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British Airways has announced two new short-haul routes to Greece from London Heathrow for summer 2016.
From 30 April 2016 British Airways will fly a bi-weekly service between Heathrow and Chania (Crete) and a further bi-weekly service between Heathrow and Kalamata (Southern Greece).
London Heathrow Terminal 3 – Chania (To be served by Airbus A320 aircraft) – note the T3 departure.
BA660 LHR 07:10 – 13:00 CHQ (Wednesday)
BA660 LHR 07:40 – 13:30 CHQ (Saturday)
BA661 CHQ 13:45 – 15:50 LHR (Wednesday)
BA661 CHQ 14:15 – 16:20 LHR (Saturday)
For anyone like me who wasn’t too sure where, on Crete, Chania is, here’s a Google Maps screenshot:
A quick search on the British Airways website shows you can get some great hand baggage only fares for around £111 return (June/July/August)
And fares from £171 return for those wanting to check a bag and select seats in advance:
London Heathrow Terminal 5 – Kalamata (To be served by Airbus A319 aircraft)
BA644 LHR 11:20 – 17:00 KLX (Saturday)
BA644 LHR 11:30 – 17:10 KLX (Thursday)
BA645 KLX 17:45 – 19:35 LHR (Saturday)
BA645 KLX 17:55 – 19:45 LHR (Thursday)
I was as uneducated about the location of Kalamata as I was on the location of Chania (although I do know that’s where the olives come from!). So, for anyone in the same boat, here’s another Google Maps screenshot:
It looks like HBO fares to Kalamata are even better than those to Chania with prices from around £93 in prime summer season:
But regular fares (with seat selection and a checked bag) match those to Chania at £174 and up:
British Airways Aircraft Changes On Tokyo Routes
The latest schedule update from British Airways shows that the Heathrow – Tokyo Haneda route will see a 777-300 aircraft replace the ageing 777-200 from 27 March 2016.
This swap will see the number of Club World seats increase from 48 to 56 and the number of Premium Economy seats from 40 to 44 – all of which may be good news for award travel if BA has overestimated demand for the premium cabins.
While the Haneda aircraft swap isn’t that much of a big deal (both aircraft fly a 4 cabin configuration), the other change that British Airways has put through may effect those with existing tickets.
From 27 March 2016 the British Airways Heathrow – Narita service will be downgraded from a 4-class 777-200 aircraft to a 3-class 777-200.
British Airways 777 – Image courtesy of Dean Morley via Flickr
Whichever way you look at it this isn’t good news:
- No First Class cabin
- No increase in Club World (Business Class) capacity (stays at 48)
- Decrease in World Traveller (Premium Economy) capacity from 40 to just 24 seats
- Increase in Economy Class capacity from 122 to 203.
Anyone holding tickets in the First Class cabin should get in touch with BA straight away (if they haven’t already contacted you) to ensure they get re-accommodated appropriately.
And anyone holding tickets in World Traveller Plus should check their reservations to make sure they still have a World Traveller Plus reservation.
