British Airways has revealed a refreshed premium economy cabin as part of its ongoing fleet refurbishment program. A sneak peek at the airline’s first refurbished Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner shows a few key changes in the World Traveller Plus cabin, although BA has not made any kind of formal announcement yet.
A standout feature of the updated seat is its winged headrest, offering greater comfort and privacy for travelers. The British carrier is in the process of revamping its fleet as part of its £7 billion ($9.5 billion) transformation plan, which will include installing its new Club Suite business class product across its Heathrow-based long-haul fleet.
British Airways Premium Economy Revamp
BA’s Director of Marketing, Hamish McVey, posted on LinkedIn that the carrier’s first 787-9 had completed its refurbishment at its British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (BAMC) facility at Cardiff Airport, while also revealing images of its refreshed premium economy seat, which features new headrests and updated upholstery.
The most obvious change is the winged headrests on each seat, which have become more fashionable in recent years. Not only do these headrests enhance passenger comfort (particularly when trying to sleep), but they also provide ample privacy from other passengers. The seats also feature new central leather headrests and refreshed upholstery.
To clarify, the premium economy refresh does not involve a brand-new seat, as some news outlets have speculated. Instead, it is more of a minor seat adjustment to the existing product, hence why the airline didn’t make a formal reveal.
World Traveler Plus
As many airlines prefer, BA uses its own names for its cabin classes, calling its premium economy cabin ‘World Traveller Plus.’ BA’s premium economy was developed with longer routes in mind and is only available on its widebody fleet, with no plans to introduce the cabin to its narrowbody fleet as yet.
The private cabin features a 2-3-2 configuration on the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, while on the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 it is a 2-4-2 layout. Seat capacity varies depending on aircraft type, with BA’s two Airbus widebodies – the A350-100 and A380 – offering the most premium economy seats at 55-56.
| Aircraft Type | Number of Seats | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A350-1000 | 56 | 2-4-2 |
| Airbus A380-800 | 55 | 2-3-2 |
| Boeing 777-200ER | 40–52 | 2-4-2 |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 40 | 2-4-2 |
| Boeing 787-8 | 25–37 | 2-3-2 |
| Boeing 787-9 | 39 | 2-3-2 |
| Boeing 787-10 | 35 | 2-3-2 |
The World Traveller Plus cabin is typically situated between business class (Club World) and economy (World Traveller) in its own distinct cabin, although it is found on the upper deck of the Airbus A380. Seats offer a generous 38 inches of legroom and extra width and recline compared to in economy, along with other perks like superior meal service and noise-canceling headphones.
Transformation Plan Continues
BA is in the midst of the largest modernization program in its history, implementing over 600 initiatives to take its product to the next level. Around half of the $9.5 billion transformation plan investment will go towards new aircraft, with the other half dedicated to modernizing its existing fleet and operations.
One of the key changes to its aircraft will be the installation of its new Club Suite business class product. First revealed back in 2019 to replace its Club World seat, these suites feature sliding privacy doors, full lie-flat Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seats and 40% more storage. The cabin also has a 1-2-1 configuration, improving privacy and aisle access.
To prepare for its major fleet overhaul, the airline expanded its Cardiff maintenance facility to accommodate more aircraft types. Previously capable of handling just the Boeing 777 and 787, it will now be able to accommodate the larger Airbus A350, too. BA began retrofitting its 787-8 fleet in 2023 before turning to the 787-9, while its hotly anticipated A380 overhaul will begin next year.
Credits: British Airways
