Flying for work doesn’t always come with glamour, but an Avios upgrade can sweeten the deal. This was my return leg from Berlin to London on British Airways A320neo business class, a short hop that still manages to show off BA’s newest short-haul cabin. The A320neo promises quieter engines, bigger bins, and slicker interiors – but in Club Europe it’s still very much about service, seat choice, and whether the crew make the 90 minutes feel worthwhile.
In this review:
Flight Details
Flight No: BA991
From/To: Berlin (BER) to London Heathrow (LHR)
Departure time: 14:20
Ticket Class: Business
Flight time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Frequent Flyer Points: 1,750 Avios
Status Points: 275 Tier Points
Aircraft: G-TTNZ
Aircraft type: Airbus A320neo
Number of classes: 2 (Euro Traveller and Club Europe)
Number of seats in flying class: 12
Seat: 1A
Position: Window, bulkhead
Airport Experience
Flying out of Berlin Brandenburg is always a mixed bag. The terminal is modern, but the endless walks make it feel more like a punishment than a hub designed in the 21st century. Security moved slowly despite being a mid-afternoon departure, and the lounge was nothing worth writing home about. Still, this was a work trip, and an Avios upgrade softened the blow of BER’s quirks.
I used the Tempelhof Lounge, which is the shared lounge that BA pays a local operator to use. Food is decidedly average, although there is normally a hot option. Thankfully, the beer and wine were slightly better quality than the food.
Boarding & Welcome
Boarding was at gate D6 – a long slog from the lounge and a poorly planned gate assignment. Groups 1 to 3 were called together, creating a long and slow-moving queue handled by just one gate agent. No priority was given to passengers with business class tickets. This happens far too often at BER, and BA needs to push Menzies to do better. Once onboard, things improved immediately. The crew were professional, efficient, and had the one-year-old aircraft turned around quickly. My first impressions of BA A320neo business class were positive.
Seat
The Club Europe seat is essentially the new Recaro slimline economy model, finished in dark leather with the middle seat blocked off and fitted with a small table. At 30 inches of pitch it felt snug, but Row 1’s bulkhead tray table gave me a bit more space. The headrest included foldable wings that supported my head nicely for a short nap, though not much more.
Although I sat in Row 1, I’d have preferred Row 2 if it had been available. It gives slightly more legroom, you get off just as quickly, there’s ample overhead bin space, and you can tuck a small bag under the unused middle seat. More practical all round.
Which is the best seat on British Airways A320neo Business Class?
Row 2 takes the crown. It offers a fraction more legroom than Row 1 without losing the benefit of being first off the aircraft. You’ll also have plenty of space in the overhead bins and can stow a small carry-on under the empty middle seat, which isn’t possible in Row 1. It’s the sweet spot for comfort and practicality.
See the seating plan on AeroLOPA.
Onboard Experience
This A320neo was only a year old and fitted with BA’s new short-haul cabin. Club Europe had twelve seats spread across three rows. The overhead bins were the latest larger design, so everyone’s bags went in without fuss. There was a single toilet at the front reserved for Club Europe passengers (and the flight deck crew).
The crew were attentive, passing through the cabin more than once to check on passengers and refresh drinks. Compared to the sluggish service on my outbound flight, this was much better.
Food & Drink
Catering was billed as “afternoon tea”, though at first I was offered just sandwiches. A quick request produced the full spread: three small sandwiches (the salmon on rye was the best), a warm fruit scone with clotted cream and Bonne Maman strawberry jam, and a neat slice of Victoria sponge.
Tea and coffee were offered alongside a full bar, including champagne. I went for a glass of red wine, which paired surprisingly well with the scone. Presentation was tidy and service was brisk and attentive, which made it feel more premium than the outbound journey.
In-flight Entertainment
Wi-Fi and at-seat power are now appearing across BA’s short-haul fleet, and it’s quickly becoming a key differentiator from other European flag carriers who seem determined to skip these features on their new aircraft. Power came on once we reached cruise and worked fine throughout. Wi-Fi, however, was temperamental – difficult to connect and prone to cutting out, though I managed to send a few messages before it gave up.
With no seatback screens, you’ll need to bring your own entertainment. On this flight, the erratic Wi-Fi made downloading shows in advance feel like the smartest move.
We held for twenty minutes above London due to bad weather but landed at Heathrow just twenty minutes behind schedule. Luck was on my side as we parked at gate 516 – the shortest walk to passport control.
BG1 Verdict
This was a solid improvement on my outbound flight. The crew were sharper, the service flowed without delay, and the addition of exclusive front-cabin facilities made it feel a little more premium. All BA need to do is deliver this consistently on all flights. The downside to this route remained Berlin’s chaotic boarding process – BA should insist Menzies tighten up their act. Overall, business class on a British Airways A320neo is a worthwhile use of Avios for short hops, but less convincing if you’re paying the full cash fare.
BG1 Tip
On BA’s A320neo fleet, the newer overhead bins are designed for sideways storage of standard cabin-sized wheelie cases. Instead of laying them flat, you can turn them on their side with the handle facing out. This allows 2 more cases per bin to be squeezed in and avoids the frantic “late to the gate… you snooze you lose” scrum that happened on older A320s.
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