BACitiExpress The final solution!
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
The daily Manchester/New York service is not affected by the changes announced today.
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
Originally Posted by marlowe
Of course the LCY services have to have the same service as LHR because BA do not want a lo cost operation on the otherside of the city nicking the pax from them even though they own the lo cost operation!!
Jeez, talk about an inferiority complex! I suggest that the retention of Club Class ex-LCY is more to do with the yields from the city clientelle rather than your paranoia.
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
BA Connect Business Airline Passenger = BA CON BAP
BA Connect Domestic Passenger = BA CONDOM
About all you can say really.
I just hope it works this time. I'm getting too old to go around chasing jobs!
skiddy
BA Connect Domestic Passenger = BA CONDOM
About all you can say really.
I just hope it works this time. I'm getting too old to go around chasing jobs!
skiddy
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
Well BA have never marketed the LCY routes inside the M25 area before so why should they now? the FRA GVA DUS routes are only marketed outside the region simply because BA do not want to take pax from LHR now you can call it paranoia if it makes you feel better but its a fact.find me advertising for the LCY routes then ,try the BA website and it will offer you LHR to these destinations first before LCY as i said if BACX were allowed to offer cheap fares on these routes then LHR pax would use it i am also guessing you mainline??
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
I would be interested to know how the bean counters are going to balance the books after this one. We all know that the low cost model is based on volume to maintain yields but BACX, sorry BA Connect!, is going to adopt a low cost model with aircraft a third of the capacity of the most of the locos. this does not bode well for the lon term future of he company
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
Low cost with 50 seat aircraft - have serious doubts about this one. Can't even see much revenue being generated on the shorter sectors from the sale of food etc as people will just wait until they land and get to the airport where they have a choice or wait until they reach their destination. Think it may be time to get the parachute looked out - Tick Tick Tick Tick
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
An interesting development, but surprised the changes weren't deeper.
In many ways it would be good to see BA win back market share in the regions, where some of the mainstream locos have for too long been able to take advantage of BACX's rather tired and defensive (rather than proactive) position in that market.
But just not sure they've found the answer with this announcement.
A lot depends on how the marketing people bring it to life, but on the surface of it there is a vague statement about lower fares, and a very definite statement about less frills (eg no free catering). So it sounds like locos will still beat BA on price, and the product differential between loco and BA has been further eroded. So why fly BA?
I can to some extent understand the logic of stripping out the Club cabin on the 50-seaters, but don't see the logic of one-class RJ100 from, say, MAN into Europe, and two-class Airbus from, say, LHR to Europe. A real mixed message for the poor old customer. And dropping the Club cabin must mean the loss of premium customers on competed routes where their only reason for choosing BA over loco was because their employer allowed them the perk of flying business class.
I guess part of the rationale for BA mainline is to try some of this stuff in the regional marketplace - if it works, roll it out on mainline; if it doesn't, damage is confined to the regional business.
Anyway, what do I know. Interested to see how this develops.
In many ways it would be good to see BA win back market share in the regions, where some of the mainstream locos have for too long been able to take advantage of BACX's rather tired and defensive (rather than proactive) position in that market.
But just not sure they've found the answer with this announcement.
A lot depends on how the marketing people bring it to life, but on the surface of it there is a vague statement about lower fares, and a very definite statement about less frills (eg no free catering). So it sounds like locos will still beat BA on price, and the product differential between loco and BA has been further eroded. So why fly BA?
I can to some extent understand the logic of stripping out the Club cabin on the 50-seaters, but don't see the logic of one-class RJ100 from, say, MAN into Europe, and two-class Airbus from, say, LHR to Europe. A real mixed message for the poor old customer. And dropping the Club cabin must mean the loss of premium customers on competed routes where their only reason for choosing BA over loco was because their employer allowed them the perk of flying business class.
I guess part of the rationale for BA mainline is to try some of this stuff in the regional marketplace - if it works, roll it out on mainline; if it doesn't, damage is confined to the regional business.
Anyway, what do I know. Interested to see how this develops.
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
re: "I guess part of the rationale for BA mainline is to try some of this stuff in the regional marketplace - if it works, roll it out on mainline; if it doesn't, damage is confined to the regional business".
I couldn't agree more with this statement from Outoftheblue22.
We will be a trial for a part of BA that is surplus to requirement, must give some credit to the management for buying us all more time to find new jobs?.
I couldn't agree more with this statement from Outoftheblue22.
We will be a trial for a part of BA that is surplus to requirement, must give some credit to the management for buying us all more time to find new jobs?.
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
A question!
There's one thing I'm not getting here.
Is this a true "re-brand" in the eyes of the consumer (so, for example, advertising will be BA Connect, website will be BA Connect, etc etc).
Actually, website can't be baconnect.com as it's already taken.
Or is it just an "operated by..." post-script, so all the communication is BA, but the operating carrier is BA Connect?
There's one thing I'm not getting here.
Is this a true "re-brand" in the eyes of the consumer (so, for example, advertising will be BA Connect, website will be BA Connect, etc etc).
Actually, website can't be baconnect.com as it's already taken.
Or is it just an "operated by..." post-script, so all the communication is BA, but the operating carrier is BA Connect?
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
If you believe that the good Lord did turn water into wine then stick with CX. If not, start looking elsewhere. How is tinkering, 'cos that is all it is, with catering and adding a bit of flexibilty to tickets going to turn around a £30 million loss on a dwindling share of the regional market. The harsh reality is that WW has chickened out from the drastic surgery and meaningful restructuring that is really required to make this 'plan' work. And David 'has anybody seen' Evans is still there to see yet another farce come into production. Miracles do happen - if you believe in the good Lord.
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
Marlowe
Yes, as it happens I do fly for BA ex LHR, but that is NOTHING to do with it.
You may well be right about the LCY flights being listed after the LHR flights to a given destination - there is nothing new about that. About 15 years ago if you wanted to travel from London to Milan, BA Reservations would not even recognise the LGW-Bergamo flights as London-Milan. So I have some sympathy with you on that score.
HOWEVER, my point is that while the regions in general cannot sustain a business class product (ie the incremental cost of delivering the product is less than the revenue it generates), in particular, due to the high yield business traffic ex LCY, then those routes warrant the product as the incremental yield is there.
I know that BA at present are continuing with business class at LGW, as again the yields make it presently worthwhile, but even there the yield is being continually eroded to the point that J class ex LGW may only have another 12 months or so of life, ie before 2007 is out you may well find that BA and its derivatives operate single class everywhere except LHR.
Whether or not BA Connect will be the saviour of the regions I am not convinced, I suspect that it is a last gasp effort to make it work and contribute to the 10% margins demanded. I doubt if BA Connect has the management, the infrastructure (planes/manning levels/employee contracts) in place for it to work. If it doesn't then I guess it could go the way of Buzz etc and become subsumed into a no frills operator (don't go along with the loco motif - they are often anything but).
Good luck!
Yes, as it happens I do fly for BA ex LHR, but that is NOTHING to do with it.
You may well be right about the LCY flights being listed after the LHR flights to a given destination - there is nothing new about that. About 15 years ago if you wanted to travel from London to Milan, BA Reservations would not even recognise the LGW-Bergamo flights as London-Milan. So I have some sympathy with you on that score.
HOWEVER, my point is that while the regions in general cannot sustain a business class product (ie the incremental cost of delivering the product is less than the revenue it generates), in particular, due to the high yield business traffic ex LCY, then those routes warrant the product as the incremental yield is there.
I know that BA at present are continuing with business class at LGW, as again the yields make it presently worthwhile, but even there the yield is being continually eroded to the point that J class ex LGW may only have another 12 months or so of life, ie before 2007 is out you may well find that BA and its derivatives operate single class everywhere except LHR.
Whether or not BA Connect will be the saviour of the regions I am not convinced, I suspect that it is a last gasp effort to make it work and contribute to the 10% margins demanded. I doubt if BA Connect has the management, the infrastructure (planes/manning levels/employee contracts) in place for it to work. If it doesn't then I guess it could go the way of Buzz etc and become subsumed into a no frills operator (don't go along with the loco motif - they are often anything but).
Good luck!
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
Big shame!
B.A. publically admit that with their HUGE cost base there is no way that they can make a profit on regional short haul sectors. Why do they not stop this death by a thousand cuts and give all the routes away to another operator, who , with greater expertise , a lower cost base , and greater management and people skills, WOULD be able to make the regions flourish instead of whither and die?
Good luck to mates still in there and not yet escaped.
B.A. publically admit that with their HUGE cost base there is no way that they can make a profit on regional short haul sectors. Why do they not stop this death by a thousand cuts and give all the routes away to another operator, who , with greater expertise , a lower cost base , and greater management and people skills, WOULD be able to make the regions flourish instead of whither and die?
Good luck to mates still in there and not yet escaped.
Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
See little old me would have come up with a plan 180 degrees removed from this one.
I reckon there are plenty of people out there willing to pay more for a better service. I reckon roughly double whatever the main low cost airline competition is charging on the day would not be a problem. They charge £45 to Barcelona BACX should charge £90. But, you'd need an express checkin worthy of the name and no niggling about baggage weights. A lounge to wait in. A reliable operation with complimentary papers and wine on board AND the option of a decent meal for every pax on every sector. I wouldn't bother with airmiles or any other frippary.
The airfares are now routinely less than either the car parking, the car hire or a single night in the hotel. Offer something different, something better every time and I reckon you'd have a loyal and growing clientbase in no time.
Chasing the cost concious custom against the likes of Ryanair or easyJet is like getting into a bleeding competition against a blood bank.
But what do I know!
Cheers and good luck to all involved,
WWW
I reckon there are plenty of people out there willing to pay more for a better service. I reckon roughly double whatever the main low cost airline competition is charging on the day would not be a problem. They charge £45 to Barcelona BACX should charge £90. But, you'd need an express checkin worthy of the name and no niggling about baggage weights. A lounge to wait in. A reliable operation with complimentary papers and wine on board AND the option of a decent meal for every pax on every sector. I wouldn't bother with airmiles or any other frippary.
The airfares are now routinely less than either the car parking, the car hire or a single night in the hotel. Offer something different, something better every time and I reckon you'd have a loyal and growing clientbase in no time.
Chasing the cost concious custom against the likes of Ryanair or easyJet is like getting into a bleeding competition against a blood bank.
But what do I know!
Cheers and good luck to all involved,
WWW
Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
WWW..... bang on . As a user of BA (BACX) from DUS to MAN and vv about every six weeks or so to visit the UK I stand by the National Carrier . The timings and product are good - only that bl@@dy E145 is a pain , but it gets me there . Heaven knows how they are going to make a profit with fares of Lstg.25 and 45 seats ! This is a prime example of - modern 'management' , manipulating the yield , announce it's not working (making a profit for the shareholders) and dump the loyal customers and route . I would willingly pay a fair price above the Low Cost carriers , with a scheduled SERVICE , including , maybe not necessairily a meal (deli-offering , which I normally refuse) but at least a drink with my book . I consider myself a loyal customer , OK only 6-8 returns/year ,yet I have never been approached for my opinion . Something is missing here . ( Sorry , already have an answer to my own problem - modern 'management' ) ATC 'management' is also adopting the same attitude and method -WE know better and YOU will comply . Flexibility and service go out of the window . IT'S ALL ABOUT HANDLING PEOPLE , STUPID . I bet that within 18 months to two years BAW are not operating DUS-MAN route , as for ATC there are troubles ahead . The customer will be the loser and that's not surely right - certainly not in my book , anyway .
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Re: BACitiExpress The final solution!
With four different types - EMB145, Dash 8, 146/ARJ and ATP, they're going to need to focus on fleet standardisation pretty darn quickly; the 737s will still be needed at Gatwick, so perhaps this is an opportunity for Embraer to prove the low cost credentials of the EMB170-190 series.
Alternatives? I don't think the 318 is an option and the 319 is probably too large; even though it will be a low cost operation, they probably don't want to be replacing a 50 seater with a 150 seater; a fleet of 190/195s, with Embraer taking back the 145s (and as much else as possible) might be the way forward.
Alternatives? I don't think the 318 is an option and the 319 is probably too large; even though it will be a low cost operation, they probably don't want to be replacing a 50 seater with a 150 seater; a fleet of 190/195s, with Embraer taking back the 145s (and as much else as possible) might be the way forward.