British Airways Biz Class, West Coast (Early 2024)
Business class award space between the west coast and Europe has always been tough, but it's been even tougher recently. With that in mind, I wanted flag business class space for up to 9 people on British Airways.
Yes, the same British Airways with unreasonably high surcharges. Stick with me, though, there's a way to book without all of the surcharges and they're not that bad if you start the flight back from outside the UK such as Amsterdam.
Don't get me wrong, the surcharges still aren't cheap but with so few nonstop options from the west coast to Europe, I think it's worth a look!
Now, let's get into!
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Straight To The Points:
Routes: DEN/LAX/PDX/SAN/SEA/SFO-LHR
Operating airline: British Airways
Class of service: Business class
Dates: December 2023 - April 2024
Seats available: 2 (Up to 9)
Cabin layout: 1-2-1 (777/A350); 2-4-2/2-3-2 (A380); 2-3-2 (788/789)
Book with (per person, one-way):
- *Alaska Mileage Plan: 57,500 miles
- *American AAdvantage: 57,500 miles
- British Airways Executive Club: 31,250 to 90,000 Avios
- Cathay Asia Miles: 75,000 miles
- Iberia Plus: 77,250 Avios
- JAL Mileage Bank: 60,000 miles (85,000 round-trip)
- Qantas Frequent Flyer: 90,000 points
*No surcharges
Taxes/fees (per person):
- From US:
- Alaska: ~$890
- American: ~$701
- Cathay: ~$413
- From LHR:
- Alaska: ~$715
- American: ~$701
- Cathay: ~$670
- From AMS:
- Alaska: ~$444
- American: ~$431
- Cathay: ~$375
Don't start your return journey from the UK if at all possible.
Bank transfer partners:
- Alaska: Marriott
- American: Bilt, Citi, Marriott
- Cathay Pacific: Amex, Bilt, Citi, Capital One, Marriott
- British Airways: Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Marriott
- Iberia: Amex, Bilt, Chase, Marriott
- JAL: Marriott
- Qantas: Amex, Brex, Citi, Capital One, Marriott
Let me know if you book!
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Available Dates
LAX-LHR
December: 4, 5, 28, 30
January: 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 29, 30, 31
February: 2-7, 9-14, 16-21, 23-29
March: 1-13
LHR-LAX
December: 7, 8, 17, 18
January: 9-19, 23-26, 29-31
February: 1-29
March: 1-16
April: 8, 11, 20
SFO-LHR
December: 3
January: 16, 21, 28, 30
February: 2, 4, 5, 12-14, 19, 21-23, 25-29
March: 2-5, 10-12
LHR-SFO
January: 29, 30
February: 3,4,6,12,14, 15, 18-23. 27-29
March: 1-4, 6-8, 11, 12, 14, 15
SEA-LHR
December: 28-31
January: 1, 2, 8, 9, 11,15, 16, 18, 20-24, 29-31
February: 1, 5-8, 10-12, 19-21, 24-27
March: 3-5, 9-12, 19, 25, 26, 31
April: 1, 16
LHR-SEA
December: 5, 7, 26
January: 9, 11, 13, 17, 18, 24, 28, 30, 31
February: 1-3, 5-8, 13, 15-17, 19-23, 27, 29
March: 5, 6, 11-14, 19, 21, 26
April: 1-11, 17, 24
PDX-LHR
December: 4, 10, 24, 31
January: 7, 8, 10, 14, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29
February: 7, 9, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 25, 26
March: 1, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 18, 31
April: 1-11, 16, 18, 20-23, 29
LHR-PDX
December: 3, 8
January: 22, 24, 29
February: 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 25, 26
March: 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 22, 31
April: 2-4, 6-12, 15-19, 15-19, 21-24, 28-30
SAN-LHR
December: 27
January: 22
February: 12, 13, 25-28
March: 3-5
LHR-SAN
January: 22
February: 4, 9, 11, 15, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26
March: 1, 11, 20
DEN-LHR
January: 9, 12, 13, 15-20, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30
February: 2, 5-9, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26-28
March: 1, 4, 12, 13, 18-22, 25, 26, 28-31
Apri: 1, 2, 7, 14, 21, 22, 28
May: 3, 20
June: N/A
July: 1-3, 5-10, 12-21
LHR-DEN
January: 10, 12, 16, 18-20, 30, 31
February: 1, 7, 8, 13, 15, 17, 18, 21, 26, 28
March: 5-9, 12-15, 19-21, 26
Apri: 1-30
May: 1-3, 5, 12, 16-1-29, 24, 29, 31
June: 2, 8, 11, 16, 17, 19, 21-26, 29, 30
July: 3-5, 8, 10-12, 17-21
PHX-LHR
January: 8, 9, 15, 17, 19, 21-23, 29, 30
February: 2, 5-8, 18, 19, 21, 25-27
March: 11, 18, 25, 31
April: 1
May: N/A
June: N/A
July: 1, 6, 7, 10-12, 14-21
LHR-PHX
January: 16, 18, 24
February: 1, 13, 15, 16, 19, 22
March: 4, 26
April: 1-3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 17
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Flight Experience
You'll find British Airways newest business class (Club Suites) on the Airbus A350 and most Boeing 777s. The cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout so each seat has direct aisle access. Plus, each seat is lie-flat and a privacy door (a bit more style than substance)
On the A380, the cabin is arranged in a 2-4-2 layout (2-3-2 on the upper deck) . The 787-8 and 787-9 are arranged in a 2-3-2 layout. This is a subpar product so avoid them if you have a choice.
As to the service and catering, BA gets mixed reviews. Some flights are great while others are less than inspiring. However, a lie-flat business class seat on 10-11 hour flight is clutch.
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Best Ways To Book
Cathay Pacific: Solid Award Rate, Reduced Surcharges
If you're flying out of the US, Cathay Asia Miles is your best bet if you have Amex, Bilt, Capital One, or Citi points. At 75,000 miles for a one-way business class award, it's a solid option. However, the real selling point is that you won't be on the hook for all of the surcharges which cuts the outbound flight's taxes/fees in half.
From Europe, the taxes/fees are cheaper but the difference is smaller so you might want to consider Alaska or American miles.
American: Great Award Rate, Maybe Useful From Europe
From Europe (not the UK), the award rate + taxes/fees combo is much better than British Airways. You might even give it the advantage over Cathay Pacific, but I would consider whether you want to save your AA miles for another award.
From Europe: 57,500 AA miles + $431 vs 75,000 Asia Miles + $375.
Alaska: Great Award Rate, Maybe Useful From Europe
If you have Alaska miles you simply want to burn, it might be worth it from Europe (not the UK). Like American, Alaska's award rate is better than Cathay's but the taxes/fees are a bit steeper.
From Europe: 57,500 Alaska miles + $444 vs 75,000 Asia Miles + $375.
British Airways: Multiple Award Rate + Taxes/Fees Options
British Airways has multiple award rates. However, the fewer Avios you use, the higher the taxes/fees - and it gets crazy. Even with the Amex 30% transfer bonus, I don't see this being a better option than booking via Cathay.
You can see the one-way rate + taxes/fees combos from LAX to Europe below:
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How To Book
Here's how to search with American:
- Go to AA's site
- Select Advanced / Multi-city search (just click this link)
- Select Redeem miles
- Select One way or Round trip
- Enter From & To cities
- Select departure date(s)
- Choose the number of passengers
- Select Class as Business/First
- Click Search
- If you're searching for a nonstop, select Calendar then sort by nonstop.
If you're not booking with American miles, you can run a search with the program you're using once you find a date you want to book.
If you want to use Asia Miles and include a connection, you might need to call (866-892-2598) to complete the booking.
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Final Thoughts
With how sparse business class award space has been from the west coast (especially from LAX), this is a great option if you want to lock in award space for early next year, possibly a spring break trip!
Happy Booking!
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