British Airways to start London-LasVegas daily

[NickN]

I was just reading this story and not long before watched the story on Today Tonight about the current tough times in Vegas.

According to Today Tonight (never sensational journalism but nonetheless) there has been a drop in visitor numbers by around 4 million people per year and the casinos have reported a 17% drop in revenue.

Is this the wisest time to start up services to a predominantly gambling orientated destination? Or will BA customers perhaps use Las Vegas as a new gateway to the rest of the US?

It just seemed rather risky to me. Others opinions would be appreciated.

The story about the new route is as follows:

British Airways (London) will start nonstop service between its London-Heathrow (LHR) hub and Las Vegas on October 25. The daily flight will be operated by a 777-200ER configured with 274 seats, 24 of which will be “world traveler plus,” 36 business-class with seats that recline fully to 180 degrees and 214 economy class. British Airways will be the second UK carrier with direct, daily service to Las Vegas. Virgin Atlantic already makes the trip, but flies from the smaller Gatwick Airport in London.

[Michael Morrison]

I think it could work... LAS is a big destination for UK pax... BD/VS have flown it for a while... though BD have recenlty pulled out of MAN, I think most pax would be ex LON.

I wouldn't be asking if the LON-LAS service will work, but more if the LHR-PHX service will survive with this new flight.

[NickN]

Michael it just seems strange thats all. One wouldn't consider a gambling destination as being a safe bet (excuse the pun) for travelers in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the 1930's.

Macau is also suffering the results of the current climate, look at Packer he is losing money hand over foot over there.

[Hakan I]

I would have to say that a large amount of passengers visiting the West coast would visit Vegas ... would be good for open jaw, fly into LAX, travel around CA a bit, fly to LAS and blow off whatever is left in the travel fund.

Hakan

[Grant Smith]

look at Packer he is losing money hand over foot over there.

FYI Nick,

The correct saying is "hand over fist"

;)

[Peter T Syd]

These flights are already popular and there are a few that take off to Vegas from Gatwick.

[Carl F]

Remember Vegas has the Grand Canyon and other tourist things not too far away.
As mentioned above, it is not that too dear to fly there from the UK, I know my mates in London are talking about going for a bucks weekend. They recently went to Miami for a long weekend also.
Australia is a very expensive place to travel from, London is not.

[Ash W]

That is what people make out, but having lived in London for the past 2.5 years I would say fares are anything but cheap. The really cheap fares are when you book months in advance or travel at horible hours.

On a KM per KM basis flights around Europe are more expensive than Aus. For example my wife recently book a flight London-Rome and the cheapest she could get was around 400GBP, or a bit over $800 AUD. Though if we booked for Sep it would be about half that. Now London Rome is about the same distance as MEL-BNE.

US flights though tend to be cheaper due to lots of options.

[Matt D]

I don't like to disagree with a fellow Londoner ;) but...

There are scheduled flights next week London to Sydney return for less than $1600. (Thai GBP760). Book with a few weeks notice and the price drops dramatically

I've recently purchased 4 return flights Heathrow-Rome on British Airways for just under GBP480 (AUD990) for travel in the middle of July (school holidays) with only 4 weeks notice. Short notice, school holidays, peak season, BA. I expected double that price.

I fly London to Scandinavia monthly and where flights used to be GBP300-400 they are now as low as GBP63. I've not paid more than GBP100 return the last 3 trips.

There are plenty of cheap London based fares around. I've never seen it cheaper http://www.skyscanner.net/flights-from/lond/cheapest-flights-from-london.html?rtn=1