BA JFK-LHR Diversion......Two Pax on Board??
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No it is possible, years ago I was the only pax on a L-1011. It had gone tech but I elected to stay with the aircraft when the other pax were sent on another a/c as I was travelling with one of the crew.
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There is a little more to the story...
The flight into JFK had a bird strike. The flight back to LHR was delayed (>6hrs) to enable an engine to be boroscope checked.
Original passengers were dispersed to other services. I think you will find that the two passengers wished to remain on their original itinerary!
T'bug
The flight into JFK had a bird strike. The flight back to LHR was delayed (>6hrs) to enable an engine to be boroscope checked.
Original passengers were dispersed to other services. I think you will find that the two passengers wished to remain on their original itinerary!
T'bug
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Non Pilot here.
How much does it cost to fly a jumbo across the atlantic and is it worth it without (most of) the passengers? or does cargo and knock on effects at the other end negate cancelling?.
How much does it cost to fly a jumbo across the atlantic and is it worth it without (most of) the passengers? or does cargo and knock on effects at the other end negate cancelling?.
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All airlines face these types of operational decisions and how they are resolved involves a number factors. If they cancel JFK-LHR, that leaves an airplane and crew out of position. They must either cancel back to the airplane/crew or move them. In this case, BA made the decision to move them. Likely there was no easy way to cancel back and balance the schedule, particularly if other flights are full. It can also be particularly difficult to find crews to move around and reschedule, especially toward the end of the month.
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Fellow PPruners:
isn't it likely that the BA aircraft had a bunch of cargo that would have to go anyway? I know that when I was actively flying I flew trips with 2 people on board, but a lot of MAIL and other cargo in the holds. In the US, mail contracts must be met.
I've even heard that most of the costs involved with flying across the pond are covered by cargo. Pax are the icing on the cake.
jon
isn't it likely that the BA aircraft had a bunch of cargo that would have to go anyway? I know that when I was actively flying I flew trips with 2 people on board, but a lot of MAIL and other cargo in the holds. In the US, mail contracts must be met.
I've even heard that most of the costs involved with flying across the pond are covered by cargo. Pax are the icing on the cake.
jon
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Good to see the usual speculation is rife. As kellmark and jondc9 both rightly suggest, I'm sure there are 101 reasons why they need to send the plane back: positioning, bringing fuel to LHR, big cargo load, etc., etc., etc.
It costs money to do something like this, so there'll be a reason for it being done.
Jordan
It costs money to do something like this, so there'll be a reason for it being done.
Jordan
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Headline news from SA :
Full Story
A BA spokesperson said the plane was carrying only two people, both off duty company employees, because other passengers had switched to other flights following an earlier delay in New York.
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Disgusted of Tunbridge
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That aeroplane would also be urgently needed for its next service out of LHR. It has missed its flight out of JFK. You can't just delay and operate another service because another aeroplane would already be on a rotation out of LHR, and you cannot for licensing reasons just operate an extra service. Very often the only answer is to bring it back empty. Funnily enough, the schedulers do know what they are doing (but not always).
The word on the grapevine is that the two passengers were travelling with the crew. Smoke down the back........I hope it's not what I'm thinking......crafty fag.......smoke alarm........but then it's only conjecture. All in all.......(sucking breath in through teeth)......someone in trouble.......lies being told......'not me Guv!'
The word on the grapevine is that the two passengers were travelling with the crew. Smoke down the back........I hope it's not what I'm thinking......crafty fag.......smoke alarm........but then it's only conjecture. All in all.......(sucking breath in through teeth)......someone in trouble.......lies being told......'not me Guv!'
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Once did LHR - JFK on a TWA 747-100 with just SEVEN economy class fare paying passengers. The 747 was routing back to St. Louis for a major overhaul - the other TWA services that day were full.
Dinner was served in First Class. They then ran a different film (the old days before personal IFE) and everyone could choose where they sat. Pax could also wander up and have a chat with the cockpit crew.
Dinner was served in First Class. They then ran a different film (the old days before personal IFE) and everyone could choose where they sat. Pax could also wander up and have a chat with the cockpit crew.
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I cannot believe the stupid remarks on this thread.
It is , as someone else has pointed out, pure BA bashing.
The aircraft is based at EGLL and all pax from it's schedule had been dispersed on something in the region of 15 alternative flights to the UK. This dispersal would fill up the other flights stopping the "staff" pax from getting an alternative so having to stick with this aircraft. This aircraft would return empty if need be to get it back into the programme.
Rainboe.... shame on you. The flight deck would know exactly where the smoke was coming from and would be able to decide whether it was a crafty fag or not and would not divert for that reason (give the crew/pax a b******ing but not divert). It would be a real incident.
Had the aircraft not diverted, none of you BA bashers would ever have known that it only had 2 pax on it and would have been bereft of pleasure.
Lets have some Virgin bashing for a change....(how many ferry flights have they had) or is every one who posts on here a Bransonite.
SP
ps Festering Felicitations and Happy New Year!
It is , as someone else has pointed out, pure BA bashing.
The aircraft is based at EGLL and all pax from it's schedule had been dispersed on something in the region of 15 alternative flights to the UK. This dispersal would fill up the other flights stopping the "staff" pax from getting an alternative so having to stick with this aircraft. This aircraft would return empty if need be to get it back into the programme.
Rainboe.... shame on you. The flight deck would know exactly where the smoke was coming from and would be able to decide whether it was a crafty fag or not and would not divert for that reason (give the crew/pax a b******ing but not divert). It would be a real incident.
Had the aircraft not diverted, none of you BA bashers would ever have known that it only had 2 pax on it and would have been bereft of pleasure.
Lets have some Virgin bashing for a change....(how many ferry flights have they had) or is every one who posts on here a Bransonite.
SP
ps Festering Felicitations and Happy New Year!
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Disgusted of Tunbridge
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Speedpig- you're absterlutely right- I did let my imagination run away with me! I made inferences that were beyond the evidence available- I freely swallow my words!
The real point is that people here can't understand the restrictions of route licences and how you can't just add on extra services, even if missing ones, for licence reasons, crew reasons, and aeroplane availability reasons where that aeroplane must be rushed back to base as soon as poss to ensure the viability of the subsequent timetable. Just like when an aeroplane is delivered brand new, you can't just op an extra service from Seattle with passengers to deliver it to the airline!
The real point is that people here can't understand the restrictions of route licences and how you can't just add on extra services, even if missing ones, for licence reasons, crew reasons, and aeroplane availability reasons where that aeroplane must be rushed back to base as soon as poss to ensure the viability of the subsequent timetable. Just like when an aeroplane is delivered brand new, you can't just op an extra service from Seattle with passengers to deliver it to the airline!
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I remember some years ago operating an RBA 767 BWN-BJS, nightstopping, then returning BJS-BWN the next day. Pax load 1 up, 0 back!! When, prior to departure, I questioned our MCC [operations] about this load, they, in typical Brunei fashion, shrugged their shoulders, and said that possibly the company was hoping to sell some seats during the nightstop! Another little moneyspinner for what was then the world's least profitable airline.
I was told a story by a retired american airline pilot about how his airline execs (who shall not be named to protect the stupid 
) come up with the idea of a daily San Antonio-Heathrow direct service using the Big Dog during the early 1990's. They gave up the idea when one flight went with only one paying passenger. And no, the reason they cancelled the pairing was not because it was a hopeless money loser, it was when they got a bollicking in the local press from the irate pax because they lost his bags.
) come up with the idea of a daily San Antonio-Heathrow direct service using the Big Dog during the early 1990's. They gave up the idea when one flight went with only one paying passenger. And no, the reason they cancelled the pairing was not because it was a hopeless money loser, it was when they got a bollicking in the local press from the irate pax because they lost his bags.
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Has the aircraft positioned back to LHR?
No-one has mentioned the fact of where it diverted too, BAMC at Cardiff, which has had quite a few 747's in and out lately for maintenance
No-one has mentioned the fact of where it diverted too, BAMC at Cardiff, which has had quite a few 747's in and out lately for maintenance
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kissmysquirrel
Surely this must be a mistake or is it a complete waste of resources and money to do a flight with only 2 pax?
What a joke!
Surely this must be a mistake or is it a complete waste of resources and money to do a flight with only 2 pax?
What a joke!
Perhaps you should start your own airline, it would be run so well and make so much money, you could retire before you grow up!
kissmysquirrel
What a joke!
What a joke!
P.S. When did you fail your BA interview then?
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'other passengers had switched to other flights following an earlier delay in New York'
A possibility to do so only on a major carrier such as BA.
Ryanair and the likes will book you on the next flight -next week !
A possibility to do so only on a major carrier such as BA.
Ryanair and the likes will book you on the next flight -next week !