British Airways First gets new dining, bedding and a Swaine kit, even without the new seat

Most of the attention on British Airways this month has gone to its retrofitted A380 and its new First suite. That plane is still months away. But a large part of the new First experience is already flying, on the seats BA has today.

Since October 1, BA's First passengers have a new menu, new tableware, new bedding and new sleepwear. A new amenity kit followed on October 6. BA set out the details in its October 5 announcement. We covered the seats in that story. This one is about everything else.

Where it is, and where it isn't yet

The timing depends on what you're looking at, and which way you're flying.

• Dining: BA says the new First meal service started on October 1 across its whole long-haul fleet.
• Sleepwear and bedding: these started October 1, but only on long-haul flights leaving London Heathrow.
• Amenity kit: this followed on October 6, again on Heathrow departures only.
• Flights back to London: BA says all the new First amenities, kit included, will reach inbound flights "over the coming months." It gave no firmer date.

So a round trip booked today could have the new pajamas on the way out and the old set on the way home.

The meal

The biggest change is a build-your-own section called "From the Grill." You pick a protein, then sides and sauces. BA names British roast rack of lamb and grilled salmon as two of the choices. A set of "Signature Mains" sits alongside it for those who would rather not build a plate. BA says the menu leans on British produce. It has not published a full menu or said whether it changes by route.

The table setting is all new. Food comes on stoneware and fine bone china. The cutlery is by Studio William. The wine glasses were made with the glassmaker Richard Brendon and the wine writer Jancis Robinson. There are also small serving pieces with the BA Speedmarque logo, "pinch pots," a stand for afternoon tea and a serving tray.

On the drinks list, BA names Bollinger La Grande Année Champagne and a gin menu with a classic gin and tonic, a rosemary and orange version, a "Spanish Flair" serve and a 0.0% option. It also lists a Showerings triple vintage cider as an alternative to wine. BA did not name its still wines.

Crew are being retrained, too. BA's First Service Specialist program is being updated and rolled out to all First-trained cabin crew. BA says the aim is a more personal service that fits each passenger.

The bed and the kit

For daytime, there is a woven day blanket in a herringbone pattern and a navy cushion. For sleep, crew make up the seat with a mattress, a light cotton duvet and a new pillow. The new sleepwear is navy, in a cool-touch fabric, with BA's own tartan. Slippers come with it.

The amenity kit is by Swaine, a British heritage brand founded in 1750 that still makes its goods in a Mayfair workshop. It is unisex and comes in royal blue or cream. Inside are six Wildsmith skin care items: a face mist, hand and body lotion, a ceramide multi-balm, lip balm, face cream and an overnight mask. BA says mouthwash, a comb, a razor kit and a pen are available on request.

BA and Swaine have also made a limited-edition Oxford holdall, handmade to order in Mayfair. Orders open November 2. BA has not given a price.

Is it a big deal?

That depends on what you compare it to. Ben Schlappig at One Mile at a Time called the changes "mildly evolutionary, rather than revolutionary," and logical rather than game-changing. That seems fair. The seats on most of BA's fleet are unchanged. But a better meal, a better bed and a better kit are the parts of First you notice most on an overnight flight.

Where to wait at Heathrow

BA's main base at Heathrow is Terminal 5. Two lounges there are open to First passengers.

• The Concorde Room is the more exclusive one. Our listing shows access through BA's Concorde Room program, with First passengers eligible and Gold Guest List members allowed one guest. It has a cocktail bar and six showers, seats about 100 and opens 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Our users rate it 4.6 out of 5, with full marks for drinks and 4 for food.
• Galleries First is next door, near gate A18. It is larger, at about 300 seats, with a full bar and eight showers. It also rates 4.6, again with 5 for drinks and 4 for food. Our listing shows it open to First passengers, BA Gold members and oneworld Emerald members on qualifying same-day flights. Sapphire or BA Silver status alone does not get you in.

BA says the same Wildsmith products will be stocked in the Concorde Room and its First and Club lounges over the coming months.

If your First flight leaves from Terminal 3, the picture is weaker. Our users rate Galleries First (T3) 3.3, with a self-serve bar and no showers listed. BA plans to redesign every Heathrow lounge in time. The first step is a new lounge at the T5 C gates and a rebuilt arrivals lounge; see our story on those plans.

What we don't know

BA has not said when inbound flights will get the new kit and bedding. It has not shared a full menu, a wine list or the price of the Swaine holdall. It also has not said if First lounges outside London will change their food to match. See all British Airways lounges and ratings.