With some Avios and a companion voucher to burn, we thought it’d be nice reason to fly on the British Airways A380 in First to visit Washington D.C and the Virginia area. Because of a delay, we were able to spend additional time in the Concorde Room at Heathrow. Read on for a summary of our journey.
Flight Details
Flight No: BA293
From/To: London (LHR) to Washington Dulles (IAD)
Departure time: 17:15
Ticket Class: First
Flight time: 7 hours 17 mins
Aircraft: G-XLEE
Aircraft type: Airbus A380-800
Number of classes: 4
Number of seats in flying class: 12
Seat: 1K
Position: left hand side of the aircraft at the front
In this review:
Airport Experience
As soon as we got to the airport, we made our way over to the first wing, which is this fancy area specifically for first class and gold status folks at the southern end of terminal 5. Good thing it wasn’t crowded at all.
When we walked in, they greeted us right away and pointed us to an open check-in desk. No waiting in line for us, woohoo!
The check-in process was smooth and efficient. I mean, besides the lady walking around with a tray offering free water, they could’ve just used a machine to do the whole thing. But hey, the human touch added some charm.
The security in the first wing was surprisingly chilled. No lines for the machines or boxes pilling up.
Believe it or not, within just 10 minutes of checking in, we found ourselves kickin’ back in the First Lounge. Talk about quick!
Concorde Room toilets at Heathrow 
Concorde Room bar at Heathrow Afternoon tea on the Concorde Terrace at Heathrow Lunch in the Concorde Room at London Heathrow
We didn’t waste any time and headed straight to the Concorde Room for some lunch. We both started off with the salmon mousse, which was pretty tasty.
For the main course, we couldn’t resist the grilled sea bass and the burrata and truffle tortellini. All very good!
And of course, we couldn’t skip dessert. We treated ourselves to a scrumptious chocolate caramel slice with popcorn, along with a sticky toffee slice. It was a sweet tooth’s dream.
Later, we found afternoon tea being served out on the Concorde Terrace. Although very full, we managed to squeeze in a slice of Battenberg with a cup of tea.
Since our flight was leaving from the C gates, we knew we had to give ourselves about 20 minutes to get there.
Boarding & Welcome
When we were advised to leave the lounge, we were informed that the flight had a 60-minute delay. However, as time passed, the delay became much longer than expected.
By the time we reached the gate, boarding was nearly complete. There was a queue on the air bridge leading to the aircraft, which was not surprising considering our late boarding. We barely made it through the front left (first class) door before it closed, leaving only the mid-cabin door open.
Gate C63 at Heathrow British Airways A380 G-XLEE at Gate C63 at Heathrow Waiting to board BA A380 at Heathrow Boarding BA A380 First Class First Class Cabin on British Airways A380
The first class cabin was situated on the main deck, right behind the flight deck.
After we took our seats, the captain made an announcement regarding the delayed departure. It was explained that the aircraft experienced a delay due to the need for a fuel pump replacement and testing. Unfortunately, the crew discovered a fault with one of the cargo hold doors after completing the fuel pump replacement. Once the issue was fixed, they decided to refuel the aircraft for departure. However, this process would exceed the crew’s permitted hours. Consequently, we had to wait while a third pilot was called to the airport.
Finally, after a delay of 3 hours and 50 minutes, the flight pushed back. Frankly, it was a shame we were boarded with so much a delay ahead of us, although be able to wait-out the delay in first class isn’t something to complain about.
Seat
With the retirement of the iconic 747, the first-class seat on British Airways’ A380 aircraft has gained distinction as one of the oldest offerings in their fleet. Despite its age, this seat still provides a comfortable and luxurious experience for passengers seeking a premium travel experience.
First Class seat 1K on BA A380 First Class Seat 1K on BA A380 First Class Seat 1K on BA A380 First Class
Each first-class seat on the A380 is designed as a semi-enclosed suite, offering a generous amount of privacy. While it may lack the fully enclosed door that is featured on newer suite products, including British Airways’ latest First seat, the semi-enclosed design still ensures a reasonable level of seclusion.
One notable advantage of the A380’s spacious cabin is that the first-class seat area benefits from a few extra inches of length and width. This additional space creates a more expansive and roomy environment compared to other British Airways aircraft types.
The first-class seats on the A380 boast a highly configurable electric recline feature, which can be adjusted at the touch of a button. Passengers have the flexibility to recline the seat to a fully flat position or set it to any desired level of inclination, allowing for personalised comfort during the flight.
Complementing the main seat, there is a manually adjusted footstool provided, serving as a convenient space to elevate your feet or even double as an extra seat for companion dining. However, it’s worth noting that the dining table can become cluttered/cramped when dining with a buddy, making it more suitable for drinks, canapés or dessert rather than a full dinner service.
To cater to passengers’ storage needs, the first-class seat offers ample overhead storage compartments. Additionally, a small cubby box is provided to store personal items, and a dedicated jacket hanging cupboard offers sufficient space for storing shoes at the bottom.
At seat storage on BA A380 First Class Seat-side stowage on BA A380 First Class Reading light on BA A380 First Class Hanging wardrobe on BA A380 First Class
Enhancing the ambiance of the cabin, the windows in the first-class area are equipped with electric blinds that can be easily adjusted using buttons conveniently located beneath them. This feature allows a lot of control over amount of natural light entering the space.
In terms of amenities, each first-class seat comes with a duvet, pillow, and seat cover. These essential additions aim to provide passengers with a cozy and relaxing atmosphere throughout the flight, ensuring a restful journey.
The cleanliness of the seat and surround area was generally of a good standard.
Seat controls on BA A380 First Class TV Control on BA A380 First Class Charging options on BA A380 First Class
Two USB charging ports and a mains power socket were available at each seat, providing enough capacity to charge a phone, watch and laptop simultaneously.
What is the best seat on British Airways A380 First?
We think 2A and 2K are the best in this cabin. 1A and K are fine and quiet (despite the proximity of the lavatories) but they’re not as private as the seats on row 2.
Food and drink service comes from the galley at the rear of the cabin, so avoid seats on the final rows.
Couples who like talking to each other might prefer middle seats on row 2 or 3, but who chats all the way through a flight?! We wave goodbye to each other on departure and relish the me time!
See the seating plan on SeatGuru.
Onboard Experience
On the BA fleet, the first cabin, like most, can be found on the main deck at the front. Despite being small, it offered a roomier feel when compared to the more tightly packed Club World and Premium Economy cabins. The first-class passengers have access to ample washrooms, although they are quite compact. In contrast, other A380 aircraft we’ve traveled on have more spacious business/first-class toilets. These washrooms were equipped with Elemis hand soap and moisturisers. However, there are no White Company products or the traditional rose, resulting in washrooms that are now near-identical to Club World. We received a Temperly amenity kit (available in male or female) and Temperley-branded pyjamas.
Food & Drink
With a lengthy delay on the ground, the airline offered canapés to passengers before takeoff. Though tempted, we decided to wait until we were airborne. The in-flight meal service started around an hour after the seatbelt sign was finally turned off, which was about 4 hours after boarding. Needless to say, we had indulged in quite a bit of champagne by then!
BA First Class meal menu Light meal and beverage menu – BA First Class
The beef and ginger starter left a delightful impression with its fresh taste and well-balanced flavor combinations. The side of asparagus perfectly complemented the dish. As for the lamb main course, it was exceptional – cooked to a lovely pink in the middle and wonderfully paired with the Chateau La Tour Bordeaux.
Beef with ginger in BA A380 First Class Vegetables in BA first class Lamb in BA first class
The crepe Suzette intrigued both of us – how would it taste at 30,000 feet? Surprisingly, they managed to make it absolutely delicious, and it paired perfectly with the dessert wine.
After such a delightful feast, it’s no wonder that we fell asleep shortly after finishing our meal. The combination of a delicious meal, late evening departure, delightful wine pairings, and perhaps a bit too much champagne sent us into a peaceful slumber for a large portion of the flight.
Crepe Suzette in BA A380 First Class Small plate in BA A380 First Class
Before landing at Washington Dulles, we were served a light meal. We chose the Waldorf salad to keep it simple, as the burger felt too heavy after dinner just 4 hours ago. It was a good call, and the salad was refreshing.
Wine list on BA First Class Drink menu on BA First Class
In-flight Entertainment
The older first-class seat had a unique screen setup, with the screen folding out from the side wall. However, this required it to be stowed during take-off and landing, limiting our in-flight entertainment until we were airborne and up to 20 minutes before landing. Unlike the newer BA first-class seats, which offer uninterrupted entertainment from gate to gate with a fixed TV screen.
TV screen on BA A380 First Class Noise-cancelling headphones on BA A380 First Class Movie selection on BA A380 First Class
Despite the screen setup, the entertainment selection was impressive, boasting extensive TV shows, movies, and audio content, including a great mix of recent releases and classic favourites. The variety included lots of kids’ content and games to keep young travellers entertained throughout the flight.
While the noise-canceling headphones provided were effective in reducing ambient noise, they were also quite comfortable to wear, making the in-flight entertainment experience more enjoyable.
One drawback we noticed, however, was the excessive number of adverts shown before each movie, totalling nearly 10 minutes in length and impossible to skip. This was a minor inconvenience that slightly detracted from an otherwise enjoyable entertainment offering.
BG1 Verdict
Despite the long delay, the overall experience flying British Airways A380 first class was very enjoyable.
Our airport experience with the first wing and Concorde room was great.
The A380, while spacious, is starting to show its age.
We found cabin climate wasn’t as comfortable as it is on the A350 and we arrived feeling fairly dried-out.
BG1 Tip
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