Bits: BA frequency changes, BA GGL Heathrow Express upgrades, Qatar launches Gatwick and an Eco sale

News in brief:

British Airways announces Winter frequency changes

British Airways published this consolidated list of Winter services changes on Tuesday.  These take effect from 28th October.

Not all of this list is new but I think most of it is.  There will be additional Avios seats available to the places on the ‘Frequency Increases’ list so if you have previously struggled to find seats on weeks you wanted, look again.  Larnaca, Malaga and Las Palmas are worth a look – especially the latter where weekly flights double to two!

Some of you are also going to find that you are on flights which are now cancelled.  Some changes are trivial (Frankfurt drops from 46 to 45 per week!) whilst others are not.

Bilbao is the biggest loser with a 50% cut in service. Palermo is dropped entirely.  BA will eventually notify you but if you check yourself now you have the best chance of being rerouted on the service you want.

Nassau and Grand Cayman see the Tuesday flight move to a Monday, whilst the Monday flight to Nashville moves to Tuesday and the Saturday flight moves to Sunday.

The move of Warsaw from T3 to T5 will be a disappointment to anyone hoping to enjoy the Cathay Pacific or Qantas lounges!

TERMINAL MOVE
Warsaw (WAW) from London Heathrow Terminal 3 to London Heathrow Terminal 5

FREQUENCY INCREASES
Prague (PRG) – increase frequency from 27 flights to 34 flights per week
Barcelona (BCN) – increase frequency from 46 flights to 53 flights per week
Budapest (BUD) – increase frequency from 20 flights to 23 flights per week
Gibraltar (GIB) – increase frequency from 9 flights to 13 flights per week
Berlin (TXL) – increase frequency from 53 flights to 55 flights per week
Zurich (ZRH) – increase frequency from 42 flights to 44 flights per week
Larnaca (LCA) – increase frequency from 7 flights to 10 flights per week
Malaga (AGP) – increase frequency from 4 flights to 6 flights per week
Las Palmas (LPA) – increase frequency from 1 flight to 2 per week
Vienna (VIE) – increase frequency from 34 flights to 36 flights per week
Lyon (LYS) – increase frequency from 21 flights to 23 flights per week
Rome (FCO) – increase frequency from 41 flights to 42 flights per week
Miami (MIA) – additional daily flight totalling 3 daily flights in each direction from 28 October 2018

FREQUENCY DECREASES
Warsaw (WAW) – reduce frequency from 14 flights to 13 flights per week
Newcastle (NCL) – reduce frequency from 41 flights to 34 flights per week
Aberdeen (ABZ) – reduce frequency from 53 flights to 47 flights per week
Glasgow (GLA) – reduce frequency from 60 flights to 58 flights per week
Bilbao (BIO) – reduce frequency from 14 flights to 7 flights per week
Paris (CDG) reduce frequency from 53 flights to 47 flights per week
Reykjavik (KEF) – reduce frequency from 14 flights to 11 flights per week
Stuttgart (STR) – reduce frequency from 14 flights to 13 flights per week
Stockholm (ARN) – reduce frequency from 34 flights to 33 flights per week
Frankfurt (FRA) – reduce frequency from 46 flights to 45 flights per week
Dallas (DFW) – reduce from a daily service to 6 flights per week from 28 October 2018

CHANGE OF DAY
Innsbruck (INN) – reduce by one Wednesday frequency and add one Tuesday frequency
Luxembourg (LUX) – reduce by one Saturday frequency and add one Friday frequency
Nashville (BNA) – day change from Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
Nassau (NAS) / Grand Cayman (GCM) – day change from Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday to Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday 

ROUTE SUSPENSION
Palermo (PMO) – service suspended during Winter only (2 flights per week suspended)

In a separate announcement, British Airways is suspending the twice-weekly service to Luanda, Angola.  The last flight will be 7th June.

Heathrow Express / BA Gold Guest List upgrade deal confirmed

ba.com has recently been updated to confirm that the offer of free First Class upgrades on Heathrow Express for British Airways Gold Guest List members is continuing.

At least until 31st July.

There is nothing to do to take advantage of this offer.  Simply buy a standard class Heathrow Express ticket and sit in one of the First Class carriages.  You need to show your Gold Guest List membership card to the guard.

Note that Heathrow Express staff have been retrained and will now only accept BAEC membership cards with the letters GGL in the corner.  For the last year or so they have been allowing anyone with a Gold card to sit in First Class ……

Full details of this deal are on ba.com here.

Qatar Airways launches Gatwick service plus week long ‘book early’ sale

Qatar Airways has landed in Gatwick. On Tuesday the inaugural flight from Doha to London Gatwick was welcomed with a celebratory water arch. The new twice daily service will be operated by a Boeing 787 and increases to 16 flights per week service over the Summer season.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said about the new route:

“Qatar Airways is delighted to be expanding its reach in both London and throughout the U.K. Earlier this month, we launched direct flights to Cardiff, the capital of Wales, clearly demonstrating our continued commitment to this market. We are very proud of our strong and extensive trade ties with the U.K. and look forward to offering our loyal passengers the chance to explore the newest and most exciting destinations within our global network.”

Early Bird promotion

Qatar Airways has also launched an Early Bird promotion for travel later this year.

Book by 29th May for travel between 15th August 2018 and 31st March 2019 to get fares from £391 (Delhi) in Economy.

The travel period for flights departing London is slightly more restricted, running from 1st September 2018 until 31st March 2019.

There’s a blackout period between 13th December 2018 and 13st January 2019 inclusive.

The booking page and T&Cs are here.

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