You Can Now Charter a British Airways First Class Cabin

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Want a First Class Cabin All For Yourself or Your Family? You can charter a British Airways' First Class Cabin on scheduled BA flights between North America and London Heathrow.

The offer is a consequence of British Airways' attempt to stanch the bleeding caused by the COVID-19 crisis, which has been costing the airline around GBP 20 million per day and prompted BA to threaten to fire 12,000 staff, about 30% of its workforce, while imposing drastic pay cuts of as much as 70% on senior crew members. British Airways is also planning to sell some of the BA's art collection from its business and first class lounges and headquarters.

The actual fare quote for chartering British Airways First will depend on the routing, expected demand, and how far in advance the fare is booked. Here are the other conditions:

• Non-refundable full payment is due within 72 hours of blocking the cabin as a charter
• No refunds or changes once the payment is made
• Final names and name changes permitted up to 72 hours prior to the flight departure
• Standard British Airways First Class ground and inflight experience

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British Airways First Class is not the most aspirational first class product, to put it mildly–it's sometimes been dubbed “the best business class” given that there are 14 first class seats in the cabin, and the seats are much narrower than is typical for first class. Frankly I'd rather fly in a JAL Business Class Sky Suite window seat any day over British Airways First.

Also, with cabin crew morale understandably low given BA's planned fire and rehire scheme, chartering BA First may not provide the type of service or experience one would normally expect for first class.

Still, as British Airways starts to add back flights, those needing to get to London from North America are expected to have 13 flight options from July 2020, although since BOS and IAD will be operated by an A350-1000 and DFW and SEA with a 787-8 with no first class, chartering BA First isn't an option for those routes, as long as they remain serviced by A350 and 787-8 aircraft.

• Atlanta ATL
• Boston BOS (A350; no first class)
• Chicago ORD
• Dallas DTW (787-8; no first class)
• Los Angeles LAX
• Mexico City MEX
• Miami MIA
• New York JFK
• San Francisco SFO
• Seattle SEA (787-8; no first class)
• Toronto YYZ
• Vancouver YVR
• Washington, DC IAD (A350; no first class)
  

That said, because private jet charters between the U.S. and Europe can easily exceed $100,000 each way, chartering a British Airways First Class cabin may be attractive to some, and less expensive than buying out all first class seats at published rates.

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