[Anonymous]

[VintageKrug]

To the http://www.studiovalbonne.co.uk last night, courtesy of an invitation from British Airways and the Las Vegas Business Bureau to help celebrate the launch of their new direct route from Heathrow’s Terminal 5 to Las Vegas McCarran.

An excellent venue, with some terrific nibbles (mini hamburgers etc.) and speciality cocktails, including a most refreshing concoction dubbed “Up in the Air”.

Some famous faces included MelB, who presented prizes, and a certain Masterchef Rugby player. Oh, and Paul Oakenfold made an appearance later on.

The highlight, however, had to be the Mayor of Las Vegas Oscar B Goodman.

Emerging onto the stage surrounded by voluptuous showgirls who left little to the imagination, he looked “happy as Larry”, though I was concerned the excitement might cause him to keel over at any minute.

He had great business cards printed on casino chips, with “The Happiest Mayor in the World” round the edges. And from this experience, you can see why!

The service launches on Sunday 25 October, and will normally use a three class 777 fitted with http://www.newclubworld.com, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller. Seatback Video on Demand will be available in all cabins.

The inaugural will have a four class aircraft, including a First cabin for the VIPs.

As an aside, there were pictures of the (real) new First seat/bed in the slideshows which I had not seen before; it looked remarkably “fresh” and much brighter and more spacious than the current interior, though the configuration remains the same.

http://www.jaunted.com/files/6193/BA777.jpg

[flyingformiles]

Yeah I’ve read new First is more an ‘evolution’… in a similar fashion to the current CW’s evolution from the original CW.

[VintageKrug]

It would be good to see F on this service; hopefully if nough people ask for it, one the new 777s will make room for a four class service on this route in due course.

[VintageKrug]

Bookings very strong for this offering.

I thought the route was underwritten by the Las Vegas Business Bureau, but apparently not as such funding would be illegal under EU law.

Seems the fleet expansion and renewal now means BA has enough of the right sort of aircraft to make this a viable route.

One I personally will certainly be sampling in due course.

[continentalclub]

This seems like both a sensible and rather entrepreneurial move for BA. Notwithstanding the economic downturn, Vegas is one of the largest US convention venues and such events are increasingly attracting a global audience.

I’d therefore expect the route to generate significant transfer traffic from Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, and perhaps this explains why Heathrow was selected as the originating airport, rather than the more leisure-orientated Gatwick?

It’s good to see new services like this, and KLM’s Bali service, bringing new and more streamlined travel options for both business and leisure passengers in Europe.

[jpmarcel]

Just came back from this route (CDG-LHR-LAS). On both leg, plane was full in Y, full in W, 90% in J.
I flew outbound in W, inbound in J and felt like I was flying some cheapcost airline. In both classes (with different staff on both legs) service was down under any other airlines I ever flew. I am not that much a low-cost flyer, but, even on EasyJet, I do manage to get a smile from a FA…
I don’t know if this has any link with the possible strike coming up and cuttings in crew numbers, but I had never experienced such a lack of professionalism of FAs since the very old-time when I was flting Y on TWA…

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