British Airways dumps Melbourne

[andy_p_evans]

I am intrigued that our former colonial masters are again going to shun Melbourne.

I understand that BA will cease to operate Melbourne flights on 25 March.

I especially cant understand why they are stopping the route before the Commonwealth Games end?

Are Emirates too good an opposition for BA?

[AIRWAY]

I have to admit having recently flown with Emirates between London and Australia their service is much superior than BA's both in business and economy class, from now on Emirates for me thank you. :ok:

[andy_p_evans]

True Airway

I just cant believe that BA would close the route before the Commonwealth Games have even finished.

How crass

[alangirvan]

British athletes do not win many medals, so they have to find their own way home.

[andy_p_evans]

And if they do win medals, they will still have to find their own way home!!

I suppose the swimmers, sailors and rowers might be okay, but the rest will be stuffed!!

[king oath]

Just think. All those Nigels and Wendies won't be hanging around Langhams Hotel and Southbank. More grog for us.

[Eastwest Loco]

Sad to see the Speedbirds withdrawing from MEL, and I do worry about my mate Kenny Maclean and his colleagues in the Sales office.

Airway called it fairly well. Many of my clients have discovered that Skywards membership and around 4 return Europe journeys a year gets gold status and lounge access, as well as excellent service.

The only constant in our world is change.

Oh and the loss of th Wendies (and for some the Nigels) will no doubt cause extra wear and tear on the good ones. Dammit!! Another downside.

Best to all of you for Christmas and the year ahead.

EWL

[MarkD]

All those extra directs to Pakistan and China and no more LH aircraft except a couple of refurb ex-SH 763s means utilisation has to improve, thus no more MEL.

[alangirvan]

BA will be codesharing on the new MEL-HKG-LHR service, but looking atthe schedule - the timings seem very strange.


MEL-HKG is a red eye special - surely you would only travel on this one because Cathay is full that day. HKG to LHR is a 0740 departure. If QF wants to carry local HKGLHR traffic (which is one of the reasons for operating this route), this is very early start for people wanting to get out to the airport from Hong Kong City. Australians who want a stopover in Hong Kong might prefer the BA HKGLHR flights which are more conventional evening departures from HKG.


The timing MEL-LHR does give Melbourne people an interesting alternative, but it does seem to waste the valuable traffic right HKGLHR that Qantas wanted for so long.

[1013]

I have to disagree about the business class service offered by Emirates.
Recently my wife and I flew Business Class on Emirates from Sydney to Dubai and then onto London.

The service was disappointing and woeful in some areas.
Yes, the A340 was nice and new but the attitude of the staff sucked to use the vernacular!

No toiletries packs in first or business class......on both sectors!!!
If I knew I would have brought my own.
The seating left alot to be desired and the airconditioning hissed and made loud noises all the way.

When we ordered our meals the incorrect food was delivered and we were told that was what we ordered!
Needless to say our choice of meal was not available.

We flew BA business class back to Oz via Bangok.
The service was good, the food and entertainment ok and more importantly the experienced staff knew when to bother us and when not to - something Emirates staff really need to learn!

BA isnt brilliant but they are consistent and deliver a good level of quality in my book.

I hate to say it but give me the poms anyday!

[Soulman]

So gone will be the days of hearing:

'Melbourne Departures, good afternoon, The Speedbird 18 is passing 2,200 on climb to 5000'

I'm sure there are plenty more Nigels in the population to keep up this 'tradition'.

Now, who remembers a thread not so long ago entitled 'The Callsign Spankers'... ;)


Soulman

[Natit]

Can you really blame them? It is MEL after all :)

Emirates are a fantastic airline to fly with...

[1013]

Natit

I must say I was bitterly disappointed with the level of service I heard about with Emirates.

What was promised and what others ranted about was nothing like what my beautiful wife and I got at all.

I thought that with new aircraft, relatively new and keen staff etc would have made a difference.

Not only were they let down by their attitude which was something like "no Sir, you didnt order that meal at all".

My wife and I do not eat seafood and here was this young lass telling us that we were essentially liars.
They were not apologetic in the least when they only had seafood meals left and gave us a blank look when we asked if there were any economy class meals left over.

Coupled with the fact that they had no toiletries packs for either business/first class and were quite proud that they had adequate numbers in economy really made us wonder.
They never even offered an economy toiletries pack - we had to ask repeatedly.
Only after my wife asked politely speaking Arabic to them was the point made!!

Now Natit, if you were paying a full fare on Emirates Business Class (and I use the term loosely) how would you feel?
The Dubai to London sector didnt fare much better, but the attitude was still there.

Its pretty sad when the service offered by British Airways blew Emirates away in every category.

[Capt Claret]

Soulman,

I remember that thread well.

Recently I was allowed out of my own back yard and got to fly around the east coast yard for a month. Sadly I heard a number of calls to ATC initiated, Centre The Qantas ... :hmm:

[OzExpat]

surely you would only travel on this one because Cathay is full that day
If I'm ever again unlucky enough to have to go to LHR via HKG, CX won't be a choice I'll make consciously! Once was quite enough for me, thank you.

CX... no, never again.

[AIRWAY]

G'day 1013,

Your opinion of Emirates does not reflect mine, but i have to respect it.

I did recently a few flights with Emirates in both business and Economy Class (A330 and the B777-200/300) the service i received was far superior than any other i ever had in different airlines i have flown with, cabin crew were very attentive to ensure passenger satisfaction and the onboard service was of high quality in both business and econony.

Regarding toiletries packs no problems whatsoever.

But in the real world we can't all be happy :ok:

Happy new year to all and safe flying.

[Howard Hughes]

Now, who remembers a thread not so long ago entitled 'The Callsign Spankers'...
Ahhh the callsign spankers, aka 'the wooly pully's', they will be sadly missed...:ok:

[Keg]

Seriously Clarrie, you and I must always fly on different days. Whilst I'll admit to not doing too much domestic stuff of recent years, I did do a five day extravaganza a couple of weeks back and not one 'the qantas' was heard the entire trip!

I'm not saying that you're fibbing but it just isn't something I hear on the radio. Callsigns and dates would help! :ok:

Personally I'd love to go back to a/c rego's as call signs. :}

[Capt Claret]

Honest Keg not fibbing, though I've not heard it in my usual area of ops (the GAFA).

I agree with you on regos as call signs. A reg means something in terms of type, whereas a flight no could be damn near anything.

[Cool banana]

Last month 20 Qantas LAME from MIT (Melbourne International Terminal) where given their marching orders because of the lost of the Singapore Airline handling contract. British Airways is also handled by Qantas LAMES and with the way Qantas management with there aggressive anti staff practices, will this mean more ginger bears will be shown the door.

[OBNO]

Recently flew Emirates First Class MEL-DBX. A340-500 very nicely configured, however after all the hype I had heard about Emirates, I cannot say the service was anything special, especially for First Class. May be we all expect too much from Airline travel these days.

[Eastwest Loco]

OBNO - I would be interested when you and others flew EK and were less than satisfied.

Mrs Loco and I flew SIN MEL on EK during Ramadan and unluckily copped the raghead serviced side of the aeroplane.

I have had a total of 3 rides in J class on EK, and that was the only one with questionable service.

The port side aisle had 2 pommy girls working it and they were lightning quick and very organised. Our side was a shocker.

Best all

EWL

[frangatang]

At least Business seats turn into horizontal beds on BA,not so with emirates, so you will definitely sleep better.And before the strines carry on about THE speedbird callsigns,you should have heard the macho pissed off qantas callsigns somewhereover asia early this morning.
Methinks now that skippy has departed BA then mel was due to go.So,no more gropping the hosties on the way back to the hotel,totally stoned at 5am ...with a pickup at 3pm!