Programs: BA Gold, UA Premier, AF/KLM FlyingBlue Platinum
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Christmas Day flights
When did BA start / restart flying short haul on Christmas Day?
I remember thinking it odd that a few years ago there no flights (eg to FRA). Was this changed with the new MF contracts or did they just decide to presumably pay considerable "extra" time to existing crew?
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We have been operating a large short haul programme for many years, long before MF was set up.
We do not get any extra pay for working over the Christmas holidays other than twice the amount paid as a lunch allowance on Christmas Day.
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It's been happening for some years, to ZRH at least. For LON-ZRH, it's sometimes been a fairly late decision with no flights showing early in the season and a couple of flights added fairly late. LX consistently showed availability, so perhaps it was a competitive reaction.
When in LHR T1, the BA flights tended to be from gates the furthest distance from the lounge , presumably a BAA decision.
On board, there was no difference in service, at least in ET, though ISTR the crew wore Santa hats.
In the T1 lounge, there seemed to be more staff than passengers, and the crew were walking around proactively distributing mince pies from silver salvers.
Last time I flew on Christmas day was 2008 LHR-CPT (the same year T5 opened). It was eerie, the terminal almost empty. in Galleries First it was I and one more passenger.
Maybe this has changed since then? I will know for sure on Tuesday when I have a similar flight LHR-JNB
Looking at BA97 calendar, not many have flights planned.
I was meant to fly from Basel to Heathrow on Tuesday to catch BA 59 to CPT. There are no BSL-LHR flights at all on Xmas day. Neither BA not LX.
So I am flying from ZRH instead.
There are 5 LHR-ZRH flights operated by Swiss on the 25th vs. only one operated by BA if that can give a ratio.
Last edited by Bastien003; Dec 24, 12 at 12:01 am..
We have been operating a large short haul programme for many years, long before MF was set up.
We do not get any extra pay for working over the Christmas holidays other than twice the amount paid as a lunch allowance on Christmas Day.
Yeah that was pretty obvious when we flew CW to Buenos Aires on Christmas day last year... the most miserable, grumpy and disinterested crew we've ever come across, in our entire flying career.
However, Galleries First is fantastic on Christmas day.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Petrus
Yeah that was pretty obvious when we flew CW to Buenos Aires on Christmas day last year... the most miserable, grumpy and disinterested crew we've ever come across, in our entire flying career.
That's a shame. I recall the one flight I took on Christmas day (VS to Havana) and the crew were great - they were well in the Christmas spirit - and the flight was full. I'm sure it wasn't just because they were VS crew either .
I also recall the airport experience that day. Dismal. Despite many flights operating, most shops were closed airside. You'd think they'd have to open as part of their contract to operate in a place that's open every day of the year.
, presumably a BAA decision.
