Is it worth booking a 2021 BA flight out of LGW?
Aug 17, 2020, 6:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 50
Is it worth booking a 2021 BA flight out of LGW?
Hi all
I’m looking to book a break to Crete next year. BA are showing good availability for flights from LGW to HER, including redemption bookings.
While flying into and out of HER (rather than CHQ) would be more convenient I’m wondering if it’s worth the risk given the rumours about BA potentially pulling out of Gatwick? Were BA to leave LGW would the flight be simple moved to LHR or cancelled?
any advice much appreciated
I’m looking to book a break to Crete next year. BA are showing good availability for flights from LGW to HER, including redemption bookings.
While flying into and out of HER (rather than CHQ) would be more convenient I’m wondering if it’s worth the risk given the rumours about BA potentially pulling out of Gatwick? Were BA to leave LGW would the flight be simple moved to LHR or cancelled?
any advice much appreciated
where's that much needed crystal ball thread ?!
Aug 17, 2020, 6:51 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 50
Aug 17, 2020, 7:17 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club
Posts: 1,036
I booked my Gatwick to Paphos flights in Club Europe for June 2021 a couple of weeks back. The Club Cabin looked pretty busy so I reserved seats as well.
If short haul from Gatwick did go I will either be transferred to Heathrow or get my money back.
In my view the more people that book for Summer 2021 ex Gatwick the less likely all short haul will be pulled.
If people hold back it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Last Summer BA had nearly 90 departures a day from Gatwick. No way will they have slots for all of those when things improve over next 2 to 3 years. Are they really prepared to hand it all over to Easyjet after
fighting back quite well in recent years? Ryanair and Wizz also waiting in the wings
.
If short haul from Gatwick did go I will either be transferred to Heathrow or get my money back.
In my view the more people that book for Summer 2021 ex Gatwick the less likely all short haul will be pulled.
If people hold back it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Last Summer BA had nearly 90 departures a day from Gatwick. No way will they have slots for all of those when things improve over next 2 to 3 years. Are they really prepared to hand it all over to Easyjet after
fighting back quite well in recent years? Ryanair and Wizz also waiting in the wings
.
Last edited by vectismanpaul; Aug 17, 2020 at 10:42 am
Aug 17, 2020, 7:29 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 553
Get the (likely) cheaper ex LGW flights booked and then if/when BA move them to LHR you can either go ahead with your booking or opt for a refund. If you’re happy to invest in BA this far out then it’ll likely pay off as if/when the flights are moved to LHR the price will likely increase quite a bit.
Aug 17, 2020, 8:21 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 582
We’ve done our bit and booked a BA holiday to Tenerife from Gatwick for May 2021! Hope it sticks. Closer to home than LHR and the Gatwick lounge is very comfortable and has lovely staff. If it moves to LHR, we should be able to cancel.
Last edited by AmaaiZeg; Aug 17, 2020 at 8:31 am
Aug 17, 2020, 9:46 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: England
Programs: BAEC: Bronze; Marriott: Gold
Posts: 399
BA2730 2/5/21
BA2731 14/5/21
Aug 17, 2020, 10:05 am
#10
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
I have booked a number of flights involving LGW. I really do want to fly to LGW and feel that healthy forward bookings may influence BA's decision whether to operated from LGW. Since LGW is close to where I want to go, BA moving these flights to LHR will cause me to cancel since there are quite acceptable alternatives to BA which do still operate to LGW. By the same token as forward bookings showing BA there is demand, cancelling bookings changed to LHR will also show that this demand cannot necessarily be transferred to LHR. I would definitely encourage passengers wishing to fly to or from LGW to book that already.