Locked out of LHR

[zethya]

US will likely buy or trade slots at LHR from BMI in exchange for a significant inter-Europe-PHL/CLT code sharing agreement (already partially in effect), or possibly from LH. Typically LHR yields are far superior to LGW and US isn't going to be left out after next March. However, competing with BA at PHL for premium O&D passengers isn't going to be an easy task, whereas there is no competition for LGW. CLT-LHR (instead of CLT-LGW) as a major connecting point might work primarily because there is no competition for the route, but the result could be less than acceptable yields due to relatively low premium O&D in both directions.

 

[AdAstraPerAspera]

Does Gatwick Express run all night? %#@! tube stops after midnight! What is this, the third-world? Not that you could take the tube back to LGW anyway.

and EMB, you should take the boys to Heaven on sunday nights. the barechested barely-legals behind the bar have the party favor hook ups!

but you didn't hear that from me...

 

[EMBFA]

The Gatwick Express stops at midnight. Afterwards you have to wait until it opens again at 2 or 3, where it's not so much the Gatwick Express as the stop-forty-times-before-Gatwick. I missed the first one of the morning because my friend and I got pulled over by the police riding in a pedi-cab (a guy on a bicycle pulling us in a cart like a rickshaw)... I guess they are not legal in London? Or maybe he wasn't meant to be in the street? One of those ideas that seemed fabulous after a night of dancing lol.

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

US will likely buy or trade slots at LHR from BMI in exchange for a significant inter-Europe-PHL/CLT code sharing agreement (already partially in effect), or possibly from LH.

I'm not so sure. There are already 2 * alliance airlines offering service from North America to LHR. Likewise, 1-world has AA and BA serving LHR and Sky Team will have DL and CO (and maybe NW?). It looks like US may be again left on the outside looking in.

LH or BMI or SK or OS or any of the other * alliance airlines, if they are going to give up / transfer / sell LHR slots, will either:
1) give it to a partner airline that can serve a better market than PHL-LHR (there already are BA flights on the route). For example, JFK-LHR would be a better slot for a * alliance carrier, even with all the competition on the route since this is a gaping hole in their network.
2) start service to North America themselves. BMI could do it. Also I could see LH doing this (LHR-USA routes) since I believe BA is considering starting service from JFK to other EU cities when Open Skies are in effect.

 

[CynicalResAgent]

They don't need the Big White Swoosh in LHR classing up the place slinging Mc Griddles everywhere and serving classic American drinks like Red Bull.

 

[BuffaloJoe]

I'm not so sure. There are already 2 * alliance airlines offering service from North America to LHR. Likewise, 1-world has AA and BA serving LHR and Sky Team will have DL and CO (and maybe NW?). It looks like US may be again left on the outside looking in.

LH or BMI or SK or OS or any of the other * alliance airlines, if they are going to give up / transfer / sell LHR slots, will either:
1) give it to a partner airline that can serve a better market than PHL-LHR (there already are BA flights on the route). For example, JFK-LHR would be a better slot for a * alliance carrier, even with all the competition on the route since this is a gaping hole in their network.
2) start service to North America themselves. BMI could do it. Also I could see LH doing this (LHR-USA routes) since I believe BA is considering starting service from JFK to other EU cities when Open Skies are in effect.

CO announced earlier today that they have secured slots for flights to Newark and Houston from LHR.

 

[usfan]

CO announced earlier today that they have secured slots for flights to Newark and Houston from LHR.

I think It was announced already 2 days ago on a conference call with Europe that we start PHL-LHR as of Summer schedule ????
Didn't you hear that ????? I am little confused now ......

 

[CGAft]

Flight will start on 3/30/08 PHL-LHR. Dont know the equipment type yet but will know early next week. Im told that PHL-LGW will be dropped but CLT-LGW will stay.

 

[EMBFA]

Getting a Heathrow flight is pretty major news... where is this announced?

 

[CynicalResAgent]

They're probably taking out a full page ad on the Onion as we speak.

 

[gizmo_sc]

NOT EVEN. I worked for TRANS WORLD AIRLINES in 1990 and we had 24 INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS. US really did not get into the INTERNATIONAL game until WOLF was CEO. True Piedmont had LGW and FRA.

 

[Travelpro72]

Maybe Userrorways will announce their new "low fare" almost choking here, service to LHR in the local PennySaver. Something as big as service to LHR should be on the front burner FOR SURE! ! ! But then again we ARE dealing with Tempe. 🙄

 

[legacy-to-LCC]

Getting a Heathrow flight is pretty major news... where is this announced?

we are a business casual, low cost carrier. advertising is not in the budget!

 

[delta777]

I'm pretty sure LCC would have had to buy the frequencies (which is what DAL essentially did with Air France/KLM)or form some sort of partnership with a carrier already operating out of LHR, haven't heard of anything thus far. I would think somebody from the *Alliance would be willing to sell you some slots. Last i heard Continental had acquired 2 slots and Northwest was still looking.

 

[EMBFA]

We are the black sheep of the Star Alliance. BMI, United, or Lufthansa is not going to give up a slot to clear the way for our patented "steaming pile of sh!t" service to Philly.