British Airways has unveiled a new range of seasonal offerings as the carrier gears up for the upcoming festive holiday period. The airline will be decorating its terminals, giving its airport lounges a festive makeover, and introducing a bespoke Christmas menu onboard its flights to offer holiday greetings to the thousands of passengers that will fly with the carrier throughout the holiday season. All the new introductions will be available to passengers until December 27, 2024.
Starting on the ground, customers traveling through the airline’s lounges at its primary hubs of London-Heathrow (LHR) and London-Gatwick (LGW) airports will be able to pick up special gifts at pop-up festive stalls featuring original British brands, such as individually wrapped chocolates and hand-piped baked goods. Additionally, those passengers visiting Heathrow’s Concorde Room between December 23 and 25, 2024, will be able to avail of a taste of Talisker’s exclusive limited-edition 45-year-old Scotch whisky.
A bespoke winter picnic menu will also be available in all British Airways’ Heathrow lounges, including mince pies, brie and cranberry sandwiches, and a specially crafted Christmas cocktail. In the airline’s First lounge, the airline will be laying on ‘Santa’s helpers’ helping to wrap last-minute gifts for customers, with specially designed snowflake wrapping paper incorporating the airline’s iconic speedmarque logo.
It’s not just Santa in the air…
Into the air, and the festivities are set to continue. All customers traveling on the airline’s services will see specially designed headrest covers and have access to a dedicated Christmas inflight entertainment channel. On the culinary side, the airline will be offering a traditional British roast turkey dinner featuring all the trimmings, alongside a vegetarian option, available to enjoy on long-haul flights on selected routes. The carrier estimates that more than 250,000 of these meals will be served across its network, which will include over 700,000 Brussels sprouts and 40,000 pigs in blankets being served.
Alongside the traditional fare, festive-themed drinks will be offered, including a Christmas-themed BrewDog Hoppy Christmas IPA. Long-haul first and business-class passengers will be offered a bespoke chocolate éclair and traditional fruitcake plus a special winter warmer cocktail made from Johnnie Walker whiskies.
First class customers will be offered a limited-edition Alice Temperley amenity kit throughout December 2024, plus, continuing a tradition started by British Airways in December 2023, those traveling from December 23 to 25, 2024, will be offered a special collectible Christmas bauble to hang on their festive trees. The 2024 edition features a hand-painted design incorporating Indian and British landmarks to mark 100 years of British Airways connecting the UK to India.
For the carrier’s younger customers, there will be festive chocolate treats, and ‘Peggy and Leon’ activity sheets. Additionally, they will be able to post their letters to Santa directly to the North Pole by posting them through Santa’s letterbox in the airline’s Heathrow Terminal 5 lounges.
“Christmas is such a special time, and this year is no different,” said Calum Laming, Chief Customer Officer at British Airways. “We want to make it truly special, so we have pulled out all the stops to spread some cheer and create a truly British Original Christmas. “To our customers, wherever you are traveling and however you may celebrate, we hope that you enjoy our extra touches throughout your journey this festive season delivered by our incredible colleagues.”
Short-haul not short-changed
Not to be left out, across the airline’s short-haul network, customers can choose from a selection of festive menu items delights through its buy-onboard catering offering This includes an ultimate turkey feast sandwich designed by acclaimed British chef Tom Kerridge, a ‘pigs in blankets’ roll, various sweet treats and a variety of special festive drinks including BrewDog’s Elf lager In its Club Europe cabins (short-haul business class), customers can enjoy the airline’s festive menu on selected routes from December 24 to 27, 2024.