British Airways

[AlterEgo]

Intriguing. Add this into the mix with Edinburgh possibly getting US preclearance and with JetBlue's new EDI-JFK service..could eventually be a game-changer for those of us North of the Wall.

They won’t codeshare across the Atlantic. JetBlue aren’t part of the Joint Venture.

 

[nlogax]

They won’t codeshare across the Atlantic. JetBlue aren’t part of the Joint Venture.

Indeed, though it was more about consideration of joining TrueBlue. Use soft landing back down the EC tiers from Gold over the next couple of years and also take the opportunity to avoid AA for US domestic legs. JetBlue might make for a nice change in the long run.

 

[WestCoast]

A slight side note but relevant to the above and to BA - it does seem slightly strange there will now be 3 New York routes from EDI but the GLA has yet to resume. Since the pricing and timings of the BA hub connections to New York via London from GLA are increasing uncompetitive - albeit that GLA is quieter than EDI, it does seem a GLA-NYC route is a wide open goal waiting for someone to score.

Aer Lingus via Dublin is a better option if you ask me, using the transit time in Dublin to go through the US pre clearance there and arriving as a domestic passenger into NYC.

There‘s also Icelandair via Reykjavik.

 

[Iskra]

Aer Lingus via Dublin is a better option if you ask me, using the transit time in Dublin to go through the US pre clearance there and arriving as a domestic passenger into NYC.

There‘s also Icelandair via Reykjavik.

Or train to Manchester and Aer Lingus direct to JFK from there. Landing at JFK on a small aircraft is advantageous in terms of immigration times, I found. My flight with Aer Lingus was only £350. Virgin wanted £1400 and the flight times are basically the same.

 

[jfollows]

Fellow International Airlines Group Carrier Aer Lingus flies from Manchester to New York JFK using an A330 however.

For sure, but not in 2008; IAG acquired Aer Lingus in 2015.

 

[Iskra]

Can anyone elaborate on what a Business/Club Europe short haul meal consists of please with BA? These flights are around 5pm and 7.30pm respectively.

 

[Mojo]

Can anyone elaborate on what a Business/Club Europe short haul meal consists of please with BA? These flights are around 5pm and 7.30pm respectively.

What route? Different lengths of route offers a different type of service.

 

[Mag_seven]

Can anyone elaborate on what a Business/Club Europe short haul meal consists of please with BA? These flights are around 5pm and 7.30pm respectively.

It varies by day. Last night for example I was offered Tai Prawn Curry on a flight from LHR at about 18.00.

 

[Iskra]

What route?

This is Belfast-London Heathrow and London Heathrow-Manchester.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2024 ==

It varies by day. Last night for example I was offered Tai Prawn Curry on a flight from LHR at about 18.00.

Thank you, that sounds better than I expected

 

[Mojo]

This is Belfast-London Heathrow and London Heathrow-Manchester.

On these routes you will get a cold salad, bread roll and dessert.

 

[Iskra]

On these routes you will get a cold salad, bread roll and dessert.

Thanks, can't complain too much for the price paid and luggage allowance. My first time flying anything other than economy, I appreciate I am merely 'dipping a toe' in the ocean here though

 

[Mojo]

Thanks, can't complain too much for the price paid and luggage allowance. My first time flying anything other than economy, I appreciate I am merely 'dipping a toe' in the ocean here though

It’s a view I’ve heard quite commonly that the short haul business class service on BA is better than their long haul routes. I think it’s down to the service being more intimate due to the smaller cabins plus normally being led by the in flight manager or whatever they’re called now.

 

[Iskra]

It’s a view I’ve heard quite commonly that the short haul business class service on BA is better than their long haul routes. I think it’s down to the service being more intimate due to the smaller cabins plus normally being led by the in flight manager or whatever they’re called now.

Interesting

- - -

I’m booked through from Belfast to Manchester with 1 hour transfer time at Heathrow, presumably this is ample time or they wouldn’t offer it, but if I were to miss my connecting flight what would be the outcome?

 

[yorkie]

If you are after food, then (depending on your origin airport) the lounge is your best bet; the on board meals are very small and the choice is limited.

I’m booked through from Belfast to Manchester with 1 hour transfer time at Heathrow, presumably this is ample time or they wouldn’t offer it, but if I were to miss my connecting flight what would be the outcome?

You'd be put on the next available flight. In this case, that will probably include time to visit the lounge before the onward flight.

 

[Iskra]

If you are after food, then (depending on your origin airport) the lounge is your best bet; the on board meals are very small and the choice is limited.

You'd be put on the next available flight. In this case, that will probably include time to visit the lounge before the onward flight.

Thanks! Yes, that would be a nice silver lining in the event of missing my connection.

 

[Mojo]

I’m booked through from Belfast to Manchester with 1 hour transfer time at Heathrow, presumably this is ample time or they wouldn’t offer it, but if I were to miss my connecting flight what would be the outcome?

It’s worth pointing out that your connection is the bare minimum allowed at T5. Since January, BA increased the minimum connection time for any flights involving from an international leg within T5 to 75 min, although domestic to domestic such as yours was left unchanged.

In my experience it’s very tight, but only as it’s extremely rare I’m on a BA flight that’s ever on time. In your favour will be the fact you’ll be near the front of the plane and thus one of the first ones off, and also the fact there’s no security arriving domestically.

 

[Butts]

Interesting

- - -

I’m booked through from Belfast to Manchester with 1 hour transfer time at Heathrow, presumably this is ample time or they wouldn’t offer it, but if I were to miss my connecting flight what would be the outcome?

That's a strange routing - are you on Tier Points run or something ?

As others have alluded to the inflight catering is not up to much - most Lounges have a much better selection.

However booze is virtually on demand so you'll be okay if you like a tipple.

Unless you are in row 1 the legroom is the same as economy the main difference being there will be no "piggy in the middle" as the seat is blocked.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2024 ==

It’s worth pointing out that your connection is the bare minimum allowed at T5. Since January, BA increased the minimum connection time for any flights involving from an international leg within T5 to 75 min, although domestic to domestic such as yours was left unchanged.

In my experience it’s very tight, but only as it’s extremely rare I’m on a BA flight that’s ever on time. In your favour will be the fact you’ll be near the front of the plane and thus one of the first ones off, and also the fact there’s no security arriving domestically.

I've got a 60 minute connection time next week arriving from Berlin and transferring to an Edinburgh flight.

Looking forward to a night in the Sofitel !!

 

[Iskra]

That's a strange routing - are you on Tier Points run or something ?

As others have alluded to the inflight catering is not up to much - most Lounges have a much better selection.

However booze is virtually on demand so you'll be okay if you like a tipple.

Unless you are in row 1 the legroom is the same as economy the main difference being there will be no "piggy in the middle" as the seat is blocked.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2024 ==



I've got a 60 minute connection time next week arriving from Berlin and transferring to an Edinburgh flight.

Looking forward to a night in the Sofitel !!

No, I needed to fly Belfast-Manchester and was rummaging through Skyscanner. Ideally, I just wanted to do something different to Easyjet/Ryanair for a change. Aer Lingus was about £100 I think, but I spotted that weird BA route for £200 in business, which to tick the box of flying ‘business’ for the first time, I didn’t think was bad value and two flights makes it even better value. It’s a leisure journey so the journey length doesn’t matter to me.

Thanks for all the information!

 

[Butts]

No, I needed to fly Belfast-Manchester and was rummaging through Skyscanner. Ideally, I just wanted to do something different to Easyjet/Ryanair for a change. Aer Lingus was about £100 I think, but I spotted that weird BA route for £200 in business, which to tick the box of flying ‘business’ for the first time, I didn’t think was bad value and two flights makes it even better value. It’s a leisure journey so the journey length doesn’t matter to me.

Thanks for all the information!

If you go onto the BA section of Flyer Talk Forums there's a whole cornucopia of information about meals, transfers and endless other aspects of CE travel that may be of use to you.

 

[DustyBin]

It’s worth pointing out that your connection is the bare minimum allowed at T5. Since January, BA increased the minimum connection time for any flights involving from an international leg within T5 to 75 min, although domestic to domestic such as yours was left unchanged.

In my experience it’s very tight, but only as it’s extremely rare I’m on a BA flight that’s ever on time. In your favour will be the fact you’ll be near the front of the plane and thus one of the first ones off, and also the fact there’s no security arriving domestically.

You’ve got to love T5 (not)!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

If you go onto the BA section of Flyer Talk Forums there's a whole cornucopia of information about meals, transfers and endless other aspects of CE travel that may be of use to you.

Excellent advice. I have been a member of Flyer Talk for well over a decade. A great resource.

 

[YorkRailFan]

BA will half its Heathrow-Hong Kong flights from October:

British Airways will halve its service between London and Hong Kong to one flight a day from October due to rising cost for fuel and manpower caused by Russian airspace restrictions. A spokeswoman for the carrier told the Post on Friday the company would “temporarily” cut by half its Hong Kong service from October 27. Some industry leaders said fewer flights meant the potential of higher fares from rival Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways. At present, the British airline runs two daily flights between Heathrow airport in London and Hong Kong, while Cathay operates five return-flights. Generally, British Airways flights are cheaper than the Cathay ones.We regularly review our global schedule and we have decided to temporarily reduce our Hong Kong service to one flight a day, from 27 October 2024,” she said. “We are contacting any affected customers so they can rebook on to our other flight or have a full refund.”The spokeswoman cited rising operation costs due to a longer journey caused by the Russian airspace restrictions.Like other UK carriers, we are not able to use Russian airspace which means our flight time is considerably longer, this also adds cost through fuel and staffing,” she said. “This is a temporary measure during our winter service 2024 and summer service 2025 … We will keep this under review.” The service adjustment comes after the UK airline rolled out plans in March to re-establish its presence in Asian markets such as Hong Kong, mainland China and Japan in the coming years.

British Airways to cut London-Hong Kong flight to 1 a day due to rising cost

A spokeswoman says the carrier will ‘temporarily’ reduce its Hong Kong service of two daily flights by half from October 27.

www.scmp.com

BA and Cathay Pacific are both members of the Oneworld Alliance meaning BA can just rebook affected passengers onto Cathay Pacific.

This is yet another UK carrier retreating from Hong Kong after Virgin Atlantic completely abandoned Hong Kong a few years ago.

 

[Crithylum]

Just did a return trip on a BA A380 from Heathrow to Dulles. The aircraft felt very dated (maybe because I am comparing it to a 787?). On the outbound flight, the touchscreen on the Thales infotainment system wasn't working, so I had the use the remote thingy, and on the return, the lag made it almost unusable. Also seeing crew members having to lean over sleeping children to close the windows ahead of the imminent sunrise made me feel that a 787 is a much more modern plane. Heathrow T5 was good, only a short security queue, and no immigration queue on the way back. Also having the lift go straight from the platform to the departure terminal was nice.

 

[najaB]

Also seeing crew members having to lean over sleeping children to close the windows ahead of the imminent sunrise made me feel that a 787 is a much more modern plane.

In other news, water is wet.

The A380 is half a decade older than the 787.

That said, the electrically dimmable windows have (or at least had) a higher failure rate than a simple blind, and used to cause annoyance to passengers when crew locked-out the local controls. I think most airlines have stopped doing that now.

 

[John R]

In other news, water is wet.

The A380 is half a decade older than the 787.

That said, the electrically dimmable windows have (or at least had) a higher failure rate than a simple blind, and used to cause annoyance to passengers when crew locked-out the local controls. I think most airlines have stopped doing that now.

Personally I think the override is a good thing, as just one person having their window blind open when the cabin is in “sleep mode” can be a real annoyance.

 

[Bald Rick]

BA will half its Heathrow-Hong Kong flights from October:

British Airways to cut London-Hong Kong flight to 1 a day due to rising cost

A spokeswoman says the carrier will ‘temporarily’ reduce its Hong Kong service of two daily flights by half from October 27.

www.scmp.com

BA and Cathay Pacific are both members of the Oneworld Alliance meaning BA can just rebook affected passengers onto Cathay Pacific.

This is yet another UK carrier retreating from Hong Kong after Virgin Atlantic completely abandoned Hong Kong a few years ago.

BA don't help themselves on the HKG route - the two services are an hour and a half apart on the way out, and 15 minutes apart on the way back. So this decision doesn't really affect passenger choice.

 

[Butts]

BAdont help themselves on the HKG route - the two services are an hour and a half spearste on the wayout, and 15 minutes apart on the way back. So this decision doesnt really affect passenger choice.

At least they have lasted longer than Virgin who pulled out wholesale not that long ago

 

[najaB]

BA don't help themselves on the HKG route - the two services are an hour and a half apart on the way out, and 15 minutes apart on the way back. So this decision doesn't really affect passenger choice.

Realistically, they'd have to be at least six to eight hours apart to represent two different options, and that means an inconvenient time at one end or an ungodly time at the other.

 

[Tetchytyke]

BA don't help themselves on the HKG route - the two services are an hour and a half apart on the way out, and 15 minutes apart on the way back. So this decision doesn't really affect passenger choice.

The two flights were together because demand was high enough for two flights at those times, and not at other times for the reasons @najaB gives.

It doesn’t affect passenger choice because, following the National Security Law, that demand has fallen off a cliff. The West has moved to Singapore.

 

[Bald Rick]

At least they have lasted longer than Virgin who pulled out wholesale not that long ago

Yes I know all about that.

The two flights were together because demand was high enough for two flights at those times, and not at other times for the reasons @najaB gives.

Fair enough, I was surprised they didnt combine them sooner with an A380.

It doesn’t affect passenger choice because, following the National Security Law, that demand has fallen off a cliff. The West has moved to Singapore.

Cathay are doing alright though!