In July 2019, British Airways welcomed the Airbus 350-1000 to their fleet. First landing in Hong Kong earlier this March, the aircraft offers three cabins including Club World, where the airlines’ flagship Club Suite business class seats first premiered. 

On an almost 15-hour flight from Hong Kong to the UK, the Club Suite becomes more than just a means to a final destination. It’s an extension of a holiday, an integral part of the beauty of travel.  

The Club Suite Seat

Each permitting direct aisle access, the sleek Club Suite seats arrive in an elegant colour palette of mostly dark grey and silver. They are plush yet practical, undoubtedly capitalising on a victorious form meets function philosophy. 

All 56 seats in the Club World cabin easily transform into an almost 200cm long flat bed complete with bedding from The White Company, and a vanity kit sufficient enough for a simple skincare routine. Easily unlocked with the push of a button, there’s a nifty sliding door to seal off your sky-high nook from the rest of the cabin — a welcome layer of privacy especially valuable for those trying to chase some sleep on a red-eye flight like myself. 

The A350’s spacious Club Suite also differs from the previous Club World seats with a 40% increase in storage space evidenced by hidden tableside compartments, a pop-out vanity cupboard, a little water bottle cubby, and a deep footwell to stow away your bag or stretch out those weary legs.

As expected of a leading business class seat, technology is also first-rate. The Club Suite features both USB and PC ports, an independent touchscreen controller, an 18.5-inch screen and a surprisingly comfortable pair of headphones to really immerse yourself in some British entertainment. For me, that meant finally watching Lisa McGee’s cult classic “Derry Girls” and bulldozing through the entire first season. No regrets there.

A Feast Above The Clouds

Despite its poor reputation amongst practically everyone, I always find myself looking forward to in-flight meals. I perceive them to be a good indicator of the overall quality of an airline’s offering, and British Airways’ Club Suite dining does not disappoint.

Having revived its brasserie-style dining experience, British Airways delivers full-course meals in the form of hot soups and starters, main courses, and desserts made using ingredients of British provenance. Always adapting to compliment the seasons, the menu dances between classic British fare like cottage pies or apple crumble, and regional specialties tailored to specific routes. 

Flying out to London in the middle of the night, I decided on a late dinner of poached prawns with celeriac puree, and pan-seared salmon served with roasted potatoes, peppers and a creamy paprika sauce. A slice of cheesecake with raspberry and strawberry sauce made for a sweet-but not too sweet- finish. I slept through majority of the breakfast service, but awoke to a cheerfully perceptive attendant who, amidst the clearing of everyone’s tables, offered to take care of my morning appetite. I made a simple request for sliced fruits and ended up with a helping of blueberry yoghurt with oats and a buttery croissant to boot.