The British Airways Boeing 787-10 Business Class offers the airline’s newer Club Suite, with direct aisle access, a sliding privacy door, and a much more private setup than the older Club World seat.
On this night, my trip from Lagos to London did not go as planned. I was originally booked on Turkish Airlines. After an unexpected issue at the check-in counter, I canceled that flight and booked British Airways instead.
Fortunately, I found two Business Class award seats through Alaska Airlines for the same night. That meant I could travel to London and try the British Airways Club Suite on the Boeing 787-10.
In this review, I’ll cover the booking, airport experience in Lagos, seat, food, service, entertainment and what I thought of the flight overall.
Booking With Alaska Miles
I originally booked our trip using United Airlines miles on a Turkish Airlines-operated flight. My wife and I were looking forward to the journey because neither of us had flown Turkish Airlines in a long time.
Unfortunately, things changed at the Turkish Airlines check-in counter in Lagos. We were told that our business class tickets did not include free checked bags. That made absolutely no sense to me, especially for an international Business Class itinerary. I later found out that this was a known issue between United and Turkish Airlines, and several other passengers had experienced the same problem.
Before canceling the Turkish Airlines tickets, I checked Alaska Airlines. I found two Business Class seats on British Airways departing about two hours later, so I booked them right away. The flight cost 80,000 Alaska Airlines miles plus $421 in taxes and fees per person.
The cash portion was certainly high, as is often the case with British Airways award tickets. However, considering that we needed two same-day business class tickets out of Lagos, the availability could not have appeared at a better time.
Check-In at Lagos Airport
Flying out of Lagos can be chaotic, and this trip was no exception. Although the newer international terminal is an improvement over the old one, the overall departure experience can still be stressful.
Our British Airways flight, BA74, checked in at the new terminal but departed from the old terminal. Thankfully, it was only a short walk between the two buildings.
Once our bags were checked, we were invited to the SDS Lounge. Unfortunately, it was overcrowded and not particularly comfortable. After carrying our bags up the stairs in search of somewhere quieter, we discovered that the upper level was even busier. We decided to leave instead.
We decided to head to the Atelier Lounge using Priority Pass. Atelier has been my go-to lounge whenever I’m flying out of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and in my opinion, it is the best lounge here.
Boarding British Airways Flight BA 74
After boarding, my wife and I settled into seats 15K and 16K. British Airways’ Boeing 787-10 business class cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving every passenger direct aisle access. These were the newer Club Suites rather than the older British Airways Club World seats.
The window seats provided a good amount of privacy, especially with the suite door closed. Since my wife and I were seated one behind the other, we each had our own space while still being close enough to check on one another during the flight.
Pre-departure drinks were served while we waited at the gate. The captain later announced that the closure of part of the airspace over northern Nigeria would affect our departure.
We began pushing back at approximately 11:35 p.m., just as the safety demonstration played on the screens, and took off about 20 minutes later. Delays of around 30 minutes are not unusual on flights from Lagos, so this was not particularly surprising. Other flights that evening, including an Air France departure, also appeared to be affected by the airspace restrictions.
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British Airways Club Suite
The Club Suite was a major improvement over British Airways’ older business class seat.
It offered direct aisle access, a closing privacy door and several storage areas around the seat. The seat could also be converted into a fully flat bed, although I spent most of this relatively short overnight flight in a reclined position.
The controls were within easy reach, and the suite felt private enough for sleeping without feeling too confined. For a flight of roughly six hours, it was a comfortable setup.
Because this was an overnight flight with a late departure, my main goal was to eat quickly and get some rest before arriving in London early the next morning.
Dinner Service
I dozed off during takeoff and woke up to discover that we had already been flying for about 30 minutes. The food and beverage service began shortly afterward.
I started with a Citrus Burst mocktail and a sachet of mixed nuts. The mocktail combined orange juice and Indian tonic water and was served over ice with lemon. It was not a bad drink, although it did make me appreciate the bottles of So Jennie served in Qatar Airways Business Class.
Dinner arrived about an hour into the flight. For my starter, I selected the tomato soup with crème fraîche.
While the soup itself was fine, one part of the service disappointed me. I briefly stepped away to use the lavatory, and the flight attendant placed the soup on my table while I was away from my seat. I would have preferred that it be held until I returned.
The cabin crew also did not seem particularly attentive during the meal service. The service felt rushed, as though the main goal was to finish as quickly as possible. Once the meal service was over, several crew members spent time chatting in the galley.
The Best Jollof Rice I’ve Had on a Plane
For my main course, I chose the chicken ragout with fried plantain, green beans and jollof rice.
I had previously eaten jollof rice aboard Virgin Atlantic Upper Class from Lagos to London, and United Polaris Business from Lagos to Washington DC, so this presented the perfect opportunity for a comparison. British Airways won this one.
The jollof rice was easily the best I have had on a plane. It was properly seasoned, flavorful and moderately spicy. It tasted closer to Nigerian party jollof than something prepared for an aircraft meal.
The chicken, plantain and vegetables worked well with it, but the rice was unquestionably the highlight of the entire meal.
With just enough room left for dessert, I ordered the chocolate cherry cheesecake with vanilla sauce. It looked rather mushy when it arrived, and unfortunately, it tasted about as good as it looked. After the excellent main course, dessert was a disappointing finish.
Amenity Kit and Lavatory
British Airways provided an amenity kit made exclusively by The White Company. It contained the basic items needed for an overnight flight.
The business class lavatory was otherwise fairly standard but adequately stocked for a six-hour journey. It also featured a full-length mirror, which my wife probably appreciated more than I did.
Lie-Flat Bed in the Club Suite
With about four hours remaining, I decided to get some rest before landing in London.
Although the Club Suite converts into a fully flat bed, I slept mostly with the seat in recliner mode, so I cannot give a complete assessment of the bed for a full night’s sleep. Still, the seat was comfortable enough for me to get some rest.
My wife appeared to be sleeping quite well in the suite behind me, so the seat clearly did its job.
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In-Flight Entertainment
The British Airways High Life Entertainment system offered a good selection of movies and television shows. The screen was clear and easy to use, although I did not spend much time watching anything because this was a short overnight flight and I wanted to sleep.
Arrival at London Heathrow
Our flight landed at London Heathrow at approximately 4:57 a.m.
Despite the last-minute change of plans in Lagos, everything worked out well in the end. Our original plan was to fly to Istanbul, but instead, we ended up heading to London on British Airways. Finding two Club Suite award seats just before departure was extremely fortunate.
Final Thoughts
My experience in British Airways Business Class from Lagos to London was mixed.
The Club Suite was comfortable, private and a significant improvement over the airline’s older business class seat. Having direct aisle access and a closing door made the short overnight flight more relaxing. The jollof rice was also a genuine highlight and remains the best version I have eaten on a plane.
On the other hand, the ground experience in Lagos was hectic, the contracted lounge was inconsistent and the onboard service did not feel particularly welcoming. The high taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed charges attached to the award booking were another drawback.
Still, considering the circumstances, British Airways came through when we needed it. I would fly the Club Suite again, especially if I could find award availability, but I would keep my expectations measured when it comes to the service.
What’s the best jollof rice you’ve had on a plane, and was it actually close to proper Nigerian party jollof?
Kayode is the creator behind Travel With Kayode, sharing practical tips on points, miles, premium travel, hotels, and destinations around the world. His goal is simple: help travelers get more value from every trip and experience more for less.
