BA has thrown down the gauntlet to challenge the low-cost carriers, with a radical shake-up of its short-haul fares structure. The airline is now offering one-way, all-inclusive tickets from just £29, scrapping all non-changeable Economy tickets, and giving travellers the ability to alter their flights, irrespective of the price paid, up to midnight of the day prior to departure.
Says BA’s commercial director, Martin George: "We have slashed our one-way fares by up to 50% and will have in excess of seven million seats a year, to more than 65 destinations, available at these new prices."
The airline has increased the flexibility of its lowest priced tickets in response to feedback from its customers who increasingly need to change their flight bookings at short notice due to altering schedules. The move increases the number of changeable tickets on sale by 15 million a year.
Unlike most of its low-cost competitors, BA will continue to offer customers seat allocation, complimentary food and drink, free – and generous – baggage allowances and the facility to pool allowances without charge, and no charge for debit card usage when paying for flights.
British Airways has reduced its one-way prices for flights within the UK and Europe by an average of 70% compared to 10 years ago. Typically, a London-Manchester ticket now costs £29 one way, compared to £73 in 1996, and London-Barcelona is priced at £39 one way, against £208 a decade ago. Summer specials in Hong Kong
Visitors to Hong Kong this summer can look forward to discounted rates and value added
benefits at a number of business hotels. The Langham, for example, has special rates with a host of extras from May 10 until September 10.
With rooms priced from HK$1,550 (€160) a night, these include daily buffet breakfast, local phone calls, access to the rooftop swimming pool and 24-hour gym, a 20% discount on in-room internet charges and complimentary wi-fi connection in the hotel’s public areas, and 10% discount at all food and beverage outlets. For those opting for Club Room accommodation, with rates from HK$2,050 (€213) (or HK$3,300/ €342 for the Langham Suite) the benefits over and above those already on offer include personalised check-in/out; welcome fruit plate; breakfast in the Club Lounge or main restaurant; a daily newspaper; daily HK$250 (€26) allowance on personal laundry, dry-cleaning and pressing; and use of the lounge, including free broadband internet access in the Executive Corner, evening cocktails and two hours’ complimentary use of the Victoria Room for meetings or other gatherings.
Rates quoted are based on single occupancy, with a daily supplement of HK$100 (€11) for double occupancy, and exclude a 10% service charge and 3% government tax. New African airpass
A new African Airpass, which provides access to multiple destinations, has been launched by the Star Alliance to coincide with South African Airways’ membership. Purchasable in conjunction with any intercontinental return ticket to South Africa or other African destinations issued by any alliance member, the airpass can be used to construct an itinerary using SAA’s domestic and African network.
Fares are based on a fixed rate per mile (currently US$0.15 for adults, plus applicable fees), which is then multiplied by the total mileage of each flight. Only one visit per city is allowable, with the exception of Johannesburg, and any single airpass must contain at least four coupons and not exceed 10. There is no maximum mileage per itinerary, and passes are valid for a minimum of three days and a maximum of two months. Cut-price Colombo
Members of Sri Lankan Airlines’ Skywards programme who have accumulated 10,000-plus miles, qualify for a cut-price ticket offer on the London-Colombo route this month. Buy a ticket before the end of May for an outbound journey by June 20, returning no later than July 20, and fares are from just £260 excluding taxes – almost half the normal price.
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