British Airways

[yorkguy]

Just tried to book JFK flights for October but the schedules are so prohibitive. I prefer to support LBA where I can, but BA timings/prices can’t compete with the direct Virgin flights from the airport across the hills. Aer Lingus was a possibility but they don’t do premium economy which I prefer. Disappointed not to be using BA from LBA this time around

 

[KARFA]

Follows from the previous discussion on passenger numbers here after the April figures http://www.forums4airports.com/threads/78/page-55#post-142903

Looks like if nothing else the cut in rotations has increased the loads. April was the first full month after the cuts, and May's figures are now out on the CAA site. I have assumed 5 rows of Club Europe which brings the 143 seat A319 down to 133 seats per flight.

April - 8,143 passengers - 84 flights - 73% load
May - 8,165 passengers - 78 flights - 79% load

I appreciate yield is really the important metric, but obviously there is no way to know that as it is commercially sensitive.

April's figure of 73% matched the previous highs in September 2017 and September 2016. May's figure of 79% is a new high by quite a bit. Typically the summer is the peak period and September is usually the highest month, so it certainly looks promising and hopefully the figures will continue to improve further.

 

[AirBingley]

Follows from the previous discussion on passenger numbers here after the April figures http://www.forums4airports.com/threads/78/page-55#post-142903

Looks like if nothing else the cut in rotations has increased the loads. April was the first full month after the cuts, and May's figures are now out on the CAA site. I have assumed 5 rows of Club Europe which brings the 143 seat A319 down to 133 seats per flight.

April - 8,143 passengers - 84 flights - 73% load
May - 8,165 passengers - 78 flights - 79% load

I appreciate yield is really the important metric, but obviously there is no way to know that as it is commercially sensitive.

April's figure of 73% matched the previous highs in September 2017 and September 2016. May's figure of 79% is a new high by quite a bit. Typically the summer is the peak period and September is usually the highest month, so it certainly looks promising and hopefully the figures will continue to improve further.

I'm booked on next Tuesday's flight and they have cut the club cabin from 6 to 5 rows (and reallocated my seat!!!) and its showing only one seat left to allocate in Club so will report back!

 

[KARFA]

I'm booked on next Tuesday's flight and they have cut the club cabin from 6 to 5 rows (and reallocated my seat!!!) and its showing only one seat left to allocate in Club so will report back!

The curtain can move quite a bit sometimes - it just depends on demand. It can be as few as 2 rows I think but I have rarely seen that. At the other extreme it can go all the way to row 9/10. I wouldn’t be surprised if it moves again before next Tuesday.

Enjoy your flight

 

[AirBingley]

The curtain can move quite a bit sometimes - it just depends on demand. It can be as few as 2 rows I think but I have rarely seen that. At the other extreme it can go all the way to row 9/10. I wouldn’t be surprised if it moves again before next Tuesday.

Enjoy your flight

Thank you - we wanted 4 seats in a row and paid for the privilege - BA promptly refunded now we're split up!!!!!!

 

[AirBingley]

This mornings LHR flight had 110 on it. Boarded early to avoid fly past ATC restrictions and on ground 30 minutes early at LHR. There must be a problem with the air bridge at gate 4 as the aircraft stopped short of it and we used gate 5. All in all very smooth experience with BA.

 

[dmrodgers]

Justed booked to go to HKG and had to fly from MAN as now BA stopped the afternoon LHR flight it meant I had a 6 hour wait at Heathrow....bonkers so chose Cathay direct.

Had the same issue ourselves visiting family in Dubai. 5 hour 52 minute wait in Heathrow so like yourself ended up using Emirates out of Manchester. Just wonder how many long haul passengers BA are losing as a result.

 

[Seasider]

Don't get too excited, I flew AKL-HKG in premium economy and didn't rate it at all. I would have been better booking Economy with extra leg room and save myself a few quid. That was November 2016.

 

[Finger66]

I am not going to go over the old ground of "we all know how much more potential the LBA LHR route has". What I will say is that GDS is suggesting some good loads in the next few days inc this weekend. So at least what is operating is probably being supported quite well. Mrs Finger and I are doing our bit for the route Xmas and new year. Also about half a dozen or so from work did a weekend return (Fri to sun) in mid June. So all traffic is not connecting, albeit the vast majority will be. All the above still does not remove the current slot issue at LHR and if more money is to be made on other routes - long haul mainly, then that will happen. Having had Minor schedule chAnges for Xmas and new year the route looks like it is staying for the coming winter. But who knows beyond March next year

 

[leedslad]

Used to connect at Heathrow for business flights quite a bit when there were 3 daily flights from LBA. Not used them once since reduced to 1 daily as almost always useless. All business going to KLM or Manc direct now.

 

[KARFA]

Is it only 1 a day now I thought it was 2.....what use is one flight a day?

Two rotations on Monday, Thursday, and Friday. One morning rotation on all other dates.

Previously it was three rotations every day apart from Saturday which was two. So since a
April the service frequency was reduced by half.

 

[Silvercity]

Two rotations on Monday, Thursday, and Friday. One morning rotation on all other dates.

Previously it was three rotations every day apart from Saturday which was two. So since a
April the service frequency was reduced by half.

Classic way for airlines, bus companies and railways to say there's no demand. Reduce service, and what's the result .....even less demand ! Might as well stop it all together. It's what BR did to many branchlines in the 60s.

 

[Finger66]

Classic way for airlines, bus companies and railways to say there's no demand. Reduce service, and what's the result .....even less demand ! Might as well stop it all together. It's what BR did to many branchlines in the 60s.

If they do cut it altogether it could be referred to as the "BAeeching Report". So the less said on that the better.........

 

[Silvercity]

If they do cut it altogether it could be referred to as the "BAeeching Report". So the less said on that the better.........

indeed !!!

 

[KARFA]

Classic way for airlines, bus companies and railways to say there's no demand. Reduce service, and what's the result .....even less demand ! Might as well stop it all together. It's what BR did to many branchlines in the 60s.

The passenger numbers have gone down as you would expect, but the loads are up - I posted some estimated figures upthread. In fact we have seen some new monthly load highs since the reduction. However I would agree with the other comments that it really is a much poorer frequency now and harder to work with as a passenger.

 

[Finger66]

So Virgin East Coast were s@@t. Now experiencing LNER on a regular basis who I can honestly say are not as good as s@@t. So BA, do I really need to say any more.........

 

[Tarn Spotter]

So Virgin East Coast were s@@t. Now experiencing LNER on a regular basis who I can honestly say are not as good as s@@t. So BA, do I really need to say any more.........

Interesting media comments on the new government run LNER line this week end.
We seem to be back to the 60's and the poor old BR sandwich. No hot food now on the east coast main line, no hot drinks in mugs only plastic cups.
Equipment on board but cant be used by staff as they say untrained.
Yet at motorway service station I now get my hot drink in a mug as they try to remove plastic cups that cant be recycled.

 

[dmrodgers]

Interesting media comments on the new government run LNER line this week end.
We seem to be back to the 60's and the poor old BR sandwich. No hot food now on the east coast main line, no hot drinks in mugs only plastic cups.
Equipment on board but cant be used by staff as they say untrained.
Yet at motorway service station I now get my hot drink in a mug as they try to remove plastic cups that cant be recycled.

Seems strange as the Virgin Staff transferred over to LNER so should be no issues with equipment as they will have prior training. Perhaps they just chose the wrong train to travel on when the media reported the issues. Just returned from KingsX and hot food was available on my service to Leeds, not a great choice but at least there was availability.

https://www.lner.co.uk/the-east-coast-experience/the-east-coast-standard/catering/foodbar/

 

[Bigman]

Better still get Thameslink to run through trains to Leeds which would give us a direct service to Gatwick...oh hang on....that lot are in an even bigger mess than LNER!!

 

[dmrodgers]

Better still get Thameslink to run through trains to Leeds which would give us a direct service to Gatwick...oh hang on....that lot are in an even bigger mess than LNER!!

We could have Bigman a joint Thameslink/Northern Rail service, that would ensure our Heathrow link remains for a little longer.