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affendi osman

BA returns to KUL

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I'm surprised they aren't considering the suspension of one of the SYD services or altogether and replacing it with a QF codeshare. Probably still doing it for prestige reasons?

 

AFAIK BA11/12 are often jam packed so much so that that;s the route they're thinking of sending the A380 on. I'd have thought they'd try to create more capacity to SIN by stopping BA15/16 at SIN (or KUL) and turnaround from there.

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great news indeed affendi. I was always wondering when they would add on KUL to their terminator LHR-SIN flights.

hope they don't pull out at the last minute.

 

NH also do that KUL-SIN out for all their flights to NRT/KIX, while JL only do it for KIX...

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I'm surprised they aren't considering the suspension of one of the SYD services or altogether and replacing it with a QF codeshare. Probably still doing it for prestige reasons?
The capacity is needed, as QF don't have the a/c to operate it. Although you will notice that the BA15/16 (LHR-SIN-SYD rtn) is now opb 772 instead of 744.

 

Dennis ANA don't operate into KL, and from SIN only ops to NRT. Rest of their flights are codeshare with SQ

Edited by Liam Gibb

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The capacity is needed, as QF don't have the a/c to operate it. Although you will notice that the BA15/16 (LHR-SIN-SYD rtn) is now opb 772 instead of 744.

 

Yep flew BA15/16 in Sept SYD-SIN-SYD; the 772 is great for W. Terrible J cabin otoh - someone on FT called it a flying youth hostel.

 

The change from 744 to 772 for BA15/16 was apparently to open up more Club World seats as the 772 has more J capacity than the 744 does. BA11/12 gets absolutely rammed in F, J and even W due to the business traffic and it was a sound economic move for BA to terminate the continuation to MEL (but too bad for us based in MEL), replace it with a high capacity J 744 (which SIN-MEL or LHR-MEL would never support), and preserve the capacity for SIN.

 

But I'd still maintain while SYD has the load and reasonable yield, BA would do a lot better by sending the ac elsewhere with shorter turnarounds. This is why we lost BA17/18 to MEL; and I think when the capacity crunch really bites they'd pull one of the SYD services.

 

RE aircraft shortage - I'd have thought by 2009 all the new a/ç will be coming through for QF. The A380 will free some 744s, although I think QF is opening new routes with them like SCL instead of opening yet another SIN flight.

Edited by Keith T

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It would be interesting to see BA back at KUL, great for competition. It would also be interesting to find out how they will differentiate the service offered for F and C class passengers at this route.

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For those who don’t know me (most of you!) I'm from the UK and moved to KL 7 years ago, now work in Singapore but travel back to KL almost weekly because my wife is still based in there.

 

For many years BA was the pride of the UK and when I started regularly travelling around Europe in 1998 I felt a sense of pride that I was on a BA flight even if I was in Y class. I guess many of you feel the same when when travelling MAS although sadly its regional flights are in decline with ageing planes and cabin cutbacks.

 

After a short period of time including a few long hauls ex LHR to the US my opinion changed and I felt that BA was vastly over rated and the crew often treated people with contempt.

 

I have mixed feelings about BA return to KUL. Back in Sep 2000 I used them for my first flight to Malaysia and Asia when I started my new contract (and new life). If I remember correctly the flight was on a very busy 77x in C class and was trip was quite pleasant. As part of my deal back then I was given a ticket back to the UK 3 times a year and I remember the fist time I was to fly MAS in C class I was apprehensive as to whether it would as good etc etc.

 

That MAS flight and most other KUL-LHR's flights were excellent in either class with far better entertainment, service, food and leg room then BA have. I tried the premium economy cabin when I was upgraded to BKK about 3 years ago and apart from the leg room it was nothing special. I know BA have a very good C and F cabin but that is out of reach of most people

 

For BA to attract the premium passenger they will need to offer very competitive fares bacause most passengers want to go direct. For proof of this remember the poor F&C class loadings on the LHR-LGK-KUL and LHR-PEN-KUL flights.

 

BA's return will be great for KLIA and Malaysia in general and may even prompt MAS to be more competitive on the KUL-LHR route. Unless BA have very cheap flights I will always choose MAS, SIA and EK over BA.

 

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I agree that BA's Economy cabin is nothing to shout about. In fact the most uncomfortable flight I've ever taken in Y was on BA. The seats were excruciating for the 11 hr LHR-HKG flight. Sames goes for VS cattle truck.

 

Admittedly I've not been on bmi - but is it a British thing to have an appalling economy class? :p

 

*ducks*

 

Where BA shines is its Club World hard product. It was the first airline to introduced FULLY flat beds (ie not sloped) back in 1998, and has just got better with New Generation Club World. Club Kitchen is also an excellent innovation.

 

I wouldn't agree that BA's F is spectacular though. It's decent and BA did introduced fully flat beds in F very early on, but certainly other airlines have far surpassed BA in F.

 

As for service I think I do enjoy the BA service. It's a bit old fashioned, and I'd prefer something more relaxed like QF or SQ - but I've always been treated pretty well on BA. The crew is still sleek and professional.

 

But I do agree that BA no longer has an edge over its competitors due to numerous cost cuts. Catering has worsened a lot, and the choice of champagne is sometimes laughable.

 

The only reason I chose BA over QF for my trips to Asia is due to the Premium Economy cabin - it might not have much extra over Economy but I think the extra comfort beats any Economy seat and is worth it for the small premium. Plus the extra miles and Qpts for my AAdvantage account is always welcome. With QF coming up with a vastly more superior Premium Economy product though http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/trave.../premiumEconomy - it's back to QF for my trips to Asia where the duration is too short to justify Business or First. Plus QF flies directly out of MEL.

Edited by Keith T

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Keith

 

I generally agree with you I have to agree with you regarding the seats and despite holding a VS gold card (SQ and code shares :) ) I've never been unluckily enough to try the Y class. Short haul C class in a Club Europe is a joke with the seats less comfortable then a MAS 734 C class and the service not much better then Y class.

 

I've read on the VS forums that the premium economy seats offer the greatest returns (yield??) owing to the relatively low cost to the airline (smaller seats, Y class food and no lounge). Infact VS keeps increasing the cabin space for this class because its so popular. Yes the cost is a fair bit more but it does make a difference on a long flight.

 

I've mentioned before that it would be great idea for MAS because its main rivals (SQ, TG etc) don't have a premium economy cabin and it would also fit into the idea that its wants to focus more on leisure.

 

I'm not sure on the MAS load factor for F class but maybe its better to do away with F, improve C and introduce a premium economy cabin.

 

There is often an obsession in MY about lowest cost even if it means a slow and uncomfortable trip and AK is confirmation of this. Maybe the PE cabin wouldn’t work after all… not sure...

 

On another note I travelled in VS C class last January from PVG-LHR and had the best flight ever. The cabin, food and service were excellent and with a nice quiet A346 a/c.

 

For me the bar was highlight because it was nice to get out of the seat (bed) and socialise at the bar, making the time fly by. On another point the in-flight massage and the sleeper suits were also a nice touch.

 

Sorry I digress - back to BA and KUL…….

 

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Short haul C class in a Club Europe is a joke with the seats less comfortable then a MAS 734 C class and the service not much better then Y class.

 

Well that is the problem with short haul C Class in all european carriers. They use standard Y-Seats, but leave the seat next to you free (if its a 3-in-a-row) or just don't change anything. Lufthansa has a system where the middle seat cann be made smaller so to give a little more space to the passengers sitting besides it...it's just a joke.

 

And so is catering. Catering in Y has more or less ceased to exist, and C catering nowadys is probably what was average in Y some years ago.

The only advantage of flying C in Europe is the higher flexibility in rebooking and the lounge access (But mind you, Lufthansa business class lounges do NOT have complimentary internet access - you have to pay for that.....)

 

So allthough Mas 737 C looks a bit dated, it's about 500% better than anything we are used here in Europe.

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So allthough Mas 737 C looks a bit dated, it's about 500% better than anything we are used here in Europe.

 

Yep I agree with you there :yahoo:

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Keith

 

I've mentioned before that it would be great idea for MAS because its main rivals (SQ, TG etc) don't have a premium economy cabin and it would also fit into the idea that its wants to focus more on leisure.

 

SQ has the Executive Economy class (which is a premium economy class) onboard their A340-500... :rolleyes: but ony on selected routes (to LAX & EWR) only...

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While not directly related to the topic... I just scored an elusive seat in FIRST on BA for SYD-BKK on mileage redemption. :yahoo:

 

Was searching for a HKG-MEL-HKG F award with AAdvantage. Got HKG-SYD-MEL on the outbound with QF; unfortunately the more direct options were out on the return as neither QF nor CX had F award seats on the long haul (not even via SIN or SYD). But after several minutes of furious tappity tap action on the keyboard, the lovely AAgent managed to find seats on MEL-SYD-BKK-HKG on QF/BA/CX in that order. Gives me a free night in BKK too as I arrive at 10pm and don't leave till 1600 the next day.

Edited by Keith T

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BA are smart in using this SIN terminator to return to KUL. BA normally use their flights through SIN / BKK to head to Australia in some way or form. HKG flights are terminators though. But that's only because HKG is a BIG One World hub. If BA flew into KUL directly, there'd have to be some decent return on it. With MH saying that their LHR route isn't giving a good return, I am not surprised to see BA route it via Singapore.

 

Still to be made official but it'd be nice to see another carrier when I go to KL for plane spotting here and there.

 

Alex.

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MH's problem is that they don't LISTEN. the higher prices will drive away the pax to other airlines who have a one-stop service to KUL. i am one of them. IJ thinks that he is smart - but increasing prices and selling planes is only a short term measure for an airline with crap financial standing.

 

 

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