British Airways: Returns to Sydney 29 March 2022

After a nearly 2 year suspension due to COVID-19, British Airways will recommence flying between London and Sydney via Singapore. BA15 will arrive at 6; 10 am, with the return flight, BA16 departing about 10 hours later at 3:50 pm. You will be travelling on a 787-9 instead of the previous B777. The 787-9 features 8 First Class suites and unfortunately the old sardine (Ahem!) sorry, ‘high density’ Club World business class seats (2-3-2).

Previously, BA ran 2 kangaroo route services per day (BA11/12). The second service will not recommence for a further 6 months or so, starting on 31 October 2021.

BA has to juggle demand, and the COVID restrictions of Sydney, Singapore and London on this route, so no surprises they are piloting the relaunch with only one daily service. Bet you that if demand warrants it, we will see the 2nd service recommence earlier than October. Let’s hope that they also swap out the old sardine business class, and replace it with the newer Club Suites, which provide business class passengers with increased floor space and doors as was originally planned for launch in 2022 (pre-pandemic).

Singapore BA Lounge

Unfortunately, the dedicated BA lounge is closed at the moment with passengers being re-routed to the Marhaba Lounge at T1 Changi. My option would be to head over to the Qantas lounge as a OneWorld partner lounge.

Executive Club Membership

You may also want to consider joining this BA frequent flyer scheme, since it was finally re-opened to Australian flyers in 2021, having precluded them since 2003. If you are a frequent traveller between Australia and Britain, then this may be advantageous since qualification levels for many premium levels are less than with Qantas including higher earnings for travel on partner airlines.

Here’s a table of equivalence between BA, Qantas and OneWorld status levels

• BA Blue = Qantas Bronze
• BA Bronze = Qantas Silver = OneWorld Ruby
• BA Silver – Qantas Gold = OneWorld Sapphire
• BA Gold = Qantas Platinum = OneWorld Emerald

BA also has tiers that are rough equivalents of Qantas Platinum One = Executive Club Gold Guest and Executive Club Premier = Qantas Chairman’s Lounge.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

Since my husband has banned me from ever booking British Airways Club World in the sardine format, I’ll be waiting for the new Club Suites business class layout before even considering BA – unless thier fares are really cheap. With new CEO Sean Doyle’s recent wish to convert British Airways back into a premium airline, rather than continue its trajectory towards a budget one.