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A round-up of some of the news from British Airways in the past few days including an update on flights to/from Sharm el-Sheikh (it’s not good news!), news of a new fast track security entrance at London’s Heathrow Airport and what British Airways is introducing to help out passengers with an Apple Watch.
British Airways Sharm el-Sheikh Update
Following the tragedy that befell an Airbus A321 operated by the Russian airline Kogalymavia on 31 October, British Airways suspended flights to/from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on the advice of the British government. The suspension was put in place for all flights up to and including 17 December 2015.
Yesterday, after the British Government confirmed that they are continuing to advise against all but necessary travel to the region, British Airways extended the suspension of service to Sharm el-Sheikh until 14 January 2016.
The date of 14 January 2016 appears to only be a placeholder as the statement from British Airways mentions the cancellation of services “until we receive further reassurance about the security situation at [Sharm el-Sheikh] airport” – and who knows when that will be?
Anyone still booked on BA2560 or BA2561 (schedule below) should contact British Airways as soon as possible to make alternate arrangements.
BA2560 LGW 08:00 – 15:20 SSH
BA2561 SSH 16:10 – 19:55 LGW
British Airways is advising agents to refer to these Conditions of Carriage when issuing refunds or rebooking passengers and they’re also issuing reminders that when BA cancels a flights, customers may always use the value of their ticket as payment towards a completely new destination on BA’s network.
New Fast Track Security Line At Heathrow
In what must be one of the shortest announcements I’ve seen, British Airways has released the following bit of information:
Fast Track customers departing from London Heathrow Terminal 5 can now use a new dedicated entrance to the left of North Security.
This new facility offers a more seamless security process for our premium customers, and leads directly in to the North Fast Track security lanes.
Considering some of the lines I’ve been in recently this is a very welcome addition to T5.
New Technology To Help Passengers Using Apple Watch
Personally speaking I don’t have an Apple Watch but that hasn’t stopped me wondering about some of the practicalities of using one when traveling.
One of the much publicised “benefits” of Apple Watch (from a traveler’s standpoint) is the ability to display your boarding pass on the watch itself…but how are you meant to get your wrist under some of the older the boarding pass scanners?
Apparently I wasn’t the only one concerned (only slightly) that not all airport scanners would be usable for Apple Watch wearers – British Airways are introducing new scanners before this becomes a real problem 🙂
According to British Airways:
The use of the British Airways Apple watch app has quadrupled in just four months, and in response the airline is introducing new scanners to make them easier, and faster to use.
Customers will be able to slide their wrists under the new ‘Scan and Go’ devices to scan their boarding pass, print their own bag tags and speed through the airport. 136 of the new gadgets are being installed at check in desks across Heathrow’s Terminal 3 and 5, and will be ready for use on December 15.
In case those without an Apple Watch are beginning to feel left out – don’t. The scanners will work perfectly well with boarding passes displayed on the iPhone too.
In what may or may not be news (I haven’t noticed this before but then that doesn’t mean much!), British Airways also confirmed that there will be a new iPad App released “early next year” which will give passengers access to all the same functionality as the iPhone App and will also include Highlife Entertainment listings.
