LBA morning rotation dropped from Feb '18?
Jan 28, 2018, 8:13 am
#151
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Tit, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold, Carlson Gold, UA*S,
Posts: 1,360
What I don’t understand is why Manchester needs nine flights a day to Heathrow and leeds will have to make do with just one going forward? How does that make sense?
I also think the timings are self-sabotaging!
The 11am departure means you can’t realistically get anything earlier to connect than 2pm out of Heathrow.
You would think the best idea would have been to make the flight as early as possible to make a full day of it in London and to ensure that you could connect with a whole host of other flights.
Biazrre thinking.
I also think the timings are self-sabotaging!
The 11am departure means you can’t realistically get anything earlier to connect than 2pm out of Heathrow.
You would think the best idea would have been to make the flight as early as possible to make a full day of it in London and to ensure that you could connect with a whole host of other flights.
Biazrre thinking.
Jan 28, 2018, 8:18 am
#152
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
What I don’t understand is why Manchester needs nine flights a day to Heathrow and leeds will have to make do with just one going forward? How does that make sense?
I also think the timings are self-sabotaging!
The 11am departure means you can’t realistically get anything earlier to connect than 2pm out of Heathrow.
You would think the best idea would have been to make the flight as early as possible to make a full day of it in London and to ensure that you could connect with a whole host of other flights.
Biazrre thinking.
I also think the timings are self-sabotaging!
The 11am departure means you can’t realistically get anything earlier to connect than 2pm out of Heathrow.
You would think the best idea would have been to make the flight as early as possible to make a full day of it in London and to ensure that you could connect with a whole host of other flights.
Biazrre thinking.
Jan 28, 2018, 8:28 am
#154
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,888
Johnny Rocket is correct in that the new timetable now means a much reduced opportunity for connections heading out of LHR on the same day. Never mind very early flight, it would have at least been nice to maintain the current 1030 LHR arrival.
Jan 28, 2018, 8:53 am
#155
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1,735
The current first southbound arrives at LHR around 1030, it is not a nighstopper and departs T5 around 0735. The new timetable has the first southbound arriving at T5 at 1230, so now 2 hours later.
Johnny Rocket is correct in that the new timetable now means a much reduced opportunity for connections heading out of LHR on the same day. Never mind very early flight, it would have at least been nice to maintain the current 1030 LHR arrival.
Johnny Rocket is correct in that the new timetable now means a much reduced opportunity for connections heading out of LHR on the same day. Never mind very early flight, it would have at least been nice to maintain the current 1030 LHR arrival.
I know- just done another 4 sofitel overnight bookings today- ouch
Jan 28, 2018, 8:57 am
#156
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Jan 28, 2018, 9:01 am
#157
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1,735
I am working through them each weekend. I have left a few as a bit stumped as to the best option.
Jan 28, 2018, 9:23 am
#158
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
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Posts: 15,914
Jan 28, 2018, 9:27 am
#159
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1,735
They have been accommodating so far on the avoids bookings- I ended up with pretty much a choice of 1st seating across the routes- when the original choice had been restricted and so didnt want to push it. I am now onto the paid options which is why I am hesitating a bit.
Jan 28, 2018, 11:43 am
#161
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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well it was a pleasure to meet you this evening, if only briefly. If I had known you were flying I could have upgraded your experience at T5. Hopefully see you again sometime.
Jan 28, 2018, 12:05 pm
#162
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1,735
Jan 28, 2018, 12:12 pm
#163
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: City of Kingston Upon Hull
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 4,940
Well it has sabotaged 18 sectors to/from LBA for me this year. I have had to move the domestic sectors to/from MAN. As I can get to London by train just as quickly as I can to MAN, I am not sure whether domestic connections are viable any more for me. There is always the possibility to using KLM via AMS for my LH connections, either way BA will lose out, not that my business is going to show up on their radar. I would prefer to use BA, but sometimes they make it hard for you to use them.
Jan 28, 2018, 1:20 pm
#164
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,431
What I don’t understand is why Manchester needs nine flights a day to Heathrow and leeds will have to make do with just one going forward? How does that make sense?
I also think the timings are self-sabotaging!
The 11am departure means you can’t realistically get anything earlier to connect than 2pm out of Heathrow.
You would think the best idea would have been to make the flight as early as possible to make a full day of it in London and to ensure that you could connect with a whole host of other flights.
Biazrre thinking.
I also think the timings are self-sabotaging!
The 11am departure means you can’t realistically get anything earlier to connect than 2pm out of Heathrow.
You would think the best idea would have been to make the flight as early as possible to make a full day of it in London and to ensure that you could connect with a whole host of other flights.
Biazrre thinking.
This route has clearly been underperforming for some time compared to other domestic routes. I don't have visibility to the commercials here, but you just need to look at the prices being charged. For instance, late Friday afternoon next week the following prices are being charged for flights that leave within 10 minutes of each other (all prices part of a return price quote):
LHR - LBA = £79
LHR - MAN = £290
LHR - NCL = £269
For the last few years I have seen the same general pattern with LBA. Whenever I have found NCL fares to be too high, I can almost always get a huge discount by flying into LBA, even when booking very late. It's also not just that the prices tend to be much lower than other routes, but whenever I have flown this route the loads are clearly weak too (even on Fridays, which tend to see many other domestic routes rammed).
I'm guessing that BA will just be keeping the remaining flights going while they work out what is best to do with the slots/aircraft. They are killing it off gently! I'll be very surprised if this route is still going next year.