MEX-LHR-MEX one off in July
Jul 15, 2020, 12:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,543
MEX-LHR-MEX one off in July
Hi, I've noticed that today BA243 is on route to Mexico, returning tomorrow night as BA242. I've noticed that only 5 seats booked on the return leg, but cannot see loads for today's flight inbound to Mex.
Any idea why BA would operate a one off, considing all flights in July and Aug on the route cancelled? Economy seats are going for upwards of 2k USD, which seems really odd. Unless there is a reasonable load on the flight today, I'm not sure why else they'd be operating it. Any ideas? Cargo?
Any idea why BA would operate a one off, considing all flights in July and Aug on the route cancelled? Economy seats are going for upwards of 2k USD, which seems really odd. Unless there is a reasonable load on the flight today, I'm not sure why else they'd be operating it. Any ideas? Cargo?
Jul 15, 2020, 12:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,364
BA have been running MEX cargo flights since mid May, not available for passenger bookings. I have absolutely no idea why they left only today's as available in both directions, as you say all others for the foreseeable future are still cargo only.
Jul 15, 2020, 12:37 pm
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
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Posts: 3,543
With such light loads, wonder if the economy seats will be covered in cargo and they'll stick everyone in the CW cabin. With only 5 seats booked on whole plane, can't imagine there being more than 15-20 passengers in total .
Jul 15, 2020, 1:13 pm
#7
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Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
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Posts: 3,543
Yeh, there is wide open avail across the next year. I've upgraded by Xmas flight to First, hoping that availability will open the other way too. I'm willing to go in First just to avoid sitting next to anyone 
Jul 15, 2020, 1:32 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,059
). I wonder if it’s not a case of how many pax, but who, is flying? Just a hypothesis anyway.
Jul 15, 2020, 2:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,364
You don't understand, they haven't laid on just one 787 flight to MEX. BA are flying to MEX 4 times a week at the moment, and have been since mid-May. These are using the normal BA243/242 flight number (externally anyway). These flights are not available for people to book. For some reason that we do not know, today's LHR-MEX and Friday's MEX-LHR were not cancelled for passenger operations and remained available for a handful of people scattered throughout CW/WTP/WT.
Jul 15, 2020, 2:07 pm
#11
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Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
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Posts: 3,543
I understand perfectly that they are flying cargo flights. But I'm curious as to why they have laid this on to allow passengers. It's even advertised on the FCO-linked website here that BA is providing this opportunity to passengers. My point you have highlighted relates to the presence of passengers on these flights, not to the general existence of 787s between the two countries. I'd have assumed cargo flights were not just using the bins below, but also the cabin (as observed on a number of videos). It just seems strange that all of a sudden there is a one off flight that opens the cabin the passengers.
Jul 15, 2020, 2:11 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,364
Don't assume. Those flights with cargo in the cabin were special medical supply flights from China carrying boxes of personal protective equipment etc. These MEX flights are just regular IAG cargo flights using a passenger aircraft.
Jul 15, 2020, 2:12 pm
#13
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Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,543
Yep, seems the likely case. Hopefully we'll see some regular passenger flights later in the year. For now, I'll resort to a quick look out the window to see it on approach later today.
Jul 15, 2020, 8:48 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2004
Programs: UA,EK,QF
Posts: 2
Hi, I've noticed that today BA243 is on route to Mexico, returning tomorrow night as BA242. I've noticed that only 5 seats booked on the return leg, but cannot see loads for today's flight inbound to Mex.
Any idea why BA would operate a one off, considing all flights in July and Aug on the route cancelled? Economy seats are going f or upwards of 2k USD, which seems really odd. Unless there is a reasonable load on the flight today, I'm not sure why else they'd be operating it. Any ideas? Cargo?
Any idea why BA would operate a one off, considing all flights in July and Aug on the route cancelled? Economy seats are going f or upwards of 2k USD, which seems really odd. Unless there is a reasonable load on the flight today, I'm not sure why else they'd be operating it. Any ideas? Cargo?
Jul 16, 2020, 12:00 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
I understand perfectly that they are flying cargo flights. But I'm curious as to why they have laid this on to allow passengers. It's even advertised on the FCO-linked website here that BA is providing this opportunity to passengers. My point you have highlighted relates to the presence of passengers on these flights, not to the general existence of 787s between the two countries. I'd have assumed cargo flights were not just using the bins below, but also the cabin (as observed on a number of videos). It just seems strange that all of a sudden there is a one off flight that opens the cabin the passengers.