WW says BA may purchase 2nd-hand Airbus A380s
Jan 18, 2016, 6:14 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
But there are plenty of people who may do a long-haul trip once a decade. Even if not technically true, it'll feel like a trip of a lifetime for them, each time. Yet it'll also be a trip that they can barely afford, scraping together all the cash that they can. Will they be uncomfortable on board? If they get a cheap fare that enables the trip to take place at all, they won't much care, and certainly not in advance. For them, all long-haul travel is a mystifying ordeal anyway; the important thing is that they get to go where they're going.
Jan 18, 2016, 6:17 am
#33
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
Absolutely agree that is a consequence of many people wanting to fly as cheaply as possible. What I fail to understand is why people would put themselves through such conditions. Yes, I know it is about affordability vs market conditions, but surely a human being couldn't be comfortable in a 11-across A380?
And I wonder how many people would still be happy with their cheap fare, if they knew in advance how cramped their seat was going to be...
Jan 18, 2016, 6:24 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,773
Absolutely agree that is a consequence of many people wanting to fly as cheaply as possible. What I fail to understand is why people would put themselves through such conditions. Yes, I know it is about affordability vs market conditions, but surely a human being couldn't be comfortable in a 11-across A380?
There is a distinct segment of the market that sees things in these terms but I would argue it is a much smaller portion of the market than many think it is (for instance the big supermarkets have been following the discounters lime Aldi and Lidl like sheep at exactly the same time as the premium market served by the likes of Waitrose or Booths is growing strongly).
Whilst it is easier to pitch price as the only thing that people care about, that seems to me to be just a lazy way of thinking which fails to take account of the true complexity of most customers purchasing decisions.
Jan 18, 2016, 6:51 am
#36
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brighton England
Programs: AA Plat, various hotels
Posts: 1,220
I think that the argument that everyone wants something (be it groceries, household goods or flights) as cheaply as possible is overplayed.
There is a distinct segment of the market that sees things in these terms but I would argue it is a much smaller portion of the market than many think it is (for instance the big supermarkets have been following the discounters lime Aldi and Lidl like sheep at exactly the same time as the premium market served by the likes of Waitrose or Booths is growing strongly).
Whilst it is easier to pitch price as the only thing that people care about, that seems to me to be just a lazy way of thinking which fails to take account of the true complexity of most customers purchasing decisions.
There is a distinct segment of the market that sees things in these terms but I would argue it is a much smaller portion of the market than many think it is (for instance the big supermarkets have been following the discounters lime Aldi and Lidl like sheep at exactly the same time as the premium market served by the likes of Waitrose or Booths is growing strongly).
Whilst it is easier to pitch price as the only thing that people care about, that seems to me to be just a lazy way of thinking which fails to take account of the true complexity of most customers purchasing decisions.
When i chose my flights i look at the price, but i also look at the type of Aircraft operating it and the seating configurations available.
I often dont book the cheapest flight, but rather the flight that will offer me the most comfort long haul.
Jan 18, 2016, 6:52 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SIN and Medway, UK (so... LCY/LGW/BRU)
Programs: A3 *G, BA OWS, VS Gold, IHG Diamond Amb, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 749
I think that the argument that everyone wants something (be it groceries, household goods or flights) as cheaply as possible is overplayed.
There is a distinct segment of the market that sees things in these terms but I would argue it is a much smaller portion of the market than many think it is (for instance the big supermarkets have been following the discounters lime Aldi and Lidl like sheep at exactly the same time as the premium market served by the likes of Waitrose or Booths is growing strongly).
Whilst it is easier to pitch price as the only thing that people care about, that seems to me to be just a lazy way of thinking which fails to take account of the true complexity of most customers purchasing decisions.
There is a distinct segment of the market that sees things in these terms but I would argue it is a much smaller portion of the market than many think it is (for instance the big supermarkets have been following the discounters lime Aldi and Lidl like sheep at exactly the same time as the premium market served by the likes of Waitrose or Booths is growing strongly).
Whilst it is easier to pitch price as the only thing that people care about, that seems to me to be just a lazy way of thinking which fails to take account of the true complexity of most customers purchasing decisions.
Jan 18, 2016, 6:52 am
#38
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cheshire / Wherever they send me
Programs: BA Blue, Marriott Plat Life, UA Silver (thx Marriott), IHG Gold, Accor Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 943
I'd imagine if the engines are that inefficient, BA can talk to RR about replacing them or just the fan blades. A lot of airlines sign up with RR for this, as by putting in up to date fan blades, they can increase fuel efficiency by 1% to 2% (depending on how old the original ones are). As you can imagine, 1% improvement is a lot of fuel saved.
T
T
Jan 18, 2016, 6:55 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Hague, NL
Programs: GMLFL, Life 2.0 - Mucci Premiere Classe & des Chevaliers Toulousiens
Posts: 22,911
I believe that some recent research has revealed that only a feeling of imminent danger can trump it (hence the demise of MH) but most people will suffer 8 hrs in a bad seat to save €100. (Family of 4... Do the math...)
None of these people ever visit the BA forum. They hang out on the http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-deals-372/ section.
Jan 18, 2016, 6:57 am
#40
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (and other non-status plastic)
Posts: 1,889
6 abreast in J with a droopy leg rest? Dear heavens, I hope not...
Jan 18, 2016, 7:16 am
#43
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,264
No rumours of it, and I think it would be a tough ask given how T7 is shoehorned into its current location. The Super Hi-J B744 fleet was developed with JFK in mind (plus as a back-up to any tech A380's given the F and J class capacity are now almost the same).
Interesting that WW is willing to disclose numbers on the extra A380's they are looking for - a potential fleet of 18 would be nice, and maybe moving the B77W fleet to between 18-20 as well (if they can find the aircraft).
MH originally had looked at getting rid of 4 of their aircraft, keeping 2 for the LHR route (that was last years rumours) and Airbus have 2 white tailed Skymark aircraft sitting in TLS which they are keen to shift - so the 6 aircraft could come from those 2 sources (Skymark's engine choices are less of a concern given none had been fitted yet).
Pilot37
Interesting that WW is willing to disclose numbers on the extra A380's they are looking for - a potential fleet of 18 would be nice, and maybe moving the B77W fleet to between 18-20 as well (if they can find the aircraft).
MH originally had looked at getting rid of 4 of their aircraft, keeping 2 for the LHR route (that was last years rumours) and Airbus have 2 white tailed Skymark aircraft sitting in TLS which they are keen to shift - so the 6 aircraft could come from those 2 sources (Skymark's engine choices are less of a concern given none had been fitted yet).
Pilot37
Jan 18, 2016, 7:30 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
MH originally had looked at getting rid of 4 of their aircraft, keeping 2 for the LHR route (that was last years rumours) and Airbus have 2 white tailed Skymark aircraft sitting in TLS which they are keen to shift - so the 6 aircraft could come from those 2 sources (Skymark's engine choices are less of a concern given none had been fitted yet).
Jan 18, 2016, 7:33 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
Would be good news if you are right though.