No Big Planes Coming Back From DME After the World Cup
Jul 15, 2018, 1:12 pm
#1
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No Big Planes Coming Back From DME After the World Cup
i would have thought that with the world’s press and all the fans heading back to the 4 corners of the earth, BA would have some big planes flying the route from DME - LHR tomorrow.
But just looked and it’s just an A321 followed by 787 then 777 which is pretty standard I think. No wonder there’s no seats for a couple of days.
But just looked and it’s just an A321 followed by 787 then 777 which is pretty standard I think. No wonder there’s no seats for a couple of days.
Jul 15, 2018, 1:29 pm
#2
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Normally it's 2 x A321, and 1 x 787/777, so 1 x A321, 1 x 777 and 1 x 787 is an uptick in capacity. Also, BA don't have loads of spare planes lying around, and "creating" a spare aircraft when lots of 787s are grounded for a one off event probably isn't possible.
Jul 15, 2018, 1:45 pm
#3
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Is there really a big exodus....fans have been steadily returning to their countries since the end of the group stages when the number of games reduced.
And would BA need lots of planes to cater for a France v Croatia final and media from many other places that have direct flights?
And would BA need lots of planes to cater for a France v Croatia final and media from many other places that have direct flights?
Jul 15, 2018, 3:14 pm
#4
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And unlike many other special events, my guess is this group of fans is much more price sensitive. Not exactly the ideal group of passengers for BA to go out of the way to cater to.
Jul 15, 2018, 3:29 pm
#5
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i would have thought that with the world’s press and all the fans heading back to the 4 corners of the earth, BA would have some big planes flying the route from DME - LHR tomorrow.
But just looked and it’s just an A321 followed by 787 then 777 which is pretty standard I think. No wonder there’s no seats for a couple of days.
But just looked and it’s just an A321 followed by 787 then 777 which is pretty standard I think. No wonder there’s no seats for a couple of days.
So, clearly nothing spare and they re hardly going to leave their regulars on the 767 to Nice behind for one off customers from Moscow.
Jul 15, 2018, 10:31 pm
#6
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I can near guarantee that someone who has paid out for tickets for a World Cup quarter-final, semi-final and was presumably prepared to pay out for the final - having to stay in a city where hotel prices can approach eye-watering at the best of times - is very likely to be less price sensitive than the majority of BA’s potential customers.
Much more likely. BA could probably have made more money overall by switching aircraft onto Moscow services, but it looks like here they’ve taken a longer term view.
Jul 16, 2018, 1:01 am
#7
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There have been quite a few upgrades- the early morning flight going from 787 to 777-200 or even 300 on a couple of occasions and the other two flights on 777-200 at points
The long haul fleet is stretched so I imagine they've only been able to do this ad-hoc and mainly focused on the England matches
The long haul fleet is stretched so I imagine they've only been able to do this ad-hoc and mainly focused on the England matches
Jul 16, 2018, 2:33 am
#10
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BA did uplift seats for the semi-final, when England were still playing.
Seeing as we weren't in the final and the vast majority (of the not very many) England fans that were there for the tournament have already left, there wouldn't be much point in doing it again.
Seeing as we weren't in the final and the vast majority (of the not very many) England fans that were there for the tournament have already left, there wouldn't be much point in doing it again.
Jul 16, 2018, 3:01 am
#11
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I was out for the Group games and actually went back for the Semi final so have first hand experience. A lot of fans would have booked set flights, the amount of South Americans still in Russia last week despite all their teams being knocked out was huge. The Media likely were out for the duration so already had flights booked.
A lot of fans including myself either booked 1-way flights last week or optimistically booked a return for this week. I actually went via LOT as they were offering a fully flex / refundable for no fee for £400 from Heathrow which I booked Thursday 5th July. If England had of made the finals there would definitely have been big demand for flights back for those who had no bookings, but many fans would also be happy to save a few hundred quid and fly on all kinds of routes that would put FT'ers to shame! BA were never even on my radar for flights this summer due to the cost of flights.
A lot of fans including myself either booked 1-way flights last week or optimistically booked a return for this week. I actually went via LOT as they were offering a fully flex / refundable for no fee for £400 from Heathrow which I booked Thursday 5th July. If England had of made the finals there would definitely have been big demand for flights back for those who had no bookings, but many fans would also be happy to save a few hundred quid and fly on all kinds of routes that would put FT'ers to shame! BA were never even on my radar for flights this summer due to the cost of flights.
Jul 16, 2018, 3:57 am
#12
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Jul 16, 2018, 4:01 am
#13
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That surprises me. We managed to find a half decent hotel and booked on the same day last week for 2 nights and paid £150 per room, per night. Was the Hotel Alfa in the old Olympic Village. By no means the most modern hotel but was pretty comparable to a Travelodge or similar.
Jul 16, 2018, 4:17 am
#14
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I wonder if it’s down to when each of you booked? What tends to happen around major major events like this is that hotels get greedy and price gauge a long way out, but closer to the time find that they’ve actually just succeeded in pushing people to outlying hotels, and there are *relatively* good prices available late on.
Obviously depends on the city and surrounding infrastructure though. I remember being in Basel during Euro 2008 for the Netherlands v Russia QF. With something like 250,000 Dutch in town, there were no beds and we just had to keep ourselves occupied until we left town at 0600 the next day!
Obviously depends on the city and surrounding infrastructure though. I remember being in Basel during Euro 2008 for the Netherlands v Russia QF. With something like 250,000 Dutch in town, there were no beds and we just had to keep ourselves occupied until we left town at 0600 the next day!
Jul 16, 2018, 6:43 pm
#15
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Sitting in the lounge at DME just now. The check in agent told me that the flight was completely full A321 mid haul. A few North Americans in the lounge just now and a lot of Mexicans checking in when I was at the check in desk.
I regularly go for the BA236 as it tends to be quieter and this morning will be the busiest I will have seen it.
Got my hopes up a little earlier on when thought they had put a 772 on this rotation but that was dashed when it turned out to be a FR24 ‘glitch’. Also caused a little bit of panic as the 772 doesn’t have the row that I am in but that’s by the by now.
I think the Fan IDs are valid till 25th July (or thereabouts) so the airlines, including BA may well be busy for a few days yet.
S
I regularly go for the BA236 as it tends to be quieter and this morning will be the busiest I will have seen it.
Got my hopes up a little earlier on when thought they had put a 772 on this rotation but that was dashed when it turned out to be a FR24 ‘glitch’. Also caused a little bit of panic as the 772 doesn’t have the row that I am in but that’s by the by now.
I think the Fan IDs are valid till 25th July (or thereabouts) so the airlines, including BA may well be busy for a few days yet.
S