What's New On BA's Boeing 787-9 First

British Airways took delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 two weeks ago and will put it into service on the London-Delhi route on Oct. 25. Last week the aircraft was used on the London-Austin revenue service for proving flights (BA190 and BA191).  While its 787-8 has three classes (economy, premium and business), BA has utilized the additional 20ft on its 787-9s to add a First cabin at the front of the aircraft.  

I was invited to test the new First product – in seat 2K - during the 10-hour flight from London Heathrow to Austin. 

At first glance, the new First cabin on the 787-9 looks the same as the ‘old’ product on the 777 and A380, retaining its signature color scheme and partially-enclosed suites in a 1-2-1 configuration at the front of the plane, but the reduced space in the cabin means BA has installed just eight seats in two rows (compared to 14 on its other widebodies), making it feel much more exclusive. 

The aisle is a little narrower: two people cannot comfortably pass each other so you’d either need to return to your seat or walk up to the galley to move out of the way. 

Despite the tight aisle, when seated I didn’t feel like I was too close to the person in the next row thanks to the higher seat walls and herringbone layout (photo shows row 1 ahead).

There are other major, but very subtle, differences in what BA is dubbing the “New First.” Probably the most notable change is the fixed 23-inch screen, which means First passengers can finally enjoy gate-to-gate IFE without the need to stow the screen.

While quite a few carriers have already opted for the Thales Avant system with Android-based TMPU handset, this is a completely new product for British Airways. The handset does need some patience when handling: it takes two taps to adjust the volume, the touchscreen is so small that even with my small fingers I found it difficult to get to where I wanted to go without accidentally making the wrong selection, and the crew call button is too easy to press by accident, especially when pulling the unit out of its storage position. But it’s still better than having to lean forward to touch the screen – and leave finger smudges in the process.

Moving the screen has allowed BA to relocate the integral wardrobe to inside the suite. The benefit is extra privacy and security when opening the wardrobe. The downside is that it is now narrower and shorter so I couldn’t hang my coat in there, but a gentleman's jacket and shirt would fit comfortably. 

The reduced length of the wardrobe has introduced a handy new storage space underneath it. 

This is probably the most beneficial for those that like to have their belongings with them during the flight. The new triangular shape ottoman-bin - adjacent to the footstool - is large enough for a pair of ankle boots and a small bag.

Another added benefit of the new ottoman is that shorter people (like me) can still rest their feet somewhere during take-off and landing.

There’s also a new locker located at eye-level next to the seat. 

Perfect for storing an amenity kit (which has not changed in the new First), I also put my book and passport in there with space to spare. 

There’s just one washroom at the front of the cabin so having a vanity mirror inside the door of this locker is also really handy.

The final additional storage space is just under the power points and was large enough to fit my iPad mini, iPhone and spectacle case (even though there’s a confusing ‘no stowage’ sign inside this storage area). Being able to close the lid also allowed me to tuck my charging cables neatly out of the way during the flight. 

Moving the screen and adding the new ottoman means an end to ‘buddy dining’, but regular First fliers probably wont miss this feature anyway as it’s considered more of a novelty.

On our last flight in First, my husband and I took up buddy dining at my window seat but the dining table really isn’t large enough for two people and the companion seat area is tight, especially for taller, broad shouldered passengers. On our return we opted to sit next to each other in the middle row and it was more comfortable. 

The privacy screen between the two seats in the middle row is noticeably wider. 

Subtlety is key here. British Airways has retained its signature stylish seat and décor but made understated – and welcome - improvements based on customer feedback. Regular passengers who are familiar with a product don’t want too much change – and lets face it – none of us like to ask to be shown how to use our seat. 

There is one change that confused me though. The ‘jog-dial’ that previously controlled the seat recline now also controls the four in-seat light settings and lumbar adjustment. This means one has to first select the individual light button then use the jog-dial to adjust the setting of that light. This is not intuitive and I found myself scratching my head trying to figure out how to turn off the desk lamp after I inadvertently turned it on (probably while adjusting my seat). At first I thought the buttons weren’t working and left it before finally playing with it enough to figure out what I was doing wrong (yes, women are as stubborn as men when it comes to asking for help).   

What has not changed in the new First is the renowned British Airways service, the selection of wines and champagnes and the delicious food. 

The extra in-seat bells and whistles on BA's 787-9 are a really welcome addition to what was already – in my view – a good product. First passengers on this aircraft will enjoy the (subtle) new features while retaining the familiarity of the cabin and seat.

BA didn't take the opportunity to upgrade its Club World product on the 787-9 so let's hope we see some more innovation in that cabin on its upcoming A350.