Equipment Changes
Jul 16, 2014 | 9:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Israel/United States
Programs: ElAl - Plat.
Posts: 1,288
Equipment Changes
I just received notification that my flight 008 on the 22nd was changed from a 747 to a 777. I guess that means there have been enough cancellations to warrant a smaller aircraft! Not good. ( and I hate sitting downstairs
Jul 16, 2014 | 5:05 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC Area
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,312
That's not necessarily true. I recently read an article which stated that cancellations to Israel are very light despite the current ongoing situation. The 744 fleet is stretched thin during this period and are booked solid with not much turn around time. They are even using 4X-ELE to JFK now even though EL AL advertised all JFK bound flights have the upgraded premium seats and this particular a/c does not. The a/c change could have occurred for a variety of reasons including moving up a required m/x check for an a/c.
Jul 17, 2014 | 3:45 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 13,004
You only have to take a look at the loads.
On BA for example redemption seats are wide open this week every day and in every class including F - not usual at all, nor were these seats available a couple of weeks ago...
Jul 17, 2014 | 6:52 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Israel/United States
Programs: ElAl - Plat.
Posts: 1,288
I also highly doubt the flight would have been full. The 008 is ALWAYS a 747. The 20th is a Tuesday so you do not have the passengers returning home for the weekend. It is a tourist flight. Speaking with friends in the tourism business, it is unfortunately full of cancellations. BTW I am not familiar with the 777 fleet. Do they all have the "improved" business seats or am I again on a slant? Anything else I need to know?
Jul 17, 2014 | 7:03 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: LY-PL, A3-*G
Posts: 1,806
I also highly doubt the flight would have been full. The 008 is ALWAYS a 747. The 20th is a Tuesday so you do not have the passengers returning home for the weekend. It is a tourist flight. Speaking with friends in the tourism business, it is unfortunately full of cancellations. BTW I am not familiar with the 777 fleet. Do they all have the "improved" business seats or am I again on a slant? Anything else I need to know?
Jul 19, 2014 | 9:19 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC Area
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,312
I also highly doubt the flight would have been full. The 008 is ALWAYS a 747. The 20th is a Tuesday so you do not have the passengers returning home for the weekend. It is a tourist flight. Speaking with friends in the tourism business, it is unfortunately full of cancellations.
"Richard Krieger, president of tour operator IsramWorld, said, “Thankfully, we have witnessed very few individual cancellations and no cancellations with regards to groups … [and] we have not seen a slowdown in inquiries for future travel.” However, the the other people interviewed did state that while current cancellations have not been numerous, inquiries for future bookings are down.