themax

Those of you that travel regularly on this route will no doubt be aware of the continuous downgrade and slow withdrawal of BA services on this route. If my memory serves me correctly, it all began about 15 years ago when BA started to retro-fit some of their older 777's with extra Club World Seats in place of First seats on some of their planes. At the time, BA had 3 daily YYZ/LHR flights (92/93, 96/97, 98/99) during the busiest times of the year (mostly plied with 747s). Slowly but surely First Class was eliminated on all but one flight per day. Then came the phasing out of 747 service, and the introduction of old 767's on some flights, together with the withdrawal of the 96/97 service (these numbers were used for normal aircraft after BA withdrew the concorde service on this route).

Then for the last 2 years there has been a constant twice daily service with one First cabin per day (using a mixture of mostly 777's and 767's, and now the 787 with the occasional 747), except on certain holidays when the daily service is reduced to one flight per day. October last year saw the abrupt closure of both the BA Club and First Lounges at YYZ, and this week we have learned that First Class is being removed completely at the end of the summer on all but a handful of flights.

Would I be wrong in thinking that BA just don't care about this route anymore?

JAXBA

Yes.

obduro

Does this same subject really need this many threads?

williamn78

I read that First will be reintroduced from next summer presumably once the 787 issues are ironed out?
Of some small comfort is the introduction of a LGW service May-October, 3 times a week. Judging from my seat change last night this will soon be operated by the refurbished 777.

Flexible preferences

I do believe VS tried this route once but they couldn't make it pay. Mind you they don't have F either.

williamn78

Btw did Concorde really operate on this route on a regular basis?

Swanhunter

My next two trips are with AC. The PE products look indistinguishable and T2 Fastrack plus the UA lounge is a acceptable substitute for the F wing and lounge. The big AC win though is a better range of flight timings including the wonder of the day flight home.

Not sure BA have given up, but it certainly doesn’t feel like a priority market.

williamn78

How do you find AC pricing with PY? Whenever I look it seems far more expensive than BA. I agree the product is almost exactly the same.

UKtravelbear

I've been googling that because I had some doubts about that and the most I can find is a seasonal once a week charter and some Arctic sightseeing flights.

https://www.blogto.com/city/2014/05/...sited_toronto/

themax

Yes, I took it many times. The service (BA96/97) operated at least once weekly, sometimes more. It was amazing. I can still remember sitting in the old cocktail lounge at YYZ Aeroquay (old Terminal One), long before the days of the Galleries Lounge concept, looking out over the tarmac at the magnificent speedbird awaiting departure. Happy Days!

PeaSouper

I've flown BA and AC probably a dozen times each over the last few years between YYZ and LHR, in various classes. AC PE is definitely better than BA WTP, in terms of seat quality, IFE, food, and drink. UA and AC lounges in T2 are probably a bit better than Galleries, but not as good as Galleries First. On the way back out of YYZ, the AC lounge (and T1 in general) is a lot better than the BA offering in T3.

Indeed - 2 flights per day on BA (both leaving LHR mid afternoon, and returning from YYZ mid evening), and 4 flights per day on AC (leaving LHR as early as 8 am and as late as 6 pm westbound, and the day flight from YYZ-LHR and three flights leaving YYZ in the evening).

BA may not have not given up, but if one were primarily flying between the UK and Canada, I can't see a single compelling reason for choosing BA over AC. In addition to the differences on the LHR-YYZ service, don't forget that AC serves seven cities in Canada from LHR (as opposed to four on BA), and while BA have ended their partnership with WestJet in Canada, AC also has an extensive network of connecting flights in Canada.

ahmetdouas

Well I am flying this routing this weekend and BA are printing money by asking for 1000 GBP in Y so am flying KLM via AMS so they are still making good cashish even if they don't care!

I may fly the route again in a few months so should be cheaper if I book in advance. AC must be way better than BA but I don't mind getting some Avios so let's see who I end up flying!

williamn78

I agree that fares in Y are often astronomical, even months out. BA seems to have busy cabins in Y because of all the passengers connecting from India. On my last flight I spied that CW was almost empty however. I was flying in PY and got a ticket for half the price of BA by booking on AA.

InTheAirGuy

Concorde was never a regularly scheduled service on this route. It was charter, occasional special trip, etc. but not scheduled.