Bye bye BA, so long.....
 

Once upon a time, there was a nice airline named GB Airways, who operated BA franchise flights around the Med. They did it very well, with nice modern A32x aircraft and some of us used them quite a bit.

Two years ago, their franchise was not renewed and the company was acquired by easyJet.

BA then decided to operate services to Malta themselves, using clapped out old 737s that look absolutely knackered inside (even though they are no doubt maintained to high standards.)

Surprise, surprise, the Malta flights have now been withdrawn from 25 October.

I believe that I am correct in saying this will be the first time that BEA/BA have not operated a service to this former country that is still close to the UK, since independence in 1964.

Although I won't miss the 'thigh grabbers' (anyone who has travelled in the 'D' seats in Club Europe will know what I mean), I do regret that we lost the excellent service that GB used to provide.

So there goes my silver card now and its highly unlikely that I will bother to fly BA at all in the future.

If the route was viable for GB - which it presumably was, then maybe EZY will operate it from Gatwick. A bit of a hike to LEMG, if not.

Know what you mean about the clapped out 737's even if they are well maintained.

BA have run out of dosh and now they are running out of passengers - It's a real shame.

GB was fantastic, I loved flying to Gib and Murcia as a child with them, such fun

Not so keen on BA but thats another story

Don't forget that EZY have picked up the ex-GB route!

They've been flying LGW to Malta ever since the takeover, up to twice a day.

More like a bit of a swim from LEMG to LMML:}

Same story for Tunis. Lovely clean A320's now clapped out B737's, torn seats, filthy carpets and an airfare that is shocking!

This is true and I like easy on short sectors, its a good company, with a good product.

But on the 3 hour haul to/from London, I need extra space to work, thus business class in a full service airline is required.

I estimate I did about 100 hours (12.5 working days) work on aircraft last year and that increases the time I can bill and this more than covers the extra costs.

Just on the "missing GB " theme - I miss them as well (out of Gibraltar) more than I thought I would.

The 320's were always clean and the CC friendly and efficient.

Grateful for Easy Jets efforts - but big sigh (again)...


Nivsy

If GB Airways were that good, why did they effectively go bust and end up being bought out by EasyJet?
My experience of them, over a considerable time, was perpetual delays, huge overbookings due to reservation errors at their end. A lot of their tickets were very cheap Teletickets, presumably giving them financial problems. Rumour had it that they were actually finding it difficult paying for fuel, although I do not know how true that was.

Malone

I'd appreciate it if you would stay on topic and not drift the thread.

So anyone waxing lyrical about the now defunct GB is staying on thread, yet some one who dares to question why they are no longer, is drifting off thread? How does that work then?

Jsl

P.S. I have to say, I'm disappointed that it seems we'll never get to have that front galley debate, Final 3 Greens...;)

JSL

"Once upon a time, there was a nice airline named GB Airways, who operated BA franchise flights around the Med."

GB was our BA service and that BA service was provided very well indeed. We miss it.

The thread is not about whether GB Airways was going brankrupt, had useless reservations systems or had difficulties paying for fuel.

This thread is about the withdrawal of BA services and the people waxing lyrical about GB are in fact waxing lyrical about the BA franchises operated by GB.

Nope. Sorry, still don't get it.

The thread is about the withdrawal of BA services. Got that bit. And some are waxing lyrical about GB, which, by the way, I'm perfectly aware was a BA franchise. Understand that bit too. But no one is allowed to point out any possible faults/problems that they may have experienced with the aforementioned BA franchise. Why? What makes Malones comments
any less valid than other posters, just because they are not totally pro-GB?

Maybe it would be quicker to just rename the thread, "BA Have Gone - The GB Superfan Thread".

Jsl

Malone posted with this opening line.

This thread is not about the reasons why GB were acquired by U2.

If you can't see the thread drift, then so be it.

Anyway, I not a moderator, so all I did was ask Malone politely not to drift the thread.

Fair enough, Final 3 Greens. It's your thread.

Jsl

Blimey, Don't you two have nothing else better to do ?

If we're going to compare opening lines, the OP's included:
We can assume all was going nicely for F3G until Malone made a valid counterpoint, supported by personal experiences. But as we've seen from other recent threads, the OP isn't the stoutest of debaters when his/her assertions come under legitimate scrutiny, evidenced by his/her dismissal of JSL's contributions.

Too bad (ahem) it isn't actually F3G's personal thread - no more so than it'd be his/her conversation if they brought it up over dinner. Good hosts promote discussion and embrace diversity of opinion. Inferior hosts tend to force their opinions upon their guests, to the detriment of dialogue and enjoyment. My exit music, please...

If you are going to quote me Crepello, please don't change the context by selective editing.

This thread is about the loss of British Airways flights, not about the financial health of the franchisee.

Perhaps you don't realise, as you appear to be based in the US, but GB Airways operated as a British Airways franchise and delivered the BA product, so the comments here are praising the franchisee for delivering a British Airways product excellently.

If Malone had commented only about the alleged delays and reservations problems he allegedly encountered, that would have been well within the scope of the thread topic and would have been an interesting counterpoint to the upbeat comments.

But Malone chose to open and close with allegations of financial trouble at GB Airways and to take the thread in a different direction.

I asked him politely not to; he can start his own thread on this subject, if he wishes to.

What's your beef?

Greggx101

You asked "Blimey, Don't you two have nothing else better to do ?"

For your information, although we often disagree on the forum, I hold Jetset lady in very high regard and have a lot of respect for her integrity.

When she challenged me, it was on a matter of principle, so I responded to explain.

There is an old saying that 'the sign of someone's intelligence is how much they agree with you.'

Jetset Lady doesn't often agree with me, but she does disprove the adage above.

Ah well, Final 3 Posts ;), other posters attempted to enrich this discourse but apparently failed to follow your script. Incidentally, I did quote you selectively, but did not edit your prose - a minor quibble, but an important distinction.

Anyways, I think we've a good feel for the constraints you choose to impose on this discussion so I'll let you close with the last words - new ones on me, but quite revealing of your psyche!

:eek: