorde (Muirhead in Glasgow), fancy fabrics from centuries-old Yorkshire mills (Replin Hainsworth) and carpets specially woven in Dublin (Botany Weaving).
As I mentioned, there’s even a subtle nod to Concorde in the suite's curved design elements, which I suppose is fitting given BA is soon to be the only airline still offering First Class across the Atlantic.
The new suites won't be in the air until mid-2026, when they'll debut on BA's retrofitted A380s and I'm not even going to guess at the ticket prices.
But if you do find yourself with a spare fortune lying around, at least you now know exactly how much luxury that money can buy you at 35,000 feet.
At the swanky launch event at British Airways’ Heathrow head office, BA's CEO Sean Doyle wasn't just showing off the new seats - he also announced an Italian expansion for summer 2025, with new routes to Rimini from Heathrow, Salerno from Gatwick and Olbia in Sardinia from London City.
BA says they're also finally sorting out their website issues with a complete revamp, plus there's a version of their app coming, which I got to check out in a hands-on beta.
It learns your preferences and is a massive upgrade from the previous version in ease of use and features, making it easier to book flights and manage your next getaway.
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"We're incredibly proud to launch the next era of First that pushes the boundaries of comfort, luxury and modernity," says British Airways' Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming.
"This coupled with our incredible colleagues delivering a world-class service means we truly believe we offer a winning combination in delivering an extraordinary experience for our customers."
