Review of British Airways flight from London to Washington in Economy

Report No: 2019-206E

Now, it's time to return back to DC after a short holiday. As usual I had preferred British Airways for this journey so this report won't be new for those who have read my reports before. However, you would have the chance to compare flights from the previous months to this one. So, I would like to welcome you to the last Flight-Report of this serie which would be a British Airways World Traveller report onboard the 787-9 from London to Washington Dulles. In addition, this report would also include a visit to the Galleries Club Lounge in Heathrow Terminal 5B.

Just a reminder that as I have already reported the first flight and a similar one to the second, I had used the chance to video report the first part of this serie for a test of YouTube flight-reports that I would start to post soon but things didn't go as well as I expected. It's really hard to capture good quality videos on a phone camera so I won't compile them as a video and present it to you, but I would share some parts of the flights as a video as well. Because that some photos were taken from the videos, they are not in their usual quality. However, these reports are complete Flight-Reports and I apologize for the bad photo qualities in some images and give the signal that I would start video-reporting soon as I have the chance to buy a motion camera. Once again, thanks for your understanding.

For those would like to compare this report to my previous LHR-IAD flights on British Airways, you could access them here by clicking on the line.

The routing for this serie would look like this
First Part

Second Part

Third Part

Pax for this flight

First: No idea
Club World: No idea
World Traveller Plus: %90-95
World Traveller: %70-75

London Heathrow AIRPORT - LHR

After arriving from my previous flight, I had checked the FIDS and learned that my next flight would depart from B gates.

As I also mentioned in the previous report, I have decided to use the walkway to Terminal 5B as I would also stretch my legs before a transatlantic flight.

After arriving to Terminal 5B and scanning my boarding pass; a red light appeared, my passport and visa were subject to verification one more time. After this issue has been solved the agent rescanned the boarding pass, she was surprised that the light was still red; then she realized that I was sitting in an emergency exit row and that was the only remaining reason that my boarding pass made the red light appear. After clearing security within 5 minutes, I have headed to the departure level and then to the Galleries Lounge.

British Airways GALLERIES LOUNGE TERMINAL 5B - London Heathrow AIRPORT

As I hold an Executive Club Silver membership, I headed to the Galleries Lounge in Terminal 5B to spend the small amount of time until my flight. As there is another IAD flight, 1 hour before mine, I have requested if I could change my reservation for that flight for free but the answer was no, even though I had no checked baggage, as there was less than an hour for that flight to depart. However, the earlier flight, BA 231, got delayed for 40 minutes so I didn't lose anything and it wouldn't be worth giving up an emergency exit seat.

The offering at the lounge was the standart lunch offering at that time

Mini sandwiches, cakes

Breads, soups

Salad bar

Pork pies with piccalilli sauce

The drink section of the lounge

Today's wine selection

Coffee bar

After my short visit to all buffets of the lounge, I have found an empty corner and enjoyed the quietness for a while.

Our aircraft for today's flight ( G-ZBKA ) was visible from the lounge. It would be my second time on G-ZBKA. Luckily, I had reported my first flight on that specific aircraft here on Flight-Report which I flew on the same exact flight 3 months before this flight.

GATE AREA & BOARDING

Before boarding had started, I had headed to gate B46 and took my place in the Group 2 queue.

The boarding area was well-organized and priorities were respected during boarding. Boarding had started 45 minutes before departure and I was one of the first ones to board with Group 2.

Another view of our aircraft from the gate

G-YMMP which was parked next door

As usual, complimentary newspapers were available at the gate

The door

BA 293 London Heathrow AIRPORT TO WASHINGTON Dulles Airport

After being welcomed by the crew, I have took my seat 30A, which is in the first row of the World Traveller cabin and in an emergency exit row. The seat is a usual BA longhaul Economy seat however, the tray table in the armrest reduces the seat width a little bit. However, the seats in BA longhaul aircraft is really comfortable and I had the opportunity to stretch my legs as the legroom in this row is excellent.

IFE - BA 293 London Heathrow AIRPORT TO WASHINGTON Dulles Airport

Like all British Airways 787 aircraft, this aircraft was equipped with the Thales IFE system. The IFE system is not the best within European carriers but it has enough content for a transatlantic flight.

The USB port and the remote was located at the armrest as I don't have any seat in front of me.

Route map and flight information before pushing back for a 7h55min flight.

Earphones were provided at each seat

The literature is the actually same as the previous 3 British Airways flights but the seat pocket only had 3 duty free catalogues with a different cover pages and safety cards. There was no High Life Magazine for all three of us seated in 30ABC.

Before takeoff, I have visited the lavatory which was just across my seat. It was clean at that time and it was kept clean throughout the flight.

And, we had pushed back on time

And the safety video had started to be screened.

BA 777-300ER

BA A319

Another BA A319

And another one

After seeing all these A319's waiting to depart, it was our turn to take off and we had started our journey

Beautiful sunlight after we have gained some altitude

Shortly after takeoff, pretzels were served with a choice of drink.

In addition, wines were distributed for the meal service.

LUNCH - BA 293 London Heathrow AIRPORT TO WASHINGTON Dulles Airport

The tray was the same tray as my BA 231 last month. Even though the main courses was the same. However, last time I had the opportunity to enjoy one of the Premium Economy dishes because they were out of pasta when they have came to my row; but this time both selections were available as I sat at the first row of World Traveller so I went for the pasta.

The main course was delicious and tasted really well. The reason that I don't prefer chicken dishes on Economy class flights are that the portion of those are really small and instead of meat, the plate is full of veggies.

While we were enjoying our meals, the cabin crew came for tea&coffee service where I opted for a cup of tea.

Route map just after the trays have been collected.

SNACK - BA 293 London Heathrow AIRPORT TO WASHINGTON Dulles Airport

After sleeping for a few hours, I have wake up 2 hours before landing due to turbulence and about an hour later the snack service begun with a tuna mayonnaise sweetcorn wrap and a Cadbury chocolate alongside with a choice of drink. This service is also one of the repetitive dishes of British Airways.

And the route map one last time

A photo as we were descending

And another photo when we have touched down Washington Dulles International Airport

The first visible aircraft was this United 787

And the next one was this 757

Later on, we had parked to the British Airways gates in IAD, B42 and B44. After saying goodbye to the crew, I have left the aircraft and headed to the moon buggy station in a fast pace as I want to catch to first moon buggy to the immigration hall.

Washington Dulles AIRPORT - IAD

And the last view of our aircraft from the terminal.

I was lucky to catch the first moon buggy and find a spot near the exit door as I knew that immigration could be painful at IAD, especially for visitors. When I have entered the visitor lane, there were only 1 officer assigned for visitors which seems like a joke but it's true. 10 minutes later another officer was also accepting visitors, however, as there were 200-300 people in front of me which have arrived from previous flights it took a long time until my turn has came. Luckily, when there was no Global Entry passengers and US citizens, we were directed to those booths and after a 45 minute wait, I have cleared immigration and as I had no checked baggage, I have headed to the bus stop to take the bus 5A back to DC.

So this series of Flight-Report's has came to an end.
Thanks for reading this report and hope to see you in the next serie that I would shortly share. 

This report has came to an end. Thanks for reading and hope to see you in another report.