BA Flights - Manchester

[John R]

Yesterday (23 October) all British Airways Connect 2007 direct flights (Flight BA6810) between Manchester and Heraklion disappeared from the BA website system. Still on the timetable but no means of booking them. I rang up BA and their rep had no suggestions other than a pending major amendment to those flights - including the possibility of withdrawal. That rep was also surprised when she could not access them herself. Her system said all flights fully booked !! - which she agreed was very unlikely. The last few 2006 flights were available and bookable.

I know some people have already booked these flights for 2007 - have they received any notifications from BA.

Perhaps it is simply website maintenance

Anybody out there know anything about this ?

John R

[Mike G]

John,

There are similarities with the First Choice pull out in 2004, i.e. disappearance from the website, lack of knowledge on contacting them, denials, etc. I gathered from various postings that it was a good, economical service so let's hope it is a website problem only.

Mike

[John R]

I gathered from various postings that it was a good, economical service so let's hope it is a website problem only.

It certainly was a good and exceptionally economic service - I used it only a matter of 3 weeks ago !!

Today, BA website announced that they are revamping their site (imminent) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it might be a temporary result of that activity.

John R

[boxerlover]

I gathered from various postings that it was a good, economical service so let's hope it is a website problem only.

It certainly was a good and exceptionally economic service - I used it only a matter of 3 weeks ago !!

Today, BA website announced that they are revamping their site (imminent) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it might be a temporary result of that activity.

John R

I have everything crossed too John.  Not the news I was wanting at all to hear. I have not yet booked (which is unusual)  as I am still trying to arrange some reasonable annual travel Insurance.

If you get to know anything more,  please keep us posted. Thanks.

John

[John R]

I have everything crossed too John.  Not the news I was wanting at all to hear. I have not yet booked (which is unusual)  as I am still trying to arrange some reasonable annual travel Insurance.

If you get to know anything more,  please keep us posted. Thanks.

John

First let me say how great it was to meet up with you two again this year.

The Sunday Telegraph Travel paper had an article on insurance for older people and they tracked down 5 companies they said worth a look :-

Sunworld Plus (0800 389 5904) - maximum age 75

Allclear2go (0870 142 5220) - maximum age 79

Global (01903 203933) - 90 years age limit for single trip

Medicover (0870 735 3600) - no upper age limit

Marrs (0870 920 2222) - no insurance for over 79 on this last one

So Medicover and Global might be worth investigating if you have not already done so.

I'll keep you posted if / when I find anything on BA flights

John R

[boxerlover]

I have everything crossed too John.  Not the news I was wanting at all to hear. I have not yet booked (which is unusual)  as I am still trying to arrange some reasonable annual travel Insurance.

If you get to know anything more,  please keep us posted. Thanks.

John

First let me say how great it was to meet up with you two again this year.

The Sunday Telegraph Travel paper had an article on insurance for older people and they tracked down 5 companies they said worth a look :-

Sunworld Plus (0800 389 5904) - maximum age 75

Allclear2go (0870 142 5220) - maximum age 79

Global (01903 203933) - 90 years age limit for single trip

Medicover (0870 735 3600) - no upper age limit

Marrs (0870 920 2222) - no insurance for over 79 on this last one

So Medicover and Global might be worth investigating if you have not already done so.

I'll keep you posted if / when I find anything on BA flights

John R

It was great to meet up with you two as well John

Many many thanks for this information.  I have not researched these companies so keep your fingers crossed.

John

[DOTTY]

I gathered from various postings that it was a good, economical service so let's hope it is a website problem only.

It certainly was a good and exceptionally economic service - I used it only a matter of 3 weeks ago !!

Today, BA website announced that they are revamping their site (imminent) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it might be a temporary result of that activity.

John R

Hi we have been in touch with BA via phone our flight has changed slightly otherwise all seems OK.
Lovely to have met everyone in Plakias. Now looking forward to May and Stella's also anyone who is back then.
(Gypsy) Dotty

[John R]

Hi we have been in touch with BA via phone our flight has changed slightly otherwise all seems OK.
Lovely to have met everyone in Plakias. Now looking forward to May and Stella's also anyone who is back then.
(Gypsy) Dotty

Thanks for that info. That sounds like more hopeful news. I assume the slight change was moving the flight slightly later (4pm from Manchester ??)

Expedia are still advertising them - at a very high price - describing them as Their own charter flights operated by BA. I hope they haven't bought the whole season from BA. The person at BA who I rang said that all filghts were showing up as fully booked !

I'll be happier if/when I see those flights back on their website.

John R

[Regulars since 1992]

"I'll be happier if/when I see those flights back on their website."

Hi John,

Us too.  We share your concern as we have been looking to book flights for a return visit to Plakias next year, staying again at Stella's of course.  Nice to meet you and your wife over there earlier this month.

Regards
Graham (the motorsport journalist and longtime Ferrari fan if you don't otherwise remember me!)

[John R]

"I'll be happier if/when I see those flights back on their website."

Hi John,

Us too.  We share your concern as we have been looking to book flights for a return visit to Plakias next year, staying again at Stella's of course.  Nice to meet you and your wife over there earlier this month.

Regards
Graham (the motorsport journalist and longtime Ferrari fan if you don't otherwise remember me!)

Hi Graham

Yes - great to meet you two at Stella's Plakias and enjoyed your company on the journey back to Manchester etc.

I was thinking about you when this all blew up - just hoping it will blow down again. I've emailed BA asking about flights BA6810/1 for 2007 but no reply yet. If I hear anything at all I'll report to the board.

Fantastic race in Brazil on Sunday - watched it all !!

John R

[Regulars since 1992]

Hi John,

Glad you enjoyed Interlagos.  I think Fernando and Renault deserved their double success when you look at the season as a whole, but what a brilliant final F1 race from Michael - seemed to capture more headlines than any other aspect of the race and won over many of his hitherto critics.  Don't be surprised to see him back racing in the future, albeit not in F1 - he's already turned down a £7m offer to drive for Audi in next year's DTM championship (German touring cars).

Anyway, not wanting to be accused of turning this forum into a motorsport one, you may be interested to know that when I rang BA yesterday they laid the blame with the operating airline GB Airways, saying they hadn't yet decided on their routes for 2007.  The latter told me something similar.  However, this doesn't explain about bookings already made or the flights currently being offered via Expedia.

Like you, we'll monitor the situation closely until the position becomes clearer.  Between us we can help to keep forum members informed.  The BA Connect Man-Her flights this year were such a good deal that I don't intend investing quite a bit more elsewhere unless we end up with no alternative.

Will probably see you again at Stella's next year, as we're now thinking of going for the last two weeks in September rather than our usual October visits.  12 times in the last 15 autumns in Plakias (12 at Stella's) may sound a bit sad to some, but we all know just how good it is.  The rest of the year can take care of heading elsewhere, including more racetrack visits than I care to recall!!

Best regards
Graham

[John R]

Like you, we'll monitor the situation closely until the position becomes clearer.  Between us we can help to keep forum members informed.  The BA Connect Man-Her flights this year were such a good deal that I don't intend investing quite a bit more elsewhere unless we end up with no alternative.

Things don't look good - including for those who have already booked. I received this reply from BA today in response to my email sent to them :-

"The Services from Manchester to Heraklion were affected due to the changes to schedule of British Airways franchise partner, GB Airways from 26 March 2006 to October 2006.

At present we are unable to say if we will offer this route in the future. If we do plan or begin operations on a new route, you will be able to view the latest information on ba.com.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us."

John R

[boxerlover]

Like you, we'll monitor the situation closely until the position becomes clearer.  Between us we can help to keep forum members informed.  The BA Connect Man-Her flights this year were such a good deal that I don't intend investing quite a bit more elsewhere unless we end up with no alternative.

Things don't look good - including for those who have already booked. I received this reply from BA today in response to my email sent to them :-

"The Services from Manchester to Heraklion were affected due to the changes to schedule of British Airways franchise partner, GB Airways from 26 March 2006 to October 2006.

At present we are unable to say if we will offer this route in the future. If we do plan or begin operations on a new route, you will be able to view the latest information on ba.com.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us."

John R

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear............this is not what we want to hear at all John.  

I suppose all we can do is to keep our fingers crossed that BA will offer an alternative schedule next year.

John

[John R]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear............this is not what we want to hear at all John.  

I suppose all we can do is to keep our fingers crossed that BA will offer an alternative schedule next year.

John

I daren't wait too long as I don't want to miss the opportunity of a good (convenient) flight from Newcastle.  Sadly it is  much more expensive and will not allow me to extend my 2 weeks for a few days (at no additional cost) which the BA flights allowed me to do on this last recent visit.

John R

[Regulars since 1992]

Sorry to hear the BA response to you, John.  Agreed with all that it's not what we wanted to hear.  Fully understand your position re the Newcastle flights.  Reviewing our strategy re the way ahead, but will probably wait a little while at least to see if there's any chance of stance from BA.

Graham