Hong Kong to London In Premium Economic system On British Airways’ Boeing 787-9

There’s at present only one every day British Airways flight from Hong Kong. That is operated with a Boeing 787-9 plane – with all 4 cabins of service. Rising demand means it’s usually now a busy route. And ongoing route diversions away from Russia and Ukraine make it a for much longer flight than earlier than. Easy Flying’s Justin Hayward tried out this lengthy and busy in a single day flight in premium economic system class (generally known as World Traveller Plus with British Airways) and located enhancements over economic system class, however nothing luxurious.

British Airways from Hong Kong

British Airways at present flies as soon as a day between Hong Kong and London, utilizing a Boeing 787-9 plane. With this, capability is down considerably from its pre-pandemic schedule of two every day flights – one operated utilizing the Airbus A380 and the opposite with a Boeing 777-300 plane. Flight BA32 departs Hong Kong at 11 pm every night time, and is scheduled into London Heathrow at 550 am the subsequent day. This flight period of 14 hours and 50 minutes is sort of two hours longer than up to now. The flight takes a southerly route via Central Asia and Europe to keep away from Russian and Ukrainian airspace.

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

Arrival and airport expertise

For this 11 pm departure, I arrived on the airport about two and a half hours earlier than. The British Airways check-in and bag drop desks at Hong Kong solely opens three hours earlier than departure, and there’s no method to drop baggage off earlier (though you might use on-line check-in to get a boarding move for hand baggage solely journey). Earlier than the pandemic, many airways (together with British Airways) allowed earlier check-in and bag drop anytime on the day utilizing the Airport Categorical in-town check-in service. This facility stays closed at present.

With all passengers arriving at related occasions, check-in was busy. There’s a devoted check-in space for World Traveller Plus, and additional areas for these with oneworld elite standing. Any of those could be a lot quicker than the final queue. After checking in, there isn’t any fast-track safety or immigration at Hong Kong, however this was quick presently of the night.

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

The British Airways flight is at present scheduled to depart every night time from Gate 6 (though this might, in fact, change at any time). This can be a handy gate on the entrance a part of the airport, just some minutes from immigration and safety. It is usually proper subsequent to Cathay Pacific’s Deck lounge.

There isn’t a lounge entry with an ordinary World Traveller Plus ticket, however I used to be capable of entry utilizing my oneworld standing. The lounge has a “terrace” wanting proper down on the departure gate, permitting you to simply time leaving the lounge for boarding. In a big airport, and when you’re probably to not have very lengthy to attend, it is a welcome perk! I took an in depth take a look at this lounge when taking a earlier flight.

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

Boarding for this flight was on time, and I boarded in the direction of the tip of boarding. With such an extended flight, I did not suppose there was any benefit in spending even longer onboard!

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

The World Traveller Plus cabin

British Airways makes use of totally different model names for its cabin courses. On long-haul flights, economic system is called World Traveller, and premium economic system is called World Traveller Plus. On the Boeing 787-9, it is a single cabin with six rows positioned straight behind the rear Membership World cabin (with only a divider between them, not the bathrooms/galley space).

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

 

The seats are organized 2-3-2 throughout the cabin. They’ve a very good measurement desk that folds out from the mounted armrest. There’s, in fact, an ordinary seat again pocket, however no further storage for World Traveller Plus seats (that is solely current on the Airbus A380, with mounted aspect bins for storage and further floor). There’s additionally a footrest, though I didn’t discover this a lot use when making an attempt to stretch out to sleep.

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

The seats are a welcome enchancment over economic system / World Traveller (these seats are proven within the image under). In the primary cabin, seats are smaller and organized 3-3-3 throughout the cabin. The seat pitch can be a lot much less, at 31 inches in comparison with 38 inches.

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

On an extended flight particularly, this consolation could be very welcome. They don’t seem to be vastly higher, although, and in some methods, lag behind what many different airways are actually doing with premium economic system. Hopefully, we’ll see enhancements on the upcoming Boeing 777X (probably not delivered till 2026 now).

There’s little to set the seats aside – besides aisle entry. The legroom is identical for all seats, and though the entrance row could seem to have barely extra, the dearth of under-seat area in entrance is a limitation. I selected a mid-cabin aisle seat to the aspect and was fairly pleased with this. I can see the benefit and choice of some individuals for a extra personal window seat. However for me, the convenience to stand up and stroll about, or entry baggage everytime you need is vital on such an extended flight.

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

Service and relaxation

There was no pre-departure drink service in World Traveller Plus (it is a change, as British Airways used to supply this). The dinner service got here round shortly after departure – welcomed with a late departure like this, and we had been served earlier than the primary cabin. This was a single-tray service. For the primary course, there was a alternative of grilled beef tenderloin and potatoes, candy and bitter rooster and rice, or Portuguese-style combined greens. There was some confusion all through from the crew, who appeared unable to agree on what every dish was – apparently as the colour of the covers was complicated! I ended up with the candy and bitter rooster. It was very bland, and a reasonably small portion for such an extended flight.

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

 

I used to be shocked on the restricted variety of every dish loaded. The meat ran out by the third row, and the 2 rows behind me all ended up with solely the vegetarian alternative. This might, in fact, occur on any flight. However with restricted loading and full cabins, it appears assured to occur right here on each flight!

There was a alternative of beer, wine, spirits, and smooth drinks, however no additional bar service or choices after the meal (presumably, you might ask for extra drinks). The lights had been dimmed very quickly after the meal, and the cabin remained darkish for the subsequent 12 hours or extra. No additional meals or snacks had been accessible aside from a fundamental number of packs of biscuits within the galley. Once more, I bear in mind higher choices being accessible right here up to now, and this shocked me on such an extended flight.

The second meal, a alternative of full English breakfast or mushroom rice vermicelli, was served simply over an hour earlier than arrival.

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

I slept for some hours, however very damaged. A busy cabin like that is at all times distracting. With the cabin lights dimmed, I discovered it very tough to learn or use a laptop computer. Happily, the inflight leisure system is nice. The display shouldn’t be the biggest on supply, however the system is dependable, and there’s a good selection of films. This contains loads of new releases, in addition to an intensive archive assortment. British Airways does a very good job making attention-grabbing classes for these – together with 80s and 90s classics and a topical alternative of “anti-valentines day” motion pictures.

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

Arrival into London Heathrow

We arrived round half-hour early at London Heathrow. Regardless of being one of many first flights to land within the morning, we had the acquainted expertise of the airport simply not being prepared! We needed to wait 20 minutes for a stand, after which once more for buses to the terminal. Immigration was quick, and in case you solely had hand baggage, you’d have been in your method to London by about 630am. Amassing baggage added one other hour’s wait – commonplace at Heathrow as of late however stunning for such a quiet time for arrivals!

Photograph: Justin Hayward / Easy Flying

Have you ever flown British Airways to Hong Kong (or different Asian locations) not too long ago in World Traveller or World Traveller Plus cabins? Be at liberty to share the way you discovered these lengthy flights within the feedback part.