I agree that BA not merging with KLM was a big mistake, since it would have been a great partnership

At the time of the BA/IB merger, Iberia was doing well (better than BA for sure at the time) and was in OW, so at first it was a good idea, now I would disagree with the problems IB and Spain in general are facing

As for LH, it would be great for them to merge with BA, since a LH Northern European hub at LHR would be better than one at Brussels

Also they only own 45% of SN and they still have not bought the airline after all that time

I think you'll find that BA merging with LH would lead to a monopoly enquiry which would almost certainly be vetoed by UK, German and EU regulators

Quote: "I think you'll find that BA merging with LH would lead to a monopoly enquiry which would almost certainly be vetoed by UK, German and EU regulators"

Indeed there is no way that regulators would allow any of three large European carriers, BA-IB (IAG), AF-KL, and LH-SN-OS-LX, could merge with eachother, in any combination.

For now they'll have to content themselves by taking over smaller carriers.

Why would that be the case?

LH and BA are not the only carriers on the London-Germany/Switzerland/Austria/Belgium routes for a start

Also LH does not have any hubs in Spain or the UK

Then there is the matter of LCCs

The bigger problem would be the question of alliances

The sheer size and market dominance on key strategic markets.
btw you should change your username.

But LH/IAG will not be a monopoly on those "key strategic markets" since there will be competition from other airlines (most of all LCCs)

If there are any competition issues, then all LH/IAG needs to do is offer some slots here and there*

Also LH/IAG will not be the only big airline in Europe, there will still be Air-Frnce-KLM, Ryanair and Easyjet

I am not advocating a merger of LH and IAG, I am just suggesting it would be a good idea and not pose too many competition issues

P.S. Would you mind if you elaborate on those "key strategic markets" please?

*They did this for the LH takeovers of LX, OS and SN and the BA takeover of BMI

Though, to be fair, his recent posts will have dispelled any lingering suspicion that he might have had some connection with his namesake airline. :O

But I agree.

Slots are often tradeable assets and are worth a lot of money. This is a contentious issue as giving away too many LHR slots kept BA and AA apart for many years. It's not a trivial matter just to pop a few over the edge to the competition and move on undamaged. The number of slots required to be given up often undermines the business case for bringing the merging businesses together in the first place. Besides the politics of merging flag carriers is political and personal at best
Do Ryanair and easyJet fly long haul? Of course not, you're talking about one mega airline in one alliance sewing up major European markets. It would be the mother of all competition issues and quite rightly so.

To save them from insolvency and closure, also these are not large network carriers, they were middling sized(occasionally former flag carriers) being squeezed by larger more efficient competition. BMI was dying, OS is being closed and rolled into Tyrolean, albeit trading as Austrian, Swissair was closed after going bust and reborn as Swiss, by necessity. Alitalia was rolled into Air One. This is hardly the same as IAG merging with LH or KLM / AF.

BA-IB and LH-LX-OS-SN
 

Just an aside, in the very unlikely event of a BA-IB/LH-LX-OS-SN merger being permitted, would the combined entity be Oneworld or Star Alliance?

Or would they be required to remain in separate alliances like the two LANTAM carriers?


Quote: "I agree that BA not merging with KLM was a big mistake, since it would have been a great partnership"

Agreed, but it was not to be....

Delhi stop over
 

Question, I am hoping someone may be able to answer.
Next autumn I am flying to Kathmandu with my wife, as you can probably guess by my login we live in Manchester.

We are wanting to break the journey, spending a day or so in Delhi and wonder if this is something BA offer?

Essentially I want to get he 13:25 from Manc to Heathrow, landing in London at 14:25.on 6th November 2013.

Then catch the 15:40 from London getting to Delhi at 06:20 on the 7th November.

Expedia etc than has the flight from Delhi to Kathmandu at 12:50 landing in Kathmandu at 14:45.

However, I would like to make that Delhi to Kathmandu flight 24hours later, on 8th November and not 7th November having spent a day in Delhi before moving on.

Do BA offer this option? If so, is there any price increase for taking this option?

Thanks

Kurt - might I suuggest looking at the BA website or phoning the BA reservations call centre ? They should be able to explain all options and prices.

Failing that, try an online travel agency - e.g. Expedia, Travelocity or Opodo.

Alternatively phone a travel agency - a company like Trailfinders can deal with this easily

Kurt - not that I've done it, but I think you just click on the multi-city/stopovers tab on the main booking form on ba.com

Thanks, when I try to multi/city option it returns an error, suggesting I call the customer services people to discuss.

Suppose I will have to call them in the morning.

Kurt, BKS beat me to one comment I was going to make.

There are several other comments I was going to make.

Firstly, the error message you get on the BA site most likely relates to two points. These are that BA do not fly to Kathmandu and flights are not bookable on their website more than 355 days in advance. Other airlines have their own date restrictions.

Secondly, The times you mention do not match up with those mentioned for BA MAN to DEL flights the week before. Also, make sure you allow plenty of time between arrival at LHR and departure to DEL. Your suggested schedule looks a little tight and allows little/no leeway in the event that your first flight is delayed.

Thirdly, obviously, I don't know which is more important to you, cost or flying BA MAN to DEL. For flights in late October 2013, BA are quoting over £1300 one way. Around that time the airline which is an anagram of Teahid will do MAN to Kathmandu via Abu Dhabi for a little over half that. Expedia, with cost in mind, only uses BA to LHR then Jet to DEL and beyond.

Obviously your money your choice. You might, in a day or two when BA flights become bookable, search the trip on Amadeus to get some other options.

Whatever you decide, enjoy the trip.

SFS

In the case of LHR, IAG holds around 50% of the slots at that airport, even if it merged with LH, IAG/LH will still hold less slots at LHR than AF at CDG and KL at AMS, along with LH (or even IAG/LH) at FRA

Remember also that when you have deal with comeptition wise with London, you have to take account of the other airports in the area, in that respect, LH/IAG is not in any way monopolistic in that respect

Well they both fly Short and Medium Haul for a start, in that those markets, it will still be competitive market if a LH/IAG merger ever happened

Also You have to take account of the fact AF/KL will still be a strong player in the Euopean market (even after a LH/IAG merger), after all they are the largest airline in Europe right now, then you have to take account of overseas carriers as well in the case of long haul

So even if a LH/IAG or even LH/IAG/TK merger ever happened, it will not create a monopoly in Europe nor will destory competition, what it will do however is create a leading player in the Short/Medium/Long-Haul markets in Europe

LATAM is unlikely to stay in 2 alliances for long (for a start the authories stated that will not be allowed)

It depends which is the best one for LH/IAG, but if it joined Star Alliance, expect more OW carriers to follow...

You're not actually for real are you? I feel my chain being yanked now....
A six runway LHR demolishing swathes of Middlesex and Berkshire coupled with all the major airlines in Europe merging?
Nothing you have said yet is remotely likely!
Not related to the core subject matter, this is peripheral. Oh I give up, someone else have a go.....

If BA and LH were to merge OneWorld and Star would not accept a member who is also in another alliance - there would be too many conflicts of interest. Thus you end up with one of the alliances going from strong to puny in Europe. Everyone would realise this including large corporates and other airlines. The result would be the weaker alliance degenerating and collapsing as corporates moved business to other airlines and airlines switched alliances. The result would be just 2 global alliances and not 3. For that reason alone a BA-LH merger is not hoing to be permitted by regulators regardless of slots given up.

Quote: "You're not actually for real are you? I feel my chain being yanked now....
A six runway LHR demolishing swathes of Middlesex and Berkshire coupled with all the major airlines in Europe merging?
Nothing you have said yet is remotely likely!"

Ha ha, this is actually quite funny, do we have another member of the Silver-Windsorian clan?

Quote: "Not related to the core subject matter, this is peripheral. Oh I give up, someone else have a go....."

Don't give up, Skipness,be brave, don't let them grind you down.

Silver and Windsorian are not the same person. Even if they were, you would be partially in breach of forum rules for trying to 'out' them as each-other.

I accept that some of the beliefs are almost off-the-map, but can we have a sensible and mature debate without having to smash the living daylights out of some poor sod with slightly different opinions? Hitler didn't like people who opposed him either, yet look what happened to him in the end.

Quote: "Silver and Windsorian are not the same person. Even if they were, you would be partially in breach of forum rules for trying to 'out' them as each-other."

Wasn't being serious, but point taken. Apologies.