BA to sell First Class seats at Club World fares
British Airways is to offer First Class seats on some of its older Boeing 747s at up to 50% discounts from the winter, shortly before retiring the aircraft altogether.
The airline said that as the ‘hardware’ in the premium cabin in the older jumbos was no longer what First Class customers expected, the seats would be sold at business class (Club World) fares.
In some cases, these are half the First Class tariffs.
Flights affected are those from London to Las Vegas, Vancouver, Phoenix and Cape Town from October 26.
BA said the seats would be offered at a discount "for a short time" until the 747s are replaced with newer aircraft fitted with the airline’s recently upgraded First Class.
"As part of our investment in new aircraft, we are retiring a number of our 747-400s. Currnetly, a very small number in operation carry the old First cabin, which will be withdrawn next year," said a spokesman.
"We understand this may ot be the experience our customers expect and have taken the decision to offer these First seats at Club World prices on selected routes."
The routes affected are BA 85/84 Vancouver; BA 275/274 Las Vegas, BA 289/288 Phoenix (during winter 2014 and summer 2015), BA 43/42 Capte Town winter 2014 and BA 59/58 Cape Town summer 2015.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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