GB Airways going low cost

[Bikerpilot]

Heard today in MAN that GB is going low cost.

[Zenna Fobyer]

Go on, ........ Gizza clue. What did you actually hear? Back up what you say.

What did you hear and where did you hear it from otherwise it's nonsense!

[JB007]

I thought GB we're pretty much low-cost anyway, but with the BA product...

[MancRy]

GB is going low cost. Plans are a bit sketchy at the moment and nothing is 100%.
Club maybe kept but it is looking increasingly like economy pax will have to pay for drinks and food.

[HZ123]

For eco paxs the future for all shorthaul trips will be paying for everything apart from the seat. This could also be adopted for LGW GB and BA ops in the EU.

[bozzy]

yep its true, we will be going the low cost way, with charging for food and drink and no club service as this is not doing well up here in manchester. The product is not changing down in heathrow and gatwick as the ba product is so strong down there plus they get alot more club pax.

I think they want the same product and services as ba connect, so it wont confuse the pax.

[Railgun]

The product is not changing down in heathrow and gatwick as the ba product is so strong down there plus they get alot more club pax.
I think they want the same product and services as ba connect, so it wont confuse the pax.

I think it is more due to the fact that BA have not yet devalued the european product from LGW or LHR so therefore GB are not permitted to charge for food ect out of these stations. At MAN BA have taken this step so natrually GB have been able to do it.

[MancRy]

Theres a few rumours. Also heard that club will be kept and the amount of rows that can be converted reduced to a few rows and that the rest will have new thinner seating.
I'd rather keep club because the full economy config is awful.
I work with Bozzy and heard aswell that club is going.

[Gatwick07]

So Gatwick and Heathrow are keeping it BA style? I would have thought Manc would aswell, because you fly GB to certain destinations when you book through the BA website, therefore pax who have booked (through BA) expecting a BA service may not get one if they fly GB out of Manchester? Ho hum......

[flyer55]

Sounds like BA Connect branching out so wonder what going to happen to MAN-JFK?

[KTM 525 SX]

Loganair will be next.

But then are they a franchise of BA
or are they a franchise of a BACON ?

[manx crab]

Do Loganair still serve food?. On my last few trips IOM-GLA its been been drinks only, no ham & cheese, beef & pickle, cheese & tomato sandwich.

Just a thought but whats going to happen to all the cheese when Bacx stop serving food:)

[Buster the Bear]

Having flown Club Class from Gatwick, the product is superb, if a little expensive. I am happy to pay for executive lounges, priority boarding and extra legroom for certain trips with my family as it removes most of the stress associated with check in, flying etc.

I have found the staff on board, some of the best that I have come across. Totally professional and courteous.

[MancRy]

BACX/BACON are goin low cost at MAN and BHX too.
Like i said, nothing is set in stone and we could well keep our club cabin here at MAN but we may end up losing it.
Fact is, GB aren't getting enough club passengers at MAN. IMO this is because it is not promoted enough. Unlike business routes, many of our passengers (many of which being used to charter) are unaware that we have it or that we even give drinks as complimentary in economy, for that matter.
The introduction of premium cabins on long haul charters shows that there is the desire for such service....many of GB flights are verging on long haul and there is a strategy of expanding services in the 4-5 hour flight time range.
Euro Traveller looks to be going low cost and this would give a great product differentiation between the two cabins.
But who knows, lets wait til its official.

[VHF FLYER]

Tried GB/BA recently - have to say I was well satisfied. No discernable (SP?) difference between this and mainline BA - possibly better as the CC were appopriately northern and cheerful.:ok:
Need more of this product and less of the BACON (and cheese) at MAN in my opinion. How about Barcelona and Lisbon - please? pretty please?

[MancRy]

Correct, our service is on a par with BA Mainline shorthaul and yes time and time again we get comments about the cabin crews personalities. We, at the MAN GB base, are young and very cheerful which is often where mainline, and to a certain extent BACX, fail.

[FlyZB]

Personally I believe that GB will do well out of reverting to a buy on board service. That is of course presuming that fares will be reduced as a result? As mentioned on another forum, this does mean that people have no choice other than to fly no frills to destinations such as AGP, but it seems that this is what the majority of people travelling from MAN want. The general attitude is why pay over the odds for free food and drink on a 3 hr flight if you can get the fare for 20 quid cheaper. In most cases when I've looked for a MAN - AGP fare, GB has been more expensive than ZB, WW and LS. The travelling public going to places such as Malaga, Tenerife, etc would rather pay less and have no frills as it is such a short flight duration. ZB have got their product right to the destinations they serve. Offer competitve prices but also give passengers the option of purchasing frills such as hot meals on board. Therefore people dont pay for such luxuries in the fare, but still have the option of having them if they want. Thats why they are the number 1 scheduled carrier to AGP, ALC, TFS and FAO. They have a superior product to WW and LS at the same price. If GB offer a similar service, they will be able to attract more passengers in the same way.

[Mr A Tis]

I have used both C & Y class on GB out of Manchester. Either class is very good & equal / better than BA mainline shorthaul. Crews are very chirpy & genuinely pleasant & helpful. Club was great & reasonably priced, would be a shame to lose it. Economy was priced cheaper than Monarch or Jet2 on my flights. In fact I'm Malaga bound this Friday, again cheaper than the no frills-but with frills! Please bring on Barcelona - Iberia C cabin was almost always full. My use of ZB on that route has always been very disappointing.
Don't see why LHR & LGW can retain frills & C class & us poor northerners left to lump a BA CON type service. It would be nice to have a choice.:*

[MancRy]

GB/BA are often cheaper than ZB and LS and pax have commented on it numorous times and that is where the problem lies. We are competing DIRECTLY with no frills/buy on board airlines with a FRILLS service.
Our pax, with no disrespect to them, are used to charter and often dont realise the service is free and so the pay on board strategy will work. It would be good if they kept club europe though.

[HZMIS]

What I find confusing is that BA have already untaken to upgrade LHR Euro Club to a 2-2 set up. This is as a result of those located on the existing 2-3 in the latter area complaining rightly so about the lack of space. There are a couple of the aircraft with the new seats in and as someone stated the new 'y' seats are of a thinner construction. These actions make many of the rumours more questionable or pertinent depending on your view.

[Railgun]

What I find confusing is that BA have already untaken to upgrade LHR Euro Club to a 2-2 set up. This is as a result of those located on the existing 2-3 in the latter area complaining rightly so about the lack of space. There are a couple of the aircraft with the new seats in and as someone stated the new 'y' seats are of a thinner construction. These actions make many of the rumours more questionable or pertinent depending on your view.

I believe the GB aircraft are all GB's aircraft not BA's?

[shamrock7seal]

Kavin Hatton - ex Thomsonfly is now in charge of GBAirways - so rumours of it going low-cost might not be unfounded!

[c.r.m what is it]

who's he? what position is he taking over? I might of been away from work for a few weeks, but had'nt heard that!!

[MancRy]

As far as i am aware, John Patterson is still leading the airline, and i work for GB!
GB is going to a pay as you go (not low cost) model but at MAN only. LGW flights for the time being atleast, are remaining the same.

[Mr A Tis]

To whoever is in charge of GB.
Don't try & fix what ain't broke.
You have an excellant product, everyone I know who has used the service, has nothing but praise for all aspects of the services.
I don't see what is wrong with how it is. Just because BA Connect has gone one way, does not mean that GB has to follow.
If you have something that is good & differentiates you from the others-then be satisfied with what you have & promote what makes you better than the rest.
What seems to be being proposed, will make you just another airline on x route & people won't care whether they fly with you or not. Us Northerners aren't all as stupid as you seem to think we are.:uhoh:

[MarkD]

Railgun

My understanding is that since BUSJ went back from lease to mainline, all the aircraft are GB owned.

http://www.jethros.i12.com/fleets/fleet_listings/gb_airways.htm

[VHF FLYER]

To whoever is in charge of GB.
Don't try & fix what ain't broke.
You have an excellant product, everyone I know who has used the service, has nothing but praise for all aspects of the services.
I don't see what is wrong with how it is. Just because BA Connect has gone one way, does not mean that GB has to follow.
If you have something that is good & differentiates you from the others-then be satisfied with what you have & promote what makes you better than the rest.
What seems to be being proposed, will make you just another airline on x route & people won't care whether they fly with you or not. Us Northerners aren't all as stupid as you seem to think we are.:uhoh:


Hear here! from this punter too:ok:

[starship]

It is very true that Kevin will head GB from the beginning of July.;)

[IB4138]

Couldn't agree more about the services from Manchester.
If they become pay as you go, they will find a loss of custom, as their total ticket prices, when you add on the "charges" are in the main far in excess of the loco's on similar routes for this year.

[Railgun]

Couldn't agree more about the services from Manchester.
If they become pay as you go, they will find a loss of custom, as their total ticket prices, when you add on the "charges" are in the main far in excess of the loco's on similar routes for this year.

They carry a lot of "charter" pax on most of the flights. Also i expect if they go buy on board then there ticket prices will drop as well.

[MancRy]

I find it very hard to understand how you people think. Yes we have a bloody excellent onboard product, second to none. But we also have bloody strong competition.
People love the service and we do indeed get very good praise which is great for myself and my fellow crew. However, a considerable amount, if not majority, of these passengers would fly with Jet 2 or Monarch if they were cheaper. As it is, many of our passengers are used to charter and therefore we are often asked if we serve food and try to pay us for drinks....much of the market DOESN't expect our service, they expect CHEAP flights.
The low cost carriers have effectively commoditised air travel, particularly on the shorter routes such as AGP. Our fares often match or better those offered by Jet 2, Easyjet and Monarch, something commented on by passengers and who question how we are able to offer such a service at these prices. EXACTLY! We are offering an excellent higher class service, but people only want to use it IF it is as cheap or cheaper than our competitors.
The business cannot support this situation and therefore our strategy must change. GB Airways are looking at destinations that are further afield (i.e away from EZY etc) but the A320/321's only have so much range.
Alternative destinations have been rumoured within the company but i dont want to divulge them.
The reason for proposed changes has little to do with BACON, it's mainly to serve our market better, although being seamless with BACON will not confuse passengers.

[Railgun]

The reason for proposed changes has little to do with BACON, it's mainly to serve our market better, although being seamless with BACON will not confuse passengers.

It has everything to do with BA Connect. BA would not let GB fly in BA colours and charging for food if BA were not doing the same from that airport or on all SH routes. Thus GB are only going pay on board from MAN and not LGW. There time will come though.

[MancRy]

Maybe so railgun, my point is that GB are not doing this to follow suit, we have our own good reasons.

[Jet A1]

GB are being ripped off by BA and their inflated costs for the franchise...BA Connect allows GB to "experiment" with the low cost idea it does not mean that they will keep it if it does not work out. The franchise negotiations should being toward the end of this year for an extension giving GB a better ability to negotiate a much better and cost-effective franchise agreement.

[MancRy]

True, BA have held GB back in many ways. For example, they held out so long before giving GB a decision on the MAN-DBV route that they were too late to negotiate with tour operators. This meant the route ran at a loss.

[Turroncin]

It has everything to do with BA Connect. BA would not let GB fly in BA colours and charging for food if BA were not doing the same from that airport or on all SH routes. Thus GB are only going pay on board from MAN and not LGW. There time will come though.

The franchise agreement states that GB has to provide at least the standard of service currently offered by BA, but can exceed this if they wish. This means from MAN GB needs to offer at least what Connect is offering - or more potentially (e.g. congealed pizza slice and muffin).