BA upgrades Kangaroo Route to Boeing 777-300ER, shifts flights to T5!

[Platinum A332]

Changes from March 30 2013.

Link: BA upgrades Kangaroo Route to new Boeing 777, shifts to Heathrow T5 - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[ozmille]

That is good move, will make transfers to other BA flights so much easier. If they could now also move their BKK flights to T5 I would be extremely happy (preferably before January ).

They have not updated the flights in the GDS yet.

 

[futaris]

Does this mean New First (NF) all the time on the 77W?

British Airways route overview - FT Dashboard

 

[TonyHancock]

Good and bad! I'll be pleased to avoid T3 and utilise the BA Arrivals lounge in T5 as well as the decent F lounge for departure.

Not so happy about losing 64A on the 747 for the school dorm that is J on the 777.

 

[JohnPhelan]

That is good move, will make transfers to other BA flights so much easier. If they could now also move their BKK flights to T5 I would be extremely happy (preferably before January ).

They have not updated the flights in the GDS yet.

I suspect they will have to move the BKK flight, as that would then be the only BA flight ex T3 - unless they move the handful of T1 flights to T3. At the moment, BA flights are spread over T1, T3 and T5, which was never the concept. Consolidating to two terminals would have to be the way to go, so I'd be betting that either T1 or T3 will go.

But good news for those of us who can now fly to LHR via SIN; I've been going via HKG so I can use T5. Not happy about the 777 though, much prefer the 747. I wonder if BA will put its forthcoming A380s on the SYD run?

 

[The Rok]

It won't be T1 as this is where all UK & IRL flights are handled. Shifting them to T5 which is an international terminal would just slow things down,

I suspect BA will shift all INTL flights from T3 to T5 and leave themselves with just 2 terminals.

T1 may get a makeover of upgrade though.

 

[anat0l]

This is actually pretty good and works nicely with the BA codeshares (which, for those against the QF/EK tie up, will give some satisfactory options). A transfer within the same terminal, especially at T5, is a whole lot better than the T3/T5 transfer.

That said, there are still a handful of routes which BA has at T3 besides BKK, SIN and SYD. Definitely would work best for BA to consolidate T1 and T3 operations to one terminal, or even better completely consolidate at T5 (though that said I doubt there is room currently at T5). T1 is slated to be Star Alliance's terminal, so perhaps BA will move off that.

 

[Princess Fiona]

It won't be T1 as this is where all UK & IRL flights are handled. Shifting them to T5 which is an international terminal would just slow things down,

I suspect BA will shift all INTL flights from T3 to T5 and leave themselves with just 2 terminals.

T1 may get a makeover of upgrade though.

There are multiple BA UK domestic flights from T5.
I think this is great news for arrivals into LHR. Not so good on the way out for the shopaholics amongst us as T3 has the only Chanel boutique in Heathrow
I'm also very anti- 777 and agree with TonyHancock about the J flying dorm

 

[anat0l]

There are multiple BA UK domestic flights from T5.

Certainly are; the only key ones out of T1 are DUB flights, which are operated by Aer Lingus anyway. And of course all the leftover from BA taking over BD.

I think this is great news for arrivals into LHR. Not so good on the way out for the shopaholics amongst us as T3 has the only Chanel boutique in Heathrow

Don't you have better things to do at the airport than shop? :mrgreen:

I'm also very anti- 777 and agree with TonyHancock about the J flying dorm

I didn't know that there were people against the 777 when so many herald it as a great aircraft (form factor, comfort, fuel burn, economy of scale); so much so that the demand for the aircraft (notwithstanding it's biggest customer, EK) is tremendous.

Upper deck Club World is definitely something to miss, however.

Bring on BA's A380s... though I suspect that'll be much the same zoo as depicted in today's main deck Club World (except perhaps less dense, e.g. 2-2-2, or 1-4-1) unless BA take on a new Club product. Also, with TATL much more of a bigger fish to BA (or any Euro carrier for that matter), its likely that new aircraft will be on that market sooner than Australia. Oh, and add to the queue in front of Australia: North Asia, India, South Africa.....

 

[TonyHancock]

Upper deck Club World is definitely something to miss, however.

Have to disagree big time there! 64A is as good a J seat as I have ever had. (Mind you I dislike 5A on a QF A380 so there is probably no hope for me )

Well the changes have filtered through to bookings. I have opted for 16A on my July 2013 return to Blighty. I'm really not sure whether this is good or bad. :-| I am certainly appreciative of T5 though.

 

[amaroo]

Does this mean New First (NF) all the time on the 77W?

British Airways route overview - FT Dashboard

I believe you are correct and easy classic awards Sad to see 744 out the backdoor.....

Also CCR will be the real F lounge:!:

 

[anat0l]

Have to disagree big time there! 64A is as good a J seat as I have ever had.

Whoops - that came out the wrong way. I meant to say that upper deck CW is something that I would miss for sure when the BA 747s go away... apart from that, not much else of the 747 CW is much different to the 777 CW.

(Mind you I dislike 5A on a QF A380 so there is probably no hope for me )

You dislike the most private of the 14 F seats on the A380 (albeit usually the bassinet position)?

 

[TonyHancock]

You dislike the most private of the 14 F seats on the A380 (albeit usually the bassinet position)?

I tried 5A and it seemed very private....but then I had an op up I finished up in an F (as in middle) seat 6 months ago and saw just how much it looked into A. :shock: I'm a 3K convert and I guess a bit of a veteran now.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I think BA11/12 that terminates in SIN will still get a 744? If you miss it that much, you still have the option to jump onto that one at SIN.

 

[docjames]

Great to go into T5.

The date is no coincidence....

 

[Andyzx]

So we get an extra 4 J seats, 8 W (Y+) seats per flight and new F guaranteed for those FASA's and JASA's
Y+ is the improved version, not as good as QF. Airline Review: British Airways Premium Economy: "economy plus" not "business minus" - Airlines | flights | hotels | travel tech | style | apps - Australian Business Traveller
747's on BA 11/12 ex SIN for the upstairs J night flights 64K here we come
T5 lounges and connections, i have noticed a lot more connections comming to T5 from T1 too British Airways News - Latest BA News

Seems on balance to be a good thing.

 

[MrJetset]

I prefer F on the 777. 1A and 1K are much better, particularly for the buddy seat.

The CCR is really not that much greater than T5 GF, it's just the access restriction that hype it up. The Cabanas, however, are useful for a long layover.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The CCR is really not that much greater than T5 GF, it's just the access restriction that hype it up. The Cabanas, however, are useful for a long layover.

I preferred the CCR because it felt quieter and I liked sitting out on the terrace. Ms FM much preferred the standard F lounge as there were more things she liked -crisps, scones etc.... Very happy to see the move to T5 though.

 

[TonyHancock]

I preferred the CCR because it felt quieter and I liked sitting out on the terrace. Ms FM much preferred the standard F lounge as there were more things she liked -crisps, scones etc.... Very happy to see the move to T5 though.

I'll certainly "suffer" J on the 777 in exchange for the move to T5.

 

[elbarto]

Does this mean New First (NF) all the time on the 77W?

British Airways route overview - FT Dashboard

Not to mention improved Y and Y+ cabins

I suspect they will have to move the BKK flight, as that would then be the only BA flight ex T3 - unless they move the handful of T1 flights to T3. At the moment, BA flights are spread over T1, T3 and T5, which was never the concept. Consolidating to two terminals would have to be the way to go, so I'd be betting that either T1 or T3 will go.

But good news for those of us who can now fly to LHR via SIN; I've been going via HKG so I can use T5. Not happy about the 777 though, much prefer the 747. I wonder if BA will put its forthcoming A380s on the SYD run?

I wouldn't count on BA moving too many flights to T1. Once phase 1 of Terminal 2 is complete, T1 is being demolished. I believe in the long term plan T3 will be demolished and replaced with a mirror image of T5 with them both being linked.