F surcharge on A380 routes?
Jan 31, 2014, 10:20 am
#1
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F surcharge on A380 routes?
Looking at the F fares on BA's A380 routes (LAX, HKG and JNB) there seems to be appreciable difference in cheapest fares between these routes and comparable non-A380 routes such as SFO, NRT and CPT. There seems to be nowhere near as much difference in J.
For example :
LAX F £7569 lowest SFO £3847
LAX J £2569 lowest SFO £ 2646
JNB F £6175 lowest CPT £4632
JNB J £3262 lowest CPT £3532
HKG F £5798 lowest NRT £4578
HKG J £3202 lowest NRT £3239
Is BA effectively trying to cream extra F income on the A380 or is it just supply and demand?
For example :
LAX F £7569 lowest SFO £3847
LAX J £2569 lowest SFO £ 2646
JNB F £6175 lowest CPT £4632
JNB J £3262 lowest CPT £3532
HKG F £5798 lowest NRT £4578
HKG J £3202 lowest NRT £3239
Is BA effectively trying to cream extra F income on the A380 or is it just supply and demand?
Jan 31, 2014, 10:36 am
#3
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The A380 has 14F seats, which is the same as the 744/77W/some 772s. There are actually fewer F seats on the 772s which serve East Asia (12F).
Jan 31, 2014, 10:42 am
#5
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Looking at the F fares on BA's A380 routes (LAX, HKG and JNB) there seems to be appreciable difference in cheapest fares between these routes and comparable non-A380 routes such as SFO, NRT and CPT. There seems to be nowhere near as much difference in J.
For example :
LAX F £7569 lowest SFO £3847
LAX J £2569 lowest SFO £ 2646
JNB F £6175 lowest CPT £4632
JNB J £3262 lowest CPT £3532
HKG F £5798 lowest NRT £4578
HKG J £3202 lowest NRT £3239
Is BA effectively trying to cream extra F income on the A380 or is it just supply and demand?
For example :
LAX F £7569 lowest SFO £3847
LAX J £2569 lowest SFO £ 2646
JNB F £6175 lowest CPT £4632
JNB J £3262 lowest CPT £3532
HKG F £5798 lowest NRT £4578
HKG J £3202 lowest NRT £3239
Is BA effectively trying to cream extra F income on the A380 or is it just supply and demand?
The one thing I was told however, was that people are asking which flight is which, and opting for the A380 option. On my flight for example, there are 2 seats left in F, but on the 747 flight (an hour later) there are 11 seats remaining.
M
Jan 31, 2014, 10:43 am
#6
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Are you comparing the same fare bucket?
Those routes have other aircraft operating also and have the same fares. The A380 flights may be more popular so the lower fare buckets are sold out.
No.
Those routes have other aircraft operating also and have the same fares. The A380 flights may be more popular so the lower fare buckets are sold out.
No.
Jan 31, 2014, 10:54 am
#7
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The fare info I was quoting was from BA's low fare finder which shows fares up to 12 months out so I would not expect the lowest buckets in F to have all sold out. As others have stated it is not the actual aircraft which makes the difference but the route, hence my original question as to whether BA were milking the route or not. BTW how many fare complete fare basis codes (not just F and A buckets) are there typically in First, I presume a lot less than in J W, or Y?
Last edited by kanderson1965; Jan 31, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Jan 31, 2014, 11:12 am
#8
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kanderson1965,
Out of Amsterdam A fare is GBP4422 compared to LHR departure, but the F fare is GBP7306 while the F fare out of London is GBP13003 to LAX.
So we have different fare buckets.
And those flights are always fully booked in F and J.
Demand i guess.
And as NUX already mentioned no difference in fares regarding flying the A380/B777 or B747.
Out of Amsterdam A fare is GBP4422 compared to LHR departure, but the F fare is GBP7306 while the F fare out of London is GBP13003 to LAX.
So we have different fare buckets.
And those flights are always fully booked in F and J.
Demand i guess.
And as NUX already mentioned no difference in fares regarding flying the A380/B777 or B747.
Last edited by dutch_122; Jan 31, 2014 at 11:15 am Reason: adding
Jan 31, 2014, 11:34 am
#10
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I always travel via ICN when heading to HKG - it's so much cheaper, even when adding together the cost of both legs. F (with shareholder discount) can get as low as £2700... 
I suspect that the A380s are on high demand routes, where the fares can be higher anyway so I am not sure whether the higher fares are due to demand or whether there is a little tweaking for the new aircraft as well to see what the market will stand..
I suspect that the A380s are on high demand routes, where the fares can be higher anyway so I am not sure whether the higher fares are due to demand or whether there is a little tweaking for the new aircraft as well to see what the market will stand..
Jan 31, 2014, 11:49 am
#11
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All the current A380 routes have significant corporate demand for F, the comparators given typically don't with the exception of Narita.