BA Flights (LHR-Munich-Salzburg)?
 

I booked some flights last night for a trip to Salzburg at the end of April. Didn't want to fly by Ryan Air from Stansted and most of the indirect flights (Lufthansa, Austrian Air etc) were pretty expensive. I actually saw a reasonable priced flight flight on Opodo, with British Airways, for just under £160 (sports trip - don't like to spend much on those...). I checked the terms and conditions (knew that the Munich-Salzburg flight would be a codeshare anyway - since BA didn't fly to Salzburg) and booked it there and then.

Only when I got the confirmation page, did it clearly point out that the Munich-Salzburg (and Salzburg to Munich) segment wes on a bus! Both those sectors had a BA "flight number", but it is clearly a bus and not plane! :eek:

Ok, after I recovered from the shock, I realised that maybe it wouldn't be too bad - both the "flights" are on the same itinerary (paper ticket), there is plenty of connection time (about two hours in each direction), AND I will get to safely retrieve (I hope) my checked sports baggage (the reason for the trip) at Munich and see it safely loaded onto the bus :)

However, has anyone done any of these flight/bus combinations before? On BA? Any disadvantages/things that I need to be aware of?

Boo

Oooh, just tried on ba.com and it actually lets you book this. Previously, it would point-blank refuse, saying that BA don't fly there, even though the bus "codeshares" were listed in the PDF timetable.

In the operated by section, ba.com gives the following details:
BA Germany Bus Service BA Truck Service_(hari Cheema X84381)

Interestingly, the fare class is Y2, so theoretically you should get 20tp's each way.

Although having done the trip from Salzburg to Munich, the bus is going to take a lot longer than the train. The traffic on the autobahn can be terrible.

The S-Bahn is around 30 mins in to Munich, then about 90mins on the train (if you get an express), which are pretty frequent.

Really? Even for the the £160-ish ticket? I did actually try ba.com to book this flight a few days ago - Wednesday maybe - but was getting the "BA don't fly there" message: didn't bother trying again - just tried Opodo/Expedia...

Will check my Opodo reservation details when I get home - wonder if it says anything - just assumed it was all restricted economy...

Boo

The estimate for the bus journey is about 2 hours. Am not in a huge rush - due into Salzburg airport at about 3.30pm-ish. Will be carrying a heavy sports bag - so a bus is probably more convenient. ESPECIALLY if you think I will get tier points for it :) (wonder if that will happen - probably too good to be true... :rolleyes: )

Boo

Just the MUC-SZG segment is Y2, as according to Traveolocity, it's the only fare loaded between the two destinations. BA.com also says that it's eligible to join the Exec Club. Goodness knows how exactly you're going to get that credited to your account though; I suspect it's going to take a bit of following up!

If travelling beyond Salzburg (to all the .....gastien ski resorts and towns) then the train directly from MUC may be more convenient. I haven't been to that part of Austria for a long time but I used to love the train journeys! :D

Will be interesting! If anyone else knows, let me know. If not, will let the rest of you know what I get out of it (if anything)... :)

Boo

It won't help the OP, but BA starts service to SZG with "real" planes in December, 5x weekly from LGW.
As the bus service connects to LHR flights, they will probably maintain it.

You never know - might be useful to know in the future, thank you :)

About time there were more direct flights from the UK to Salzburg... :)

Boo

OMG :eek:

Press release? Mainline? GB? Details! Sure you're not thinking of INN?

BA used to fly to SZG about 5-10 years ago but they canned it not long after they introduction. I took it once to ski at Badgastein and it was so convenient.

Not if the OP has booked a thorough fare (LHR-SZG), as that "flight" has all the 'normal' discounted economy classes as well:

[KVS Availability Tool 2.0.4/Platinum - Sabre: Fares/TCY/CA-CAD]
The R/T Y2 fare is very reasonably priced:

[KVS Availability Tool 2.0.4/Platinum - Sabre: Fares/TCY/UK-GBP]
However, one cannot book BA 930Xs on their own, as those flights can only be booked as connections/stopovers.

It's mainline and already loaded in the GDS Mo/We/Fr/Sa/Su as of December 2006

example:
[KVS Availability Tool 2.0.3/Platinum - Amadeus: AUA]


EDIT: press coverage in German:
http://www.salzburg.at/themen/verkeh...?NewsID=304867

This is about all I can tell about my flights (no obvious fare code :( - so probably no tier points (still would only have been a happy coincidence if I got them ;) ).

Boo

The booking class will show on your paper tickets, or, in the meantime, you could always place a quick call to BA Res and ask them for it...

Gosh, that is outstanding news indeed. ^ ^ ^

It has always been a pain to get to SZG (One of my favourite places in Europe!). I'm going again in May and have booked a LHR-FRA-SZG v.v. Takes over 5 hours to get there with connections. Not an ideal scenario when planning a quick weekend away.

Hopefully the BA flight will become a permanent affair.

This is indeed superb, considering that flying midweek it's £70 rtn, but the real steal is I class for £191rtn inc tax!

Arrrggh, a week after I booked my trip via FRA, I find out about this I class deal! :(

Oh well, maybe next time.

Oh, guess what, checked my MMB and the flights are on there... according to the table at the bottom, I should get "1290 miles and 40 tier points" for this booking :)

Ok, it isn't much, but it is a welcome bonus (that i wasn't expecting)... Don't know whether the information is useful for anyone else.

Edited to add - one pain is that it wont let me "request a seat" for the two flights on this itinerary :(. WOnder if I will also have a problem with OLCI (because of the bus segments...) :(

Boo

But the flights don't start until the 1st December, a good nine months away.

The new LGW-SZG BA service is fantastic news ^

I just hope they continue to operate it after the skiing season. Help ... that's me now thinking about Summer 2007 already :p

There are some excellent Starwood hotels in Salzburg itself and in the Salzkammergut region, and of course there's the IC across the border in Berchtesgaden. I'll need at least a week to get round them all! Either that or multiple visits :D

I just hope BA manages to compete head on with all the charters and Ryanair, and doesn't get cold feet like GB have done on some of the Spanish routes. Our family will certainly be doing our best to keep the Club loads up though! :)

Ah yes! Missed that. All of a sudden I don't feel that bad about my via FRA now. :D

@:-) Maybe we could organise a Christmas Market Do to inaugurate the service! @:-)

I've never been on an inagural flight before, but I'd definitely be up for that!

Also there's a terrace, but no terraces unfortunately. ;)

And the Starwood hotels there are absolutely gorgeous! I've stayed in 3 of them in the past.

Schloss Fuschl is a stunning small castle by Lake Fuschl. Great food, spa, lake views and schnapps! Excellent fishing too if one is so inclined. Goldener Hirsch is slap bang in the middle of old Salzburg and quite traditionally elegant. The restaurant in the hotel is believed to be one of the best in the area. And the Salzburg Sheraton is a much more modern, bigger hotel near the Mirabel Park. Also quite efficient and polished. Definitely one of the better Sheratons.

Never mind the hotels, I'll be off to Flachau skiing. :)

Finally!!! Trying to get the right way out of Munich airport by car is ridiculously difficult and you'll spend hours going around in circles.

I would suggest just taking a flight to Munich and taking the train to Salzburg. It's easy, fast, and the scenery is beautiful!

Herbie

'Bus Economy', isn't that now called BA Connect :)