Does British Airways have a hub on the east coast? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!



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Old 12-09-2005, 08:17 PM   #1
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Just want to explore my options. Looking at the possibility of getting an inexpensive flight to BA's hub and saving some money on both flights (in the US and to the UK).
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Old 12-09-2005, 09:14 PM   #2
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JFK, I believe. Maybe O'Hare.

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Old 12-10-2005, 02:26 AM   #3
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BA won't have any flights within the US, unless they're on partner airlines' codeshare.. foreign operators can't fly within the US, I'm afraid. With some exceptions, foreign airlines fly to their "home" country before flying elsewhere. For example, if you take BA to Spain, you'll fly to London first, then to Spain, and then most likely on their partner, Iberia... weird, protectionist rules out there.
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Old 12-10-2005, 09:52 AM   #4
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I think American Airlines codeshares with BA, meaning you can check luggage through to your destination using a combo of the two airlines and you can get frequent flyer miles for either/or. I do know BA fly direct to Boston and NYC from Heathrow. Probably O'Hare as well and likely more.


Coming soon to the states will be Virgin American.
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Old 12-10-2005, 09:55 AM   #5
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I know for sure BA has two non-stops between SFO and LHR every day as well...

The new lo-cost Virgin airline should be cool if it's anything like Virgin Blue in Oz. And it'll be hubbed outta SFO. Sweet!
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Old 12-10-2005, 10:33 AM   #6
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oh ok so the SFO flight is a nonstop? I thought it would stop somewhere on the east coast. Flies over asia then?

I'm in northern california, so a SFO flight is definately my first choice
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Old 12-10-2005, 10:38 AM   #7
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^No, it will cross the the U.S. or Canada heading East. Should be a 10 or 11 hour flight.
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Old 12-10-2005, 01:41 PM   #8
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I don't know if it makes us a "hub", but there's a direct flight from here (Seattle) to LHR as well. It makes an arc over Canada and Greenland.
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Old 12-10-2005, 06:40 PM   #9
 
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As Omisan said, there's no real "hub" for any international carrier in the United States because of restrictions. For obvious reasons, I'd say the most BA flights originate or terminate in the NY-metro area airports (JFK, LGA, EWR).

If you give us an idea of where you want to fly (from where) and when, we can perhaps give you suggestions, Resolve.
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Old 12-10-2005, 07:01 PM   #10
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Pretty much going from San Francisco (SFO) to london (LHR)
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Old 12-11-2005, 03:50 AM   #11
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BA and Virgin fly from SFO to LHR nonstop... BA has two flights, one in the late afternoon, one in the early evening, and Virgin has an afternoon flight - they all land sometime around mid-morning in London.

Because this is a competitive route, flight prices will be almost identical, although right now BA is slightly lower. With BA you'll get more legroom and better food, as well as more drinks. Virgin gives you *much* better entertainment, amenities kit, and gorgeous flight attendants.

If this route is something you'll do at least several times, I'd recommend taking Virgin - they have a ridiculously easy frequent flyer program and it only takes 40k miles to earn a free trip to London. If it's a one time thing, you'll probably enjoy BA more.

You can also book a nonstop via Continental, but it's actually a codeshare for that same Virgin flight, VS20.

I believe US Airways has a nonstop between SFO and LHR, as well...

(I do this trip once or twice a year, typically, in case you were wondering)
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Old 12-13-2005, 09:08 AM   #12
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Ah, probably going to go with the legroom with BA. I stand 6'3 and that means legroom is usually at a premium for me. I'll take what I can get

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Old 12-13-2005, 10:30 AM   #13
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If you can fly Virgin Atlantic, I highly recommend them. I am not sure legroom is much different from BA. Virgin offers on-demand movies in coach (50 were available on my last flight with them), nice new planes, attractive flight attendants (sorry, but its true!). The BA planes I have been on were not nearly as nice, nor did they offer the amenities.
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Old 12-13-2005, 10:48 AM   #14
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It depends on the route... since SFO-LHR is one of their longer hauls and a competitive route, BA has pretty nice new planes with individual screens, etc. The BA 747s on that route have about 3" more leg room and a tiny bit more pitch than the Virgin 747s. Although they both run 747s, Virgin appears to have roomier lavatories. Like I said, I've studied the shit out of these routes

Although I recommended BA for a one-timer, as someone who does it regularly, I choose Virgin flights 19/20 because of the on-demand entertainment, far hotter FAs, and above all, the frequent flyer program. That and Virgin's just hipper and cooler.

If you want to compare amenities kits, just for fun... These are on the West Coast-London trips. Other points of origin will vary.

BA: Toothbrush, toothpaste, scented sleeping mask, ear plugs, socks
Virgin: Toothbrush, toothpaste, sleeping mask, ear plugs, headphones you get to keep, ballpoint pen. (Notepad and wet wipes in "large" amenity kit on some flights)

If you fly Upper Class (aka business) on Virgin, you'll also get a sleep suit - basically a set of cotton pajamas - and they're sooooo soft and comfy. I'm a few thousand miles away from such luxury, but baby, when I've racked up enough miles, watch out!

If you're a Duty Free shopping type, both have good in-air catalogs with some decent deals - better than shopping @ London prices.

If you're a heavy drinker, Virgin might disappoint you. (Although they do have an on-plane bar for front-of-the-plane passengers!) Ever since Courtney Love was on a VA flight and had a fit of drunken air rage, they've been stingy with the alcohol. Sometimes you have to beg for a third or fourth drink. Hmph.
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