To London on British Airways Club World

I do not advise trying to book an award ticket on a month's notice for a trip during the holiday season.  The only One World ticket from the West Coast I could find was Las Vegas to London Gatwick on Saturday, December 22.  50,000 AAdvantage miles gets you a business class ticket from the USA to Europe and we booked two on this non-stop flight.

Left Santa Barbara at 5:30am in a one-way rental with a stop in Victorville along the way.  We arrived in Las Vegas a little before noon, ate lunch, stocked up on some snacks and headed to LAS.  Check-in was a breeze with no one in the Club World line when we arrived.  We weren't checking a bag so we went straight to the lounge.

"The Club at LAS" is a shared lounge for all the international carriers in Terminal 3.  It had standard assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks and sweets.  After already eating lunch I wasn't interested in a sandwich, but the ones I saw being brought out were quite generous in size.  We had a few hours to kill so I also checked out the other planes at the gate.

Volaris A319 - destination Mexico City 

Virgin Atlantic 747 - also flies to LGW

The incoming flight from LGW was about 40 minutes late so we waited in the lounge to be called.  Finally they announced BA 2276 and we walked out to a hoard of people all crowding around the gate.  The plane was not in fact ready to board, so we probably waited another 15 minutes.  It was very difficult to hear the announcements from the gate agents.  Finally, it was time to go down the jet bridge and we turned left at the door into the Club World cabin.  

Our 3 Class 777 arriving at the gate in LAS

Lots of Room in the Club World Cabin - only about 1/3 full.

We pushed back about 45 minutes late and then took a long time taxiing before take-off.  The sun was just setting over Las Vegas as we set off for London.  Unfortunately, being on the left side of the plane I didn't have a view of the Strip.  Also, flying in Club World in seat 4A was a new experience facing backwards.

Plenty of legroom

Looking west towards the South Point Casino on climb out.

Ten minutes into the air we had menus and drinks.  Since the cabin was only partially full the Flight Attendants were quite attentive throughout the whole flight.

Dinner Menu

Breakfast Menu

Special Drinks

Wines

 I've always been intrigued with the amenity kits that are distributed on premium cabin flights.  It was kind of like opening a present to see what was inside.  The British Airways product is done by Elemis.  The outside kit was a bit disappointing and inside were the standards and some socks that were too small for my feet.

I chose the poached main lobster as the appetizer.  This was probably the best dish of the flight.  The salad also seemed quite fresh.  How the Club World cabin is laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration makes for a lot of reaching over people to serve the window seats.

Steak for the main.  I like a steak anywhere from medium-well to well done, but this piece of meat was beyond well done.  It was difficult to cut with the provided cutlery.  I thought of sending it back for the fish, but that was after I already pretty much had finished it.

 The cheese plate was good, but I was already quite full by this point.  The menu said it would come with fresh raspberries, but I never saw those.  I washed it all down with a cup of hot tea.  After they cleared this, it was about 8pm Pacific Time and I was pretty exhausted after the early morning drive and  airport.  To make the Club World Bed, your seat reclines and you kick down the footrest in front of you.  Because of the seat configuration, if you want to get out, you step over the legs of whoever is sitting in 5B.  I woke up when the cabin lights came on about an hour out from LGW.  Breakfast was served immediately.

Air Show

Sunrise over the Atlantic

Looking backwards after I woke up.

Breakfast - fruit, smoothie, tea and a muffin.
 Later they brought out ham on a soggy roll

Looking down on LGW

After arrival at LGW we went right through immigration and with no bags to pick-up we were out of the airport within 30 minutes.  We made a stop at the BA arrivals lounge which is located in a hotel across the parking lot.  We were the only ones in the lounge and after the hostess called our hotel we decided to head to the hotel instead of showering there.  

Overall, I was quite happy with British Airways Club World, mostly because of the comfortableness of the seat.  The cabin could be a little cleaner and the food improved, but I slept well on this flight which is priority number 1.