I recently took a short hop from Stockholm Arlanda to London Heathrow in British Airways Club Europe business class product aboard the A320. Though the seats were cramped and the rest of my trip ended in total disaster, I was pleasantly surprised by the onboard service and food.
How I booked my British Airways Club Europe business class ticket
I booked this flight using British Airways frequent flyer program, Executive Club. The cost was 20,000 points and $1. I transferred 20,000 American Express Membership Reward points to Executive Club to redeem this, but you could also transfer from Capital One, Chase, Bilt Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy. Usually, I’d never redeem this many points for intra-Europe business class but since I made the reservation five hours before the flight and only business class seats were available, it turned out to be the most cost-effective way to get to London.
My flight details were as follows:
- British Airways 777
- Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) – London Heathrow (LHR)
- Departure: 11:30 AM, February 24
- Arrival: 1:20 PM, February 24
- Flight Time: 14h 20m
- Business Class, Seat 4D
British Airways A320 business class boarding
Our flight was boarding from gate 20 in Terminal 5 which is in the non-Schengen part of the terminal, meaning you’ll need to queue and have your passport stamped to get there. There aren’t any restaurants in this area, so if you do go to a restaurant, just remember to incorporate an extra 15 minutes of buffer when leaving for your gate.
The plane arrived from London when we were supposed to begin boarding and we boarded about 20 minutes late. The gate can get pretty crowded in the non-Schengen area, but there’s a second level that is generally much less crowded and affords great runway views.
British Airways A320 business class cabin & seats
As is generally the case in intra-Europe business class, business class seats are identical to economy class seats. British Airways’ A320 business class cabin is configured in a 3-3 formation with middle seats blocked off, ensuring passengers either an aisle seat or a window seat. The seats are a measly 17 inches wide and have 30 inches of pitch–about as wide as a Ryanair economy class seat and about an inch narrower than standard seats on a Spirit Airlines A320! Besides the lack of space, my seat was pretty comfortable.
The cabin looks sleek. Though I don’t prefer the look over SWISS’ A220, I think the dark leather seats and mood lighting give the space an elegant, clean feel.
British Airways business class amenities
I expect intra-Europe business class to be fairly barebones, but I was nevertheless disappointed that there were no amenities–pillows, blankets, pre-departure drinks–to speak of.
British Airways entertainment & Wi-Fi
Though you won’t find IFE screens on this plane, there is wi-fi available. I found the rates to be pretty reasonable and purchased the “Browse and stream” option for £4.99. Unfortunately, speeds were extremely slow, topping out at 1.4 Mbps, barely enough to send an email let alone stream content.
British Airways A320 business class meal service
This flight was catered by Do & Co, my favorite airline caterer. I’ve found their food consistently excellent, and this flight was no exception. Service began shortly after takeoff with a nut mix and an offering of alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. Fairly dehydrated, I opted for water.
We were then provided the following menu, from which I ordered the morel mushroom linguine.
The meal arrived on a single tray and, though it didn’t look particularly appetizing, the pasta was actually pretty tasty. The star of the show was the passion fruit panna cotta, which has to be a top three dessert I’ve ever had on a plane.
British Airways A320 business class lavatories
There is just one forward lavatory for 48 Club Europe seats, and I frequently noticed lines forming. The bathrooms are roomy enough, though were not particularly clean and seem pretty well-worn–notice the discoloration in the sink basin around the drain.
British Airways A320 business class service
Service was good throughout the nearly two-hour flight, and flight attendants came through the cabin frequently to clear trays, offer food, and check in on passengers. As is typical for British Airways, the service was casual but courteous.
Conclusion
This flight exceeded my relatively low expectations. I was impressed by the service and really enjoyed the food aboard this short hop from Stockholm to London. And though the seat is cramped by economy standards let alone business, for a less than two-hour flight, it’s not too bad. I definitely wouldn’t spend go spending 20,000 Avios on this flight again, but it’s a pleasant option if you’re in a bind or are flying it as part of a long haul business itinerary.
