BA191 to Austin
Jan 25, 23, 7:30 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: American Life Time 2 Million Mile Platinum
Posts: 277
Originally Posted by marmitelondoner
Im flying next Thursday, 2 Feb. Ill look closer to the time.
I flew AA 731to Charlotte 10 Jan.
On EF and AA my whole row in economy was empty for the month I watched, right up until I checked in on the 10th. I planned on using it as an ersatz "lie flat bed". Well, when I checked in and cleared security, and went to the T3 lounge all the seats were taken, my bed gone!
Facing almost 9 hours in economy, I went to the desk angels and was able to upgrade to J for $900 and get a real lie flat bed
.Moral of the story: what looks empty for almost a month became completely full on the day of the flight so be prepared for that possibility and do what is good for you.
Jan 25, 23, 9:00 am
#17
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Alicante. Spain
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 17,718
Originally Posted by Magnum9
I don’t understand the allure of Austin at all. I had to attend the Forrester Summit there last May and given how awful the weather was then I can’t imagine what June, July, August & September are like. It’s landlocked and suffers from ungodly humidity. This is the time to go and nobody’s going.
Look at tomorrow’s VS231 LHR-AUS - WIDE OPEN.
Thursday’s (Jan 26th) KL667 AMS-AUS - Even
worse than VS!
How are BA, VS, KL etc making any money flying empty planes over and slightly less empty planes back on 10-hour flights westbound and 9-hours eastbound? Do they enjoy throwing money into the fire and watching it burn?
Look at tomorrow’s VS231 LHR-AUS - WIDE OPEN.
Thursday’s (Jan 26th) KL667 AMS-AUS - Even
worse than VS!
How are BA, VS, KL etc making any money flying empty planes over and slightly less empty planes back on 10-hour flights westbound and 9-hours eastbound? Do they enjoy throwing money into the fire and watching it burn?
Jan 25, 23, 9:14 am
#18
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,011
Originally Posted by Magnum9
I dont understand the allure of Austin at all. I had to attend the Forrester Summit there last May and given how awful the weather was then I cant imagine what June, July, August & September are like. Its landlocked and suffers from ungodly humidity. This is the time to go and nobodys going.
To the OP:
I've taken BA 191 and 190 several times. The least empty was in October 2021, when travelers from the US were able to leave, but most travelers from elsewhere couldn't come in. I think we had about 10 in the entire business cabin, and the FA's were very energetic (plus it was on Halloween, and they had never been in the USA for that before).
Otherwise, I agree with everyone else. While the flight might not be filled to the gills, I'd expect the load to be 70-80%. Have you looked at the return AUS-LHR flight? If BA cancels the outbound, then the inbound is also impacted.
And feel free to give me a shout if you need any ideas for things to do once here. Or check out the Texas forum (there's links in my signature).
Jan 25, 23, 12:40 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Marriott Titanium (LT Silver), UA Gold (*G), DL Silver, Makers Mark Ambassador
Posts: 3,381
Originally Posted by aztimm
Things are just horrible here in Austin. Best to just stay away. It gets cold in the winter, and the electric grid is not reliable. Summer has brutal heat and humidity. And the traffic... Yes, best to just stay away.
Jan 25, 23, 1:03 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 24
Originally Posted by Magnum9
I dont understand the allure of Austin at all. I had to attend the Forrester Summit there last May and given how awful the weather was then I cant imagine what June, July, August & September are like. Its landlocked and suffers from ungodly humidity. This is the time to go and nobodys going.
Look at tomorrows VS231 LHR-AUS - WIDE OPEN.
Thursdays (Jan 26th) KL667 AMS-AUS - Even
worse than VS!
How are BA, VS, KL etc making any money flying empty planes over and slightly less empty planes back on 10-hour flights westbound and 9-hours eastbound? Do they enjoy throwing money into the fire and watching it burn?
Look at tomorrows VS231 LHR-AUS - WIDE OPEN.
Thursdays (Jan 26th) KL667 AMS-AUS - Even
worse than VS!
How are BA, VS, KL etc making any money flying empty planes over and slightly less empty planes back on 10-hour flights westbound and 9-hours eastbound? Do they enjoy throwing money into the fire and watching it burn?
Jan 25, 23, 2:38 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,064
Originally Posted by Never Stansted
BA won’t cancel an individual flight because of low loads but the combined posts above probably suggest this route might not last forever. Depends how much it’s subsidised, though - there may be a significant contribution from local government / tourist boards etc. Hope it lasts until I fly it in May, anyway!
Jan 25, 23, 2:49 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Marriott Titanium (LT Silver), UA Gold (*G), DL Silver, Makers Mark Ambassador
Posts: 3,381
Originally Posted by Ldnn1
The route has been around for many years now and has consistently been reported as a highly successful one for BA, especially with the cargo contribution. It began life on the 788 and has generally been flown with larger aircraft since then. I'd be surprised if it didn't last a long time. The issue now (to the extent there is an issue at all) may be that because it has been well-performing for BA for a while, the competition has moved in.
BA is currently flying it with a A35K but it has been on a 77W and 772 as well in the last month.
Jan 25, 23, 3:46 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Silver/MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz 5* Gold
Posts: 6,639
Most of the comments and observations are are unrepresentative and uninformed. Sure Austin gets hot, but nothing like Houston, Dallas, or Phoenix. Flight loads to and from a lot of places are relatively light this time of year, so I would not extrapolate from some uncrowded flights in January to a poor performing year round route. There is also the issue of the ongoing problems at LHR. I know folks who have elected to not take the BA flight in order to avoid connecting there.
Most AUS-LHR and LHR-AUS flights I have been on were very full, including trips on the 747, and including a late November 2022 round trip. The least loaded flight was a January 2016 LHR-AUS flight. Probably less than half full in CW. Seven years later the route is still running daily year round.
WRT the OP's question, seat maps in BA are pretty useless until T-24. Prior to that, the only folks who have selected seats are higher level elites and those who chose to pay exorbitant seating fees.
Most AUS-LHR and LHR-AUS flights I have been on were very full, including trips on the 747, and including a late November 2022 round trip. The least loaded flight was a January 2016 LHR-AUS flight. Probably less than half full in CW. Seven years later the route is still running daily year round.
WRT the OP's question, seat maps in BA are pretty useless until T-24. Prior to that, the only folks who have selected seats are higher level elites and those who chose to pay exorbitant seating fees.
Jan 25, 23, 3:57 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Marriott Titanium (LT Silver), UA Gold (*G), DL Silver, Makers Mark Ambassador
Posts: 3,381
Originally Posted by Stripe
WRT the OP's question, seat maps in BA are pretty useless until T-24. Prior to that, the only folks who have selected seats are higher level elites and those who chose to pay exorbitant seating fees.
Jan 25, 23, 4:26 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS, DL miles & BA Avios, a few UA miles left, former CO Plat Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 10,286
Originally Posted by wakesetter93
Yes, please stay away from Austin. It is a horrible, terrible, no-good place.
And we are looking forward to our flights with BA later this year between AUS and LHR in the front cabin of the airplane. I just hope our flights will be on board the A350 as that is the equipment currently indicated on the BA website.
Jan 26, 23, 4:09 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 565
Originally Posted by marmitelondoner
Im flying next Thursday to Austin, TX from LHR. Ive just checked the seatmap on ExpertFlyer and it looks super quiet. Six in Club, five in PE and 14 in Economy.
Austin becomes hugely busy when it's hosting SXSW, Austin City Limits or the F1, but much quieter at other times. It's not really a traditional tourist destination and despite being a modern tech hub, a lot of US companies are still not proactively doing a lot of face-to-face meetings (my friend works for Amazon in Austin and they still only go in 1 day a week) as the habit was lost after 2020 and a lot of people situated around the country.
My UK company has a US HQ in Santa Barbara, I'm over in April, tried to round up the troops for a meeting and almost no-one works at the HQ anymore. Almost not worth me bothering!
No, the flight won't be cancelled either.
