19 reasons to fly with British Airways in 2019
Jan 7, 2019, 3:11 am
#76
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,394
Some years I had a spell of b2b commercial / marketing dealings with BA, and I distinctly recall one of their senior bods (who I felt certain would have had privileged knowledge at the time) telling me that on, say, the average transatlantic sector, a service which had EVERY F and CW seat filled at ‘normal’ revenue rates would be profitable, and that it didn’t matter if the whole of economy was empty (the latter, he added, was something of an exaggeration to make a point).
I know you have a lot of helpful insider personal contacts, so your info will be more current than mine.
Jan 7, 2019, 3:17 am
#77
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
Hi c-w-s, I think your ‘massive over-simplification’ is a very significant caveat, because I do believe there are many fine layers within this complex subject (and the picture can of course vary a lot depending on route and variable pricing etc.)
Some years I had a spell of b2b commercial / marketing dealings with BA, and I distinctly recall one of their senior bods (who I felt certain would have had privileged knowledge at the time) telling me that on, say, the average transatlantic sector, a service which had EVERY F and CW seat filled at ‘normal’ revenue rates would be profitable, and that it didn’t matter if the whole of economy was empty (the latter, he added, was something of an exaggeration to make a point).
I know you have a lot of helpful insider personal contacts, so your info will be more current than mine.
Jan 7, 2019, 3:22 am
#78
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,711
You are certainly correct to highlight that caveat, and your point about some transatlantic sectors is, was and will be probably correct too, I'm thinking specifically NYC, LAX, SFO, where CW in particular is probably all that matters. But there is second layer for transatlantics - India is traditionally second or third best market, but it isn't point to point traffic, it's all those Toronto or Dallas to Bangalore sort of flights that matter. TLV and South Africa are also in the top 5 on a similar basis. And that's where WTP becomes hugely important, First not at all important. Air France worked this out some time ago, but BA seems to have a broader take on the issue. But yes, you can't run an airline of BA's complexity of the basis of these broad statements, there are many fine layers.
Jan 7, 2019, 3:55 am
#79
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,394
Thanks for coming back c-w-s. Interesting points.
There are indeed so many variables, as you highlight. I guess this all deserves a thread of its own so I don’t wish to take this particular one too far OT.
But just a little anecdote by way of illustration of the surrounding complexities : at a travel industry reception some time ago, I was party to an informal chat where somebody took perverse delight in telling a commercial manager employed by the carrier he had just travelled with, that there were so few passengers on his flight that “there is no way you can make money like that ....” The manager asked calmly what the route was, and then responded by saying “hmm .... low passenger loads are never ideal, but that particular route just happens to be our best performer in terms of cargo revenue”. So .... yes .... many layers, of which many folk can often be unaware.
There are indeed so many variables, as you highlight. I guess this all deserves a thread of its own so I don’t wish to take this particular one too far OT.
But just a little anecdote by way of illustration of the surrounding complexities : at a travel industry reception some time ago, I was party to an informal chat where somebody took perverse delight in telling a commercial manager employed by the carrier he had just travelled with, that there were so few passengers on his flight that “there is no way you can make money like that ....” The manager asked calmly what the route was, and then responded by saying “hmm .... low passenger loads are never ideal, but that particular route just happens to be our best performer in terms of cargo revenue”. So .... yes .... many layers, of which many folk can often be unaware.
Jan 7, 2019, 4:02 am
#80
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 610
I have four questions (long haul obvs)
1. is it full sized magnum or a mini one?
2. Are they given out?
3. are the snacks in the galley available to Y passengers? I have never seen that ever in my years of flying
4. is the 2nd meal an actual substantial meal (i mean, i would be happy with a sandwich and a packet of crisps at this point) or is it back to the pathetic soreen bar (once i wasnt even offered that when other passengers were).This makes both uniteds offerings and AAs offerings of a second snack look like im sat in first class.
Jan 7, 2019, 4:08 am
#81
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,394
Jan 7, 2019, 4:20 am
#82
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,711
1. is it full sized magnum or a mini one?
2. Are they given out?
3. are the snacks in the galley available to Y passengers? I have never seen that ever in my years of flying
4. is the 2nd meal an actual substantial meal (i mean, i would be happy with a sandwich and a packet of crisps at this point) or is it back to the pathetic soreen bar (once i wasnt even offered that when other passengers were).This makes both uniteds offerings and AAs offerings of a second snack look like im sat in first class.
2. Are they given out?
3. are the snacks in the galley available to Y passengers? I have never seen that ever in my years of flying
4. is the 2nd meal an actual substantial meal (i mean, i would be happy with a sandwich and a packet of crisps at this point) or is it back to the pathetic soreen bar (once i wasnt even offered that when other passengers were).This makes both uniteds offerings and AAs offerings of a second snack look like im sat in first class.
WT Improvements
There are photos in it illustrating the current offering. To answer the questions, they are Magnum Minis, they are given out on day time flights departing London (but not night time flights or those returning to London), there are snacks in the rear galley, and as previously advised the second meal is a box with something like a chicken sandwich plus cake slice if going (e.g.) to East Coast USA.
Jan 7, 2019, 5:17 am
#84
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,229
I feel a little bad being critical of this point as I think there are some good things in this list as a whole.
But a little suprised about this one:
But a little suprised about this one:
- It is surely just a reminder about lack of preparedness for the snow chaos last year;
- I would hope most of this investment is now in place given we are now back in winter and there has been months to learn lessons (this could be just an issue with the tenses here, and this has already happened);
- BA could have been more honest at the time that they didn’t have enough kit when IIRC they were very quiet and somewhat pressing the blame on HAL. And in doing so should have paid EU compensation claims with many less quibbles (I believe they have now lost their argument about extraordinary circumstances now in court so claims should be being paid?)
But for the highlighted bit, is that correct? I was hit by 'slushmaggedon' in Dec 17, when BA57 was cancelled just as I pulled up at T5, with not a snowflake in the sky or a scraping of slush on the pavements... can I claim?
Jan 7, 2019, 5:59 am
#85
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 610
I think this is probably the thread you haven't seen yet:
WT Improvements
There are photos in it illustrating the current offering. To answer the questions, they are Magnum Minis, they are given out on day time flights departing London (but not night time flights or those returning to London), there are snacks in the rear galley, and as previously advised the second meal is a box with something like a chicken sandwich plus cake slice if going (e.g.) to East Coast USA.
WT Improvements
There are photos in it illustrating the current offering. To answer the questions, they are Magnum Minis, they are given out on day time flights departing London (but not night time flights or those returning to London), there are snacks in the rear galley, and as previously advised the second meal is a box with something like a chicken sandwich plus cake slice if going (e.g.) to East Coast USA.
Jan 7, 2019, 7:00 am
#86
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
Dunno - I reckon I'll be on an A321 on Monday morning, not sure if that's a NEO or not (I find these little single aisle airbus things a bit dull so I never bothered to read up on all the type variant nuances). Maybe I should now the 767s are retired....
I'll report back if I see one.
On an unrelated note I still haven't seen another FTer's scrawl on the cover of the inflight magazine. Are people still playing that?
I'll report back if I see one.
On an unrelated note I still haven't seen another FTer's scrawl on the cover of the inflight magazine. Are people still playing that?
Jan 7, 2019, 7:38 am
#89
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 86
Crikey! Why all the secrecy? It's just a seat at the end of the day. Unless it is something totally revolutionary and they want to announce it with a big fanfare without any leaks, aren't HQ going a bit over OTT with keeping the details on the down low?
Jan 7, 2019, 9:10 am
#90
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,551
Blimey, you can't be saying stuff like that on this forum...
The seat not being revolutionary will not stop the BA marketing department presenting it as such. Expect lots of fanfare and claims of innovation that are likely to be significantly divorced from reality. The seat might still be a good one, depending on your point of view, and the reality is that many of us will have sat on it, or something very close to it, on another airline, we just don't know which one yet...
The seat not being revolutionary will not stop the BA marketing department presenting it as such. Expect lots of fanfare and claims of innovation that are likely to be significantly divorced from reality. The seat might still be a good one, depending on your point of view, and the reality is that many of us will have sat on it, or something very close to it, on another airline, we just don't know which one yet...
