British Airways-2
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: uk
British Airways Fly...ending?
Good Afternoon
I have been told that shortly, the FLY check-in system will be ended to be replaced by Altea in all stations worldwide. Has anybody else heard this new?
Many thanks
I have been told that shortly, the FLY check-in system will be ended to be replaced by Altea in all stations worldwide. Has anybody else heard this new?
Many thanks
Joined: Jun 2007
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 1,880
Likes: 495
From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
WHBM
I am with them on 23/11 on a late afternoon departure for an overnight going East in Business, so will let you know. My expectations never get very high with BA these days, and unfortunately they do seem able to not exceed them, though cabin crews are generally good natured during interactions, unlike some ground staff
Cheers
Mr Mac
I am with them on 23/11 on a late afternoon departure for an overnight going East in Business, so will let you know. My expectations never get very high with BA these days, and unfortunately they do seem able to not exceed them, though cabin crews are generally good natured during interactions, unlike some ground staff
Cheers
Mr Mac
Joined: Feb 2002
Aviation Qualifications: AME
Posts: 4,166
Likes: 1,096
From: UK
New "brunch" menu seems to have gone down like a lead balloon all round. Just one of many critical articles
British Airways cuts back on in-flight lunch in ‘crackpot’ decision
Always amazing how reductions in service standards are written up as "wonderfully welcomed by customers", isn't it ? It would be instructive to compare this latest long haul Business Class menu with what BA used to serve in economy a generation ago.
British Airways cuts back on in-flight lunch in ‘crackpot’ decision
Always amazing how reductions in service standards are written up as "wonderfully welcomed by customers", isn't it ? It would be instructive to compare this latest long haul Business Class menu with what BA used to serve in economy a generation ago.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 259
Likes: 41
From: London
In 20+ years of flying premium cabins USA->UK on BA, catering has never been a strong point. I also think it's a myth that the US has great food. Tourists in particular are impressed by the huge portion sizes, but if you want the kind of quality fresh ingredients you take for granted in Europe you will need to pay $$$$.
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 906
Likes: 24
From: Belfast
Yes have heard that also as BA no longer updating FLY. ALTEA seems to be the go to system now for a lot of carriers. Also heard BA going fully to IPADS for all Ground Ops work. Altea is definitely a more stable resource than that effing FLY and it's spinning wheel of doom
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 293
From: London
Seems that in addition to Kuala Lumpur being delayed and DFW being dropped in favour of American for next summer, both Kuwait and Bahrain are also now off sale for summer 25. Those B747s really should have ended their careers in triumph after all, like Lufthansa.
Joined: Jun 2007
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 1,880
Likes: 495
From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
I've flown business class on BA several times in the last few months. The standard of service and food out of LHR was exceptional. Could not fault any of it, in fact I thought they'd turned a corner. Then you see the offering on the return flight, especially from the USA. Awful! The staff did their best but the concoction on my plate was just terrible. The yanks do some great food, why can't BA get it on their services?
You are getting my hopes up, I hope not unduly
Cheers
Mr Mac
Flightrider
Further East so we will see.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Last edited by Mr Mac; 7th November 2024 at 19:31.
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 312
From: UK
Kuwait and Bahrain both used to be two of the star performers in the Middle East network. Times do change, I suppose, but that's surprising. Even more surprising when you have BA running 777s on Doha which you'd think their partner airline / shareholder would be readily able to substitute for them, as AA have done on Dallas.
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,409
Likes: 330
From: Southampton
I must admit that it's a shame to see British Airways drop Dallas from their route network regardless of the JV with American Airlines.
It's also a loss to Dallas being such an important city in the USA as well as being home to one of the world's busiest airports.
As many of you are aware, London to Dallas was a route that British Airways inherited from the merger with BCAL in 1988. BCAL started LGW to DFW in February 1981. The route remained at LGW after the merger but subsequently moved to LHR in 2008 after the Bermuda 2 agreement was abolished.
With British Airways dropping Dallas, it reminds me of the fact that they previously served several destinations in the USA with their own aircraft, which includes the following.
Anchorage
Charleston
Charlotte
Dallas
Detroit
Ft Lauderdale
Oakland
San Jose
Plus Honolulu during the days of BOAC.
Hopefully, British Airways will resume Dallas at some point in the future.
Although I'm not too surprised regarding Bahrain and Kuwait also being dropped from the airlines network. I should imagine that both of the home carriers have an advantage over British Airways considering the size of their markets.
Bahrain as others have pointed out was once an important destination for British Airways. Important enough for it to be the first destination on the British Airways network way back on the 21 January 1976 to receive a commercial Concorde flight. British Airways on the 21 January 1976 inaugurated their first commercial flight's with Concorde between LHR-BAH-SIN.
Regarding the Middle East and including the two destinations mentioned. British Airways previously flew to the following destinations within the region.
Aden
Aleppo
Baghdad
Bahrain
Beirut
Damascus
Damman
Dhahran
Kuwait
Muscat
Sanaa
Tehran
In reality the British Airways worldwide network has drastically shrunk over the last few decades and that's regardless of the recent pandemic.
Regarding their worldwide network the number of countries and destinations that the airline previously flew to probably outweighs the amount that they currently serve.
I could do a list of those former destinations as I do enjoy making them 😉
It's also a loss to Dallas being such an important city in the USA as well as being home to one of the world's busiest airports.
As many of you are aware, London to Dallas was a route that British Airways inherited from the merger with BCAL in 1988. BCAL started LGW to DFW in February 1981. The route remained at LGW after the merger but subsequently moved to LHR in 2008 after the Bermuda 2 agreement was abolished.
With British Airways dropping Dallas, it reminds me of the fact that they previously served several destinations in the USA with their own aircraft, which includes the following.
Anchorage
Charleston
Charlotte
Dallas
Detroit
Ft Lauderdale
Oakland
San Jose
Plus Honolulu during the days of BOAC.
Hopefully, British Airways will resume Dallas at some point in the future.
Although I'm not too surprised regarding Bahrain and Kuwait also being dropped from the airlines network. I should imagine that both of the home carriers have an advantage over British Airways considering the size of their markets.
Bahrain as others have pointed out was once an important destination for British Airways. Important enough for it to be the first destination on the British Airways network way back on the 21 January 1976 to receive a commercial Concorde flight. British Airways on the 21 January 1976 inaugurated their first commercial flight's with Concorde between LHR-BAH-SIN.
Regarding the Middle East and including the two destinations mentioned. British Airways previously flew to the following destinations within the region.
Aden
Aleppo
Baghdad
Bahrain
Beirut
Damascus
Damman
Dhahran
Kuwait
Muscat
Sanaa
Tehran
In reality the British Airways worldwide network has drastically shrunk over the last few decades and that's regardless of the recent pandemic.
Regarding their worldwide network the number of countries and destinations that the airline previously flew to probably outweighs the amount that they currently serve.
I could do a list of those former destinations as I do enjoy making them 😉
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,841
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
I suspect that, across the last three decades, many of the Eastbound routes have been plundered by the main Euro hubs (AMS, FRA, CDG, MUC) being able to collect from the UK regions and then the vast expansion of the ME carriers. Westbound? Perhaps not as strong but, again, the demand of regional feeds to LHR for transit have all but gone. A number of smaller carriers such as Icelandair have found a way to link from LHR but (again) also from the regions.
I've just looked down the list of carriers currently at LGW and some names I have never heard of. The combination of new short, medium and long haul competition has been relentless. Always the problem for a company that has been top of the heap - everyone will want a piece and there are many pieces to be had. Also, as we all know, old companies can be slow to see the changes - not just in aviation but in every field of commerce and govt.
I've just looked down the list of carriers currently at LGW and some names I have never heard of. The combination of new short, medium and long haul competition has been relentless. Always the problem for a company that has been top of the heap - everyone will want a piece and there are many pieces to be had. Also, as we all know, old companies can be slow to see the changes - not just in aviation but in every field of commerce and govt.
Joined: May 2020
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 151
Likes: 68
From: Magrathea
I know one person who won’t regret the loss of Dallas. My son is a 380 pilot & doesn’t like Dallas much; but he will be fearing its replacement by a second service to Johannesburg. Is there a slight chance of it being used on a new destination ?
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 293
From: London
Well surely that's not right at all? If you mean that Scotland-Europe can now fly direct yes, in summer that's true.
However for frequency and connectivity then BA offers a one stop to loads of place in the same way LH,KL, AF and LX do over their own hubs. And regional feed to long haul is still clearly important, there would be no connection to MAN if the LHR hub model was as far gone as you suggest. And think of the inbound $ benefits that INV sees from a one stop to BA's worldwide network alongside KLM.
What has happened is that the ME3 have a better and more frequent offering going East that BA cannot compete with, but that's competition.
However for frequency and connectivity then BA offers a one stop to loads of place in the same way LH,KL, AF and LX do over their own hubs. And regional feed to long haul is still clearly important, there would be no connection to MAN if the LHR hub model was as far gone as you suggest. And think of the inbound $ benefits that INV sees from a one stop to BA's worldwide network alongside KLM.
What has happened is that the ME3 have a better and more frequent offering going East that BA cannot compete with, but that's competition.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,841
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
We can only hope that CPT finally prep for the wonderfully quiet 380.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 428
Likes: 8
From: Middle East
The word here in the Gulf is that the BAH and KWI rotations are being suspended due to engine issues with the 787. Leaving aside the fact that they also utlise the 777 on these routes, this doesn’t quite add up to me. Also as an expat in Bahrain, the BA flight is always full, but I know that full doesn’t always equate to profitable…
Guest
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 554
Likes: 44
From: UK
The suspensions to several cities on the network are to allow slack in the 777 fleet. The issues with the 787s meant the 777s were used more heavily than planned this summer so now require some TLC over the next few months.
The route suspensions will prevent last minute cancellations and schedule adjustments.
BA believe that it will be at least a year before the engine issues and supply chain issues with the 787s are resolved.
Despite all the handwringing and doom and gloom on here BA and IAG generally remain extremely profitable when compared to many other airline groups.
Demand to the Middle East has fallen owing to the volatile situation in several countries.
Lufthansa has also suspended services to these places.
The route suspensions will prevent last minute cancellations and schedule adjustments.
BA believe that it will be at least a year before the engine issues and supply chain issues with the 787s are resolved.
Despite all the handwringing and doom and gloom on here BA and IAG generally remain extremely profitable when compared to many other airline groups.
Demand to the Middle East has fallen owing to the volatile situation in several countries.
Lufthansa has also suspended services to these places.
Joined: May 2020
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 151
Likes: 68
From: Magrathea
Yes, they clearly do - from their viewpoint. And, after all they are running a business which has an obligation to the shareholders to make a profit. So, well done, BA. But, it is no fun when your flight has been cancelled. I am not convinced that they handle this aspect “exactly right”.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,841
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Does anyone known when the Club World refurb for the 777s will be complete? Friends travelling to CPT in a year and are starting to make plans. I have enjoyed the Yin/Yang seats but the new suite is also good.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 56
From: UK
Most if not all LHR 777’s are now complete. 12 months from now and they will definitely be flying in lovely new suites.