British Airways reveals new premium economy seat
These winged recliners make an unexpected debut on BA’s 787-9.
By David Flynn, January 22 2026
British Airways passengers have been waiting and waiting for the business class Club Suites to be rolled out across the Boeing 787-9 fleet – but nobody was expecting these Dreamliners would also mark the debut of an new World Traveller Plus premium economy seat.
BA’s fresh take on World Traveller Plus premium economy will take wing on each refurbished Boeing 787-9, in a cabin behind Club Suites business class.
Executive Traveller understands BA has opted to overhaul its current WTP product rather than install an all-new seat, and we have approached British Airways for more information.
BA's latest 787-9 World Traveller Plus premium economy seat.
The standout feature is obviously the privacy wings which extend from either side of the headrest.
BA's latest 787-9 World Traveller Plus premium economy seat.
They’re not just for privacy from your neighbour, of course – these wings also make an ideal place to rest your head when napping or sleeping, ideally with a small pillow in place.
Also added: a deep pocket built into the side of each seat, which will be very handy for storing a tablet, laptop, book, magazine or even a thin amenity kit during the flight.
BA's current World Traveller Plus premium economy seat.
The headrests themselves are finished in leather and combine with refreshed upholstery to give the ageing seats and cabin a bit of a lift.
While the makeover doesn’t extend to the entertainment screen, which remains on the modest side, we hope BAs premium economy flyers can look forward to the addition of USB-C power outlets alongside the USB-A sockets.
BA's latest 787-9 World Traveller Plus premium economy seat.
British Airways says the premium economy uplift is “part of our £7bn transformation programme and investment for customers”, which will also see new first class suites launched on the Airbus A380 from mid-2026.
British Airways' new A380 first class.
The same first class suites are also intended to crown BA’s forthcoming Boeing 777-9 jets, the delivery of which is now likely to take place sometime after 2028.
British Airways' new A380 first class.
British Airways’ A380 first class cabin will remain on the main lower deck, and be reduced from 14 suites to 12 during the refit.
Each suite contains a personal wardrobe with room for a compact cabin bag, allowing passengers to “simply wheel their luggage into their personal luggage space, making it even easier to settle in before their flight.”
British Airways' new A380 first class.
Read more: BA superjumbos set to “take luxury to new heights”
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Oct 2016
Total posts 193
Looks a bit CX
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 134
But a welcome change nonetheless I think. The existing seat wasn’t bad, but hopefully the seat padding comfort will be improved.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1270
Those images tend to suggest seat pitch isn't anything special.
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 219
Totally agree. When airlines change their methods and stop measuring seat pitch from one seat point to the next and focus on the actual distance and space between the seats (leg/knee room) we may start to get somewhere, as the depth of the seat is what is actually being measured, not the knee room. This is why Qantas and other competitors boast 38 inches but in fact have virtually no leg/knee room on their latest PE offerings. A simple trick airlines use to project large pitch measurements when in fact it is deceptive.
Lets start measuring the knee room between the seats and put some realism into the equation.
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