In 2019, British Airways launched its new business class product, Club Suite—a significant upgrade from the airline’s previous Club World offering. In this article, we’ll guide you through the best strategies for booking a flight in British Airways Club Suite using points and miles.
Club Suite Features
British Airways’ Club Suite has several features that make it an excellent choice for business travelers. Here are the main differences compared to the old Club World.
- Seat Layout: All Club Suite seats face forward in a 1-2-1 “herringbone” configuration, providing direct aisle access for every passenger. This is a big improvement over the older 2-4-2 “yin-yang” layout, where only some seats had direct aisle access.
- Privacy: Each Club Suite features a sliding door for added privacy. The door remains open during take-off and landing, but once in the air, crew unlock it so you can choose to keep it open or closed.
- Storage Space: Club Suite seats provide 40% more storage space compared to the old Club World, including a unique personalized table designed for working, dining, and sleeping.
- In-Flight Entertainment: Each Club Suite offers an 18.5-inch TV screen with the latest Panasonic X3 in-flight entertainment system. The screen is built into the seat structure in front (or the front panel for first-row seats), allowing you to enjoy entertainment from boarding to disembarkation.
Aircraft Equipped with Club Suite
Currently, Club Suite is available on over 50% of British Airways’ long-haul fleet. Here are the aircraft that currently offer Club Suite:
- Airbus A350-1000: Every British Airways Airbus A350-1000 features Club Suite.
- Boeing 787-10: All Boeing 787-10s in the British Airways fleet also have Club Suite.
- Boeing 777: Most British Airways Boeing 777 aircraft are equipped with Club Suite, but some may still have the older Club World product.
Unfortunately, British Airways’ Airbus A380, Boeing 787-8, and Boeing 787-9 aircraft are not yet equipped with Club Suite, but upgrades are planned. Also, the Gatwick-based Boeing 777 fleet (mainly used for flights to leisure destinations) will not be refitted with Club Suite in the near future.
How to Book Using Avios from the British Airways Executive Club
One way to book Club Suite flights with points and miles is through the British Airways Executive Club frequent flyer program. Here’s how to book with Avios:
- Go to the British Airways website.
- Log in to your Executive Club account (top right corner).
- Select “Book a flight with Avios” from the main menu.
- Enter departure and arrival airports, travel dates, and select “Business Class.”
- Click “Search flights.”
- Choose an available Club Suite business class flight to book.
Note that British Airways reward flight costs are calculated separately for each segment based on distance and class of service—layovers and open jaws do not get bundled. There is no published detailed award chart, but you can estimate costs using the Executive Club’s online calculator.
Keep in mind that Avios redemptions on British Airways can be quite expensive. In addition to the Avios mileage requirement per segment, there are additional taxes, fees, and fuel surcharges. For this reason, Avios are often best used for nonstop or single-segment flights to minimize costs.
You can also use Avios to upgrade from Economy Plus to Business Class. Note that upgrades can only be made to the next eligible class: Economy to Premium Economy, Premium Economy to Business, and Business to First. Upgrade costs depend on the Avios value difference between classes.
Using Oneworld Airline Frequent Flyer Miles
As a member of the Oneworld alliance, British Airways allows you to use miles from any Oneworld airline’s frequent flyer program to book Club Suite flights. Each Oneworld carrier has its own program and redemption rates, so research your options to ensure you get maximum value.
Convert Marriott Bonvoy Points to Airline Miles
Another way to book Club Suite with points and miles is to convert Marriott Bonvoy points into frequent flyer miles. Marriott Bonvoy offers competitive conversion rates, and if you convert 60,000 points at once, you’ll get an extra 5,000-mile bonus.
Transfer Credit Card Points to Airline Miles
You can also accumulate British Airways miles by transferring points from major travel credit card rewards programs such as American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou. These points can be moved to your British Airways or Oneworld frequent flyer accounts for award flights or upgrades.
Conclusions
Booking British Airways Club Suite with points and miles is possible through several strategies. Whether you use the Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy points, or credit card rewards, there are plenty of options to enjoy a luxurious business class flight. Be sure to plan ahead and check Club Suite availability on your desired route. Enjoy the Club Suite experience!
