Boeing 777-300ER. BA has 12 of these aircraft in its fleet; the diameter of each of their GE engines is as great as the passenger cabin.
Sydney to London via Singapore
BA's Executive Club is not currently available but passengers holding frequent flyer memberships with oneworld alliance partners can earn points.
Business (Club World). Seat 13F
Just under eight hours to Singapore; and 13 hours to London.
Daily. A business class return airfare between Sydney and London starts at $7909, including taxes, fees and carrier charges. Conditions apply.
The seats are arranged in a 2-4-2 layout, with the outer doubles in the usual top-to-tail minor spooning configuration. The central "island" consists of two singles on either side facing forward and two rather intimate seats (where I am) in the middle facing the other way. Go the central seats if you're a couple but, despite the optional dividing wall, it's all a bit familiar. I normally don't get that close until at least the third date.
The seat pitch is 73 inches (185 centimetres) with a seat cushion width of 20 inches (50.8 centimetres). Overall length of seat when fully reclined (180 degrees) is to a six foot (183 centimetre) flat bed. There's also an in-seat power supply for laptops and other electronic devices.
Hundreds of the latest films, documentaries, television, music, audio books and games on a 10.4 inch (26.4 centimetre) flat screen with noise-cancelling headphones.
One cabin bag (up to 23 kilograms) plus a laptop or handbag on board and three bags of up to 32 kilograms each in the hold.
There's plenty of legroom even for my 1.86 metres and the seats have about a zillion different adjustable combinations so there's bound to be one to suit. I find a combination that is magic and end up like Sleeping Beauty. The electronic privacy screen between myself and my outside neighbour, though, is delightfully hilarious. A push button on top raises and lowers it with a "thunk" every time food/drink is served. Without it my neighbour and I would be staring lovingly into each other's eyes as we eat but I do wonder whether all the whooshing up and down and leaning through to serve me is irritating for him.
Excellent all round. The cabin crew are professional, friendly and nothing is too much trouble. Not that I tried to make trouble. Next time.
Lunch is served on the first leg, and dinner and breakfast on the second leg into London. A starter (there are two choices) of seared scallops, marinated prawn and smoked salmon is nice enough but served far too cold. The chargrilled fillet of beef main (of four) is a little overdone but the savoy cabbage and potatoes au gratin are good. The food on the second leg was excellent, especially the traditional English breakfast. If you're still peckish after all the food, the Club Kitchen in the galley area has a help-yourself selection of sandwiches, biscuits and snacks.
Take advantage of the BA Heathrow Terminal 5 Galleries arrival lounge on touchdown. Showers, suit pressing service, free internet, yet more food and a travel spa are all available. Open from 5am-2pm.
Arrived in London bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, refreshed and ready for anything, which is a big change from feeling like a gerbil that's been put through a washing machine.
Reviewed by Keith Austin, who flew courtesy of British Airways and VisitEngland.
See also: How they rate: Europe and back in every airline class
