British Airways First Class 777-300ER Review: Seattle to London

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Miles’ friend Pointdexter the Primate finally got around to his review

I thought Miles was lazy with some of his reviews, but Pointdexter took this flight last October and has only now submitted his review for Miles to approve.  Shockingly, this proves Miles isn’t the laziest of his crew. However, for comparison’s sake, the British Airways First Class product is still the same on the 777s, A380, and 747s. If you end up on the new  BA 787-900 First Class I’d love to hear about it. Pointdexter had a phenom experience and he’ll take it from here:

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Top o’ the morning to ya! Pointdexter McSaaver reporting for duty!

I’m not really sure why Miles is so incessant on calling me a Primate, I mean I am, but I’m clearly an Orangutang.  Miles is just obsessed with alliterations cause his name is Miles and he’s a monkey – Such a primative. Anyways, Miles hooked me up on this flight. He’s basically a drug dealer who pushes points and NOW I’m addicted and have turned into a total credit card churner i.e. my credit score is now 750+ and I fly like a Silverback rules the jungle: lying on his back while getting served.

British Airways First Class Seattle to London DEETS

• When: October 2015
• Flight: BA 48
• Route: SEA-LHR
• Class: First
• Points: 62,500 AA + $480
• Seat: 1A
• Duration: 8h 30mins

Miles advised me to check out the cabin and seat reviews on seatguru – I chose seat 1A – mazing

Loved being at the front of cabin – I even Facetimed Miles to express my exuberance!!!

• A little note on the fees. I was desperate to get across the pond and needed anything I could find. It’s also worth noting that I simply wanted to try out British Airways First Class as well. I took it on the nose, but I did love this flight.

Pre-departure drinks came out – and the celebration began!

• I was also presented with First Class pajamas
• Slippers
• And an amenity kit

I found the products to be most refreshing!

I was very lucky to have most of the cabin to myself. There were only a couple other people sitting in the forward cabin and the service was quite attentive. And by quite attentive, I mean the champagne in my glass stood tall.

The cabin was very empty – I almost ate a banana in every seat

Seat controls for the reading light, window shade, power, etc.

Nothing like an Ottoman at 35,000 feet

I think I was a bat in a former life…I prefer complete darkness when I sleep. Or a lie flat bed and an eye mask

I was also given a Menu for dining selections

The Champagne they serve…

 

We had an on time departure and a beautiful Sunset…

Bring on the mood lighting and more Champagne and warm nuts

I was ready for bed. But sloth wasn’t going to kill this guy, Greed was!

No Prawn for me, thanks. On to the…

Leek Tartlet

Veloute

And…mixed green Salad.

And on to the mains.

The food was fine. It wasn’t anything out of this world, but it was good and the service experience was fantastic. Even if the food wasn’t mind blowing – the service rocked.

Turn Down for WHAT….A Bed!!!!!

• We had a very nice ‘turn down’ service. I excused myself to the rest room and when I came back…A Bed!!!!

I slept like The Rock: He’s an action movie star/wrestler who apparently has a reputation for sleeping extremely well…hence the phrase.

They woke me up for breakfast, thank goodness because obviously I needed more food!

I had a fantastic Smoothie and fresh fruit salad. It was delicious!!!

My Overall impression:

I loved it. Miles has planned numerous trips for me utilizing the skills he offers in his Award Booking Service. This is, by far, my favorite! I loved the experience of flying first class and would, hands down, rate this better than United’s Global First Class that Miles has also flown and reviewed. I haven’t had the opportunity to fly any of the other first class products so I can’t really compare them to this, but I found this experience wonderful. I have heard from Miles and also read online that a lot of people dog British Airways First Class as really being business class on steroids, but it is NIGHT AND DAY better than British Airways business class: what an awkward situation it is to have to have someone step over you in a premium cabin!!!

In fact, Miles has set up trips for me on the following products and flights and this beats them all:

1. Air Berlin Business Class A330 LAX-DUS
2. British Airways Club World A380 and 777-300 various locations
3. American Airlines 777-300ER Business Class LAX-LHR
4. United Business Class 777 LAX-LHR and LAX-SYD
5. United Global First 777
6. Etihad A330 Pearl Business Class Perth-Abu Dhabi

I happened to be very lucky to fly this product when it was only priced 12,500 more Aadvantage miles than business. Now that difference is 85k vs 57.5k I’m not so sure that I would use that many more points and pay all the fees if you could fly American’s 777-300ER with only $5.60 in fees. That American deal is pretty great. But, there are some other ways to get into first.

1. Miles recently wrote an article on Alaska Air sweet spots. British Airways First was one of them
2. If redeeming Alaska Mileage Plan it’s only 10k more to fly first than business – that’s a no brainer – do it.
3. If you’re on a paid ticket you can redeem Avios to upgrade
   • The number needed is calculated by subtracting what a business redemption would cost from a first redemption
     • From LAX-LHR = 25,000 Avios
     • From JFK-LHR = 20,000
     • WandrMe has a great calculator you can access here

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Thanks so much to Pointdexter – glad he enjoyed his flight!!