Summer 'fire sale' predicted after strikes chaos.

[Nottingham Nick]

Link to story at Telegraph online.

Prediction in the article - Holidaymakers can expect a host of summer bargains as British Airways is forced to conduct a "fire sale" to win back customers following three weeks of strikes.....

Good news for VS travellers, because when a BA sale starts, Virgin are sure to copy.......... (I hope!)


Nick

I just cant wait for the sales to come which are inevitable, i have been waiting for a bogof ticket to SIN since last years offer or something similar in sale form would be just as nice.

cheers

alex

Hmmm, I didn't know what to do - wait for a sale or go with current best prices - these have been going up and down for the same dates anyway. One thing for sure though - having now jumped and booked, there WILL be a sale....

On the plus side, when himself and I were discussing this very scenario, he cheerful threw away the comment that, in the event of a sale, we might just have to fit in another trip somewhere. He knows how to push my buttons

Hope so but if the industrial unrest isn't settled then even if BA do cut prices others may not follow, arguing that customers would pay a premium for knowing that they would have a reliable service.

I don't think we can assume there will be a VS sale to match BA.

Thats not to say there wont be one but this is not a 'normal' year with the weather, BA strike and Mrs Icelandic Volcano blowing hot and cold.

VS would obviously look at their loads and if they are looking good then why have a sale? I suppose they could offer some deals on the less popular deals / flights but I don't think they will have a full blown sale (yet)

I don't think we can assume there will be a VS sale to match BA.

Thats not to say there wont be one but this is not a 'normal' year with the weather, BA strike and Mrs Icelandic Volcano blowing hot and cold.

VS would obviously look at their loads and if they are looking good then why have a sale? I suppose they could offer some deals on the less popular deals / flights but I don't think they will have a full blown sale (yet)

I agree. I don't think VS will undo all their cost saving efforts to match what BA might be forced to do.
BA are already losing money hand over fist. How much more can they afford to lose by slashing prices? My bet is they won't be able to cut prices as much as some people think.

[Nottingham Nick]

Interesting thoughts - I am a firm believer that it is better the sell a cut price seat, then have it going empty. I accept though, cost cutting has to be measured.

The article linked to suggests that one of the reasons for BA having to hold a sale is that other airlines like AF and KLM are already planning summer sales.

We all know that the airline industry is cutthroat, so if other airlines have bis sales on transatlantic routes, it is a brave airline exec that decides that prices should stay high.

Nick

[buns]

I too am holding out for a sale

Thanks for keeping my hopes alive Nick

buns

Last time BA had a sale Virgin didn't price match hence my last two returns were CW with BA I saved £1200 by not going UC with Virgin

So for that difference I would take my chances again...

Sunshine

Have been waiting for a VS sale to JNB. Have been reliably informed that VS are milking it at the moment and to wait.

Currently around £900 rtn in Y, which is just to much for me to justify at the moment.

[RichardMannion]

I'm waiting for the BA sale too, but to book on BA!

Looks like they have a sale in the premium cabins starting on
Thursday:

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/b ... first-sale

I flew CW with them in May for the first time and was very impressed with the overall product, so I may be tempted again

We flew CW last August and this Feb, good service all round. Back to VA in July. Could fit another in if BA has a sale.

[buns]

Looks like they have a sale in the premium cabins starting on
Thursday:

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/b ... first-sale

Thanks

At least this is a starter for 10 I only hope VS follow suit

buns

there is a 14-day advance purchase restriction on flights to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Indian Ocean and Central and South America and Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), Orlando, Tampa and Las Vegas,

a number of routes common to VS....

I would be surprised if VS would "match" BA. They may have a similar sale but I think VS can afford to charge a premium to reflect the level of certainty you get with booking VS over BA.

I would imagine there are some people doing some market research to try and work out exactly how much this is.

Ed

Just looking at some flights to the US in August and suddenly BAs prices have dropped

LHR - JFK £1500 from £1950
LHR - BOS £1600 from £2040

Will VS follow suit?

Ah - also here yesterday...

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/b ... first-sale

Just had an email about sales First, Club World and Club Europe.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bu ... blic/en_gb

I was waiting to book UC to MCO for late August and have just found fares for £1599 return, until now they have been around the £1900 mark.

Jilly

BA sale email just arrived in my email inbox!!!