The Great British Airways Rip-off

margaret_3

This is a fascinating thread BUT you all think that everyone flies from Heathrow or Gatwick.
How about addressing the problems and expense of internal flights also?
Margaret

MarkyMarkD

nelly wrote:

be carefull what if your luggage stays with the plane, we flew from cle through chicago to manchester and didnt see our luggage till we got home, tell em your wife has broke her leg and you have to stay

That's why Yek said "carrying only hand baggage".

MarkyMarkD

margaret wrote:

This is a fascinating thread BUT you all think that everyone flies from Heathrow or Gatwick.
How about addressing the problems and expense of internal flights also?
Margaret

Some of the airlines do "add on" fares for internal flights - including BA IIRC. It's not THAT expensive to fly from Scotland to Gatwick by a low cost airline, in order to catch your onward flight, as long as you book plenty in advance.

I think more the point is that there are too many flights from the south east compared to the population - huge numbers of people are forced to travel from "London" (I use that term loosely) airports even though they have their own airports far closer.

Yeknodathon

MarkyMarkD wrote:

I think more the point is that there are too many flights from the south east compared to the population - huge numbers of people are forced to travel from "London" (I use that term loosely) airports even though they have their own airports far closer.

And also from continental European flights too! Take for instance one trip I found. Get to Amersterdam to pick up a flight back to Heathrow for a transfer to Gatwick and then off to USA and still cheaper than a direct flight but obviously loads of hassle even with hand baggage.

budgetflyer

Airlines only fly from London because that is cost effective. A quick look of the map will show you that "The midlands" is pretty far South in relation to the whole UK.
Like Birmingham is only 100 miles from London really so to me it makes sense to have the most flights from where they will sell the most seats easier. half your UK population can get to London Stansted or Luton within 3 hours so it is obviouse that there will be the best flight choice and prices to anywhere.
Glasgow and Edinburgh are closer in reality to New York and Toronto than London but prices are dearer. Theres just not the competition to drive prices down.

welsh_wonder_2

have you tried cardiff airport low cost canadian airline operates from there to toronto

budgetflyer

yea its Zoom. What the man wants is for BA to cut their price in a market they feel they dont need to.If no one was flying BA to Toronto then the price would drop (surely?)

cougar_3

As someone said earlier, it does work both ways. I was looking at flights to Dubai from Birmingham.

BHX -> DXB was £600 direct for us Brits
BHX -> MXP -> DXB £330 (via Milan)
MXP -> DXB £600 direct for Italians

It does work both ways, but the EU should do seomthing about the extra pollution caused by taking two flights instead of one.

alanrowell

budgetflyer wrote:

Airlines only fly from London because that is cost effective.

Cost effective for whom, not the Nothern passenger. I wonder how many of the people going through the London airports do so merely to connect with another flight. Of course it also means the airline can charge for 2 flights instead of one.

rubia1409_2

I work for BA and we are NOT rude to our passengers, however we do not accept or put up with passengers who are rude to us. As for the breakfast and one free drink, well you do not have to eat the breakfast and you can have as many free drinks as you wish time permitting and as long as you are not drunk (which is a legal offense). One last point, whichever airline you fly with, if you are polite and pleasant to the crew they will be the same to you, and remember don't bite the hand that feeds you!