Trip Report: British Airways London City to New York JFK BA1

14^th Aug 2020

British Airways Airbus A318 at London City Airport

British Airways' Airbus A318 all business class service, from London City Airport to New York JFK, the famous BA1, has finally stopped flying, after 18 years shuttling between the two financial hubs. As a retrospect, we look at what turned out to be one of the very last flights, on BA1, as we take a Trip Report from British Airways London City to New York JFK.

This week, British Airways has announced that it will retire its sole Airbus A318, and with it the unique BA1 flight to New York JFK.

The tiny aircraft, combined with all-business-class configuration shuttling between London City (LCY) and New York (JFK) with a refuelling stop in Shannon (SNN) along the way, just for a quick passport check.

The history of BA's all business class BA1 flight

Flight number BA1 used to be one of pair of Concorde flights, however that was retired in 2003. However, in 2007 it was relaunched by British Airways, in response to the sudden trend for all Business Class flights from European airlines, with Lufthansa and SWISS operating Business Class flights only flights to JFK, along with very briefly existing airlines Eos and Maxjet.

The idea - and it was a good one - was that with so many Financial companies in Docklands and the Square Mile flying people to Wall Street and back, they wouldn't want to go to Heathrow, a good hour away to the West. Instead, they could hop on a flight at very short notice: indeed, many would spend an hour at their desk in the city, run to the airport, and thanks to the time difference still be able to spend the afternoon in New York.

British Airways bought two new Airbus A318 aircraft to serve the route which were fitted with 32 seats in a 2-2 layout. Instead of the then new half rearwards facing Club World seat, large forward facing seats were installed. This would also save weight on the aircraft.

The meals served on board are also notably different from most of BA's inflight catering.

Crucial, because take off restrictions at London City Airport means the A318 is not able to take-off with full tanks of fuel, and instead the A318 has to make a 40 minute refuelling stop in Shannon. A plus point of this is that Shannon offers a US customs and immigration service, allowing passengers to clear the US border in Ireland and land in New York JFK as domestic passengers, saving a three hour queue at immigration.

London City Airport

The Docklands Light Railway chugs its way right to London City airport, and check in is swift, even travelling at 7am.

Really quick. London City is designed for speedy departures.

Even if check in a bag on the JFK flight, you're only needed 20 minutes before the departure time.

Check in was swift, but I wasn't prepared for all the questions as to why I was flying to the US. For the miles of course! And to check out the airline food! But that wasn't really considered an acceptable answer.

There was supposedly a Fast Track lane at security, but I was told on BA1 I couldn't use it as my boarding pass had the dreaded SSSS printed on, and instead spent an insane hour and a half getting through security. It took forever.

However, the downside is that British Airways doesn't have a business class lounge to hang out in; instead, BA1 passengers can get a free meal at Pilots Bar & Kitchen.

At least it is some variety on the Heathrow Galleries Lounge, and the food is better, but it was insanely busy, and I was wedged up one end of the bar.

After wasting so long at security, I only had a few minutes at the Pilots Bar, before signs indicated I had 30 minutes before boarding.

I went along to the gate. Instead of the vast crowds at the gate for normal transatlantic flights, there were just eight passengers milling about. It turned out that was the entire complement of the flight, for when I asked if I could change seats, they not only obliged, but mentioned there were more crew onboard than passengers. Amazing.

British Airways A318

This particular aeroplane is entirely one of a kind - it's the only all business craft aircraft in British Airways' fleet, as well as the only active BA A318.

There are just 32 seats in total, arranged in a 2-2 configuration and spread between eight rows.

Boarding was very swift, as all eight of us walked to the aircraft. As an aside, I was amused that the crew commented that there was no hold luggage 'again'. It seems no one ever checks in a bag for this flight.

Once I hopped up the steps, it was clear this was an aircraft like no other. There is lots of legroom, and with eight passengers on board, felt very much like a private jet.

The seats all face forward, and there is a small ottoman for you to rest your legs on.

The seat controls can be found on the outside armrest on each seat and are pretty basic, but they still manage to get the seat into a variety of comfortable positions, including fully flat. Each pair of seats shares 4 universal power outlets.

Two are built into the central divider and face away from the seats a little below knee height. There are also small lights built into the headrest.

The seat is so unusual - with just one of British Airway's aircraft fitted with it - it comes with it's own manual.

Inflight Meals on British Airways BA001

A menu was offered, with a meal service served on both legs, however there is just a welcome drink with warm nuts followed by a starter on the London City to Shannon section. The main meal and then afternoon tea is served on Shannon to New York JFK.

The wine list looked very good, and the cocktail list was something else.

There were a total of 3 cabin crews looking after only eight passengers, and they seemed almost desperately willing to please.

After a quick de-ice, we taxied right to the end of the runway, and it took only 18 seconds during take off to climb out of London City's short and narrow runway. Flight time to Shannon was 50 minutes.

A quick snack was offered, but most crucially the bar was open from the second we hit the cruise. I decided to start off with a cocktail - although it was only just gone 9.51am, followed by checking out all three of the types of Champagne in the extensive wine cellar.

The crew came around and asked if I'd like my nuts warmed as they mixed up my cocktail, where I started off with a Gin Fizz.

Then the promised starter before the main course, or 'The snack', was an exotic fruit bruschetta. Basically, a few slices of fruit on a stick. There was also some sushi loaded as an alternative.

It was tasty, but didn't really hit the spot, I was glad I had had breakfast beforehand in the bar.

It really only took 40 minute or so, before we descended through the clouds into Shannon. At the gate at Shannon we had a salubrious visitor ahead of us: United State Air Force two and a half or something. There was a notable security presence.

Shannon stopover BA001

At Shannon it was a notably large, empty and drafty airport.

Rather like a hangar with a few cafes stuck around the perimeter. It was deliberately built large, because it was a busy refuelling stop for many international carriers in the 1960s, and now wandering it's empty halls and seeing redundant aircraft with liveries of airlines that no longer fly on the tarmac, it feels a little bit like you've gone back in time, and you can imagine thousands of passengers who once stopped off at the airport for an hour en-route to the US.

There was another security check and then US Immigration.

The guy at the desk asked me my route, and then queried as to whether it was 'some sort of crazy millage run'. I told him it was all about Status, and he just nodded knowledgeably, and let me on my way, the complete opposite to the experience I've had at JFK before now.

It gave me a chance to spend a few minutes in Shannon's rather unique 'aircraft model' museum. It highlights the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s when the large airport at Shannon was built.

At the time, the US only permitted flights to Shannon and only permitted Irish airlines to serve Boston, Chicago and New York. Amazingly this arrangement carried on until 2008, and I well remember taking Aer Lingus transatlantic from Dublin, only to stop off almost immediately in Shannon. It was a journey back in time indeed.

There was no access to a lounge, despite being seated right outside the Shannon boni lounge which was shut.

However, BA have a small seating area by the gate, where the aircraft was being refuelled.

All the furniture seems to have come from the old Milan lounge, and is very much the old Galleries lounge.

Amenity Kit & IFE on British Airways BA001

Welcomed back on board, a water bottle and the amenity kit was waiting at my seat, created by The White Company.

The amenity kit consists of the usual toothbrush and past, plus socks and eyeshade, and a small packet with tubes of Spa moisturiser.

The In flight entertainment was also loaded.

I say loaded as it isn't in the seatbacks.

Instead, the crew have tablets that they hand out to passengers. They don't have a lot of content, but there are a fair few new films which were welcome.

The noise cancelling headphones were actually pretty good.

Very soon we were running along the runway, and then up over the wild west coast of Ireland.

Inflight Service on BA001

Once we reached the cruise, warm nuts made an appearance again, along with Kir Royale.

Starters were Salad, or Cauliflower soup.
Main courses were lamb cutlet, chicken and rice, or mushroom bourguignon.
Ending with Creme fraiche, a watermelon, or the cheese board.

I started with the Fresh seasonal salad, with nicoise style vegetables served with balsamic vinaigrette, however it was a pretty chilly morning so I quickly moved onto the cauliflower and almond soup. It was lovely with a lot of flavour.

I do like the rolls BA serve on these services: they come with three types of bread in a silver basket, which looks pretty classy.

For my main I selected the Welsh Lamb cutlet with braised lamb shoulder and polenta au gratin grilled vegetables.

It had a lot of flavour, and was great. It went really well with the red wine on the flight.

For desert, I had both the pudding and the cheese. Now, BA normally like you to select one or the other, but in this case they didn't mind if I had both.

The Mango creme fraiche was brilliant.

And the best part was the Cheese Board, Cheese included Wookey Hole Cave Aged cheddar, Sussex Camembert, and Oxford Blue cheese, along with apple ad pear chutney.

For drinks, I worked my way through the cocktail list.

Cranberry blush, with vodka, orange and cranberry, plus a dash of spritz.

Johnnie Ginger, a premium whisky with orange juice and ginger ale, and ice and a slice.

A couple of hours before landing, we were offered afternoon tea.

Options were the sandwiches, or a traditional ploughman's, both served with lemon and date scones.

I went for the ploughmans. It had Wiltshire gammon ham, Cropwell Bishop stilton cheese, a Scotch egg, Suffolk salami, and chutney.

The scones were great too, with dollops of clotted cream, and strawberry jam.

I was determined to try one of British Airway's special Brewdog Speedbird 100 ales.

I also tried the other two champagnes on the wine list. As with all the drinks on the menu, I sampled them, but of course didn't take more than a taste, with plenty of water. I'm a responsible flyer!

All too soon we were descending towards New York JFK airport - or Idlewild as I still like to bemuse the crew by calling it.

On landing we walked straight out of the aircraft, and into the terminal: A really unusual experience, and one that makes this journey worthwhile. None of that hanging about for hours at immigration nonsense.

Indeed, because I was airside, and with a BA issued boarding pass for my next flight, I had a chance to pop into the new British Airways JFK lounge.

Light and bright, it features the new Brewdog bar, and is a lovely arrivals lounge.

Review of the all business class BA1 British Airways flight

So, the bottom line. Is this flight worth it?

Yes, yes, and yes again, if only for the Personal Jet experience, and for the unusual almost one to one attention of the cabin crew. The stop at Shannon is a bit of a pain, but it makes up for it in not having to queue at immigration.

I loved this flight - and there are few flights I can say that about.

Alas, British Airways have decided in a new post-Covid world, it just isn't economic and have cancelled the route. Indeed, the flight I was on was one of the last flights of this unique service.

See the full Trip Report: British Airways London City to New York JFK BA1 video:

Trip Report: British Airways London City to New York JFK BA1 video Click to play

Lux-traveller paid its own way for this Trip Report: British Airways London City to New York JFK BA1, and travelled incognito.

Trip Report: British Airways London City to New York JFK BA1
Lux-traveller.com rating:7 out of10
Seats:	9 - Great flat bed seatse
Food:	9 - Very good
Service:	9 - Exceptional
IFE:	6 - ipads with basic content