British Airways
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Well, because it was definitely a 747 and it was in a retro scheme and it was a daytrip and if it all went pear-shaped I could get a National Express coach home.
Have you actually priced EGLL-KJFK-EGLL? In March 2020, the cheapest month loaded, the outbound trip is about £150 on Virgin, but the inbound leg for that day or the one following is about £1,200. You need to wait for two days for the fare to drop to a sane level.
So, you decide to add a hotel room for two nights... suddenly that cheap trip is becoming expensive.
Have you actually priced EGLL-KJFK-EGLL? In March 2020, the cheapest month loaded, the outbound trip is about £150 on Virgin, but the inbound leg for that day or the one following is about £1,200. You need to wait for two days for the fare to drop to a sane level.
So, you decide to add a hotel room for two nights... suddenly that cheap trip is becoming expensive.
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW England
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This seems like a tremendous own goal. They have found a formula which - for a limited time - people will pay above the odds to fly on a 747 in a BA retro livery on domestic routes but have cancelled it!
If operational delivery was the issue, a programme which committed two of the three 747-400s to each doing two domestic round trips from LHR each that day - and perhaps the A319 too - would surely have been deliverable with the third 744 in the fleet as flexibility to cope with any disruption issues.
As it is, they’ve lost revenue and disappointed people. Just what you surely would not want ?
If operational delivery was the issue, a programme which committed two of the three 747-400s to each doing two domestic round trips from LHR each that day - and perhaps the A319 too - would surely have been deliverable with the third 744 in the fleet as flexibility to cope with any disruption issues.
As it is, they’ve lost revenue and disappointed people. Just what you surely would not want ?
Secondly, BA are a business and with the greatest of respect, I doubt BA will be losing sleep because a small number of enthusiasts who had booked on it because it was scheduled for a 747 and under the false impression it would be a retrojet are upset about it, especially when compared to some of the major issues they've had in the past such as IT failures, LHR T5 opening teething problems. At least BA have offered refunds when they could have easily hid behind their T&C's and claimed they always reserve the right to change planned equipment prior to the flight taking place.
It may have demonstrated to BA there is demand to do something special and hopefully there will be, but I expect anything special to be announced in a more official manner as that would be more fairer than just quietly slipping it in there and others running with it.
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Firstly, BA never specifically announced these flights would use the trio of retrojets. The booking engines did say it would be 747's as I saw that myself, but the use of retrojets in the absence of an official announcement somehow became fait accompli from reporting by blog news pages. I don't know their sources though and they could well have got their info from BA, but when you take a step back why would BA not announce something like this themselves? Other airlines who have done something special in the past such as KLM with the MD-11 farewell pleasure flights out of AMS and Monarch turning the LGW-BHX positioning flight of their final A300 into a farewell special seemed fine with making an official announcement about it.
Secondly, BA are a business and with the greatest of respect, I doubt BA will be losing sleep because a small number of enthusiasts who had booked on it because it was scheduled for a 747 and under the false impression it would be a retrojet are upset about it, especially when compared to some of the major issues they've had in the past such as IT failures, LHR T5 opening teething problems. At least BA have offered refunds when they could have easily hid behind their T&C's and claimed they always reserve the right to change planned equipment prior to the flight taking place.
It may have demonstrated to BA there is demand to do something special and hopefully there will be, but I expect anything special to be announced in a more official manner as that would be more fairer than just quietly slipping it in there and others running with it.
Secondly, BA are a business and with the greatest of respect, I doubt BA will be losing sleep because a small number of enthusiasts who had booked on it because it was scheduled for a 747 and under the false impression it would be a retrojet are upset about it, especially when compared to some of the major issues they've had in the past such as IT failures, LHR T5 opening teething problems. At least BA have offered refunds when they could have easily hid behind their T&C's and claimed they always reserve the right to change planned equipment prior to the flight taking place.
It may have demonstrated to BA there is demand to do something special and hopefully there will be, but I expect anything special to be announced in a more official manner as that would be more fairer than just quietly slipping it in there and others running with it.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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St Petersburg just a few years ago ran to a daily A321. Furthermore, returns within the working week would price up to £900 (Y) or even more. A significant proportion of the pax also were through connections from the USA. How did BA just lose that market. They're not going to get yields like that on Palma/Ibiza.
As an aside, BA actually do well on PMI with there being a generous uptake for Club Europe, especially in the summer. On the rarer occiaions when it is operated by a 320, it's not uncommon for half of the cabin to be Club.
Join Date: Sep 2012
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With all due respect, they have 3 retro 747s and planned to fly 3 747s on 3 routes on the 100th anniversary. I think it was pretty safe to assume the 3 747s were the retro colours. I don't know why you seem to think this wouldn't have been the case or that people booked under false expectations. They would have no reason to run 747s on these routes if it wasn't going to be the 3 specific planes that have been painted to mark the 100th anniversary on an event that was specifically being done to mark the 100th anniversary.
Please don't get me wrong, I'm gutted for those who had booked tickets. I know a few people who booked on because it was a 747 whom got more excited when it was reported on websites it would be the retrojets. I nearly did so myself if only for the opportunity to sample a 747 on a domestic UK flight and any 747 would have been good enough for me.
All that said, besides the refunds (which I felt was good of them to do as no doubt they realised many wouldn't have booked on if it was the normal Airbus equipment) I think it could have been handled a bit better. I don't know the full story behind all this and what led to 747 use on these being scrapped and flight times changing, but hopefully if something like this happens in the future on a special basis it will be announced more officially in good time.
As an aside, I see the Landor-liveried 747 has been ferried back LAS-LHR after being on the ground there for a few days.
Join Date: Apr 2010
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With all due respect, they have 3 retro 747s and planned to fly 3 747s on 3 routes on the 100th anniversary. I think it was pretty safe to assume the 3 747s were the retro colours. I don't know why you seem to think this wouldn't have been the case or that people booked under false expectations. They would have no reason to run 747s on these routes if it wasn't going to be the 3 specific planes that have been painted to mark the 100th anniversary on an event that was specifically being done to mark the 100th anniversary.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some travel blogs were given a heads up and that seems to be where the hype came from.
Given the fares they achieved, it's a shame that the flights aren't going ahead with 747s. Assume BA need them elsewhere...
Join Date: May 2005
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BA did no marketing of this apart from the aircraft type on their website.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some travel blogs were given a heads up and that seems to be where the hype came from.
Given the fares they achieved, it's a shame that the flights aren't going ahead with 747s. Assume BA need them elsewhere...
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some travel blogs were given a heads up and that seems to be where the hype came from.
Given the fares they achieved, it's a shame that the flights aren't going ahead with 747s. Assume BA need them elsewhere...
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Which I acknowledged as the aircraft type was on the website. As far as title tattle and the aircraft type, care to disclose where BA announced these special flights?
why else would they schedule a 747 on those routes on a one off?
AS EDI says - 3 retro 747#'s, 3 747 flights on the same day - which just happens to be the (spurious) 100th Birthday.................
AS EDI says - 3 retro 747#'s, 3 747 flights on the same day - which just happens to be the (spurious) 100th Birthday.................
Paxing All Over The World
Television presenter Sophie Morgan is calling for airlines to offer concessions for disabled travellers after being left without any means of moving “short of dragging herself along the floor” on a British Airwaysflight.
Ms Morgan, who was paralysed in a car crash when she was 18 and uses a wheelchair, was left unassisted for 45 minutes during a 12-hour flight from Buenos Aires to London Heathrow, with no means of contacting a flight attendant.
The Paralympics presenter said she called repeatedly for help on the 9 June service, to no avail. “Two to three hours into the flight, I rang the call button as I needed a glass of water to take some medication,” she told The Independent.
“No one responded, so after half an hour I was left with little option. I started sliding headsets down the aisle to get someone’s attention – all in the hopes the cabin crew might see them from behind the curtain. “I started to get really frustrated and upset. Eventually a flight attendant wandered out and after 45 minutes the cabin manager finally came over and asked what was wrong. “I was in distress and she told me to calm down; she told me it wasn’t their fault.
“I know they weren’t deliberately ignoring me, but the fact is they knew I was sitting in that seat, they knew I was solely dependent on them for help, and they were aware of my needs and still didn’t meet them.”
Ms Morgan, who was travelling alone, said that when she subsequently went to make a complaint to BA once she returned home, she found it very difficult to get hold of anyone to speak to. “I’ve had enough,” she said. “I’m frustrated. Disabled people have to deal with this kind of situation all the time. They have to give up their independence when travelling and rely on cabin crew. It’s not a system that’s trustworthy or fail-proof: it’s a lottery.
“The customer experience is always being reported back to airlines and they’re always saying they’ll change – but they don’t.”
The Paralympics presenter said she called repeatedly for help on the 9 June service, to no avail. “Two to three hours into the flight, I rang the call button as I needed a glass of water to take some medication,” she told The Independent.
“No one responded, so after half an hour I was left with little option. I started sliding headsets down the aisle to get someone’s attention – all in the hopes the cabin crew might see them from behind the curtain. “I started to get really frustrated and upset. Eventually a flight attendant wandered out and after 45 minutes the cabin manager finally came over and asked what was wrong. “I was in distress and she told me to calm down; she told me it wasn’t their fault.
“I know they weren’t deliberately ignoring me, but the fact is they knew I was sitting in that seat, they knew I was solely dependent on them for help, and they were aware of my needs and still didn’t meet them.”
Ms Morgan, who was travelling alone, said that when she subsequently went to make a complaint to BA once she returned home, she found it very difficult to get hold of anyone to speak to. “I’ve had enough,” she said. “I’m frustrated. Disabled people have to deal with this kind of situation all the time. They have to give up their independence when travelling and rely on cabin crew. It’s not a system that’s trustworthy or fail-proof: it’s a lottery.
“The customer experience is always being reported back to airlines and they’re always saying they’ll change – but they don’t.”
Join Date: Sep 2012
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I think I've made my points multiple times now, so I shall say no more on the subject.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Without going into specifics, it appears that BA may have tipped off some of their more important customers to the existence of these plans.
It’s done and like many others who had managed to secure seats on the services, I feel let down and am disappointed. I’ll get over it when the money I paid for my ticket arrives back in my account.
It’s done and like many others who had managed to secure seats on the services, I feel let down and am disappointed. I’ll get over it when the money I paid for my ticket arrives back in my account.
Join Date: Aug 2009
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I think this decision will bite IAG in the proverbials. 4 years away may be beyond the current issues, but thinking more about the group having old technology, in an aircraft that's undersized in terms of competitive cabin space, elbow room, overhead space, etc.
Join Date: Feb 2018
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I think this decision will bite IAG in the proverbials. 4 years away may be beyond the current issues, but thinking more about the group having old technology, in an aircraft that's undersized in terms of competitive cabin space, elbow room, overhead space, etc.
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