British Airways’ short-haul product has long been a bellwether for the state of European business travel: familiar, functional, and forever tweaking at the margins. On the BA768 service from London Heathrow to Oslo,that equation is put to the test once more,as the airline seeks to convince increasingly discerning passengers that “Club Europe” still earns its premium over economy.
This trip report follows a Club Europe journey from check-in at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 to arrival at Oslo Gardermoen, examining whether British Airways’ European business class offering keeps pace with its competitors-and with the expectations of travellers who have watched the product evolve, and in some respects age, over the years. From lounge access,boarding,and the onboard hard product to catering,service,and punctuality,this flight provides a snapshot of what BA now delivers on a core intra-European route.
Is “growing old in style” an accurate description of Club Europe in 2024-or is the gloss starting to fade? This report aims to find out.
Pre flight experience at London Heathrow Club Europe check in lounges and boarding process
Heathrow Terminal 5 knows how to set the tone for a day of grown-up flying, and Club Europe nudges you to the front from the moment you walk through the sliding doors. BA’s dedicated premium check-in area is clearly marked, with separate desks, priority bag drop, and fast track security forming a neat little triangle of efficiency. Staff were brisk but courteous, the kind who can retag a bag and reissue a boarding pass while maintaining eye contact and a dry one-liner.Within minutes, I was through security and funneled toward BA’s lounge complex, where the calm lighting and muffled hum of rolling suitcases felt a world away from the main departures hall.
- Check-in: Dedicated Club/priority desks
- Security: Fast Track access included
- Lounge access: Galleries and status-based options
- Boarding: Group-based with a clear call for Club Europe
| Stage | Time Taken | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in & bag drop | 10 minutes | Short queues, staffed desks |
| Security | 8 minutes | Fast Track smoothly managed |
| Lounge stay | 50 minutes | Quiet corners & hot breakfast |
Inside the Galleries lounge, the atmosphere leaned more “well-worn club” than cutting-edge, but it still ticked the essentials: plenty of seating, a self-serve bar, and hot breakfast options that went beyond a lone croissant. Power sockets weren’t always where you wanted them, yet Wi-Fi was reliably speedy, and the staff kept the buffet topped up with a kind of quiet determination. Boarding for BA768 was called promptly, with the familiar procession of groups at the gate; Club Europe and status passengers were invited first, and the priority lane was actively policed, preventing the usual scrum. It was an efficient, almost understated send-off-more about quietly smoothing the way than putting on a show.
On board BA768 Club Europe cabin layout seating comfort and in flight service to Oslo
Boarding was called with the usual British Airways formality, and stepping into the Club Europe cabin felt like walking into a familiar compromise between legacy glamour and modern accounting. The 3-3 layout remains, with the center seat blocked off by a small tray table-cum-shelf, leaving 2+2 practical space that is more about elbow room than legroom. These are, of course, standard short-haul seats in smart navy leather rather than true business-class thrones, but subtle touches do help: a crisp white antimacassar, working recline, and just enough pitch to slide a laptop onto the tray without hugging your knees. Overhead bins swallowed roll-aboards without a fight in the forward cabin, and there was a noticeable hush as the curtain was drawn across – not so much a hard divide as a polite suggestion that the flight now had two very different experiences on board.
- Blocked middle seat for added elbow room
- Forward cabin offers quieter environment
- Leather seating with moderate recline
- Curtain divider creates a semi-private feel
| Element | Impression |
|---|---|
| Seat pitch | Adequate, not generous |
| Noise levels | Lower in first two rows |
| Privacy | Improved by blocked middle |
Once airborne, the service settled quickly into a well-rehearsed rhythm. Crew worked the cabin from front to back with a warmth that felt more club lounge than corporate shuttle, taking individual meal and drink orders rather than treating service as a box-ticking exercise. On this mid-length hop to Oslo, a full meal was offered on proper crockery, with metal cutlery and baskets of warm bread doing their best to evoke the remains of European short-haul prestige. Drinks were generously topped up – from pre-meal bubbles to coffee refills – and the crew struck the right balance between efficiency and conversation, checking in frequently enough without hovering. While the hard product may be standard economy seating in business clothing, the onboard service was a reminder that, when British Airways wants to, it can still make a short flight feel like a considered occasion.
Catering and amenities in European Business Class from menu quality to practical extras
The Club Europe experience on this short hop to Oslo leans heavily on presentation and curation rather than abundance. Menus are concise but feel considered, with a choice that usually spans a light cold plate and a heartier hot option, plated on real crockery with metal cutlery and a linen-topped tray. Bread arrives warm (when the galley gods cooperate), and the drinks list – while hardly cellar-depth – covers the essentials: a serviceable sparkling wine, a couple of still wines, and the familiar run of spirits and soft drinks. Coffee comes from the same trolley as the rest of the cabin, but the real differentiator is the pacing: being served first, with a visible attempt at course structure, goes a long way towards making a 2-hour sector feel more premium.
Beyond the tray, the experience is padded out with small but practical touches that matter once you’ve done this flight for the tenth time. The front-cabin lavatory generally sees lighter traffic,and the crew keep an eye on presentation. Coats are proactively taken and hung, and the middle seat is blocked off – a perk that’s psychological as much as physical, but still invaluable on a packed departure. On the ground, lounges at Heathrow do much of the heavy lifting: showers, power outlets, and a bar that compensates for any inflight menu limitations. In the air, the mix of soft-product extras typically includes:
- Dedicated overhead space in the forward rows, more jealously guarded than advertised.
- Priority catering stock, meaning the popular meal choices rarely run out in the first few rows.
- Refills without prompting,especially for tea,coffee and wine on daytime flights.
- Cabin-ambience tweaks – quicker dimming, quieter announcements and a more measured service pace.
| Element | Economy | Club Europe |
|---|---|---|
| Seat space | Same seat, full row | Same seat, middle blocked |
| Meal service | Buy-on-board or snack | Plated meal with drinks |
| Drinks | Limited, paid options | Included, with refills |
| Amenities | Minimal | Coat hanging, priority space |
Value assessment for BA Club Europe on the Heathrow Oslo route and tips to maximise your trip
On this mid-haul hop to Norway, the value of Club Europe hinges less on the seat and more on the soft product and airport experience. The cabin is still a rebranded Euro-business setup – a blocked middle seat in a standard short-haul frame – so the real return comes from time saved and stress avoided at Heathrow. Priority check-in, fast track security (when operating smoothly), and lounge access at T5 collectively turn an otherwise functional shuttle into a far more civilised departure. For early morning or late-evening departures, the ability to grab a proper coffee, a light meal, and a shower in the lounge adds tangible value, particularly if you’re connecting from long haul or heading straight into meetings in Oslo.
To get the most from your ticket, lean into the perks that aren’t visible in the seat pitch. For this route, that means:
- Book strategically: Use Avios off-peak dates or upgrade from economy using Avios when Club Europe cash fares spike.
- Exploit the lounge window: Arrive early enough at T5 to eat, work and recharge before boarding – treat the lounge as an extension of the cabin.
- Choose your seat with purpose: Front rows for a swift exit at OSL and a faster start on ground transport; rear of the cabin for a quieter service cadence.
- Optimise baggage and connections: Take advantage of the higher baggage allowance and priority tags if you’re connecting onto domestic Norway or long-haul from London.
- Work the catering: For daytime sectors, pre-select meals when available and time your snacks and drinks so you land in Oslo ready for the onward journey, not hunting for the first kiosk.
| Club Europe Edge | Why It Matters LHR-OSL |
|---|---|
| Lounge access | Turns a short flight into a full-citypair experience |
| Priority services | Reduces Heathrow friction at busy times |
| Onboard service | Meal and drinks elevate a two-hour hop |
| Tier point haul | Useful for status chasers on a compact sector |
to sum up
BA768 to Oslo underlines what Club Europe has become in 2024: a polished, reliable short‑haul product that leans heavily on soft touches and schedule rather than hard innovation.The catering is competent if unspectacular, the seat is functionally the same as in economy, and the real differentiators remain lounge access, boarding priority, and a little more space to work or unwind.
For travellers collecting Tier Points or connecting onto long‑haul services, it still makes strategic sense. For those paying cash simply for the experience,the value proposition is more nuanced than ever. “Growing old in style” feels less about glamour in the sky and more about predictability, punctuality, and a familiar British Airways routine.
As European business class continues its slow evolution,flights like BA768 show where the bar currently sits-respectable and serviceable,if no longer particularly aspirational. Whether that is enough will depend on what you value most at 35,000 feet.
