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NI Travel News’ GEMMA WEIR learned the difference between "right" and "left" on her day with BA...

NI Travel News’ GEMMA WEIR learned the difference between “right” and “left” on her day with BA…

Sitting in the economy seats at the rear of an aircraft isn’t really something I had ever given much thought to. I travel a lot and I usually find myself grabbing the cheapest option to get me from A to B – often at the worst possible times, clutching a tiny piece of hand luggage and the privilege of sitting squished in between big Mavis and Betty who have also bagged a bargain and didn’t see the point of paying for seats beside each other, after all, why would they when they can chitter about their varicose veins over the top of my head – I’m a budget traveller, I’ll not mind.

Budget travelling is great – that sounds sarcastic after my previous description – but it is! If you just need to get somewhere, or if you have a tight budget and you’re sticking to it, it’s fabulous! Imagine, being able to get to Paris for less that a train ticket to Dublin. Who cares if your personal space bubble is invaded by the odd elbow?

But then… Gemma flew Club!

I never really understood what “turn left” meant – I assumed the bathroom was ‘left’ and the travellers who made that turn as soon as they boarded the aircraft had a sudden call of nature. I recently discovered, that Heaven is left – and it starts before you’ve even set foot on the plane. Welcome to British Airways Club! I don’t think that many travellers are in any doubt that British Airways bring the ‘je ne sais quoi’ to the skies, but they appear to have taken their standard of luxury and comfort to a whole different level with the new Club Suite.

It all began in the lounge. The lounge is where travellers who travel ‘Club’ go to glide about before they fly, with a glass of complimentary chilled wine and some select nibbles while the rest of the airport bustles about frantically on the other side of the door. It’s quite remarkable the difference a pre-flight ambiance can make to your travels. I instantly felt relaxed and organised. The usual routine of checking for the passport in the same pocket fifty times on my way to the terminal had significantly reduced and I hadn’t got angry at the dilly-dalliers who had more time than I did before they had to reach their boarding gate. I was chill. Already, the benefits of being a British Airways Club passenger where ticking boxes all over the place.

British Airways take flight from George Best City airport in Belfast and it is a super quick hop over to London Heathrow. I just about had time to figure out what I was supposed to do with my hot towel, have a little lean on the tray that is strategically placed over the centre seat to create more space, polish off my breakfast and a morning coffee (all included when you’re Club… as is the bubbly, but it was eight in the morning and I wanted to remember the experience of luxury with a clear head), and we were back on the tarmac again! Belfast has quite a short runway, the aircraft used for this route is the Airbus, meaning the Club passengers travelling on this route are designated to the front few rows of the aircraft. Is it wrong to admit that I felt a little wave of ‘oh la la’ as I sat in front of the club curtain with my little extra touches of luxury? British Airways have made the world so much smaller than it once was – this route is key for the planet shrinkage – Belfast to Heathrow, Heathrow to the whole big wide world! Thank you British Airways!

I really saw the full benefit of Club Class when I reached Heathrow and was treated to a glimpse at the brand new, Uber luxurious Club Suites. British Airways introduced its new generation business class seat ‘Club Suite’ earlier this year before taking delivery of its first A350-1000 aircraft in July which featured the all new Club Suite. The seat first of the new seats have been available on aboard since September 2019. The first route to show case the new ‘Club’ was Dubai-bound, followed by a Toronto route and Tel Aviv.

British Airways other aircrafts are catching up too! Thanks to a refit of their 777-200 aircrafts, customers can soon get geared up and ready to live a bit of the high life in the new Club Suites on board for more routes. Over the next five years British Airways will take delivery of 72 new aircraft, including four new types: The Airbus A350-1000, Boeing 787-10 for long-haul as well as A320 and A321 Neo aircraft for short-haul. Over the last four years, the airline have added 57 new, fuel efficient aircraft, including A380s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners. By 2020 British Airways will have received 100 new aircraft in less than a decade! And I’m over here taking five years to pay out my Kia Picanto!

Long haul travellers will not only have the benefits of the wonderful Club suite lounge at Heathrow while waiting on their connections, but they will take full advantage of their pod-like suites while in the air. These things are amazing! I’m not a fan of flying in general terms but I could happily go anywhere if I could travel like this! Reaching new heights of comfort and style (see what I did there), these new Club Suites have it all going on. I particularly loved the little retractable dividers for centre seats and suite door – when you’re socially unpredictable these are perfect. Not in the mood for a chat, the touch of a button can cordon you off in your own little pod of privacy. All suites have aisle access, ideal for when you don’t want to have to climb over the person beside you when you need to go to the bathroom!

This level of comfort doesn’t come by fluke – each Club Suite is ergonomically designed to make sure that travellers have the optimum experience of practical luxury. You could almost move in! With little handy storage compartments (giving 40 per cent more storage), and even include a vanity unit and mirror. Club Suites come with gorgeous soft bedding and reclining chairs (all the way back… oh yeah!) A flat bed on a flight is the epitome of opulence in my opinion, and the new longer bed fully extends to 79 inches (less feet dangling over the edge). Add the touch of ‘The White Company’ accessories, and you’ve almost got yourself an apartment! British Airways have really covered all of the bases with this one! Endless entertainment on your own 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens, Wi-Fi, high definition gate-to-gate programming, and PC/USB power points; touch screen buttons to make all the little homely adjustments to help ease you into super cosy sleep mode or to get you upright and ready for some food that blows that ol’ airline catering expectations out of the water from the menu of restaurant style fine dining… Round all of this off with the world renowned British Airways customer service, and Club Suite is absolutely the way to travel!

Having always been a right turner before, I never fully understood what was involved in the ‘Club’ experience – I assumed that the main purpose for travelling with a higher price tag was prestige. I was misguided. British Airways Club Suite travellers can expect a classy travel experience that is convenient, comfortable, relaxed and indulgent. As I sat once more behind that curtain on my flight homeward bound, drinking my complimentary Champagne and enjoying my buffalo mozzarella salad, I reflected on the experience as a whole; what was on offer, was it really worth it? I think it is, especially for long-haul travellers who will enjoy the true style and comfort of the Club Suite. But even for those of us who might be taking a quick domestic flight, or a European jaunt, an upgrade might just be a more affordable option than you originally thought, and would it not be a special luxurious touch to add a certain little ‘omph’ to a romantic weekend city break? By the time I eat my way around the airport for a couple of hours and then order the obligatory in flight tea and snacks on board, before even talking about needing to check in that extra bag – Surely it’s worth having a wee look at the business column first?

I have always been a little bit clumsy and uncoordinated – never able to remember which is left and which is right… I’ll remember now… And I’ll be turning left!

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