• British Airways told customers on X it faced "baggage disruption" due to a fault at London Heathrow.
• Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport and the world's second-busiest for international flights.
• An aviation news site reported BA warned crews against checking bags due to the baggage system fault.

Some flight crews have been advised not to check bags amid a system fault at Europe's busiest airport, aviation news site Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported.

London Heathrow is also the world's second-busiest airport for international flights, behind Dubai, according to travel data provider OAG. On Wednesday, Heathrow announced that it's expecting its busiest-ever December after last month's 6.5 million passengers broke records for November travel.

Responding to customers who reported luggage troubles on Monday and Tuesday, British Airways' X account said the airline faced "baggage disruption" due to issues at Heathrow.

In another post, it said it was "unable to load a number of bags onto flights" on Monday "due to a fault with London Heathrow Airport's baggage system, which was out of our control."

PYOK reported that British Airways also told pilots and cabin crew not to check luggage due to the fault at Terminal 5.

It added that BA told crews the risk of reaching their destination without their bags was too high, and that they should pack essential uniform items and spare clothes in their carry-ons.

The report also said that, in an internal update on Tuesday, Heathrow Airport said that it was still working on "what can be done" to fix the fault.

Business Insider understands that as of Wednesday morning, British Airways passengers were no longer facing baggage issues.

British Airways did not comment when contacted by Business Insider. London Heathrow Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• British Airways unveiled a new first-class suite on Monday.
• Other airlines like Lufthansa and Qantas are also taking in-flight luxury to new levels.
• Premium cabins have been more profitable for airlines since the pandemic.

Airlines are doubling down on their most expensive tickets as premium cabins become more lucrative.

On Monday, British Airways became the latest carrier to unveil an upgraded first class, joining the likes of Lufthansa and Qantas in launching new offerings.

The UK flag carrier previously rolled out a new first class in 2020, but it was a minor update in adding sliding doors to the suites.

The latest version is a more obvious step forward — especially given that it's coming to Airbus A380 jets that haven't been updated since BA's first was delivered in 2013.

While several global airlines have been upgrading their first classes, the opposite trend has been observed in the US.

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines cut first-class years ago, while American Airlines followed suit in 2022. Instead, they are focusing on promoting business class.

Since the pandemic, premium cabins have been more profitable as travelers appear to be more willing to pay extra for luxury.

"Consumers are continuing to prioritize premium experiences," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in its third-quarter earnings call. The airline said premium revenue growth outperformed the main cabin by nine percentage points.

American reported premium revenue up 8% year over year, and United also said its premium cabins outperformed economy.

By contrast, profits have fallen at budget airlines which are now pivoting to include more premium options as a result.

A new first-class

Coming in 2026, British Airways' new first class has a large wall featuring the airline's logo. The curved design of the suite and lamp are supposed to be nods to Concorde — arguably the heyday of luxury flying.

It's a plush seat at 36.5 inches wide — more than a foot wider than British Airways' current first-class seats, per SeatGuru measurements.

The seats lie flat to 6 feet 7 inches and have a larger TV at 32 inches with 4K resolution.

Red leather provides a pop of color inside the cupboard, drawers, and closet. Coupled with the wall's gray cushioning, it looks more modern than the airline's older seats. A touchscreen control panel on the door also lets flight attendants adjust the seat and lighting, among other things.

On some jets, BA's first class suites don't look especially unique compared to business class, but the latest design is a more obvious upgrade.

It's part of a $9 billion investment to transform the airline, with other changes including new short-haul seats and a new app.

BA's ambitions are apparent in the sense that the new suites look more like Emirates' first-class than anything the UK flag carrier has previously used.

Also, the option to fully remove the privacy divider in central suites — bringing couples closer together — is reminiscent of Qatar Airways' award-winning QSuite.

BA isn't the only airline to recently unveil first-class seats that take on-board luxury to a new level.

Lufthansa's new Allegris first class debuted in November. It includes a larger "Suite Plus" with a double bed for couples. Passengers can also find extra privacy as the suites' walls reach the ceiling.

Until more planes are delivered, it will only be open by invitation to loyal customers of the German flag carrier.

Australia's Qantas is set to launch a new first class when it begins the world's new longest flight in late 2026 — 21 hours between Sydney and London — known as "Project Sunrise." The suites have both a reclining lounger and a separate twin bed.

Air France, Air India, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Swiss International Airlines are among the other carriers to have announced upgrades to their first-class offerings.

After his predecessor said first-class wasn't necessary given its QSuite business class, Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer told CNBC in March that the airline's first class is here to stay.

At Monday's unveiling event, Calum Laming, BA's chief customer officer, told reporters, "First is a really important cabin for us, and we are, as always, committed with our incredible colleagues to making this as premium and as special as possible."

Among the flurry of new first-classes, British Airways is unique in upgrading those on its Airbus A380s.

They may not have a shower and bar like Emirates', but it's another sign of the superjumbo jet's recovering post-pandemic popularity.

• British Airways unveiled its new first-class cabin on Monday.
• Business Insider was among the first to see inside the upgraded suite.
• It has a sleek, modern design and a touchscreen for flight attendants.

British Airways is investing billions to transform the UK flag carrier.

After unveiling its updated short-haul interior in March, BA showed off its new first-class cabin at its London headquarters on Monday.

Set to debut on the Airbus A380 in 2026, it's an impressive upgrade from the current premium products — especially on the superjumbo jet, which has an older design.

The airline said the new first-class's modern curves and ambient light nod to Concorde, while the materials and design come from different parts of the UK.

Business Insider was among the first people to see inside the new suite. It has plenty of stowage space, a huge seat, and touchscreen controls. In the center, there's the option to remove the divider so couples or friends can sit together.

Here's what British Airways' new first class looks like.

British Airways unveiled its new first-class suite on Monday.

"First is a really important cabin for us, and we are, as always, committed with our incredible colleagues to making this as premium and as special as possible," said Calum Laming, BA's chief customer officer.

"And in fact, our ambition throughout this whole transformation journey is to take British Airways to the next level and to make it really special," he added.

The new exterior looked sleek with its privacy doors and mood lighting.

The concept was first developed by Tangerine Design Consultancy, a London-based firm that has worked with Apple and Toyota and was where Apple legend Jony Ive started his career.

It was brought to life with the help of Collins Aerospace.

There's also a touchscreen control panel that makes flight attendants' jobs simpler.

The panel's options could let a flight attendant adjust the seating position without having to reach into the suite.

There are also mood lighting options including Relax, Dine, and Cinema.

And a closet with an eye-catching red interior.

The color red features as a tasteful splash of brightness in details throughout the suite.

A carry-on can be wheeled into the bottom of the closet, while the top has space for pajamas.

The inside was even more impressive and modern.

The seat is ultra-wide at 36.5 inches and can lie flat with a bed length of 6 feet 7 inches.

British Airways describes the 60-inch curved wall as providing a "cocooned" space that improves privacy while still feeling spacious. The airline also said soft paneling inside the seat helps absorb sound.

There's enough space for two, with a movable ottoman that can work as a second seat.

Note the seatbelt on top, while there's some more storage space underneath too.

Also, that TV is 32 inches and has 4K resolution.

The leather for the ottoman, seat surround, cupboard interiors, and headrest comes from Muirhead in Scotland. It's the same type of luxury leather that featured on Concorde and the Orient Express.

Couples can find more benefits in the center suites.

The dividers can be fully opened to create a shared space for dining or a feeling like a double bed when sleeping.

It's a similar feature to Qatar Airways' QSuite, which was named the world's best business class at this year's Skytrax awards.

The console has several seat control buttons and a wireless charging port.

There are more charging options and a control panel next to the seat.

It features an international charging port, plus USB-A and USB-C outlets.

The wireless control tablet includes a do-not-disturb option to notify the crew if you want to sleep or enjoy privacy the whole journey.

Underneath, there's some more stowage space.

It's a good size for a handbag or purse, while another drawer opens up beneath the seat-control buttons — with the same red interior.

British Airways said the red leather with cream stitching is supposed to reflect a bespoke Savile Row suit.

Above that, there are two cupboards with amenities and a minibar.

It appeared elegant, with the left cupboard swinging open while the right one had a sliding door.

By the windows, there was a device holder too.

It means passengers can prop up their phone or tablet in flight.

As well as the lamp near the TV, there's a reading light over the passenger's shoulder.

British Airways' new first-class is set to launch on its Airbus A380 jets in 2026.

British Airways has 12 Airbus A380s, making it the third-largest operator of the type.

The new first-class cabin is set to have 12 seats instead of 14. But with the same number of flight attendants, customers should be able to enjoy more attention.