ian001

I would have thought the layout of a 4 class BA aircraft is better suited for a charter full of journalists and other guests, so the PM and his aides have the F cabin to themselves to discuss business in private. The BA F seat is more amenable to working than the VS UCS.

Tony Blair in BA F was the image for the front cover of Alastair Campbell's book "The Blair Years". Link

Perhaps Gordon is not a fan of the 777?

crystal_cad

I understood that the seats at the back of the plane are sold to members of the media following the PM and his entourage and this claws back a lot of the charter costs. TV often showed pictures of Tony Blair being interviewed in the air and back in Y talking to newpaper reporters.

Nyghtwing

As long a BA still has the Queen, then they have The Kingdom.

Jumbodriver

At least it means that the management pilots monthly tests on the impact load of runways wont be televised so frequently

ajax

...and yet benefit fraud costs us £3 billion per annum. Good that we've got our priorities straight.

LTN Phobia

My sentiments exactly, although I wouldn't have blood on my hands, as I do not wish to be within 100 metres of that man. I'd like him to travel by the night bus that people talk about (I've never been on it, but it does sound dreadful).

crystal_cad

Let's remember it's the Office of the Prime Minister this applies to. There'll be a General Election soon

r22r44bell47

Exactly - people finding their own levels so to speak! I'm sure Mr Brown will feel quite at home in Chav Central. And for those who can tell the difference between a cheap veneer of glitz and the real thing, there remains BA.

BA-Flyer

In the case of Mr Brown, I think he deserves Ryan Air and nothing else.

Jumbodriver

Virgin Galactic is the most popular suggestion on the BA BALPA forum. One way.

LTN Phobia

I like that suggestion rather a lot.

EGW1

Despite all the cynicism, this is quite a blow for BA. I think it is quite hard to miss the fact that when the PM is on the news boarding or landing, his aircraft is usually a BA 747. I think the biggest twit in the PM's office is the person who agreed to VS...in all seriousness, it doesn't exactly give a great impression to the rest of the world if our PM gets off (excuse the pun) from a Virgin Atlantic aircraft with some crude slogan on it...like 'mine's bigger than yours'. What a shambles. I still advocate that the PM's office (and the Queen) should have bought a Concorde (compliments of the tax payer) and flown in style - that really would have been something special and a symbol to the world of British excellence. ^

Also...wasn't it Mr Brown who recently had a strop over the food served to him on BA? Hope he enjoys his half cooked steak pie and veg on VS.

Hopefully it won't be too long before BA are back to transport our PM (in F) with a touch of dignity and class.

Dave Noble

It seems quite appropriate to me that the PM , when travelling on business, travel in business class and also very appropriate that the contract be chosen based based on cost. If BA want to charge 20-30% more, then quite right to switch

Dave

HeathrowGuy

I'm surprised it took Labour this long to dump this prominent vestige of Britain's Tory days.

EGW1

Perhaps a little OT, but it's actually very difficult to get that close to the man these days. His protection officers have been sunstantially increased...many of which are now plain clothed armed officers forming a 'secondary' boundary