Do the British Royal Family still use BA?
Sep 12, 2020, 11:32 am
#137
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK - Hampshire & London
Programs: Mucci de Guardian des Celliers des Grands Crus 1e Classé, plus BAEC.
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When HM travelled on a wide bodied BA aircraft it was always refitted with the Royal Kit, this was was the same for HRH The Prince of Wales when he was on State visits.
I have photos of the cabin but will not be posting them here, I seem to remember seeing some pictures online.
I have photos of the cabin but will not be posting them here, I seem to remember seeing some pictures online.
How did/do BA staff Royal and PM flights? Volunteers? Hand-picked crew?
Sep 12, 2020, 12:31 pm
#139
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: East Coast
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Sep 12, 2020, 2:05 pm
#140
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
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Sep 13, 2020, 2:31 am
#141
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,533
there was a special toilet seat.
The ANX flight back from NZ was LAX FRA and full of Germans who knew nothing of their illustrious passenger until it diverted into Heathrow and stopped at the royal suite!
I am not convinced the flag isn’t upside down in a sign of distress which frankly sums the country up
Sep 13, 2020, 1:40 pm
#142
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
Just stumbled across an article published today on The Points Guy. The article is titled ‘How does the Royal Family fly?’ I’m sure these blogs just feed off places like Flyertalk and regurgitate information.
Sep 13, 2020, 2:53 pm
#143
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,174
Sep 13, 2020, 3:05 pm
#144
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
I read that 2x 777-236ER's in the BA fleet are configured with special flooring anchoring points in the A zone that are compatible with the Royal Suite equipment. YMMO and YMMP are the 2 aircraft in question.
The BA Royal Suite comprises 2 full size single beds, one fitted each side of the F Class cabin, a polished oak table in the centre of the cabin with two chairs forward and two chairs aft of the table. In addition there's a curtained changing area at the rear of the cabin. Usually for a Royal Flight the rear seats of the Y Class cabin are also removed and used as a storage area for those items required during the journey. This will include a hanging area for clothes as Her Majesty will not disembark in the same clothes she boarded the aircraft.
Previous longhaul BA aircraft utilised for Royal charter include the L1011-500 TriStar, L1011-200 TriStar and Boeing 767-336ER.
The BA Royal Suite comprises 2 full size single beds, one fitted each side of the F Class cabin, a polished oak table in the centre of the cabin with two chairs forward and two chairs aft of the table. In addition there's a curtained changing area at the rear of the cabin. Usually for a Royal Flight the rear seats of the Y Class cabin are also removed and used as a storage area for those items required during the journey. This will include a hanging area for clothes as Her Majesty will not disembark in the same clothes she boarded the aircraft.
Previous longhaul BA aircraft utilised for Royal charter include the L1011-500 TriStar, L1011-200 TriStar and Boeing 767-336ER.
Sep 13, 2020, 3:13 pm
#145
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
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I don’t remember the -500 ever being used, as far as I can remember she always used G-BHBR except once when you used a short haul Tristar for a state visit to Portugal.
Sep 13, 2020, 3:40 pm
#146
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Sep 13, 2020, 3:45 pm
#147
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
I'm completely unworthy to take credit for this:
In 1983 the Queen and Prince Philip were flown on a State Visit to Kenya, Bangladesh and India and to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in New Delhi on a BA L-1011 TriStar 500 (G-BFCD).
This was notable as the homeward DEL-LHR flight was the last BA revenue earning flight by the L-1011 500.
Sep 13, 2020, 4:47 pm
#148
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
Haha I can't quite envisage her and Philip in matching ill fitting branded F PJ sets somehow..... with the gusset hanging somewhere near the knees 🤮
Years ago one of my training managers in a previous life used to fly for BCAL and recited to me the story of having Princess Anne aboard one of her DC10 flights from HKG-LGW (F cabin as a revenue passenger accompanied by her lady in waiting). How she was dressed to the nines upon boarding and gave the wave from the top of the steps. As soon as the doors were closed she was off to the washroom, took off all her make-up and her hair down, changed into a pink tracksuit and remained that way for the rest of the flight until before landing in Gatwick when she changed into another power suit of the era, reapplied make-up, hair re-bunned and jagged straight from South Terminal air-brige upon arrival.
Years ago one of my training managers in a previous life used to fly for BCAL and recited to me the story of having Princess Anne aboard one of her DC10 flights from HKG-LGW (F cabin as a revenue passenger accompanied by her lady in waiting). How she was dressed to the nines upon boarding and gave the wave from the top of the steps. As soon as the doors were closed she was off to the washroom, took off all her make-up and her hair down, changed into a pink tracksuit and remained that way for the rest of the flight until before landing in Gatwick when she changed into another power suit of the era, reapplied make-up, hair re-bunned and jagged straight from South Terminal air-brige upon arrival.
Sep 14, 2020, 1:34 am
#149
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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According to some knowledgeable sole on airliners.net...
I'm completely unworthy to take credit for this:
In 1983 the Queen and Prince Philip were flown on a State Visit to Kenya, Bangladesh and India and to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in New Delhi on a BA L-1011 TriStar 500 (G-BFCD).
This was notable as the homeward DEL-LHR flight was the last BA revenue earning flight by the L-1011 500.
I'm completely unworthy to take credit for this:
In 1983 the Queen and Prince Philip were flown on a State Visit to Kenya, Bangladesh and India and to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in New Delhi on a BA L-1011 TriStar 500 (G-BFCD).
This was notable as the homeward DEL-LHR flight was the last BA revenue earning flight by the L-1011 500.
Sep 14, 2020, 1:46 am
#150
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,237
I read that 2x 777-236ER's in the BA fleet are configured with special flooring anchoring points in the A zone that are compatible with the Royal Suite equipment. YMMO and YMMP are the 2 aircraft in question.
The BA Royal Suite comprises 2 full size single beds, one fitted each side of the F Class cabin, a polished oak table in the centre of the cabin with two chairs forward and two chairs aft of the table. In addition there's a curtained changing area at the rear of the cabin. Usually for a Royal Flight the rear seats of the Y Class cabin are also removed and used as a storage area for those items required during the journey. This will include a hanging area for clothes as Her Majesty will not disembark in the same clothes she boarded the aircraft.
Previous longhaul BA aircraft utilised for Royal charter include the L1011-500 TriStar, L1011-200 TriStar and Boeing 767-336ER.
The BA Royal Suite comprises 2 full size single beds, one fitted each side of the F Class cabin, a polished oak table in the centre of the cabin with two chairs forward and two chairs aft of the table. In addition there's a curtained changing area at the rear of the cabin. Usually for a Royal Flight the rear seats of the Y Class cabin are also removed and used as a storage area for those items required during the journey. This will include a hanging area for clothes as Her Majesty will not disembark in the same clothes she boarded the aircraft.
Previous longhaul BA aircraft utilised for Royal charter include the L1011-500 TriStar, L1011-200 TriStar and Boeing 767-336ER.