VikingA346 From Sweden, joined Oct 2006, 410 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2132 times:
Quick question - does anyone know if BA is going to go back to sending the 747 to PHL? I thought it was a seasonal thing but I checked the flight schedule and apparently they're keeping the 767. They have two flights a day to PHL, one is with the 777 and the other is the 767. I miss seeing the 747 at PHL though!!! Think we'll see it there again??
Cheers
...you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you shall return
Vega From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 2073 times:
Probably not, unless there is a dramatic increase in First Class travel. BA recently changed their strategy to downsize cities where First Class travel was less than provided by the flight schedule. At the same time they redeveloped their cabins in the 767 fleet to WT (Economy) and a super Flat Bed CW (Business) Class - and did away with First. Some Cities, like PHL, which historically showed overall good results and warranted more than a single flight/day, but could not support 2 First Class aircraft, were downsized from a 747 or 777 to a 767 - with the new cabin configfurations and retained either a 777 (in most cases) or the 747 for the Premium Customer. Thus PHL has a 767 and a 777. Also, travel to Europe has changed dramatically over the past few years, especially for PHL. Gone at the days when many had to transit through LHR to get to most European and Asian destinations. Those were the days when BA ruled the skies - and the fares.
VikingA346 From Sweden, joined Oct 2006, 410 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1992 times:
Just the response I was looking for, thanks Vega
I fly this route a couple times a year and always opt to take the 777. I even would prefer the 777 over the 747, but seeing the only pax jumbo at PHL was nice while it lasted.
...you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you shall return
Gilesdavies From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 2262 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1623 times:
I would imagine with US Airways majorly expanding their European routes over the last few years and offering direct routes to many cities in Europe. This has majorly bitten into Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways and Ryanair's markets for connecting traffic at their own respective hubs.
With BA offering a twice daily service, they have quite dramatically reduced capacity over the years.
US Airways' product in First/Business Class may not match other European carriers premium product, but the convenience of a direct flight will probably far out weigh the inconvenience of a connection through LHR, CDG or FRA.
Usair320 From United States, joined Nov 2003, 949 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1405 times:
[quote=PanAm330,reply=3]LH also flew the 744 to PHL, from FRA. I believe that has stopped for the winter. Anyone know the status of it returning for Summer 2007?[/qu
I flew that flight in 2005. LH 426 FRA-PHL on the outbound PHL-FCO on US A333 I saw a 744 but my return flight was on an A343. So im guessing they alternate beetween Boeing and Airbus on that route.
Integrity Matters (Support HP). Go Phillies '08 champions.
Vega From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1374 times:
Quoting Daron4000 (Reply 5): I understand a second-rate (no offense) east coast city being downsized but why is this happening at ORD too?
You need to be a little more sensitive to how people will react to such a statement in this forum - as innocent as you may think it sounds. A reason BA would downsize ORD is because they have competition from 3 other carriers who also offer First CLass service non-stop to LHR.
Haveric From United States, joined Jan 2001, 1247 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 1232 times:
Quoting Daron4000 (Reply 5): I understand a second-rate (no offense) east coast city being downsized but why is this happening at ORD too?
Philadelphia is the second largest city on the East Coast and third largest east of the Mississippi. Don't let facts get in the way of a good dig, though.
Crownvic From United States, joined Oct 2004, 1166 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1163 times:
PHL is not alone in this equipment change, so I think everyone needs to check out BA's schedule...They have moved the 763 into many of the U.S. markets and as Vega has pointed out, the new cabin configuration has a lot to do with it.
As for Daron4000's statement as second-rate city, that is nothing more than ignorance. For many years, PHL suffered with air service, because it has fallen into the NYC catchment area for the history of aviation. In recent years, they have really come out on their own and that can be attributed to US Airways massive international expansion. Chicago sits pretty well on it's own with very little large competition geographically near it. Philadelphia sits smack next to New York/Newark and Baltimore/Washington. If you add up the air service within the domain of these areas, it make ORD/MDW look like a regional airport!
LAXdude1023 From United States, joined Sep 2006, 4418 posts, RR: 22 Reply 10, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1142 times:
Quoting Daron4000 (Reply 5): I understand a second-rate (no offense) east coast city being downsized but why is this happening at ORD too?
Woah dude, that kind of talk can make some people upset. People on this forum are very proud of where they are from and they tend to treat their favorite airline as they would their favorite football team. I know that the second someone says something really bad about Los Angeles (except for the traffic) it makes me really mad. So be careful.
As for ORD, it seems to be increasing in service from Star Alliance carriers and decreasing with One World Carriers. I dont know why that is thought.
VikingA346 From Sweden, joined Oct 2006, 410 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 1096 times:
Quoting PanAm330 (Reply 3): LH also flew the 744 to PHL, from FRA. I believe that has stopped for the winter. Anyone know the status of it returning for Summer 2007?
I checked Lufthansa website and it seems like they are going to keep the A340-300 for the route. Doesn't surprise me considering BA downgraded from 744 to 763. Seems like its becoming a trend, downgrade PHL!
...you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you shall return
Shamrock_747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 1016 times:
The phrase 'downgrade' isn't a particularly accurate way of describing an aircraft change. Some people seem to be under the impression it's a popularity contest with BA saying 'we don't like your city so have a smaller aircraft!'
BA has not received a new longhaul aircraft since 2001 and any new aircraft are at least a couple of years away. In the meantime it's important that the current fleet are used as effectively as possible.
Changing the aircraft from a 777 to 767 does not mean that flight could not profitably sustain a 777, but simply that BA can make more money from deploying that aircraft elsewhere.
Cgnnrw From Germany, joined May 2005, 750 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 980 times:
Until you have been stuck in traffic on the Schuykill Express or I-95 to the airport you have no qualifications to criticize Philly or PHL. So now back to the topic....
Yes, a 747 is a beautiful sight at any airport even more so at places like PHL. However, BA still sends in TWO aircraft while all other foreign carriers send in just one. So actually this is a compliment to PHL and Philly as well.
BA and LH seem to have "always been there"; however, PHL's international growth has been quite impressive over the past few years. I've used AF almost exclusively since they started service back in 2003(?). I do remember NW serving AMS too. Let's not forget Air Jamaica and Air Canada. Although the airport itself is pretty much a dump the new TErminal A-West seems to have been just what PHL needed. I know there have been numerous threads about foreign carriers starting PHL service so let's see what happens. Although the chances of a 747 are pretty slim, an airport's importance should not be judged on just this one aircraft.
Daron4000 From United States, joined Mar 2005, 662 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 930 times:
I apologize if I affended anyone with my statement. I just ment that when you ask people from abroad where they're going, if it's to the east coast, a lot more of them will be going to NYC or Washington, two cities very close to PHL. On the other hand, Chicago sits out in the midwest by itself and has a lot of connections that PHL and a lot of other cities don't have. Again, I didn't mean it to be offensive in any way and I apologize, I just hoped people could see what I meant by the comment.
Cgnnrw From Germany, joined May 2005, 750 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 920 times:
Hey Daron4000 -it was all in good fun. No offense taken......
Yes, you are correct PHL is not necessarily on the top of the list when Europeans visit the USA. That's why so many are surprised how "cool" the place is. However, for many who remember the days when the only options available to get out of the country meant long drives to JFK or IAD, PHL is a welcomed improvement even on a 767!
Mah584jr From United States, joined Mar 2006, 417 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 861 times:
The 747 is just better used on other routes than to PHL. I also think that there is a gradual phasing out of the 747-400 in the airlines of today. More are looking toward the 777 and 787 to do their long haul work. I happen to think that the 767 is one of the greatest aircrafts built and they're a much better fit for flying accross the pond than a 747.
VikingA346 From Sweden, joined Oct 2006, 410 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 804 times:
Quoting Cgnnrw (Reply 13): Until you have been stuck in traffic on the Schuykill Express or I-95 to the airport you have no qualifications to criticize Philly or PHL
I was about to comment on this before I kept reading thru the thread and realized it wasn't directed to me I'll be back to being a half-year resident of Philly pretty soon - am at PHL pretty often to planespot and am just a bit upset they took out the only 747 serving PHL (at least pax). I don't know if LH ever had the 747 at PHL, they may very well have - when I took that flight (LH 427) a couple years back they had the A343 doing the route - and it seems like they're keeping the 343 to serve PHL.
All I'm saying is I wish BA had kept the 744 going... It was a great afternoon seeing the BA 772 followed by the BA 744 arriving each day - now the only fun (in terms of the big jets) are the USAir A330's, LH's 343 and BA's 777. That's about all the fun size wise we get at PHL. Hopefully this will change.
I know this is a bit off topic, but does anyone know if Us Airways will ever get any bigger planes than the 333? Perhaps the 787 when it comes out? Ideas?
...you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you shall return
Cgnnrw From Germany, joined May 2005, 750 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (3 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 784 times:
Yes, LH did send in a B747 for a very short period of time. I think it was last summer and just seasonal. Don't forget AF's A330. Although they used an A340 this past summer, not sure if they still do.
As I already wrote, it's always wonderful to see a jumbo in PHL. However, I'm also interested in seeing a variety of carriers not just the 747. The more colorful the traffic, the more fun it is to spot.
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