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Tag: BA

  • The IATA is trialing contactless international travel; BA and JAL participating

    Under the radar story from the IATA’s Airlines magazine last month:

    IATA published the results of several digital identity Proofs of Concept (PoCs) completed with the support of airlines, airports, technology providers, and governments across Europe and Asia Pacific.

    …The PoCs proved that

    • wallet-based digital identity solutions work in live airline environments;
    • digital identity data can be securely shared ahead of travel, on a need-to-know basis, enabling pre-travel checks and reducing repeated document handling;
    • biometric verification can replace manual paper document checks at airport touchpoints, allowing passengers to move through checkpoints securely and seamlessly;
    • a single digital identity can be reused across the journey, enabling a seamless, contactless tap-and-go experience; and
    • interoperability can be achieved across borders, enabling systems operated by airlines, airports and governments to work seamlessly together.

    In other words, show up without a passport and you’re on your way.

    The trials took place with these airlines and airports:

    • Airlines: British Airways, Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand, IndiGo
    • Airports: LHR, HKG, HND, AKL, BLR

    I’ve been using Digital ID for American passport holders inside Apple Wallet for the last few months now. Domestic flights only, and the implementation isn’t quite right: you need to look down at your phone for Face ID, but you’re asked to do that while the TSA screen is trying to take a photo of you.

    It certainly beats taking your passport out of a bag.

  • More status chaos at BA: technical glitch forces downgrade for thousands

    Peter Campbell, reporting for the Financial Times:

    British Airways has been forced to downgrade thousands more members of its loyalty scheme, after its parent company’s rewards team incorrectly told some passengers they would keep their coveted Gold or Silver tier status.

    The embarrassing error, which IAG Loyalty blamed on a “technical issue”, comes at a time when a shake-up of the scheme is proving contentious for the hundreds of thousands of BA passengers affected by the changes. 

    …This week IAG Loyalty, the unit of BA parent IAG that manages the rewards programme, contacted several thousand members of the programme telling them they would retain their previous status, despite not accruing the right number of points. 

  • Kuala Lumpur’s MH ‘Golden Lounge,’ which BA travelers will soon be using on the way from London to Melbourne

    Speaking of that new London to Melbourne BA flight, check out the Malaysia Airlines ‘Golden Lounge,’ which Sapphire and Emerald passengers will use when connecting through Kuala Lumpur.

    Highlights of the satellite lounge:

    • Noodle station
    • Shower suites
    • Nap rooms
    • Family playroom
    • Luggage storage
    • Sports bar

    There’s also a dedicated section for Emerald passengers that MH calls an “intimate space offers quiet luxury, personalised service, and thoughtful touches” with “an elevated dining experience with a bespoke menu.”

  • In latest Middle East update, BA cancels its flights to Abu Dhabi until “later this year”

    British Airways, today:

    Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, we’ve had to temporarily reduce our flying schedule in the region. We’ve cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv until later this month and to and from Abu Dhabi until later this year.

    Not the kind of decision you’d make about a “little excursion.”

  • More IndiGo codeshare routes with BA and Qantas

    Aeroroutes has the details. 22 new domestic routes with BA including multiple Delhi and Mumbai routes. Three with Qantas; all from Singapore. The airline has codeshares with several oneworld and SkyTeam members, and oneworld’s former CEO implied it was a top target for membership late last year.

  • Choose your Wi-Fighter: AA vs BA

    David Flynn, writing for Executive Traveller:

    British Airways will join a global shift to Starlink Wi-Fi this month when the Oneworld member’s first Starlink-equipped Boeing 787 takes to the skies.

    And based on results to date, passengers can look forward to download speeds in excess of 100Mbps.

    Even better: Starlink Wi-Fi will be free for all passengers, from the coveted first class suites in Row 1 to the very last row in economy.

    However, nobody will have to enter their credit card details or even be a member of the British Airways Club loyalty program to log on.

    Compare AA and BA’s Wi-Fi rollout plans:

    FeatureAABA
    Speed1~50-60mbps~150mbps
    AccessCreate or login to an Aadvantage accountNo login
    AdsVideo ads after loginNo ads

    Once BA rolls out Starlink across its fleet (date TBA), I’d watch the impact on load factor on AA and BA’s joint venture flights between JFK and LHR. There has never been a clear advantage to flying one over the other. Soon there will be.

    1. According to Ookla’s latest In-Flight Wifi speed test results for Intelsat and Viasat. I get speeds between 1-15mbps when flying American, but I’m trusting their data over my anecdote. ↩︎

  • FT: Virgin is poaching British Airways customers after switch to revenue-based status

    Peter Campbell, reporting for FT:

    Virgin’s latest campaign, called “Save Your Tiers” included posters in Heathrow’s Terminal 5, BA’s main hub, as well as across social media. It offered upgraded membership to anyone with an upcoming Virgin Atlantic flight booked, regardless of whether they are already a member.

    Since launching the offer, “we’re firmly in thousands” of people joining, “and we’re only halfway through”, Anthony Woodman, head of Virgin Flying Club, told the FT this week. “We expect a lot of volume to come through in the next half… hopefully we’ll get into tends of thousands.”

    Virgin has blanketed T5 with the posters.

  • BA’s switch to revenue-based status is still unpopular

    Nothing new for American flyers, but British Airways is still catching heat over their switch to revenue-based status earning. Here’s Andrew Neil, the longtime political analyst, on X:

    The new BA tier points structure sets impossible hurdles even for frequent flyers regularly using business or first.

    I have always planned my extensive and expensive global travel through London to use BA. These days are over.

    I will now use whatever airline is most convenient and competitive. It will make travel planning easier. I can make more use of other airlines whose business and first seats are far superior to BA. Hello Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, Etihad etc.

    British and Iberia are a year into this now, but revenue-based earning isn’t an inevitability if you’re with another program. Cathay, JAL, Qantas, and Qatar haven’t switched, and even in the US, Alaska gives travelers a choice to earn by distance or dollars.

  • British Airways launches US sale; good time to book Summer trips

    Highlights from their press release:

    Business

    • Boston → London: $2,980
    • New York → London: $3,080
    • Chicago or Atlanta → London: $3,830

    Premium Economy

    • New York → London: $1,283

    Economy

    • New York or Boston → London: $512
    • Los Angeles or Austin → Rome via London: $463
    • San Francisco or Seattle → Madrid via London: $437
    • New York → Paris via London: $453

    Checked the calendar for New York → London, and these prices stretch through Summer. There are multiple fares around the $3K mark in July and August (Business), and as low as $510 in May and August (Economy). You’re flying out on certain Tuesdays or Wednesdays but there’s some flexibility on when you return.

  • oneworld in 2026

    (If you’re new here, welcome. Spheres is where I post news and commentary about flying with oneworld and whatever goes along with that. You can also get these posts in a free newsletter. One email per week.)

    Here are the routes, planes, services, and other changes that caught my eye for 2026.

    oneworld

    Alaska

    American

    British

    Cathay

    Fiji

    Finnair

    Iberia

    JAL

    Malaysia

    Oman

    • New routes from Muscat to Singapore, Copenhagen (via Baghdad), and Taif
    • Retiring the B737-800 and 900-ER

    Qantas

    • New routes between the Gold Coast to Auckland; Sydney to Samoa (via Auckland), and Port Moresby
    • New lounges: refurbished Business lounge in Los Angeles,4 new lounge in Hobart, and refurbished regional lounges
    • Free wifi on international routes flown by the A330, B787, and A380
    • Project Sunrise test flights

    Qatar

    Royal Air Maroc

    Royal Jordanian

    SriLankan

    —

    1. If there is a new member airline from India, it will be IndiGo. The only other major airline, Air India, is a Star Alliance member. IndiGo partnered with four SkyTeam members in June, but it also has ties with American, British, JAL, Qantas, and Qatar. ↩︎
    2. Alaska and American are following the same playbook for wifi: it’s free because a cellular network is sponsoring it, and you’ll only get it if you’re a member of the airline’s loyalty program. I hope they’ll spare members of each other’s programs or non-US oneworld airlines from having to sign up for an account that will never get used. ↩︎
    3. Ditto. ↩︎
    4. The concept photo suggests that the iconic Eames Lounge Chairs aren’t coming along for the ride. ↩︎

  • Business Traveler: Is British Airways getting its mojo back?

    Rhys Jones:

    British Airways has committed to a full redevelopment of its eight lounges at Heathrow (five in Terminal 5, two in Terminal 3), with work due to start in 2026. Nothing is off the table – in 2024, staff working on the project discussed completely reshaping layouts, entrances and locations.

    …A new website and a promised new app will alleviate other pain points, whilst the refurbishment of its flagship A380 fleet next year will introduce an impressive new first-class cabin and, it is rumoured, updates to other cabins too.

    …Praise where praise is due: British Airways is throwing down the gauntlet with these new lounges. A rollout at Heathrow will solve one of the biggest complaints from passengers, and finally put BA on the front foot. A British Original indeed.

  • British Airways opens new lounges in Miami and Dubai

    British Airways:

    British Airways is proudly celebrating the launch of its new lounge design concept with the opening of two new lounges on its global network, marking a significant step change in the airline’s premium offering. 

    Working in partnership with global architecture and design firm Gensler, these openings debut the flag carrier’s new design concept that will serve as the vision for future lounge developments. 

    These look inviting. Each lounge has been designed for the city it lives in, which means Art Deco in Miami and “traditional Middle Eastern design” in Dubai. A refreshing change from the design-once, use-everywhere approach BA has taken before.

    Miami travelers will soon have two world-class lounges to choose from.