Flying long-haul with kids is always a balancing act between comfort and cost, which is why we are big fans of using points and miles. On our recent trip from Scotland back home to California, we flew British Airways Business Class (Club Suite) from Glasgow to London and then London to San Francisco.
Here’s my full British Airways Business Class review, covering how we booked with points, what the new Club Suite is really like, the food and service onboard, and whether I’d recommend it for families.
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How to book British Airways Business Class with points
One of the best ways to experience British Airways Business Class (Club Suite) without paying full price is by using transferable credit card points. For this trip, we used American Express Membership Rewards points transferred to British Airways Avios.
You can read about How to earn Amex Points: 7 easy ways to maximize Membership Rewards here.
We booked four business class tickets on one itinerary: Glasgow – London – San Francisco. Here’s the breakdown:
- Points used: 248,000 Amex Membership Rewards
- Transfer bonus: 25% Amex → Avios bonus, so 248,000 Amex points became 309,000 British Airways Avios
- Cash fees: $1,135.20 for all four passengers (British Airways has higher surcharges than some other airlines, but this was still far less than paying cash for these flights)
Considering that cash fares for this route in business class often exceed $10,000 per ticket, this redemption was incredible value. We effectively turned credit card points into a luxury experience for a fraction of the price.
Tip: If you’re looking to fly British Airways business class on points, search early and be flexible with dates, especially if you need multiple seats.
British Airways Bussiness Class Glasgow-London
Our journey began in Glasgow, flying British Airways Club Europe (business class) to London Heathrow. This short-haul segment may be just over an hour, but booking it in business class made the connection much smoother.
Club Europe Cabin and Seating
Club Europe is British Airways’ short-haul business class product within Europe and the UK. The cabin layout is the same as economy (3–3), but the middle seat is blocked for extra space and privacy. While it’s not a flat-bed seat like the long-haul Club Suite, it’s comfortable for a quick flight.
Key perks of British Airways’ Club Europe:
- Lounge access at Glasgow Airport
- Priority check-in and boarding, making the airport experience easier
- Dedicated business class cabin at the front of the plane
- Blocked middle seat for more room
- Extra legroom and premium service compared to economy
British Airways Bussiness Class Glasgow-London meal
Even on a less-than-2-hour flight, BA serves a proper meal in Club Europe. We were offered a full breakfast with pastries, yogurt, and fresh fruit along with tea, coffee, and juices. The cabin crew was attentive and efficient.
British Airways Lounge at London Heathrow Airport
One of the best perks of flying British Airways Business Class (Club World or Club Suite) is access to the British Airways Lounge at London Heathrow. Since our long-haul flight to San Francisco departed from Terminal 5, we had time to experience the lounge before boarding.
Where is British Airways Lounge at London Heathrow Airport
British Airways Lounge at London Heathrow is located in Heathrow Terminal 5, past security. Business class passengers, British Airways Executive Club Silver and Gold members, and oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members have access.
If you’re connecting from a short-haul Club Europe flight, like we were from Glasgow, you’ll stay airside and head straight to the lounge.
The lounge is spacious, with plenty of seating areas designed for both working and relaxing. During peak times, it does get busy, but we were able to find a quiet corner for our family. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide great views of the runway, which the kids loved.
Food and drinks at the British Airways Lounge at London Heathrow Airport
The buffet selection included a mix of hot and cold options:
- English breakfast items like eggs, bacon, and sausages (morning hours)
- Fresh fruit, pastries, and yogurt
- Self-serve coffee, tea, soft drinks, and an open bar with wine, beer, and spirits
- The ice cream cart was definitely our girl’s favorite
There’s also a champagne station, which feels like a nice pre-flight indulgence.
The British Airways Lounge at Heathrow offers excellent amenities for business class travelers. You’ll find plenty of charging stations, showers for freshening up before or after a long-haul flight, a kids’ play area, and free Wi-Fi that’s fast enough for streaming or working on the go.
British Airways Club Suite Cabin & Layout
The biggest reason to choose British Airways business class in 2025 is the new Club Suite. This is a complete redesign of BA’s business class and finally brings it up to par with other top airlines.
- Sliding doors: Every seat is a private suite with a door, making it feel more like first class.
- 1-2-1 layout: Direct aisle access for all passengers.
- Lie-flat bed: Wide and comfortable with good bedding for long-haul flights.
- Storage: Plenty of space for devices, water bottles, and small items.
- Entertainment: A large HD screen with on-demand movies and shows.
As a family of four, we, adults, sat in the middle section and the kids by the windows in the same row.
Family Seating Tip: The British Airways Club Suite cabin uses a reverse herringbone (fishbone) layout, which means the middle seats are slightly angled and not perfectly side by side.
We sat in Row 15 (all 4 seats), the parents in the middle seats, and the girls by the windows. However, the girls ended up being slightly behind, making it harder for us to maintain eye contact.
If you want to be directly across from or at the same eye level as your child, choose the window seats in the row in front of you instead (in this case it would have been window seats in row 14).
Dining & Service in British Airways Business Class
British Airways has improved its catering in recent years, and the dining options were solid.
- Multi-course meal service with a starter, main, and dessert.
- Choices included a fish, chicken, and vegetarian option.
- Cheese plate and warm bread on the side.
- Snacks and drinks available throughout the flight.
The crew was friendly and attentive, checking in often without being overbearing. I appreciated that meals could be served on a flexible schedule, which works well when traveling with kids.
Amenities on British Airways Business Class flight
- Noise-canceling headphones were provided, though Roman used his own, as the ones provided kept having some static noise issues.
- Amenity kit included the basics: eye mask, socks (no slippers), toothbrush, and skincare products.
- Each suite felt like its own cocoon with the door closed, which made it easy to relax and even get some sleep.
- A pillow, blanket and a mattress topper
Bottom line
Is British Airways Business Class Worth It? Our British Airways Club Suite review comes down to this:
- The new Club Suite with sliding doors is a massive improvement over BA’s old Club World cabin.
- Booking with Avios points transferred from Amex made it affordable compared to paying cash.
- For families: the privacy, lie-flat beds, and great service make it a great choice for long-haul travel.
Overall, I’d say British Airways Business Class is now one of the best ways to fly from the UK to the West Coast. If you can find award space, it’s absolutely worth booking with points.
