B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Nasdaq:BEAV - News), the world's leading manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and a leading aftermarket distributor of aerospace fasteners, today announced that British Airways has selected B/E to perform a fleet-wide retrofit of business class seating on all of its long-haul aircraft. B/E will design and manufacture next generation horizontal lie-flat bed seats in a program initially valued at over $150 million. This program award was included in the company's third quarter backlog and deliveries will begin in mid-2006.
The next generation seat bed platform matches British Airways' highly successful forward and aft facing seating configuration with B/E's award-winning innovation and comfort technologies, setting new standards for passenger comfort. A strong emphasis on material aesthetics, quality and finish completes the passenger experience.
"In 2000, British Airways revolutionized the industry with its introduction of the first horizontal lie-flat business class seat. Now, British Airways is again raising the competitive bar, and we are pleased to collaborate with them to introduce an entirely new level of comfort and living space for their business class passengers," said Michael B. Baughan, Senior Vice President, B/E Aerospace, Inc.
Does God get peeved if you dont use a capital 'g' ?
Kanebear From United States, joined May 2002, 948 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2523 times:
Wonderful, now they'll finally be able to compete with AA's industry-leading business class which has been upgraded so much more frequently. It's about time!
Kiwiandrew From Mauritius, joined Jun 2005, 5548 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2492 times:
Quoting Kanebear (Reply 1): Wonderful, now they'll finally be able to compete with AA's industry-leading business class which has been upgraded so much more frequently. It's about time!
sorry , run that one past me again ? it's not even a flat bed is it ?
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 3816 posts, RR: 22 Reply 4, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2481 times:
Wow, they don't muck around at BA, do they?
Quoting BestWestern (Thread starter): The next generation seat bed platform matches British Airways' highly successful forward and aft facing seating configuration with B/E's award-winning innovation and comfort technologies, setting new standards for passenger comfort. A strong emphasis on material aesthetics, quality and finish completes the passenger experience.
So it'll still be fore and aft... "comfort technologies" - it's a seat that turns into a bed. How much better can it be? (imagines reading this post in 2020 and realising that yes, it can be much better) ... Material aesthetics (they'll be made of diamond), quality (duh) and finish (you'd hope it'd be good) ...!!!!
Can't wait to see what they're like, quite frankly.
Trent.
I choose to fly oneworld, as a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Kanebear From United States, joined May 2002, 948 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2454 times:
Quoting Kiwiandrew (Reply 3): sorry , run that one past me again ? it's not even a flat bed is it ?
Main Entry: sar·casm
Pronunciation: 'sär-"ka-z&m
Function: noun
Etymology: French or Late Latin; French sarcasme, from Late Latin sarcasmos, from Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein to tear flesh, bite the lips in rage, sneer, from sark-, sarx flesh; probably akin to Avestan thwar&s- to cut
1 : a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2 a : a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual b : the use or language of sarcasm
Kiwiandrew From Mauritius, joined Jun 2005, 5548 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2439 times:
Quoting Kanebear (Reply 5): Quoting Kiwiandrew (Reply 3):
sorry , run that one past me again ? it's not even a flat bed is it ?
Main Entry: sar·casm
Pronunciation: 'sär-"ka-z&m
Function: noun
Etymology: French or Late Latin; French sarcasme, from Late Latin sarcasmos, from Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein to tear flesh, bite the lips in rage, sneer, from sark-, sarx flesh; probably akin to Avestan thwar&s- to cut
1 : a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2 a : a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual b : the use or language of sarcasm
doh ! sorry , have the flu right now so I didnt even feel the blunt axe of sarcasm hitting me over the head - I actually thought I was missing out on some amazing AA development
Moderation in all things ... including moderation ;-)
RoseFlyer From United States, joined Feb 2004, 5645 posts, RR: 27 Reply 7, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2419 times:
Quoting BestWestern (Thread starter): "In 2000, British Airways revolutionized the industry with its introduction of the first horizontal lie-flat business class seat. Now, British Airways is again raising the competitive bar, and we are pleased to collaborate with them to introduce an entirely new level of comfort and living space for their business class passengers,"
First of all I am completely shocked that they are going to go through the expense of revamping a business class product that is already near the top. 5 year turnover is incredibly short. Maybe BA can sell the used seats to some other airline cheaply that wants a better product.
If there was any airline out there that had the money to do this, then it is BA, but still I am amazed that they are trying to one up the competition again. I guess business class passengers might prefer Virgin. But I ask, if BA improves its business class any more, will anyone want to fly first class? It seems that it might be necessary to revamp first class into an Emirates A345 like experience. Right now the biggest advantages of first class on BA are a wider seat and more storage space (and I guess better service). Maybe these improvements will not affect those qualities.
My job is to make it so your flight is not delayed. Come fly the friendly skies!
Kanebear From United States, joined May 2002, 948 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2374 times:
Quoting Kiwiandrew (Reply 6): doh ! sorry , have the flu right now so I didnt even feel the blunt axe of sarcasm hitting me over the head - I actually thought I was missing out on some amazing AA development
I wish. AA's J product is positively ancient. If it weren't for AAdvantage miles and easy upgradeability I don't think anyone would pay to fly it by choice! It's telling that BA will have fully completed one round of J class upgrades (on a larger longhaul fleet) and begun another before AA even STARTS their first in ages.
Jakob77 From United Kingdom (England), joined Sep 2004, 208 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2341 times:
Quoting Kanebear (Reply 9): I wish. AA's J product is positively ancient. If it weren't for AAdvantage miles and easy upgradeability I don't think anyone would pay to fly it by choice! It's telling that BA will have fully completed one round of J class upgrades (on a larger longhaul fleet) and begun another before AA even STARTS their first in ages.
Let's not single out AA. How about other North American carriers like UA? At least AA/AC has already announced that they'll be upgrading their Biz cabin.
FlyCaledonian From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 1389 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2184 times:
RoseFlyer, I believe BA has indicated that when the next longhaul product upgrade took place, i.e. the one announced today for starting next year, that it may look at reducing the provision of First on certain routes, either eliminating it altogether or only having it on some flights with multiple frequencies. It won't go away altogether, but maybe we'll see it on fewer flights, as AF have done. Be interesting to see next year what happens.
Ken777 From United States, joined Mar 2004, 2916 posts, RR: 12 Reply 14, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2164 times:
I'll take BA's business class bed over any other I have flown - especially since I always get a window seat, which is the most private in the cabin. Look forward to seeing this upgrade as it's hard to figure out what would be an improvement.
Monkeyboi From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 457 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2146 times:
Something 'odd' is going to be the result of the new cabin layout.
Those of us who work on the 747 have already been told that BA will move 'World Traveller Plus' IN FRONT of Club World on the B747. This is because 'B Zone' cannot accommodate the new Club seat/layout where the aircraft narrows.
This news also appears on the cabin crew union website, bassa.co.uk
Currently on the jumbo ('High' Club config) the config is:
First Class in the nose down to doors 1.
Club between doors 1 and 2, and also the whole Upper deck.
Club from doors 2 to 3.
WTP and WT from doors 3 to 5.
When BA upgrades the Club cabin, WTP will move to where the small Club cabin currently is, between doors 1 and 2 ('B zone'), and the 'new' Club will continue further down (where WTP is now).
Is there any other airlines that have their premium cabin behind economy?
Kanebear From United States, joined May 2002, 948 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2090 times:
That's going to royally cock up boarding and disembarking procedures. Generally BA hold the back cabins until First and Club are off. So, what'll happen now?? I suppose they can reserve L1 for F, have W disembark through L2 and hold W until J disembarks, then let W and Y leave. What a mess though. I'm also thinking they're going to need some sort of buffer zone between J and Y as the last row of J pax aren't going to be thrilled with the noise and light from Y.
FLY777UAL From United States, joined May 1999, 4501 posts, RR: 7 Reply 19, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2022 times:
Could it possibly something like Eos' seat (with an actual aisle instead of stepping over the feet of the other person), but seven abreast rather than eight (with the middle seat being the only aft-facing seat)?
Fbgdavidson From United Kingdom (England), joined Oct 2004, 3421 posts, RR: 35 Reply 20, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2004 times:
Sounds good BA CW is my staple longhaul product and rumours have been going around for a while. Seems BA are going head to head with VS on this as the current hard product offering in CW is light years ahead of UA/AA/AC and pretty much anyone else.
Be sure to get a trip report from me when it begins to roll out
Quoting Monkeyboi (Reply 15): Those of us who work on the 747 have already been told that BA will move 'World Traveller Plus' IN FRONT of Club World on the B747. This is because 'B Zone' cannot accommodate the new Club seat/layout where the aircraft narrows.
I read a rumour about this on Flyertalk, hadn't really put the installation of the new CW seat and moving of CW zone together. I do have similar concerns as Kanebear with regard to disembarkation procedures.
"My first job was selling doors, door to door, that's a tough job innit" - Bill Bailey
LHZXF From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 26 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (4 years 1 month 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 1990 times:
Is it only me or has it crossed anyone else's mind how much this comes down to per seat?
I’ve checked BA’s website and found the following information - over their long haul fleet (including the 767 that cover intra Europe routes) by my counting I believe BA have 5622 business class seats over their 744(57), 777(43) & 767’s(21) fleet numbers from Dec 2004. Which works out to a hell of a lot per seat.
HanginOut From Austria, joined May 2005, 545 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (4 years 1 month 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1901 times:
Quoting Fbgdavidson (Reply 20): Seems BA are going head to head with VS on this as the current hard product offering in CW is light years ahead of UA/AA/AC and pretty much anyone else.
AC has announced that they are upgrading their Executive First product. It will basically be the same as VS and Air New Zealand's biz class. (there is a thread on it.)
Richard28 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2003, 1412 posts, RR: 8 Reply 23, posted (4 years 1 month 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1864 times:
good old competition working for the consumer again!
the main advantages of the VS bed currently are:
- each seat has aisle access
- wider than current NCW bed
- longer than current NCW bed
- very large table - which does not have to be retracted to gain access to aisle
- ottoman to dine with a partner
I wonder how many of these BA will match/beat with its new biz class product?
and whether they will launch any other extra's such as an onboard bar?
Wrighbrothers From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 1815 posts, RR: 12 Reply 24, posted (4 years 1 month 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1824 times:
BA has upgraded it because they have fallen behind compotition in terms of the cabins, alowing airlines like EK SQ etc get the marque, and this was because this all happend while BA was doing its cost cutting.
SO, BA are going to upgrade all the L/H cabins (as far as I know)
AVOD will be in ALL classes.
First class- New seats, possibly mod lighting
Club World- New seats, new cabin layout, Bigger PTV screens etc
World Traveller PLUS- other than the fact it'll become a slightly cabin, not sure
World Traveller- AVOD, new seats, bigger PTV's etc
However, I'm not sure about these, so don't quote me on this.
Quoting Richard28 (Reply 23): and whether they will launch any other extra's such as an onboard bar?
I wouldn't think so
Quoting LHZXF (Reply 21): Is it only me or has it crossed anyone else's mind how much this comes down to per seat?
It comes down to the cabin layout , and the price of the ticket, If BA have less seats, but they rise the cost of the ticket, it'll be good.
Quoting Fbgdavidson (Reply 20): . Seems BA are going head to head with VS on this as the current hard product offering in CW is light years ahead of UA/AA/AC and pretty much anyone else.
Yep, I believe that the new CW product will be in a 2-2-2 config with the seats facing inwards
Quoting FlyCaledonian (Reply 13): that it may look at reducing the provision of First on certain routes, either eliminating it altogether or only having it on some flights with multiple frequencies. It won't go away altogether, but maybe we'll see it on fewer flights, as AF have done. Be interesting to see next year what happens.
I think that they'll remove it from some of the 777's, but none of the 744's
None of the L/H 767's have FIRST and..
None of the 3 class 777's have FIRST
But the 744's are the pride of the fleet, and if the demand isn't on 1 route, they'll transfer the 744's to a route that has.
SE210Caravelle From United States, joined Dec 2004, 235 posts, RR: 1 Reply 25, posted (4 years 1 month 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1767 times:
Quoting ClassicLover (Reply 4): Can't wait to see what they're like, quite frankly.
Yeah neither can I. I bet they'll be pretty cool. BA is a fantastic airline and I have no doubt that the new BA products will easily be beyond our expectations.
Quoting Monkeyboi (Reply 15): Those of us who work on the 747 have already been told that BA will move 'World Traveller Plus' IN FRONT of Club World on the B747.
Wow. That's interesting. As another poster commented, boarding and de-planeing will be hell!
Quoting Richard28 (Reply 23): good old competition working for the consumer again!
The JFK-LHR route has especially seen its fare share of consumer product upgrades. 'Bout time!
Quoting Wrighbrothers (Reply 24): But the 744's are the pride of the fleet, and if the demand isn't on 1 route, they'll transfer the 744's to a route that has.
That's a good piont. Besides, I have always felt of BA as a three class (F/J/Y) airline.
See ya,
S E 2 1 0
26 DavidT: Oooh goody! I can only imagine how they'd improve upon it currently. I suppose have seats which are wider, and perhaps more armchairlike. Delivery mid
27 Revelation: Isn't that the problem - much of AA first is upgrades, so they don't make much money in first, so they don't spend the money to upgrade?
28 MarshalN: No you didn't -- they're staying out of bankruptcy protection!
29 Monkeyboi: There will be a bar in Club. Not VS like, but more similar to QF (ie Self Service). The product department are flying around the globe as we speak, so
30 Kanebear: Change First to Business and you've got something there. F class is mostly upgrades but you must be on a D fare or above to be able to upgrade to F.
31 Wrighbrothers: Hey there Monkeyboi Grwat, do you know if there will be one in First class ? That's no lie I mean that it had fallen behind in terms as what was offer
32 Monkeyboi: Hey Wrightbros....... First Class isn't being touched for the time being. The initial investment is to be in Club, then I believe First and WT/WTP to
33 Wrighbrothers: How do Oh right. Hopefully only some minor changes as the F product's great, and yes,there is a kind of different feel of that between CW and F. I ju
34 AirNZ: Hey! the new biz seats are going to be designed and made here in Northern Ireland!!
35 LobsterTail: I am surprised to hear that BA are redesigning their CW seat so soon. The current seat is still one of the best (and to some the best) out there. It i
Sponsor Message: 
From Ireland, joined Sep 2000, 5081 posts, 
From United States, joined May 2002, 948 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 2862 posts, 
From Mauritius, joined Jun 2005, 5548 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, .gif){kind=small}
From United Kingdom (England), joined Sep 2004, 208 posts, 
From Hong Kong SAR, PRC, joined Jan 2001, 7841 posts, 
BA CW is my staple longhaul product and rumours have been going around for a while. Seems BA are going head to head with VS on this as the current hard product offering in CW is light years ahead of UA/AA/AC and pretty much anyone else.
From Austria, joined May 2005, 545 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
