British Airways 777-300 Business Class Club Suite Review – New York JFK to London LHR

While I can’t complain about traveling on British Airways Club Suite, I wasn’t even supposed to be on this flight! My original booking flew nonstop NYC to Dublin on Aer Lingus, which the airline cancelled after we sat on the runway for nearly five hours. To make matters worse, the staff refused to rebook anyone in person, saying their office would rebook automatically and send us new flights. I got on the phone immediately and rebooked through Heathrow, with a tight 90-minute connection. More on this in another post—I’ll cover how to best deal with flight delays or cancellations, and how to seek compensation. For now, let’s see what British Airways had in store for this 7-hour flight from New York JFK to London Heathrow in their business class Club Suite cabin.

Don't forget to check out our guides to Dublin, Galway and Killarney - the ultimate tools to plan your perfect Irish adventure! Wondering about other ways to get to Ireland? Check out our review of Aer Lingus business class!

Booking

There are only a handful of direct flights between New York and Dublin on Aer Lingus, United, and Delta. I initially snagged an amazing partner deal on Aer Lingus, but due to a mechanical problem I rerouted on this flight through London Heathrow. Aer Lingus agents were super helpful when rebooking over the phone (despite an expectedly long hold time). There are plenty of points options especially if you’re okay with a connection.

Points tip! Buying flights with any of the following cards earns 5 transferrable points per dollar spent, each worth about 2 cents per point (that’s 10% back!):

• The Platinum Card from American Express on flights booked directly with airlines or through the American Express Travel
• Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred (annual fee only $95!) on flights booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal
• Capital One Venture X Rewards on flights booked through Capital One Travel

Purchases through these cards also come with a mix of trip cancellation, interruption, delay, and/or baggage insurance which have definitely proved useful.

Ground Experience

My ground experience with British Airways at JFK was less than stellar. British Airways couldn’t see my connecting LHR-DUB flight, so they couldn’t check my bag to the final destination. Given this was a last-minute rebooking, I understood the complication. But this meant I had just 90 minutes in Heathrow to change terminals and recheck my bag. The check-in agent dismissed any of my questions or suggestions, and another staff member, instead of helping, loudly shamed me for simply having questions. They seemed overwhelmed, but rudeness in a premium check-in area is unacceptable – even in NYC.

American Airlines and British Airways offer a co-branded premium check-in area at JFK’s Terminal 8, with expedited security access. Navigating the array of shared lounges is also an opportunity for improvement. There are three shared AA/BA lounges:  Greenwich (described as “premium”), Soho (“ultra premium”), and Chelsea (“most exclusive”). Access is based on a mix of factors including flight, cabin, and frequent flier status. I knew which one I had access to, but this should really be easier. When you check in, the premium check-in area staff should direct you (or provide a card) to the appropriate lounge. That being said, I did appreciate the branding. The three joint American Airlines and British Airways lounges at JFK are named after three neighborhoods that New York and London share (Greenwich, Soho, and Chelsea).

Despite mixed reviews, I found the Greenwich lounge great for what it offered. It was quite busy but consistently restocked and cleaned, with a decent selection of food and drinks. I toasted my departure with a glass of champagne and enjoyed a salad while waiting.

Cabin

This British Airways Boeing 777-300 was outfitted with Collins Super Diamond seats arranged in a shocking three Club Suite (or business class) cabins separated by a galley/lavatory area and emergency exit. There must have been over 70 business class seats! Arranged in an unstaggered 1-2-1 configuration, each seat had direct aisle access, was forward facing, and had a seat-high door. While it wasn’t the easiest door to open or close, flight attendants were always quick to help passengers. My seat was sleek, spacious, and accompanied by the standard amenities – an amenity kit from The White Company, bottle of water, menu, pillow and bedding (also The White Company), and headphones. I grabbed my phone charger, stowed by bag, and settled in.

Dining

Crew were passing around pre-departure drinks during the boarding process, and dinner service started soon after reaching cruising altitude. I was underwhelmed by the sweet potato carpaccio starter, but the buffalo mozzarella ravioli and chocolate lava cake were tasty. Unfortunately it took the flight attendant some 15-20 minutes to find sparking water, eventually borrowing some from first class. She was apologetic and gracious about it but still…maybe it wasn’t restocked appropriately? Since dinner service took longer than expected and the flight was relatively short, I decided to skip breakfast.

Service

Apart from the strangely long wait for sparkling water, the crew were helpful and pleasant, checking on passengers throughout the flight. When I requested not to be woken for breakfast, the flight attendant even clarified whether I even wanted to be woken for coffee before arrival.

Tech

The in-flight entertainment system featured a good-sized screen and wide selection of movies and TV shows. I just wish it were able to swivel up/down to facilitate watching while reclining a bit more. The seat was also outfitted with a reading light and outlet/USB charging port. Wi-Fi was available for purchase, though I didn’t use it.

Amenity Kit

The White Company amenity kit had a sleek look with good range of products – even their Relax Pulse Point oil with a mix of lavender, clary sage, and peppermint. The kit included lotion, lip balm, a toothbrush and toothpaste, eye mask, socks, and earplugs.  

Lavatory

Stocked with products from The White Company, as well as air freshener, the restroom was clean and stocked whenever I used it.

Conclusions

Overall, the British Airways 777-300 business class Club Suite offered a great seat—spacious, with good storage and a sleek design—and a helpful, pleasant crew. Despite the large number of business class seats, the service was generally good, although the long wait for water was a notable hiccup. The food was okay, and while there was a service delay, the attentive crew and comfortable, well-equipped cabin enhanced the overall experience. British Airways provided a solid business class experience to hop across the pond from New York to London!

Don't forget to check out our guides to Dublin, Galway and Killarney - the ultimate tools to plan your perfect Irish adventure! Wondering about other ways to get to Ireland? Check out our review of Aer Lingus business class!