G-XLEL commences return of A380 BA57 JNB!
Jan 17, 2022, 1:28 pm
#1
formerly Christopher Sutton
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 214
G-XLEL commences return of A380 BA57 JNB!
Excited to see that tonight marks the return of the A380 flying to JNB as BA57 using G-XLEL. Looks to be leaving 10 mins early. Will be flying the route myself a week on Thursday. I just love the A380 and certainly don’t mind old CW upstairs! :-)
Jan 18, 2022, 1:04 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lincoln, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 1,266
Not sure how long the 380 is scheduled. We were booked on the 380 on BA 57 to JNB in May but later BA55 was cancelled and then BA57 turned into turned into a 3-class 777. As a result we were downgraded to Club World. I am hoping that with all the current positive news about booking numbers may mean BA reintroduce a 4-class flight before travel.
Pre Covid, the F cabins I sat in to JNB were full or almost full even in the Southern hemisphere winter. Not sure if they were all cash payers or Avios fares / operational upgrades, but I do not understand why they predict general demand (1 flight) to be so low and that they cannot make money out of an F-cabin at all?
Pre Covid, the F cabins I sat in to JNB were full or almost full even in the Southern hemisphere winter. Not sure if they were all cash payers or Avios fares / operational upgrades, but I do not understand why they predict general demand (1 flight) to be so low and that they cannot make money out of an F-cabin at all?
Jan 18, 2022, 1:40 am
#4
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Angus Scotland
Programs: BAEC Bronze, LH M&M
Posts: 177
You weren't the only excited one Surrey. I watched her take off last night and land this morning on flight radar. Some may say that is a bit sad, or even a lot sad, but I can't wait to be back under the big skies and away from all this madness here in the UK. I don't really care what aircraft takes me there, a Sopwith Camel would do as long as we get there safe and sound. Lol. Now all that has to happen is that our PCR tests are negative and we'll be heading down to JNB on Saturday night.
Jan 18, 2022, 2:16 am
#5
formerly Christopher Sutton
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 214
I don’t think it’s sad at all redrose59 ! I’d rather be passionate about something than not. I too watched it’s progress last night. ;-)
Safe and enjoyable flight on Saturday - which cabin? We’re upstairs in the front cabin in J.
Safe and enjoyable flight on Saturday - which cabin? We’re upstairs in the front cabin in J.
Jan 18, 2022, 3:43 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Central Scotland
Programs: BAEC Gold, Miles & More Silver, Privilege Club Silver
Posts: 544
You weren't the only excited one Surrey. I watched her take off last night and land this morning on flight radar. Some may say that is a bit sad, or even a lot sad, but I can't wait to be back under the big skies and away from all this madness here in the UK. I don't really care what aircraft takes me there, a Sopwith Camel would do as long as we get there safe and sound. Lol. Now all that has to happen is that our PCR tests are negative and we'll be heading down to JNB on Saturday night.
I don’t think it’s sad at all redrose59 ! I’d rather be passionate about something than not. I too watched it’s progress last night. ;-)
Safe and enjoyable flight on Saturday - which cabin? We’re upstairs in the front cabin in J.
Safe and enjoyable flight on Saturday - which cabin? We’re upstairs in the front cabin in J.
Next Tuesday for me and Mrs B, just desperate to finally get on a long haul flight after so many cancellations..
Enjoy your flights and your time in ZA, Cheers
Jan 18, 2022, 4:21 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Belfast
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 379
Jan 18, 2022, 4:34 am
#9
formerly Christopher Sutton
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 214
I’ll join that club,watched the departure on Flightradar24 glad that it is now the A390. Had many changes since originally booked.
Next Tuesday for me and Mrs B, just desperate to finally get on a long haul flight after so many cancellations..
Enjoy your flights and your time in ZA, Cheers
Next Tuesday for me and Mrs B, just desperate to finally get on a long haul flight after so many cancellations..
Enjoy your flights and your time in ZA, Cheers
Jan 18, 2022, 4:55 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: London
Programs: *A G, OW S.
Posts: 996
I didn't watch flightradar but yesterday I walked the river path between Kingston and Richmond and while I walked I saw 4 x A380s come over - 2 BA, 1 EK and 1 QR and I thought things were finally getting back to normal. Let's just see an end to testing and passenger locator forms.
Jan 18, 2022, 6:22 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 209
It also looks like the A380 returns on August 1st, followed by double daily A380 for the Winter 22-23 season. Subject to change of course.
Interested to know how that works with cargo. There’s a fairly sizeable movement of fresh food between SA and the U.K. (enough to maintain regular flights even when SA was on the red list for most of 2021). A full A380 has a lot less cargo capacity than a full 78/77, which is the main reason why a twin (or 747 back in the day) has always accompanied the A380 on cargo heavy routes pre-Covid.
Interested to know how that works with cargo. There’s a fairly sizeable movement of fresh food between SA and the U.K. (enough to maintain regular flights even when SA was on the red list for most of 2021). A full A380 has a lot less cargo capacity than a full 78/77, which is the main reason why a twin (or 747 back in the day) has always accompanied the A380 on cargo heavy routes pre-Covid.
Jan 18, 2022, 10:02 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: YUL
Programs: Super Elite 100K
Posts: 830
Wow! Cheap
Jan 18, 2022, 2:19 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,435
I’d much rather have something, anything with Club Suite than the meh A380. But at least it’s seen off the really grim 77W with last but one decades seat.
re cargo - a lot of the fruit comes from the Cape so I suspect the daily 3 class 777 from CPT is full. And BA enjoying charging a very high £/kg for it
re cargo - a lot of the fruit comes from the Cape so I suspect the daily 3 class 777 from CPT is full. And BA enjoying charging a very high £/kg for it
Jan 18, 2022, 2:36 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,221
Mixed feelings here! Our A350 to DXB with Club Suites was substituted for the A380. I’m happy to see the A380 back in service and there are far worse places to be than on the upper deck of the whale!
Last edited by TedToToe; Jan 18, 2022 at 2:37 pm Reason: Spelling!