BA 380/787 RIDE TOMORROW

[ukdean]

Morning all.

Looking to get a ride on either of the above tomorrow.

Does anyone know if they are operating on a short haul flight tomorrow (sat) out of lhr.

As always thanks in advance.

[atakacs]

Nope... Only long hauls

[DaveReidUK]

Only long hauls BA's sole A380 has not been flying any long-haul passenger sectors (yet).

For the past week it has been doing either one or two LHR-FRA-LHR rotations daily on the BA902/903 and/or BA910/911.

The exception was on Saturday 03/08, when it didn't fly at all. Whether it will fly tomorrow or not I don't know, but if it does then see above.

[joy ride]

G-XLEA has just flown over, my first good sighting of a BA A380, should be at Heathrow in 2-3 minutes.

[chevvron]

If the 787 has only just been delivered I would imagine it will do a few flights with staff as a 'load' until the crews get used to it.

[G-ARZG]

Both types now carrying revenue pax !

Tomorrow's LHR-Stockholm-LHR BA780/781, out at 1330, should be a 787.

A380 has been shuttling back and forth to Frankfurt once, sometimes twice a day, but doesn't seem to be doing so tomorrow.

Absolutely nothing to stop you buying a ticket, if you can afford it....but a/c type
cannot be guaranteed, could be substituted, even at last minute......

[G-ARZG]

787 G-ZBJB enroute STO-LHR even as we speak, ETA LHR 1939 BST

[joy ride]

^ ...and G-XLEA a little ahead of it, heading in again from FRA

[champair79]

Hi ukdean,

For this weekend the plan is as follows:

A380
Saturday - No op.
Sunday - BA902/903 and BA910/911 LHR-FRA-LHR runs, G-XLEA.

B787
Saturday - BA780/781 LHR-ARN-LHR, G-ZBJB.
Sunday - BA780/781 LHR-ARN-LHR, G-ZBJA.

As ever, the usual caveat applies - the flights in question can be swapped to the regular 767s at any time and the regs are liable to change too.

[atakacs]

Is it possible to purchase tickets for those flights ?

[DaveReidUK]

Is it possible to purchase tickets for those flights ?Yes, of course, they are revenue flights after all.

Subject to there being space available, of course. As I understand it, seats will only be sold up to 767 capacity, in case it's necessary to substitute one at short notice.

And if that happens, and you've booked expecting a 787 or A380, that's too bad - you won't get a refund.

[The SSK]

According to a company notice I posted in another thread, the 787s are being sold up to capacity, the 380s only up to the capacity of the aircraft they replace

[LAS1997]

Why does BA not have a special A380 flight for the public / enthusiasts? Heathrow around the bay of Biscay (like Concorde used to do) and back to LHR? Its something that used to be done in years gone by (when BOAC first had the 747) it would be great publicity for the airline.

[Phileas Fogg]

around the bay of Biscay

The A380 ain't supersonic :ugh:

[SpringHeeledJack]

With due respect Mr Fogg, what difference would it make if the subsonic A380 flew around the Bay of Biscay ? Surely the point of an enthusiast/public flight would be to go for a roundtrip somewhere not too far from LHR and that would fit the bill.

[joy ride]

I think Concorde went to the BoB as it was a relatively close area where they could fly supersonic. With a sub-sonic plane they might have more options. I too think BA have missed a trick with 380 and 787.

[wiggy]

Why does BA not have a special A380 flight for the public

No insult or sleight intended to our spotter friends but I suspect there's probably little training value in doing a once around the bay with a group of "on-side" enthusiasts who simply want to sample the airframe.

BA want feedback from revenue travellers and they'll get this by operating a revenue service to an out-station with revenue travellers who are more concerned about the entire product (e.g. boarding/food/cabin service/baggage delivery at destination, etc, etc,) than the aircraft

Resources aren't limitless so IMHO it makes sense for BA to use the new airframes to cover an exisiting service rather than using an extra, precious LHR slot, limited gate space and ground support to operat an additional pleasure/PR flight.

[DaveReidUK]

rather than using an extra, precious LHR slotWell yes and no. There's normally plenty of spare capacity at LHR on Saturdays, with typically up to 10 BA non-scheduled/charter flights operating.

[wiggy]

There's normally plenty of spare capacity at LHR on Saturdays, with typically up to 10 BA non-scheduled/charter flights operating.

Ah, you live and learn, thanks..

That said you'd still find it hard to free up/source other resources for a "round the bay", especially at weekends...:E

[TCAS_Alert]

Why does BA not have a special A380 flight for the public / enthusiasts? Heathrow around the bay of Biscay (like Concorde used to do) and back to LHR? Its something that used to be done in years gone by (when BOAC first had the 747) it would be great publicity for the airline.


Quite simply, they learned from the AF issues. Why hype up, sell and market a flight to fly on a specific aircraft type only for an aircraft to go tech and generate loads of bad publicity. Far better to take the policy of 'expect nothing and if you get an A380 it's a pleasant surprise'.

[joy ride]

Good point, TCAS_Alert.

(But surely not every pleasure flight has to follow after a DC10!)

[TCU]

Flew 'EA the 910/903 combination last week (overnighting in Frankfurt). A380 both ways with only 77 pax on the outbound. Used AVIOS miles so just taxes paid.

Fantastic aircraft and very nice WT product, with cabins in small sections so as to break up the volume. Can't wait to take the BA A380 on the JNB run

[doublesix]

Are the BA A380/B787 aircraft likely to visit UK airports before starting their 'proper' roles? Read in Airliner World they would visit domestic airports and possible diversion airports. Is Manchester a diversion airport for the A380?

[edi_local]

The 787 has already done it's domestic airport tour earlier this month where it visited EDI and NCL.

No idea about the A380. I did see a picture of the BA A380 at LGW, but not sure if it had an official tour.

[VC10Conway]

Just flew the A380 on BA903 FRA - LHR. Great aircraft and will be a massive improvement on BA's ageing 744 fleet, once it starts long haul ops. Gotta say though, the decor is a bit uninspiring, generic and grey. Still, loads more room in the World Traveller cabins, very wide seats - even if there is an IFE box under the seat!

[caiman27]

There it goes, off to Los Angeles on BA 269. With hindsight, BA's failure to order the A380 much earlier has done it massive damage. Starting to replace tired old 744s when Singapore has already replaced its entire fleet is not exactly ground breaking or innovative.

Looking on the sunny side, SAA is about to get destroyed on the Johannesburg run. :D

[KelvinD]

Taking photos at LHR yesterday, I had the surprise of my life when this plane appeared over the fence. I knew it was flying regularly to Frankfurt and hadn't realised it was on its maiden run to LAX.
Photo here if you are interested:
Ship Photos, Container ships, tankers, cruise ships, bulkers, tugs etc (http://kelvindavies.co.uk/kelvin/details.php?image_id=11956)