BA has money to burn! (The LGW 'bridge')
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Bumblebee, BA do occupy the North Terminal but are only responsible for 27% of all movements this Summer season. As far as seats are concerned they only have a 25% share.
The 747 used had nothing to do with clearances, it was pure publicity. Taxied under the bridge twice under its own power for external photographs and was then attached to a tug so photographers could get cockpit shots.
The speculative cost of the BA flight LHR-LGW-LHR is £5,500, hardly a dent on their income...
A380 wont fit under the bridge, neither in fact will the 747SP. Perhaps a little short sighted but to be honest theres hardly any SP's left and the A380 can take different routes around LGW to avoid the bridge anyway.
EAL there was no way 30 feet clearance between the 747's tail and the bridge yesterday. You must be thinking about the height of the bridge's roof...
The 747 used had nothing to do with clearances, it was pure publicity. Taxied under the bridge twice under its own power for external photographs and was then attached to a tug so photographers could get cockpit shots.
The speculative cost of the BA flight LHR-LGW-LHR is £5,500, hardly a dent on their income...
A380 wont fit under the bridge, neither in fact will the 747SP. Perhaps a little short sighted but to be honest theres hardly any SP's left and the A380 can take different routes around LGW to avoid the bridge anyway.
EAL there was no way 30 feet clearance between the 747's tail and the bridge yesterday. You must be thinking about the height of the bridge's roof...
Join Date: Aug 2001
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For those of us that didn't know what this was all about, here are some pretty pictures from BAA's website:
http://www.baa.com/main/airports/gat...r_6_frame.html
Regardless of your views of BA's motives, it's an impressive piece of engineering.
http://www.baa.com/main/airports/gat...r_6_frame.html
Regardless of your views of BA's motives, it's an impressive piece of engineering.
Thanks for the link - lots of interesting EasyJet prices being advertised. Oh - and a non-story about ba taxiing a 747. Big deal.
And yes - sorry, chaps, chapesses and chapthings of ba, no matter how good a job you do, the airline management's dirty tricksters have irrevocably tarnished the airline's reputation in the eyes of many people. Of the 90 flights I've had in the last 12 months, 1 was with Air France, 89 with Lufthansa. None with ba......and that's the way it'll stay.
And yes - sorry, chaps, chapesses and chapthings of ba, no matter how good a job you do, the airline management's dirty tricksters have irrevocably tarnished the airline's reputation in the eyes of many people. Of the 90 flights I've had in the last 12 months, 1 was with Air France, 89 with Lufthansa. None with ba......and that's the way it'll stay.
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Sorry Beagle
After agreeing with a lot you say, I did not have you down as being so narrow minded. It surprises me that a person with your great experience is not prepared to re-asses present conditions,and evaluate such. This incident happened a decade ago. Is is that age makes time pass quicker
Regards
Wide
After agreeing with a lot you say, I did not have you down as being so narrow minded. It surprises me that a person with your great experience is not prepared to re-asses present conditions,and evaluate such. This incident happened a decade ago. Is is that age makes time pass quicker
Regards
Wide
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I'm sure it was used constructively in the process by being used as a check flight etc.......
Airlines position aircraft all the time - are you going to name every single positioning flight every uk airline does every week?
At least BA's originating points are fixed.
And perhaps its a refreshing change to see BA doing a bit of PR, and still proving it has some commitment to LGW
Rather see a bit of tasteful pr for a change rather than the 'jumper' bouncing up down with some tasteless tat.
I've heard strong rumours that 4+ 747-400s are coming back to LGW later this year too, maybe there is more to it.
Oh, and BEagle , good for you - must be so convenient for you
Airlines position aircraft all the time - are you going to name every single positioning flight every uk airline does every week?
At least BA's originating points are fixed.
And perhaps its a refreshing change to see BA doing a bit of PR, and still proving it has some commitment to LGW
Rather see a bit of tasteful pr for a change rather than the 'jumper' bouncing up down with some tasteless tat.
I've heard strong rumours that 4+ 747-400s are coming back to LGW later this year too, maybe there is more to it.
Oh, and BEagle , good for you - must be so convenient for you
They won't miss your business, now move on and drop the grudge!! 
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Hmmmm....Beagle I'm surprised you don't condemn Lufthansa for once flying the swastika on their tails in the same way as you continue to condemn BA for 'dirty tricks'.......
Join Date: Oct 2002
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BBC's links here if you wanna see it:BA's "Stunt"
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We parked on one of the remote stands, soon to be part of the new extension, just before the 747 taxied under..have to say as a BA employee, I was very impressed and made me proud to work for the company...the main reason, apart from the publicity it generated, was that the company actually put some thought behind the 'actual' aircraft that went under. As the 747 concerned was the one that has been painted up in the UNICEF "Change for Good" colours, which is where any on board donations go to.
This aircraft has recently been painted up, and will be flying around the world, carrying not just our customers. But also promoting the good work of UNICEF and "Change for Good". and in doing so, raising even more money than the £17,000,000.00 already generated over the past 10 years.
And yes you are right. it didn't cost nearly as much as people may think, to fly it to LGW and back.
This aircraft has recently been painted up, and will be flying around the world, carrying not just our customers. But also promoting the good work of UNICEF and "Change for Good". and in doing so, raising even more money than the £17,000,000.00 already generated over the past 10 years.
And yes you are right. it didn't cost nearly as much as people may think, to fly it to LGW and back.
Join Date: Sep 2001
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If the total cost to BA was under £20k then it was money well spent. To "buy" that much publicity would costs at least 10 times that amount. To give an example: I have recently placed a number of adverts in the weekend press (broadsheets) at a cost of £20,000 per week. They are not very large and will get about 1% of the coverage that BA received.
Join Date: Oct 2003
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oh dear Beagle, you really do need to let go. For "dirty tricks" read "normal commercial activity" - I didn’t hear Branson crow when all he ended up with was £256k in damages especially when he had to pay BA's costs of £500k. BA was a convenient target like so many others in his quest for publicity.
Just out of interest, given Branson's championing of the consumer and his "disgust" of anti-competitive behaviour, what is his position on open skies? Its odd that the only areas of his empire where Branson makes money is where he is gifted a monopoly or government grants (trains).
Just out of interest, given Branson's championing of the consumer and his "disgust" of anti-competitive behaviour, what is his position on open skies? Its odd that the only areas of his empire where Branson makes money is where he is gifted a monopoly or government grants (trains).
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If you want dirty tricks try reading bransons autobiography.
Dirty tricks is also taking joe public for a ride or not with his lousy second rate train service,and yes i have tried it.
Well done BA !
Dirty tricks is also taking joe public for a ride or not with his lousy second rate train service,and yes i have tried it.
Well done BA !
Join Date: May 2004
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Are we really meant to believe that a bridge was built at an airport and then a 747 was taxied under it "to see if it would fit"????
This is almost too stupid to even argue about.
BA - If you're gonna pull an attention seeking stunt then call it an attention seeking stunt.
BEagle - I've flown 'hansa and they were faultless :-)
This is almost too stupid to even argue about.
BA - If you're gonna pull an attention seeking stunt then call it an attention seeking stunt.
BEagle - I've flown 'hansa and they were faultless :-)
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If anyone bothered to read my post I mentioned that it only cost £5.5k to position the 744 down and back.
Its a mountain out of a molehill.
The BAA apparently paid for the cost anyway.
Check the facts then complain about them...
Its a mountain out of a molehill.
The BAA apparently paid for the cost anyway.
Check the facts then complain about them...
Registered User
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Hell and that! Does it matter why and where? For once BA are grabbing some positive headline news. When the "bearded wonder" does it noone raises an eyebrow. Bravo BA!
Mistrust in Management
The BAA apparently paid for the cost anyway
If it cost BA £5500 to 'pull an attention seeking stunt' then I would say it was money very well spent as it seems to have got everybodys attention.
I am surprised that RB managed to let this one slip, particularly as he has a number of his A/C parked conveniently close by.
Regards
Exeng
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hi
Soz if this isn't ok for you lot but stuff the facts, stuff the publicity, stuff if you've found Lufthansa flawless!
No matter what airline you work for, if an extra terminal, be it a sat is need it LGW, surly this points to a positive growth in aviation and more security in our jobs!
Anyone willing to comment, shoot me down! In this day and age in aviation, we're in it together!
kempus
Soz if this isn't ok for you lot but stuff the facts, stuff the publicity, stuff if you've found Lufthansa flawless!
No matter what airline you work for, if an extra terminal, be it a sat is need it LGW, surly this points to a positive growth in aviation and more security in our jobs!
Anyone willing to comment, shoot me down! In this day and age in aviation, we're in it together!
kempus
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I can't believe that an aircraft going under a bridge that was designed for aircraft to go under is causing such a big debate. 
However, as BA managed to create some positive PR out of such a non event, well done to them and the marketing department.
However, as BA managed to create some positive PR out of such a non event, well done to them and the marketing department.