British Airways
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hampshire
Age: 76
Posts: 821
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G-BYGC/BOAC:
Is it just me or what? Having photographed G-BYGC on arrival from the paintshop in horrible weather in February, I thought I ought to try to get some shots in better weather. Today was an excellent opportunity and I caught it arriving around mid-day in full chat sunshine. Smashing! Except the blue used on the paint job seems wrong to me, but it could just be a duff memory. I am thinking back to the bad old days when BOAC started flying the VC10 into Aden and I would swear the blue on those aircraft was dark enough to be almost black. Similarly, if you look at the example at Duxford, that too is a very dark blue. The current shade on G-BYGC seems virtually washed out to me and not at all how it used to be.
Or is it just me...?
Which reminds me; about a year ago in this thread, people were discussing how BA got to Karachi from Heathrow, noting all the various aircraft types and routings. Nobody seems to have remembered the VC that used to go via Jeddah to Karachi. My first trip on that service was mid 1978 when taking up a post in Jeddah and the aircraft was going on to Karachi before returning to Jeddah to collect the next batch of 'escapees' for the hoeward trip to London!
Is it just me or what? Having photographed G-BYGC on arrival from the paintshop in horrible weather in February, I thought I ought to try to get some shots in better weather. Today was an excellent opportunity and I caught it arriving around mid-day in full chat sunshine. Smashing! Except the blue used on the paint job seems wrong to me, but it could just be a duff memory. I am thinking back to the bad old days when BOAC started flying the VC10 into Aden and I would swear the blue on those aircraft was dark enough to be almost black. Similarly, if you look at the example at Duxford, that too is a very dark blue. The current shade on G-BYGC seems virtually washed out to me and not at all how it used to be.
Or is it just me...?
Which reminds me; about a year ago in this thread, people were discussing how BA got to Karachi from Heathrow, noting all the various aircraft types and routings. Nobody seems to have remembered the VC that used to go via Jeddah to Karachi. My first trip on that service was mid 1978 when taking up a post in Jeddah and the aircraft was going on to Karachi before returning to Jeddah to collect the next batch of 'escapees' for the hoeward trip to London!

I arrived into T5 a few hours later, it was on a stand at the north end of the remote pier as we taxied in, and notably caught the attention of several older pax on the left hand side as we passed.

Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a little surprised at this. Any ideas why? Have they plans for a more lucrative route from LGW? Travelled on the route earlier this year and the aircraft was full both ways. I know 'bums on seats'
is not an accurate indication of profit on a route but the fares were a par with those into MCO and TPA.
is not an accurate indication of profit on a route but the fares were a par with those into MCO and TPA.

Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: scotland
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a little surprised at this. Any ideas why? Have they plans for a more lucrative route from LGW? Travelled on the route earlier this year and the aircraft was full both ways. I know 'bums on seats'
is not an accurate indication of profit on a route but the fares were a par with those into MCO and TPA.
is not an accurate indication of profit on a route but the fares were a par with those into MCO and TPA.

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 695
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a little surprised at this. Any ideas why? Have they plans for a more lucrative route from LGW? Travelled on the route earlier this year and the aircraft was full both ways. I know 'bums on seats'
is not an accurate indication of profit on a route but the fares were a par with those into MCO and TPA.
is not an accurate indication of profit on a route but the fares were a par with those into MCO and TPA.

For the first time, I used the "Self Bag Drop" at T5 when travelling with the family. Three of us. Two previously stated at check in as having a bag. Picked up boarding passes first at the separate PYOBP machine, entered my booking details, all three BPs came out together. Then on to the bag drop.
Entered my BP for recognition, it says "Load heaviest bag first". So I do, and process that. It then says "Is there another bag ?". Answered "Yes".
Immediately it displayed "Pay £65", and lit up the credit card reader. Thought about it, it evidently can only work with one BP at a time, and doesn't do groups on a reservation at all.
Now I can only think that either the programming of these was done by interns who had just completed unit 1.01 of their IT course at the local Tech, or alternatively someone is hoping for the Alex Cruz "Employee of the month award for the most sneaky way to stiff our less-informed customers". I wonder which it is ?
Entered my BP for recognition, it says "Load heaviest bag first". So I do, and process that. It then says "Is there another bag ?". Answered "Yes".
Immediately it displayed "Pay £65", and lit up the credit card reader. Thought about it, it evidently can only work with one BP at a time, and doesn't do groups on a reservation at all.
Now I can only think that either the programming of these was done by interns who had just completed unit 1.01 of their IT course at the local Tech, or alternatively someone is hoping for the Alex Cruz "Employee of the month award for the most sneaky way to stiff our less-informed customers". I wonder which it is ?

I never try to use the automation as much as possible - I will always go to the check in at T5 - the staff are usually very nice, and then toddle off to the Galleries Lounge for some victualling.
On my way back I hate the E passport gates and will go to the human interface Q lol
On my way back I hate the E passport gates and will go to the human interface Q lol


Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G-BYGC/BOAC:
Is it just me or what? Having photographed G-BYGC on arrival from the paintshop in horrible weather in February, I thought I ought to try to get some shots in better weather. Today was an excellent opportunity and I caught it arriving around mid-day in full chat sunshine. Smashing! Except the blue used on the paint job seems wrong to me, but it could just be a duff memory. I am thinking back to the bad old days when BOAC started flying the VC10 into Aden and I would swear the blue on those aircraft was dark enough to be almost black. Similarly, if you look at the example at Duxford, that too is a very dark blue. The current shade on G-BYGC seems virtually washed out to me and not at all how it used to be.
Or is it just me...?
Which reminds me; about a year ago in this thread, people were discussing how BA got to Karachi from Heathrow, noting all the various aircraft types and routings. Nobody seems to have remembered the VC that used to go via Jeddah to Karachi. My first trip on that service was mid 1978 when taking up a post in Jeddah and the aircraft was going on to Karachi before returning to Jeddah to collect the next batch of 'escapees' for the hoeward trip to London!
Is it just me or what? Having photographed G-BYGC on arrival from the paintshop in horrible weather in February, I thought I ought to try to get some shots in better weather. Today was an excellent opportunity and I caught it arriving around mid-day in full chat sunshine. Smashing! Except the blue used on the paint job seems wrong to me, but it could just be a duff memory. I am thinking back to the bad old days when BOAC started flying the VC10 into Aden and I would swear the blue on those aircraft was dark enough to be almost black. Similarly, if you look at the example at Duxford, that too is a very dark blue. The current shade on G-BYGC seems virtually washed out to me and not at all how it used to be.
Or is it just me...?
Which reminds me; about a year ago in this thread, people were discussing how BA got to Karachi from Heathrow, noting all the various aircraft types and routings. Nobody seems to have remembered the VC that used to go via Jeddah to Karachi. My first trip on that service was mid 1978 when taking up a post in Jeddah and the aircraft was going on to Karachi before returning to Jeddah to collect the next batch of 'escapees' for the hoeward trip to London!

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: derbyshire
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was cross when BOAC having told Vickers what specs they required, such as being able to take off with a full load in a hot and high airport, then decided they would rather have 707s. No wonder we didn't sell many VC10s when our nationalised airline didn't want them.

Paxing All Over The World
British Airways is to scrap its daytime flights from Johannesburg to Heathrow in order to cash in on the collapse of Jet Airways.
The Independent
The Independent

Paxing All Over The World

This is a smasher: British Airways criticised for selling ‘afternoon tea’ that doesn’t include any tea
Independent via Yahoo
I do like the comment from one directed at BA;
Independent via Yahoo
I do like the comment from one directed at BA;
Let me guess, BA, you removed the tea from afternoon tea based on customer feedback in order to enhance the afternoon experience?

