BA Enhances its short haul economy fare structure
#362
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 101
Indeed it seems there has been such a thing as a free lunch for the moment .. no obvious downsides that I can see .. seems to be a genuine enhancement .. I had definitely expected they would be putting a bigger price gap in between HBO and the rest, but for now at least that doesn't seem to be the case.
I'm not sure that I agree with this.
Based on my (albeit small) sample size on a UK domestic route it appears that there have been increases in both the base HBO fare and the price difference between HBO and WCB.
As it is undoubtedly more comprehensive than my own I'll stick to quoting C-W-S's research from up-thread on the non-LGW routes. From that the base fare on at least that route has increased ~17% (GBP46 to 54). The average HBO-WCB difference seems to be 27% (Average increase of GBP2.70 based on the difference before the changes as being GBP10, which was what I always recall seeing it as on the routes I took. Am willing to be corrected on that though as my sample size isn't large).
Therefore I think the saying still stands as taken together these increases would indeed buy a light lunch, while even taken separately you could get a significant quantity of the lemon biscuits!
#363
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London, Sth Africa or LAS
Programs: VS Silver, BA Blue - finally; but hotels.com Gold :)
Posts: 1,856
Well things do have settled down somewhat, after yesterday.
On the BA routes ex both LGW and LHR there do now seem to be wider delta's between HBO and WithCheckedBag; for LGW I'm seeing £15-£20 extra for the privilege, for LHR its now more like £20-£30.
£60 extra return over HBO is getting very hard to justify compared to the previous typical £20. Which presumably will trend to more bags on board not fewer
The clever thing, if you will, is illustrated for me on the VIE route. There is only one Gatwick flight, but 5 or 6 from Heathrow. I do not need the flexibility going out but it seems I must pay for it if I want it coming back (bar splitting in to two singles). And technically, LGW is now more expensive than it was but I actually won't get any more flexibility as no 2nd flight!
On the BA routes ex both LGW and LHR there do now seem to be wider delta's between HBO and WithCheckedBag; for LGW I'm seeing £15-£20 extra for the privilege, for LHR its now more like £20-£30.
£60 extra return over HBO is getting very hard to justify compared to the previous typical £20. Which presumably will trend to more bags on board not fewer
The clever thing, if you will, is illustrated for me on the VIE route. There is only one Gatwick flight, but 5 or 6 from Heathrow. I do not need the flexibility going out but it seems I must pay for it if I want it coming back (bar splitting in to two singles). And technically, LGW is now more expensive than it was but I actually won't get any more flexibility as no 2nd flight!
#364
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,336
The clever thing, if you will, is illustrated for me on the VIE route. There is only one Gatwick flight, but 5 or 6 from Heathrow. I do not need the flexibility going out but it seems I must pay for it if I want it coming back (bar splitting in to two singles). And technically, LGW is now more expensive than it was but I actually won't get any more flexibility as no 2nd flight!
What is important to me (as someone who doesn't really care where I sit nor need check in a bag) is price on the HBO fare...and that has gone up on my main route. If BA are making an extra 9 EUR on every ticket, that's a hefty profit going their way.
#368
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,095
LHR-OSL on some dates in June, for example seems to have exactly the same fares today as it did when I booked a flight there on about 6 March. Certainly, this doesn't look like the mass revenue grab from a captive customer base that "BA enhances short haul fares" could lead one to think.
However, if the gap between HBO and fares with a bag continues to widen, those of us who have to check a bag because of what we carry will not buy HBO, we will buy elsewhere. We are in a minority, so BA won't care.
However, if the gap between HBO and fares with a bag continues to widen, those of us who have to check a bag because of what we carry will not buy HBO, we will buy elsewhere. We are in a minority, so BA won't care.
#369
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold, LH SEN , A3*G & others less exciting that don't fit in my wallet
Posts: 1,655
£10 each way difference on LHR flights
£15 each way difference on LCY flights
I'm pretty sure the LHR difference has been like that since HBO fares were launched .. wouldn't swear to whether the difference on LCY has been £15 always, but it could well have been ?
err though when I look later in the year it might be £10 on both .. confusing myself now ! ... either way though I don't think the premium has moved much , if at all .. no clue on the base fares but they look there or thereabouts the same
#370
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
LHR-OSL on some dates in June, for example seems to have exactly the same fares today as it did when I booked a flight there on about 6 March. Certainly, this doesn't look like the mass revenue grab from a captive customer base that "BA enhances short haul fares" could lead one to think.
I imagine administratively it is easier to file changes in base price on selected routes at the same time as you file wholesale changes to all routes. It is also more customer friendly to do this at one go rather than have ever changing prices.
As long as BA keeps its prices competitive, I view this as positive and welcome the added flexibility for my normal with luggage fares. Shame CE misses out on this.
Last edited by FrancisA; Mar 10, 2016 at 9:45 am
#371
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,462
For LON-DUB on a random date in May I see
£10 each way difference on LHR flights
£15 each way difference on LCY flights
I'm pretty sure the LHR difference has been like that since HBO fares were launched .. wouldn't swear to whether the difference on LCY has been £15 always, but it could well have been ?
err though when I look later in the year it might be £10 on both .. confusing myself now ! ... either way though I don't think the premium has moved much , if at all .. no clue on the base fares but they look there or thereabouts the same
£10 each way difference on LHR flights
£15 each way difference on LCY flights
I'm pretty sure the LHR difference has been like that since HBO fares were launched .. wouldn't swear to whether the difference on LCY has been £15 always, but it could well have been ?
err though when I look later in the year it might be £10 on both .. confusing myself now ! ... either way though I don't think the premium has moved much , if at all .. no clue on the base fares but they look there or thereabouts the same
#372
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold, LH SEN , A3*G & others less exciting that don't fit in my wallet
Posts: 1,655
On this route it was, and is dynamic. So if you look at 18 March you'll see £25 on both airports, but a number of BA flights with no HBO fares - very common on Fridays - since they've sold enough of those and in any case they're dealing with "distress customers". Then if you move into the middle distance it falls to £15 or occasionally £10. That hasn't changed any time recently, and is all about having a low enough fare to attract people at the different price points.
You learn something new etc. etc... yes indeed if I look for next week I can see some £25 premiums for HBO ( on LCY flights) , though also some £10 on LHR ... Interesting .. I didn't realise the premium / difference was dynamic
#373
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Belfast
Posts: 398
On this route it was, and is dynamic. So if you look at 18 March you'll see £25 on both airports, but a number of BA flights with no HBO fares - very common on Fridays - since they've sold enough of those and in any case they're dealing with "distress customers". Then if you move into the middle distance it falls to £15 or occasionally £10. That hasn't changed any time recently, and is all about having a low enough fare to attract people at the different price points.
#374
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 573
An interesting point is that it appears that codeshare flights have also changed in line with other SH fares.
e.g. my corporate travel system is showing a NCL-DUB EI operated BA codeshare with a V2 fare basis and therefore a 'Standard' fare with free on the day changes
e.g. my corporate travel system is showing a NCL-DUB EI operated BA codeshare with a V2 fare basis and therefore a 'Standard' fare with free on the day changes
#375
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: US/UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 126
I'm finding differences of up to £30 on routes like LHR-MXP and LHR-BUD and, while I fully admit to be nowhere near as knowledgeable as a lot of you guys on these routes, that seems high to me. I have a sneaking suspicion there is a subtle fare increase being slipped in here...possibly only on certain routes but I still think it's there.