British Airways 787-9 First Class Review: A Comfortable Flight, But Not Quite First Class

British Airways 787-9 First Class Review Read Time and Ratings

Our British Airways 787-9 First Class Review covers our First Class flight from London Heathrow Terminal 5 to Mexico City. We booked the trip using Avios points and an American Express Companion Voucher, which made the experience feel far better value than paying the full cash fare.

We travelled in seats 2B and 2K in the small eight-seat First Class cabin. The flight gave us many of the things we hoped for: First Wing check-in, Concorde Room access, champagne before departure, a calm cabin and a comfortable seat. However, it also showed where British Airways still needs to improve its First Class product.

This British Airways 787-9 First Class Review reflects a flight that met our expectations rather than exceeded them. We enjoyed the journey, but the remote stand boarding, tired seat details, inconsistent cleaning, average food and slow service stopped the flight from feeling truly special.

Flight Details

This British Airways 787-9 First Class Review focuses on our long-haul flight from London Heathrow Terminal 5 to Mexico City. British Airways operates the Boeing 787-9 with four cabins: First, Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller.

The First Class cabin has only eight seats in a 1-2-1 layout, which immediately creates a quieter and more exclusive feel than larger First Class cabins. We selected seats 2B and 2K. Seat 2K gave us a private window position, while seat 2B sat across the cabin and still offered direct aisle access.

The cabin layout works well for solo travellers, although couples may find it less sociable than older British Airways First Class seats on other aircraft. The smaller cabin helped the flight feel calm, but the overall experience still needed more polish.

Heathrow First Wing Check-In

We travelled from Manchester to Heathrow the day before and stayed at the Sofitel Hotel opposite Terminal 5. That decision made the morning much easier and allowed us to start the journey without rushing.

The British Airways First Wing sits at the southern end of Terminal 5. It offers dedicated check-in and fast-track security for First Class passengers, British Airways Gold Executive Club members and Oneworld Emerald customers.

This stage of our British Airways 787-9 First Class Review started very well. The First Wing felt quiet, calm and efficient. We collected our boarding passes quickly, passed through security without hassle and walked straight into the lounge area.

As First Class passengers, we then continued to the Concorde Room, which remains one of the biggest advantages of flying British Airways First Class from Heathrow.

Concorde Room at Heathrow Terminal 5

The Concorde Room gave the trip a premium start. We arrived early, so we had plenty of time to relax before the flight.

We enjoyed a full English breakfast in the dining area and looked out across the apron. The terrace also had tables available, although we chose the dining area for extra comfort. After breakfast, we sat at the bar and enjoyed champagne and a few beers before boarding.

The Concorde Room added real value to this British Airways 787-9 First Class Review. It felt calmer and more exclusive than the standard lounges, and it helped create the right mood before a long-haul First Class flight.

Boarding Experience

Boarding became one of the weakest parts of the journey.

We do not enjoy remote stands, especially when flying First Class. British Airways called First and Business Class passengers first, but everyone used the same buses. The process quickly lost its premium feel and became more of a free-for-all.

The aircraft views from the steps made for a nice moment, but British Airways did not provide separate buses or a more personal boarding process for First Class passengers. Everyone boarded through the same aircraft door.

For a First Class flight, this felt disappointing. The boarding process undermined some of the good work done by the First Wing and the Concorde Room.

British Airways 787-9 First Class Cabin

The Boeing 787-9 First Class cabin has just eight seats in a 1-2-1 layout. The cabin looked smart at first glance, and the small number of seats kept the atmosphere peaceful throughout the flight.

This part of our British Airways 787-9 First Class Review felt comfortable, but not outstanding. The seat felt smaller than the older British Airways First Class seats on the A380 and some Boeing 777 aircraft. British Airways gives the 787-9 First seat around 73 inches of pitch and around 23 inches of width, but the design makes the space feel less generous than those numbers suggest.

The cabin also has only one toilet for First Class passengers. That feels limited for a premium cabin, especially when compared with some other First Class products.

Seats 2B and 2K: Comfort and Space

Seats 2B and 2K gave us direct aisle access and enough space for a comfortable day flight. Seat 2K worked well as a private window seat, while seat 2B gave a clear view across the cabin. Both seats offered useful storage, charging points and easy-to-use seat controls.

We did not sleep or fully flatten the seat because this was a daytime flight, but the seat clearly offers a comfortable bed for overnight journeys.

However, both the seat and cabin needed more care. Some areas showed signs of wear, and the space did not feel as clean as it should have been, especially as the aircraft had been at Heathrow the previous evening. The vanity mirror door was missing from one seat, which meant we could not use that storage space properly.

Small details matter in First Class, and these issues lowered the score in our British Airways 787-9 First Class Review.

Companion Dining and Seat Design

The British Airways 787-9 First Class seat does not work especially well for companion dining. The fixed entertainment screen, smaller ottoman and reduced pitch make dining together more difficult than on older British Airways First Class seats.

This matters for couples. Seats 2B and 2K gave us privacy and comfort, but they did not create a natural shared experience. Solo travellers may enjoy the layout more than couples who want to dine together or chat easily during the flight.

For us, the seat worked well enough, but it lacked the flexibility and generous feel that we expect from First Class.

In-Flight Entertainment and Wi-Fi

The in-flight entertainment system worked well. The fixed 15-inch touchscreen provided a clear picture, and the handset made the system easy to control without having to sit fully upright.

British Airways offered a good choice of films, TV programmes, music, ebooks and games. The system felt simple to navigate, and we had plenty of options for the long flight.

The noise-cancelling headphones worked well, though they did not feel particularly premium. They suited film watching, but they did not add much to the overall First Class experience.

British Airways also offered free Wi-Fi for First Class passengers. We registered using our name and seat number, which made the process simple. However, the connection did not work perfectly on the outbound flight, and we struggled to connect properly with some mobile apps.

This section of our British Airways 787-9 First Class Review delivered a solid result, but it still lacked the premium edge we hoped for.

Amenities

When we reached our seats, we found a pillow and a small blanket waiting for us. The crew then brought pyjamas, slippers, an amenity kit and a menu.

We did not use the pyjamas because we did not plan to sleep, but the slippers and amenity kit came in useful. These extras helped the cabin feel more premium.

That said, this part of our British Airways 787-9 First Class Review felt fairly standard rather than memorable. The amenities did the job, but they did not lift the flight above expectations.

Food and Drink

We looked forward to the food and drink on this flight. Around 30 minutes after take-off, the crew brought champagne, and we ordered from the à la carte menu.

The meal started with canapés, including bresaola with melon, smoked salmon with cream cheese and cucumber, and fire-roasted red pepper roulade with goat’s cheese. We also enjoyed a glass of Vavasour Papa Sauvignon Blanc from Awatere Valley.

For the starter, we chose Beef Tataki with asparagus and apple ginger dressing. For the main course, we selected Duo of Lamb Rack and Braised Lamb, served with potatoes, roasted peppers, baby carrots and broccolini. We skipped dessert and finished with the cheese plate.

The food looked well presented, and the crew served each course at a sensible pace. However, the meal did not blow us away. It tasted good, but First Class food should feel more memorable and more refined.

Food and drink, therefore, scored fairly in our British Airways 787-9 First Class Review, but the meal did not reach the level we hoped for.

Cabin Crew and Service

The cabin crew gave us pleasant service, but the experience lacked sharpness at times. We received Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Champagne before take-off and a top-up before departure, which started the flight nicely.

However, the service sometimes moved slowly. The delay gave the crew time to take drinks and food orders, but the pace still did not always feel smooth or proactive.

The crew remained friendly and professional throughout the flight. Even so, First Class service should feel polished, attentive and effortless from start to finish. This flight delivered good service, but not great service.

Service remains an important part of any British Airways 787-9 First Class Review, and this flight showed that a friendly crew can still fall short when the overall pace lacks polish.

Value for Money

Value depends heavily on how you book this flight.

This British Airways 787-9 First Class Review feels more positive because we used Avios points and an American Express Companion Voucher. That changed the value completely and made the flight much easier to recommend.

If we had paid a full cash fare, we would have judged the experience more harshly. The Concorde Room, First Wing, champagne, small cabin and comfortable seat all added value. However, the tired seat details, remote-stand boarding, average food, and slow service would be harder to accept at a high cash price.

As an Avios redemption, this flight worked well. As a full-price First Class fare, it would need more polish.

Final Verdict

Our British Airways 787-9 First Class Review gives a balanced view of the experience. We enjoyed several parts of the journey, and the flight met our expectations.

The First Wing check-in worked well, the Concorde Room gave us a relaxed start, and the small First Class cabin created a calm onboard atmosphere. Seats 2B and 2K provided comfort and privacy; the champagne added a premium touch; and the Avios redemption made the flight feel like a much better value.

However, British Airways needs to improve the details. Remote stand boarding does not feel First Class; the seat looked tired in places, the cabin needed better cleaning, the food tasted good rather than special, and the service lacked the polish we expected.

Would we fly British Airways 787-9 First Class again using Avios and a Companion Voucher? Yes, we probably would.

Would we pay a full cash fare for the same experience? Probably not.

Overall, this British Airways 787-9 First Class flight was comfortable and enjoyable, meeting our expectations but not exceeding them.

Final Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3 Stars
Expectation Level: Met Our Expectations
Best For: Avios redemptions, Concorde Room access and solo travellers
Not Ideal For: Companion dining, full cash fares or travellers expecting a flawless First Class experience