Flying to São Paulo for work, I wanted a direct flight but also aimed to avoid the dreaded overnight journey on the BA247. Then I remembered the extra flight BA added on the São Paulo route in October 2024. Operated by a 3-cabin British Airways 787 with Premium Economy, its a daytime service that seemed ideal for a relaxed afternoon watching films, before landing in Guarulhos in the evening and a quick taxi ride to the hotel for a normal sleep in a bed! But was it worth the upgrade? With a quiet, compact cabin, upgraded meals, and extra legroom, it had the makings of a solid option – though not without some problems. Read on for the full breakdown of this mid-tier experience.
In this review:
Flight Details
Flight No: BA241
From/To: London (LHR) to São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU)
Departure time: 11:40
Ticket Class: World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy)
Flight time: 11 hours 21 mins
Frequent Flyer Points: 8,079
Status Points: 90
Aircraft: G-ZBJK
Aircraft type: Boeing 787-8
Number of classes: 3
Number of seats in flying class: 25
Seat: 11B
Position: left hand side of the aircraft, 1 row from the front of the cabin
Airport Experience
Arriving at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 on a Saturday morning, I was expecting chaos, but it was surprisingly calm. The Club World check-in area had a bit of a queue, but I’d come prepared with my trusty First Wing access, which was refreshingly empty. From landside to airside in 10 minutes – smooth and efficient, just how it should be.
Boarding & Welcome
Boarding was from Gate C66 – a marathon away from the main terminal. I’d wisely set off an hour before departure, avoiding a last-minute sprint. Boarding commenced by group number, though the pace was a little rapid. I think this was because there weren’t that many passengers in each group. The process was completed in 30 minutes, and we pushed back at 11:41 – rare Heathrow efficiency!
Onboard, the right side of the British Airways 787 Premium Economy cabin was served drinks about 15 minutes after boarding. Then things went a bit rogue. There was some confusion over boarding statuses, which paused service. My side of the cabin eventually received the standard choices – sparkling wine (not Champagne, let’s not get carried away), orange juice, or water. With a long journey ahead, I played it safe and went for water. Menu cards followed shortly after.
Seat
British Airways’ premium economy seats on other aircraft types are a step up from standard economy, but on this 787, they were showing their age. The entertainment box under the seat made leg-stretching awkward, especially for aisle seat passengers who were left sticking a leg into the aisle – prime territory for being kicked by passing trolleys.
Unlike other BA premium economy seats, there was no leg rest that lifted with the recline – just a footrest. Only row 10 had the proper leg rest, but those seats lacked the usual footrest. Also missing? The handy bottle holders between seats. Small details, but ones that make a difference.
Getting the seat to fully recline required an amount of force that would either injure myself or disturb the passenger behind. Not exactly ideal.
What is the best seat on British Airway 787 Premium Economy?
The cabin on the 787-8 is compact, so there’s no truly bad seat in terms of placement. There are no toilets at the front or rear, so you won’t have queues forming around you. If you’re flying solo, avoid getting trapped in a window seat unless you don’t mind climbing over your neighbour.
I picked 11B – close to the front but not the bulkhead. While window seats have 1.5–2 windows each, the cabin sits over the wing, meaning your view is mostly a slab of engine and carbon fibre. Row 10 has more legroom, but limited storage space, and all bags must go in the overhead bin. Row 13 is against the economy bulkhead, where bassinet positions mean you might get a surprise seatmate in the form of a crying infant.
See the seating plan on SeatGuru.
Onboard Experience
The 787 is known for its quiet cabin, and this flight was no exception. However, sitting over the wing meant a noticeable amount of vibration through the seat – not a big deal for a daytime flight but something to keep in mind for an overnight trip.
A hot towel was offered as soon as the crew were released after take-odd. An amenity kit was bundled with the headphones in plastic wrapper.
Toilets were in the economy cabin, 3 midway along and 1 more at the very rear. 1 toilet for 45 passengers meant there were usually queues for them. There were even longer waits after the meal service.
Food & Drink
Drinks service began promptly after takeoff. A mini can of soft drink, a glass of ice, and a bag of pretzels were handed out with an efficient, “There you go, sir.” Straight to the point.
Dinner arrived an hour in, with wine, beer, and soft drinks. I stuck with water. The beetroot salad was impractical – diced beetroot carelessly thrown onto huge, uncut lettuce leaves that were impossible to eat without making a mess.
The beef cheeks main course was a mixed bag. The beef was tender enough to shred with a fork, accompanied by well-cooked vegetables. The “creamed” potato, however, was so runny it resembled a sauce. Dessert was a dry chocolate cake with aerated sweetened cream – an uninspiring finish.
Curiously, the alternative options were butter chicken tandoori and jackfruit biryani – choices that seemed oddly placed for a UK–Brazil route, given South Asian cuisine isn’t particularly popular in Brazil.
The cabin lights and windows were dimmed around 45 minutes after meal trays were cleared.
The crew came through a couple more times with juice and water, and snacks were available from the galley.
Second meal service commenced 90 minutes before landing. The options were a chicken pie or paneer curry. I went for the pie, which came on a tray with a white bread roll and chocolate brownie dessert.
In-flight Entertainment
The IFE touchscreen was sluggish at best, and plenty of passengers had to ask for reboots after their systems froze. I resorted to using the corded handset rather than battle with the laggy interface. My screen had a blue vertical band running down it, making darker scenes look particularly grim.
The provided headphones were mediocre, but my AirPods Pro 2 with an AirFly adapter delivered excellent sound. Unfortunately, the power sockets and headphone jack weren’t in the same place, so I couldn’t charge my adapter while using it.
No WiFi. That was the biggest shock. After all the buzz about BA’s free messaging for Executive Club members, I expected at least basic connectivity. This 787 must have been one of the last without an upgraded cabin. On the upside, being forced to unplug was oddly refreshing.
BG1 Verdict
This flight was an addition to BA’s schedule, operating 3 times per week. The other regular daily flight (BA247) had arrived and departed earlier in the day. On arrival, we sat on the tarmac for an extra 40 minutes because there was no jet bridge available, requiring a bus transfer. The first set of steps didn’t fit, so we had to wait for another. Clearly, the airport was unable to accommodate BA’s additional flight at a terminal jet bridge, and their ground operations agents aren’t yet handling the aircraft well.
On the flip-side, the immigration and baggage halls were far quieter in the evening compared to the mornings, when all the intercontinental flights arrive. I was through and waiting for my taxi within 45 minutes.
Punctuality was a strong point – Heathrow departures can be unpredictable, but we left on time. The IFE system badly needs upgrading, and the lack of WiFi was surprising given BA’s marketing. Service was efficient and typically BA – functional but polite.
British Airways 787 Premium Economy is comfortable enough but clearly in need of an update. The seat was fine for a daytime flight, but for an overnight journey, I’d think twice before relying on it for proper rest.
BG1 Tip
The 787-8 aircraft are still fitted with the old Club World seats. We struggle to justify the cost of that upgrade on daytime flights.
In Premium Economy, the views from the windows of this cabin are obstructed by the wing. Take the aisle seat if you’re staying awake and go for the window seat for sleep.
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