Latest BA "To Fly. To Serve" advert
Nov 23, 2014, 12:51 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Marriott Platinum and BAEC blue again :'(
Posts: 376
Fantastic shot! It would be a fantastic marketing campaign too! However, with Concorde no longer in service it seems out of place. It's a case of BA milking a popular icon. If they want to capitalise on some nostalgia they must bring back a modernised version of the face advert or the flying flag one.
Nov 23, 2014, 12:57 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
What a shame she retired from service before I was in a position to be able to afford a Concorde flight. Now that I can afford to, I'd pay a small fortune for the opportunity.
I'd love to hear how many of you had the chance to fly with her. Any good stories?? Was it worth it?
I'd love to hear how many of you had the chance to fly with her. Any good stories?? Was it worth it?
Nov 23, 2014, 1:27 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 995
I was lucky enough to have flown Concorde many times - to/from New York, Washington and Miami. I was even on one of the faster flights which crossed the Atlantic back from New York in a time 2hrs56mins. The fastest was another flight by Concorde at 2hrs 52 mins.
Flying in Concorde was like flying in a racing car - seats were like sports car seats, acceleration and noise were completely different from a normal airliner.
Food was very good and the flight was so short that it was one long meal service both ways.
Concorde flew much higher than other planes and you could see then trundling along below at times, you could also see the Northern lights and the earths curvature when flying in the winter time.
There were many celebrities on Concorde - every flight would have several famous people on it.
As Aztec flyer mentions, on every flight you got mementos - special LaCrosse pens, whisky flasks, key rings, diaries etc
Was it worth it - a return fare (R class) was around £7K which was a lot of money at the time. The main benefit was the time saving.
Flying in Concorde was like flying in a racing car - seats were like sports car seats, acceleration and noise were completely different from a normal airliner.
Food was very good and the flight was so short that it was one long meal service both ways.
Concorde flew much higher than other planes and you could see then trundling along below at times, you could also see the Northern lights and the earths curvature when flying in the winter time.
There were many celebrities on Concorde - every flight would have several famous people on it.
As Aztec flyer mentions, on every flight you got mementos - special LaCrosse pens, whisky flasks, key rings, diaries etc
Was it worth it - a return fare (R class) was around £7K which was a lot of money at the time. The main benefit was the time saving.
Last edited by scillyisles; Nov 23, 2014 at 1:44 pm
Nov 23, 2014, 1:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ireland
Programs: VS Silver, EK Gold, BA GGL/CCR
Posts: 487
In the late nineties I had the privilege of travelling multiple times on Concorde. The time savings were fantastic (two full days in NY with one night away from base), the seat wasn't really that comfortable but the food was great.
By that stage it was starting to become less reliable and I experienced a few cancellations where they would bring the spare (fully ready to go) aircraft over from TBA, a few rejected take offs and a go around for good measure. The RTO actually felt quite dramatic....
One of the lovely things was the mementos they gave out. Each passenger got a small present from the crew and I still have most of them (Concorde branded key rings, steel luggage tags etc..)
By that stage it was starting to become less reliable and I experienced a few cancellations where they would bring the spare (fully ready to go) aircraft over from TBA, a few rejected take offs and a go around for good measure. The RTO actually felt quite dramatic....
One of the lovely things was the mementos they gave out. Each passenger got a small present from the crew and I still have most of them (Concorde branded key rings, steel luggage tags etc..)
Nov 23, 2014, 1:40 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
Under 3 hours to New York is amazing. I can imagine that flying with her was genuinely fun, especially with the celebrities and VIPs on board.
Was it a lot more expensive than other business class tickets? Would it have been 2 times the price, or more?
Was it a lot more expensive than other business class tickets? Would it have been 2 times the price, or more?
Nov 23, 2014, 1:44 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
My guess is that if Concorde was still operating we would see a small premium (perhaps GBP 250 each way) over F in the sale and perhaps five hundred Pounds or so each way over A and F at other times.
Nov 23, 2014, 2:09 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
When I worked as a travel agent I was offered Concorde to JFK and WT return for £500. It was just after the Air France crash when Concorde was a little jaded, and with a limited budget and lots of competing dreams, I decided not to do it. Now, I regret it!
Another time, when checking in for a F flight to SFO, I asked if our friends could join us in the CCR. I was informed by the check in agent that 'The Concorde has departed now, so it should be OK...' My point being not just Concorde but The Concorde...
Another time, when checking in for a F flight to SFO, I asked if our friends could join us in the CCR. I was informed by the check in agent that 'The Concorde has departed now, so it should be OK...' My point being not just Concorde but The Concorde...
Nov 23, 2014, 3:36 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,338
From my then home in Newbury, Berkshire I used to often see her flying overhead. Usually it was dead on the dot at just past 11 a.m heading for New York. (I think the London bound Concorde was about 7 p.m.). Of course you couldn't miss Concorde because of the noise that she used to make...but my, she was a beautiful sight in the perfectly blue sky.
Oh how I dreamed of one day being amongst those lucky passengers on board.
Oh how I dreamed of one day being amongst those lucky passengers on board.
Nov 23, 2014, 3:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Berlin
Programs: BAEC; LH M&M; HH Diamond
Posts: 814
[QUOTE
Oh how I dreamed of one day being amongst those lucky passengers on board.[/QUOTE]
Back in 1992 I wangled a trip on Concorde on a return flight from IAD. Strictly against company travel policy. Flew out on a 747 to IAD did a series of meetings and then waited for my trip back to another "unavoidable urgent meeting"...
Massive snowstorm hit the East Coast, had to spend two nights in Washington as HBO and worst of all no Concorde on the way back just a 767 BWI-LGW.
Ended up never having the "R" expereinece
Oh how I dreamed of one day being amongst those lucky passengers on board.
[/QUOTE]Back in 1992 I wangled a trip on Concorde on a return flight from IAD. Strictly against company travel policy. Flew out on a 747 to IAD did a series of meetings and then waited for my trip back to another "unavoidable urgent meeting"...
Massive snowstorm hit the East Coast, had to spend two nights in Washington as HBO and worst of all no Concorde on the way back just a 767 BWI-LGW.
Ended up never having the "R" expereinece