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British Airways is the national airline and largest full-service airline of the United Kingdom based on destinations and passengers served. The airline also owns two subsidiary airlines - BA CityFlyer and BA EuroFly. In terms of passengers carried, it's the second-largest airline in the United Kingdom (behind easyJet) but is the dominant airline for long-haul flights flying from the UK. 

The airline is based at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and flies to over 200 destinations worldwide. While British Airways mainly does intercontinental flights, it also has a strong route network in Europe and a domestic route network within the UK.

Top Tip: You can buy British Airways flights using financing options including Clearpay and Klarna.

Baggage Policy

British Airways has a different baggage policy for carry-on and checked baggage policy. The allowance for carry-on baggage and checked baggage will vary depending on your cabin class.

Carry-on Baggage

All passengers are given one item of free carry-on baggage and one free small personal item.

  • The free carry-on bag cannot exceed 23 kg in weight or 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm (22" x 17.7" x 9.8") in dimensions.
  • The free small personal item cannot exceed 23 kg in weight or 40 cm x 15 cm x 30 cm (15.7" x 5.9" x 11.8") in dimensions.

Checked Baggage

Passengers free checked baggage allowance will depend on the cabin class that the passenger is flying in. Below are details of the free checked baggage allowance of each cabin class:

  • Economy Class: 1 or 2 pieces of free checked baggage with a maximum weight of 23–32 kg, depending on the route flown.
  • Premium Economy: 2 pieces of free checked baggage with a maximum weight of 23 kg per bag on all flights.
  • Business Class: 2 pieces of free checked baggage with a maximum weight of 32 kg per bag on all flights.
  • First Class: 3 items of free checked baggage with a maximum weight of 32 kg per bag on all flights.

Cabin Classes

British Airways' customers can choose between Economy, Premium Economy, Business or First Class for their flights.

Economy Class

British Airways Economy Class differs depending on whether the flights are short-haul or long-haul.

Euro Traveller

Euro Traveller is British Airways' Economy Class for flights within Europe and the UK. It offers a comfortable cabin with leather seats, adjustable headrests, complimentary newspapers and LED mood lighting.

Euro Traveller is split into three different fare structures:

  • Basic —this includes an allocated seat and hand baggage. With this fare, you can add a checked bag for a fee or choose a seat.
  • Plus — Plus fare allows passengers to choose their seat for free 48 hours before departure, request flight changes on the departure date for free and a greater checked baggage allowance.
  • Plus Flex — Plus Flex is a suitable fare provides flexibility on ticket changes and allows passengers to choose where a seat up to an hour before the flight.

World Traveller

World Traveller is British Airways' Economy Class for long-haul flights. Onboard a wide-body plane, it offers a comfortable and spacious cabin with leather reclinable seats, complimentary meals and drinks and a personal entertainment system on all fares.

World Traveller is split into two fares:

  • Basic — includes carry-on baggage and a pre-allocated seat, perfect for light travel with no-frills.
  • Standard — includes checked baggage, seat selection and allows passengers to board earlier than the Basic fare.

Economy Class Seats

Seats on British Airways economy-class flights are set out in a 3 x 3 x 3 configuration on long-haul flights and a 3 x 3 configuration on short-haul flights. Seats offer between 29–31" of pitch and 17" of width.

Premium Economy

Premium Economy Facilities

The British Airways Premium Economy Service is called World Traveller Plus and is only available on medium-haul and long-haul flights.

Passengers receive a quilt and cushion and can enjoy great in-flight entertainment with a selection of movies and films. Passengers can enjoy the same great menu that's in Economy Class but with alcoholic cocktails and mocktails added to the Premium Economy bar menu. Each passenger is given an amenity kit, which uses materials created from recycled plastic bottles. The kits include eyeshade, socks, pen, toothbrush, toothpaste and lip balm from Scaramouche & Fandango.

Premium Economy Class Seats

The service offers passengers increased reclination on seats, personal in-seat power sockets and a larger in-flight entertainment screen.

The seats in British Airways Premium Economy are approximately 18.5 inches in width and recline to a 38-inch pitch.

Business Class

British Airways Business Class provides passengers with an excellent range of services to ensure they have the most enjoyable flight possible. The facilities offered onboard depend on whether the flight is long-haul or short-haul. For long-haul flights 'Club World' flights, passengers will be able to enjoy the best night's sleep possible onboard their BA flights. Passengers flying within Europe on 'Club Europe' BA flights are guaranteed more comfort on board to help them relax on their European flight.

Business Class Facilities

BA's Club World passengers can expect three-course meals to suit every taste as well as a range of expertly chosen Old and New World wines. Each passenger's seat is equipped with a personal 10.4-inch flat screen so you never spend a moment bored on your flight. For Business Club Europe passengers, delicious meal options will be crafted to match the length of your flight.

Business Class Seats

Club World British Airways seats give personal space to stretch out in privacy and comfort. At night, seats will convert into a 183cm (72") fully flatbed. Passengers flying between London and New York on BA's Club World London City flights will be able to get the rest they need on board with a seat that converts into a fully flatbed. Power supplies are fitted to every seat to allow passengers to charge their electronic devices in flight. Passengers in the airline's Club Europe cabin sit on contoured leather seats with 76.2cm (30") legroom and fully movable headrests.

First Class

First Class is the most luxurious of the British Airways travel classes. From a personal stylish suite to exclusive spa treatments and world-class meals, First Class ensures that passengers arrive at their destination in style. First Class is only available on long-haul flights.

First Class Facilities

Passengers flying from LHR and JFK are given access to The Concorde Room, BA's most luxurious departure lounge. The lounge offers passengers total intimacy with a private cabin and full waiter service.

On board, passengers can enjoy their own private suite and a fine dining experience with crockery, cutlery and glassware. Passengers are also provided with soft cotton sleepwear and can pamper themselves with the airline's luxury Aromatherapy Associates products and Liberty of London amenity kit.

First Class Seats

British Airways First Class seats recline into a fully flat bed with a luxurious quilted mattress, crisp white cotton duvet and pillows. Each seat gives 78 inches of pitch, 22 inches of width and has a power supply to allow passengers to charge their personal electronic devices.

Check-In

For your British Airways flight, you have the option to either check-in online, via the British Airways mobile app or at the airport. The times at which it opens and closes will vary depending on whether you're flying domestically or internationally.

Online Check-in

You can check in online for your flight on the British Airways online check-in page. Online check-in opens 24 hours before the scheduled flight departure time.

App Check-in

You can check in for your British Airways flight on the British Airways app 24 hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. In the app, you can download your boarding passes for your return flights, and even download boarding passes for up to 8 people on the same booking on one device!

Airport Check-in

If you're unable to check-in online or via the British Airways app, you can check in at the airport. There are airport kiosks available where you can print your British Airways boarding pass - all you'll need is your booking reference (PNR) and your passport.

Seat Selection

Want to choose your seats for your British Airways flight? At Alternative Airlines, you can view British Airways seat availability and select your preferred seat.

Alternative Airlines allows you to pick and choose exactly where you want to sit on all British Airways flights, letting you enjoy all the benefits of having a British Airways preferred seat! Visit our seat selection page to find out how to book seats on our site.

In-flight Entertainment & WIFI

British Airways' in-flight entertainment is available on all long-haul international flights and offers a range of TVs, movies, music and games.

TV

The TV shows on offer with British Airways are constantly being updated, but the airline currently offers a range of documentaries, BBC dramas, cartoons and sitcoms.

Movies

Offering action packed blockbusters as well as thought-provoking thrillers, British Airways has a excellent selection of films to suit every taste. As well as British films, the airline also shows a number of Hollywood movies.

Wi-Fi

British Airways high-speed Wi-Fi is powered by .air, which allows passengers to browse the web with Chrome, Safari 1E11 and Edge.

British Airways Wi-Fi allows you to choose from two different packages:

  • The Browse & Stream package lets you browse the web, access your emails and access instant messaging.
  • The Messaging package allows you access to everything in the Browse & Stream package plus gives the ability to stream music and videos.

Wi-Fi Prices

British Airways Wi-Fi pricing starts at £4.99 GBP.

Food & Drink

British Airways offers a variety of food and drinks to its customers. The menu will differ depending on the cabin class you're flying in.

Meal Options

British Airways offers a variety of meals and snacks on board their flights, depending on the route and cabin class.

  • Passengers travelling short-haul in Economy are offered food provided by Marks & Spencer to purchase, including sandwiches and sweet and savoury snacks.
  • Passengers travelling short-haul in Premium Economy or Business are given complimentary meals based on the length of the flight as part of the Club Europe service.
  • Passengers travelling long-haul flights are offered complimentary food on all flights, with breakfast in the morning and a meal for either lunch or dinner and afternoon tea provided on select flights.

All passengers are offered complimentary snacks and drinks in addition to this. Prior to the flight, passengers can check their booking to see what special meals can be reserved, purchased or upgraded. This must be done between 30 days and 24 hours before flying.

Special Dietary Requirements

British Airways offer special meals for their flights for passengers who request them prior to flying. These meals must be ordered at least 24 hours before scheduled departure time, except for Kosher meals on flights departing from London Gatwick (LGW) which must be ordered at least 48 hours prior to departure. These are all the meal types that British Airways offer:

Drinks & Alcohol

British Airways offer a full drinks service, including alcoholic beverages, on most of their flights. These are available to purchase in any class, but long-haul flights will include a complimentary drink with their meal.

Frequent Flyer Programme

British Airways Executive Club

British Airways' tiered loyalty programme, Executive Club, gives you access to special lounges and dedicated 'fast' queues. You can collect Avios (points) every time you fly with British Airways or purchase from one of its partners. The more Avios earned, the higher the level of membership you are awarded. The higher the level of membership, the more benefits you will receive.

You can also use Avios to purchase or upgrade your flight on any British Airways flight or any member of the Oneworld alliance.

Airline Alliance

Oneworld Alliance

British Airways is a founding member of the world's third-biggest airline alliance, the Oneworld alliance. British Airways works closely with its Oneworld partner airlines to offer passengers a range of benefits for each airline. BA has a series of interline agreements with airlines within Oneworld that allows its passengers to fly to destinations beyond Britsh Airway's route network.

Some Oneworld alliance members include American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, LATAM, Qantas and SriLankan Airlines, among many others.

Special Services

Travelling with pets

When flying with British Airways, you won't be allowed to travel with your pet in the cabin - the only exception to this is medically approved service dogs. You will need to provide 7 days' notice if you want to take your service dog into the cabin with you. You need to board your British Airways flight from London Heathrow, London Gatwick or Manchester Airport to be able to take your service dog with you.

You can transport your pet on a British Airways flight as manifest (air) cargo - this can be arranged through IAG Cargo. Animals allowed via this service include dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, monkeys, ferrets, snakes and tropical fish.

Read our guide on flying with pets for more information.

Country flags

Destinations that British Airways flies to

British Airways flies to over 200 destinations worldwide and over all 6 continents. Some of its most popular destinations include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Edinburgh, London and Miami.

Alternatives to British Airways

Please click on the logos below to find out more about airlines that fly similar routes:

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Buy now, pay later

Buy your flights now and pay later

No way, really?! Yes! We’ve partnered with some amazing BNPL payment providers to allow you to pay for your flights over time, with ease.

Hub Airport

London Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport is a major international airport in London, England. Heathrow is the hub airport for British Airways.

By passenger traffic, London Heathrow is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom, the busiest airport in Europe and one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world. In 2018, it handled a record 80.1 million passengers. 

Other airlines that fly to/from London Heathrow include Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Scandinavian Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, among many others.

London Heathrow has large duty-free sections and lots of other shops both landside and airside. It's featured on our blog as one of the best places in the world for airport shopping.

Fleet

The British Airways fleet includes a mix of Airbus and Boeing aircraft:

  • 29 x Airbus A319-100
  • 55 x Airbus A320-200
  • 20 x Airbus A320neo, with orders for 13 more
  • 13 x Airbus A321neo, with orders for 7 more
  • 18 x Airbus A350-1000
  • 12 x Airbus A380-800
  • 43 x Boeing 777-200ER
  • 16 x Boeing 777-300ER
  • 12 x Boeing 787-8
  • 18 x Boeing 787-9
  • 8 x Boeing 787-10, with orders for 10 more
  • 18 orders of the Boeing 777-9

As of 2024, the airline has over 240 aircraft in its fleet, and orders for almost 50 more.

British Airways Popular Routes

British Airways Discount & Deals

Alternative Airlines makes it easy to find the flights you’re after. As well as offering a greater choice of flights, when you book through Alternative Airlines you can save even more money by applying a discount or voucher code. It can be hard to find a discount code for a particular airline like British Airways, but with Alternative Airlines you can apply our discount codes to any of the airlines available to book through our site.

How to use deals and discounts on British Airways flights

1. Apply a PayPal discount code

Our customers love using PayPal to book flights! PayPal is a quick and convenient way to pay. We have lots of PayPal discount codes available throughout the year, which you can apply to any flight booking made through Alternative Airlines.

Find the British Airways flights you’re after, pay with PayPal, and save money by applying an Alternative Airlines PayPal discount code.

2. Take a look at all our current offers

Here are Alternative Airlines, we love saving you money when you book your flights through our site. Our discounts and deals page is constantly updated with the latest offers. What's more, when you book through Alternative Airlines, the discount codes can be applied to any airline, including British Airways. This will apply no matter what class fare you pick (Economy through to First).

Remember that discount codes expire, so be quick and take a look at the latest codes that we have to offer. You could save money on your British Airways flights!

3. Book your flights now and pay later

If you're looking for an affordable option to still fly with British Airways but without having to pay the full cost, then one of the best ways to make the cost of flying more manageable is by booking now and paying later. Here at Alternative Airlines, we have partnered with all the major 'Buy Now, Pay Later' providers, including Klarna, Affirm, Sezzle and Zip, to help our customers split up the cost of their flights.

The options available will depend on the country in which you reside — if you live in the UK, you can split the cost of your flights with Clearpay or Klarna. With Clearpay, you can split the payment into 4 and only need to pay 25% of the cost today, with absolutely no interest charged.

Book your flights today and pay over time when you book through Alternative Airlines.

British Airways flights from London to New York discount codes

London Heathrow to New York JFK is one of British Airways's most popular long-haul flights, and the airline's most popular flights to the U.S. from the U.K. If you're looking to save money on your flights, this guide includes lots of helpful information, including links to our flight discounts and offers page.

Buy British Airways Last Minute Flights

What are last-minute British Airways flights?

Last-minute British Airways flights are flights purchased close to the departure date and time of the flight. These flights are usually purchased in the days or weeks leading up to the departure date. Last-minute flights tend to be purchased by business travellers who need to attend meetings or by passengers who need to travel urgently. Last-minute flights can often be cheaper than buying flights months before departure, however, this isn't always guaranteed.

Booking last-minute flights with British Airways is super easy. Simply follow our step-by-step guide on how to book last-minute flights with British Airways.

At Alternative Airlines, the majority of our e-tickets are sent to you instantly or within 2 hours via email. Please note that when booking last-minute flights, in some cases, it might take up to 24 hours to receive your e-ticket.

How to book last-minute flights with British Airways

  1. Navigate to the search form at the top of the page and select if you wish to travel a return, one-way or multi-city search. Then fill in your departure and arrival destinations along with the dates, number of passengers and cabin class. Once you have filled in all the details, hit 'Search Flights' to find the perfect last-minute flight for you.
  2. We'll then display all available last-minute flights for the dates and destinations you've chosen. If you wish to fly with a specific airline, use the airline filter to narrow down your search e.g. British Airways.
  3. After, you've found the last-minute flights that's right for you, 'Confirm Selection' and proceed to booking. We offer over 40 different payment methods on site such as Buy Now Pay Later OptionsApple Pay, Credit and Debit cards, PayPalCryptocurrency and more.

Popular last-minute flight routes with British Airways

British Airways flies to over 200 destinations globally. Below are some suggestions of popular last-minute routes with British Airways. Pack your bags today for a last-minute flight tomorrow.

  • London ✈ to Edinburgh
  •  Paris ✈ to Madrid
  • London ✈ to Los Angeles
  • Belfast ✈ to Santorini

News

19th October 2023

British Airways makes a comeback in Abu Dhabi after COVID-19 hiatus

British Airways is set to recommence flights to Abu Dhabi in April 2024, marking a return after a four-year pause caused by the pandemic and sluggish demand recovery. The airline will provide year-round daily flights using the Boeing 787-9, putting it in direct competition with Etihad's London services. Notably, British Airways will utilise its premium-oriented Dreamliner aircraft for this route, offering first class, business class, premium economy and economy cabins.

Frequently asked questions

How do I cancel British Airways flights?

If you'd like to cancel your British Airways flights booked through Alternative Airlines, there are two ways to do this:

  • You can do self-service cancellations in the Manage My Booking portal. If you added Cancellation Protection to your British Airways flights, you're entitled to a full refund for emergency cancellation reasons.
  • You can contact us via our Contact page. Our Customer Service team will be more than happy to help with your British Airways cancellation request.

Are British Airways and American Airlines partners?

Yes, British Airways and American Airlines have been working together since 1999 as part of the oneworld® alliance consisting of over 10 major airlines including Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.

What is the baggage allowance for British Airways?

All tickets with British Airways include a free hand baggage allowance which includes a handbag or a laptop-sized bag, as well as a cabin bag. It will also include a checked bag unless you are flying with a Basic fare ticket.

  • Hand bag - up to 40 x 30 x 15cm and up to 23kg
  • Cabin bag - up to 56 x 45 x 25cm and up to 23kg
  • Checked bag - up to 90 x 75 x 43cm and up to 23kg

How do I earn tier points with British Airways?

Every time you fly with British Airways or one of the oneworld® partners, you’ll collect tier points. There are four Executive Club tiers:

  • Blue Tier - unlocked as soon as you become an Executive Member with British Airways. You’ll also collect Avios points and have access to Member-Only offers
  • Bronze Tier - unlocked after 300 tier points have been attained and you have flown with British Airways on at least 2 eligible flights a year. There is also priority boarding available and free seat selection 7 days before departure
  • Silver Tier - unlocked at 600 points and at least 4 eligible flights a year with British Airways. You’ll gain access to the business lounges and extra baggage allowance
  • Gold Tier - unlocked at 1500 points and at least 4 eligible flights a year with British Airways. This includes First Class check in and boarding

Does British Airways have discount codes?

It can often be hard to find discount codes for specific airlines, such as British Airways. But that doesn't matter because, here at Alternative Airlines, you can apply our discount codes to any of the airlines available to book through our site, including British Airways. We also offer lots of other ways to help you save money or to help make flying more affordable, such as splitting the cost of your flights.

Can I finance last-minute British Airways flights?

Of course! If you'd like to buy Britsh Airways flights today, fly tomorrow and pay in instalments, you can! With Alternative Airlines you can purchase flights today and spread the cost of your flight in instalments. We have partnered with many payment plan providers including KlarnaAffirmAfterpayClearpayTabby. Check out our Fly Now Pay Later with British Airways to find out more.

Other pay-later options available in the UK:

  • Monzo Flex (currently unavailable with Alternative Airlines)
  • Payl8r (currently unavailable with Alternative Airlines)
  • Openpay (currently unavailable with Alternative Airlines)

Can I book British Airways flights and pay later with Curve Flex?

No, unfortunately, you cannot pay later for your British Airways flights with Curve Flex at Alternative Airlines. We don't currently offer Curve Flex as a payment method at Alternative Airlines, however, we do offer other flexible Buy Now Pay Later methods including Clearpay and Klarna, that can help you spread the cost of your British Airways tickets over time!

Can I book British Airways flights online?

Yes! Alternative Airlines makes it easy to search and book flights with hundreds of airlines, including British Airways. Easily compare airlines to find the flights you're after. To begin, simply use the search bar at the top of the page, by entering your departure location and arrival destination.