Originally Posted by Dogmatick

As the majority of people on here seem to be ex-UK in their flight plans, it isn't remotely surprising that the prices have gone up. #Brexit anyone ? We lost over 20% of our currency last year and the knock on has happened, flight planning is largely done in $USD as is the fuel.

I believe that LHR also put a slight raise on their fees as well because, you know, it is such a slick operation there !

It is true though that it is a pull down from being up on high, their aircraft were almost all entirely new so haven't had time to age. Let's see if they retire them as fast as their peers or if they'll just let them age. Also let's see if they upgrade the interiors or do an EK and just sell on once too old to bother

The price model - bums on seats mentioned above doesn't always count for the premium passengers. I doubt Akalra1187 is alone in being picky about what they receive in F, many passengers look for F to be exactly this and will march - but also many will not. Just like the people who book the Residence and sleep the entire flight thereby not availing themselves of the splendour of what they booked.

The slump in oil prices made it very difficult for the ME3 to put in a price differential against the direct flying European carriers and so they lost out considerably. I booked a friend a return to DXB from LHR in Y for £276 in Jan this year, that's after the drop in the pound as well. That is how desperate the ME3 had become and how empty they were flying - it isn't a surprise therefore that they've had to look to remodel everything they do. Problem is the cost they've cut seem negligible to us but when Macro'ed up will make a huge difference.

In the late 80's BA took one olive out of the F class salads, saved them £40,000 over a year, think how many millions are saved by no amenity kits, no chauffeur etc. Look at LHR let us say only half (though likely more) had booked a Chauffeur, that's to and from the airport and they were paying the company some £70 each way. One flight is therefore 160 chauffeur movements (40 arriving and 40 departing returns). Three flights a day and that becomes 480 times £70 - £33,600 a day £12,264,000 a year just in LHR - then there's Paris Manchester Frankfurt Dusseldorf New York Washington LA etc etc etc

Sure my numbers may be a little out but I've only said half the flight of 81 seats so would likely be more and if you're an accountant looking for cuts then that is a massive global number - amounting to likely the cost of an airframe each year !

Originally Posted by akalra1187

Good point but if it is the difference between a full or empty business class it kind of changes. £33,600 a day expenses. Say that they make an average of £350 per business class seat sold LHR-AUH £168,000 if they're at half capacity, £336,000 at full capacity. It doesn't take much to realise that 33k off 336k is better than even £16,800 - £168,000.
Cut their numbers and they will cut the cuts.

Although I don't claim that my numbers are totally accurate, just my opinion but I don't think Etihad are paying an average of £70 per chauffeur, especially at wholesale rates. I don't know what the mileage cap was, but the majority of passengers would be coming from Central London, which is a £30 Uber to Heathrow. Retail. Consider that many other areas are also £30 or less at retail rates to LHR, Reading, Windsor, Slough, Woking, Guildford, the whole of W, SW and NW London, High Wycombe, Watford etc etc. Then you get the areas that will max out the mileage limit, I'm guessing Southampton or Ashford or Banbury or Cambridge, these might even touch £100 retail but numbers will be very insignificant compared to Central London.

Originally Posted by Dogmatick

Drivers told me many times that they receive £60-65 for a trip from London, less if it was the company's car - then they would still make that margin. Has to be a minimum of £70 to the airline then

Originally Posted by akalra1187

True, I guess Etihad should have negoated a more reasonable rate instead of cutting their service. Pretty crazy really, when a retail customer is paying £30-35 and an airline that should have a wholesale contract is paying £70. Heck even if they paid their drivers £10 an hour and used one year old E classes or A6s they would do better than £70 for a 16 mile journey!

Originally Posted by stargold

Which company carries you in a 5-series or E-class for £30-35 from LHR to the City?

Originally Posted by NoY

A fine question indeed....(unless of course it a knackered old smoker..of a Merc/Beemer)

Originally Posted by stargold

Or indeed, as is often the case when flying in F, even a 7-series or S-class?

And what kind of half decent chauffeur will be willing to work for £10 per hour?

Originally Posted by akalra1187

True, I guess Etihad should have negoated a more reasonable rate instead of cutting their service.

Originally Posted by thbe

And from this point of time there is no win for US, Europe and Asia in dealing with Arab countries any longer.

Originally Posted by stargold

Which company carries you in a 5-series or E-class for £30-35 from LHR to the City?

Originally Posted by akalra1187

Believe it or not Etihad understand priority queueing, try EVA to understand what it's like to queue like a Y passengers even though you're flying J.

Originally Posted by irishguy28

I'm not sure many would agree with you!

My last flight from AUH with EY, in F to GRU, saw me as one of the last to board. No priority queuing whatsoever and no way to bypass the hordes to get to the head of the queue.

By the way, "amenity" has only one M.

Originally Posted by JasperT

E-Class from LHR to St. James (Waterloo Place) cost me 45 pounds earlier this year through taxicode..

So, yeah, I would think EY could've done a lot better with a big contract..

Originally Posted by akalra1187

Sounds like you stayed at the Sofitel, to me that's the best value 5* in London.