transatlantic · 8h 00m · 6,351 km
Chicago to London
3 airlines · 5 aircraft ranked
In business class, British Airways's Club Suite (787-9) leads the field with a 7.9/10.In premium economy, American's Premium Economy (787-9) edges out the field with a 5.5/10.
Quick pick
Fly British Airways. It has a private suite and a door for privacy.
If fares are comparable, this is the better cabin.
Fly American. It scores higher across seat comfort and amenities.
If fares are comparable, this is the better cabin.
Fly American. It scores higher across seat comfort and amenities.
If prices are similar, go with this one.
Select two airlines to compare head-to-head
Data verified June 2026
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Airlines on this route
Route insights
- In business class, British Airways's Club Suite (787-9) leads the field with a 7.9/10.
- In premium economy, American's Premium Economy (787-9) edges out the field with a 5.5/10.
- In economy, American's Main Cabin (787-9) edges out the field with a 4.7/10.
Frequently asked
Which is better in business: American or United on ORD-LHR?
Flagship Business (American Airlines, 787-9) and Polaris Business (United Airlines, 767-300ER) score virtually the same in business: 7.1 vs 6.9/10. The biggest gap is bed length — a 78"-long bed vs 77" — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
Which is better in premium economy: American or United on ORD-LHR?
Premium Economy (American Airlines, 787-9) and Premium Plus (United Airlines, 767-300ER) score virtually the same in premium economy: 5.5 vs 5.3/10. The biggest gap is seat width — 18.5"-wide seats vs 18" — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
Which is better in economy: American or United on ORD-LHR?
Main Cabin (American Airlines, 787-9) and Economy (United Airlines, 767-300ER) score virtually the same in economy: 4.7 vs 4.5/10. The biggest gap is power — USB-C only vs USB-A only — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
Which is better in business: American or British Airways on ORD-LHR?
Flagship Business (American Airlines, 787-9) beats Club World (British Airways, 777-300) in business, scoring 7.1/10 vs 5.5. The deciding factor: a 78"-long bed vs 72".
Which is better in premium economy: American or British Airways on ORD-LHR?
Premium Economy (American Airlines, 787-9) edges out World Traveller Plus (British Airways, 777-300) in premium economy, scoring 5.5/10 vs 4.7. The deciding factor: AC + USB-C vs USB-A only.
Which is better in economy: American or British Airways on ORD-LHR?
Main Cabin (American Airlines, 787-9) edges out World Traveller (British Airways, 777-300) in economy, scoring 4.7/10 vs 4. The deciding factor: Free Wi-Fi vs Paid Wi-Fi.
Which is better in business: United or British Airways on ORD-LHR?
Polaris Business (United Airlines, 767-300ER) beats Club World (British Airways, 777-300) in business, scoring 6.9/10 vs 5.5. The deciding factor: a 77"-long bed vs 72".
Which is better in premium economy: United or British Airways on ORD-LHR?
Premium Plus (United Airlines, 767-300ER) edges out World Traveller Plus (British Airways, 777-300) in premium economy, scoring 5.3/10 vs 4.7. The deciding factor: AC + USB-C vs USB-A only. British Airways fights back on seat width.
Which is better in economy: United or British Airways on ORD-LHR?
Economy (United Airlines, 767-300ER) edges out World Traveller (British Airways, 777-300) in economy, scoring 4.5/10 vs 4. The deciding factor: Free Wi-Fi vs Paid Wi-Fi.
What are the best seats in American Flagship Business on ORD-LHR?
Best: Row 1 bulkhead seats (1A, 1L) offer the most space and privacy. Solo travelers should pick window seats (A or L). Center pairs (D-G) work well for couples traveling together. Avoid: Row 8 seats are closest to the premium economy cabin and galley. Center seats in row 8 (8D, 8G) may experience more traffic noise. Reverse herringbone layout with direct aisle access from every seat. No privacy doors on this older product. The Super Diamond seat is comfortable but lacks the enclosed-suite feel of newer products. Panasonic eX2 AVOD IFE system.
What are the best seats in American Premium Economy on ORD-LHR?
Best: Row 9 bulkhead offers the most legroom. Window pairs (A-B and H-J) are best for couples. Avoid: Center seats in the 3-abreast middle section are least private. Row 11 may have limited recline near the economy partition. Small premium economy cabin with only 21 seats across 3 rows. Located directly behind business class for quick exit. Separate meal service from economy.
What are the best seats in American Main Cabin on ORD-LHR?
Best: Main Cabin Extra seats (rows 20-22) offer 34-35 inches of pitch. Rows 20-35 are forward of engine noise profile and clear of rear galley. Avoid: Last 3 rows near rear lavatories are noisy and have limited recline. Middle seats in the 3-abreast sections are least desirable on long-haul flights. 9-abreast economy seating on the 787-9 is tight. Window seats benefit from Dreamliner's larger windows and electronic dimming. USB-A ports and AC outlets at every seat.
What are the best seats in United Polaris Business on ORD-LHR?
Best: Odd-numbered window rows offer the best privacy since they sit farther from the aisle. 11L has great privacy with two windows. 18A is the most secluded seat but lacks a window. Solo travelers should pick A or L positions. Avoid: Seat 1A is reserved as pilot crew rest on transatlantic flights, leaving 45 sellable seats. Row 7 and row 18 have only one window instead of the typical two. 18L has no window at all despite being a window position. Front rows experience more crew traffic. The 1-1-1 layout is unique to the 767's narrower fuselage. All seats have direct aisle access. No doors but staggered layout provides good privacy. 24 aircraft operate this high-J configuration. Panasonic Ku-band WiFi; Starlink retrofit in progress fleet-wide through 2027. Rows 13-14 are skipped in numbering.
What are the best seats in United Premium Plus on ORD-LHR?
Best: Row 20 offers extra legroom as the bulkhead row. Window pairs (A-B and K-L) work well for couples. Avoid: Row 23 is the last row and closest to the economy cabin. Center seats (D-E) in the 2-2-2 layout offer less privacy. Small 22-seat cabin with six-abreast seating, unusual for premium economy. Collins MiQ seats with adjustable headrests and footrests. Complimentary meal service with wine and spirits. Separate lavatory access from economy.
What are the best seats in United Economy on ORD-LHR?
Best: Row 37 is the first economy row and benefits from proximity to lavatories without being right next to them. Aisle seats (C, D, G, H) are easiest for getting up on long flights. Avoid: Row 44 (last row) seats 44DEF and 44KL cannot recline due to the rear galley and lavatory wall. Avoid 44E (center middle) at all costs on transatlantic flights. Only 56 standard economy seats on this high-J configuration, one of the smallest economy cabins on any widebody. The 2-3-2 layout on the 767 is notably more comfortable than 3-3-3 on 787s or 3-4-3 on 777s. Complimentary meals on transatlantic routes.
What are the best seats in British Airways Club World on ORD-LHR?
Best: The mini-cabin (rows 5-7) has only 12 seats and is the quietest and most private. Window suites (A or K) in rows 9-12 create a genuine cocoon with the door and fuselage wall. Row 5 gets priority meal service with the widest choice of entrees. Avoid: Partial rows 18 and 24 only have center seats and lack window positions. Back rows of each cabin section near galleys experience more noise. Bassinet positions at 8K and 19A/K may mean infants nearby. Row 24 gets meal service last. 76 Club Suite seats across three separate cabins, making this BA's largest business class. All 16 777-300ER frames are now retrofitted. The Club Suite has a larger 18.5-inch IFE screen than First class. Every seat has a door, direct aisle access, and Bluetooth audio. Center pairs have retractable dividers for couples.
What are the best seats in British Airways World Traveller Plus on ORD-LHR?
Best: Row 31 offers the sweet spot between bulkhead legroom and avoiding bassinet noise. Window pairs (A-B, J-K) provide the most privacy. Avoid: Row 30 bassinet position means possible infant noise. Row 34 (last row) has limited recline and proximity to economy partition. Center seats D-E-F-G are least desirable. 40-seat premium economy in 8-abreast 2-4-2 configuration. Adjustable headrests with wings. Complimentary meal service with upgraded wine selection. Dedicated cabin crew. USB and AC power at every seat.
What are the best seats in British Airways World Traveller on ORD-LHR?
Best: Rows 40-42 are the front of economy, furthest from the rear galley. Exit row seats offer more legroom. Avoid: Last 2-3 rows near rear galley and lavatories are noisy with limited recline. Middle seats (B, E, H) in the 3-3-3 layout are least desirable. Row 53 typically has no recline. 9-abreast economy at 31-inch pitch on the 777-300ER. Complimentary meals and beverages on all long-haul routes. Seatback IFE with USB charging. The 777-300ER is BA's flagship long-haul aircraft.
What are the best seats in British Airways Club Suite on ORD-LHR?
Best: Row 5 (5A, 5E, 5F, 5K) is the best row with no toilets or galleys nearby and priority meal service. Rows 6-7 are also quiet. The forward cabin (12 seats) is more intimate than the aft cabin (26 seats). Avoid: 6A and 6K have only a single window instead of two. Rows 8, 20, and 21 are near galleys and toilets. Row 25 gets meal service last and is near the premium economy bassinets. 38 Club Suite seats split across two separate cabins divided by a galley. Forward cabin has 12 seats, aft cabin has 26 seats. All seats have doors, direct aisle access, and middle pairs have retractable dividers. As of April 2026, only 1 of 18 BA 787-9s has this configuration; check your aircraft type before booking.
What are the best seats in British Airways World Traveller Plus on ORD-LHR?
Best: Row 45 has the most legroom with no seats ahead and is furthest from economy toilets. Avoid: Row 50 is adjacent to bathroom doors. Center seats in the 3-abreast middle section (D-E-F) are least private. 39-seat premium economy in 2-3-2 configuration. Latest winged headrest design for sleeping support. USB charging at every seat. Complimentary meal service with upgraded options. Dedicated cabin crew.
What are the best seats in British Airways World Traveller on ORD-LHR?
Best: Rows 60-62 are closest to the exit and allow early deplaning. Row 60 has extra legroom as the first economy row. Avoid: Row 75 (last row) is sandwiched between lavatories and the rear galley with heavy traffic and limited recline. Rows 73-75 experience galley noise. 130 economy seats in 9-abreast 3-3-3 configuration. Seatback IFE with 10-inch screen. USB charging at every seat. Complimentary meals on long-haul routes. The 787 Dreamliner features higher humidity, lower cabin altitude, and larger dimmable windows.