On BA’s A380, business class is an upstairs-downstairs affair (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
British Airways announced today that it will deploy a brand-new Airbus A380 double-decker between San Francisco International and London Heathrow on March 29.
This will be BA’s third US destination to get the big bird, after Los Angeles and Washington, DC.
BA’s Sean Doyle, EVP, Americas, told TravelSkills that the decision to put the A380 on the SFO run was an easy one, “This helps bring together the burgeoning innovation economies in the Bay Area and London. It’s a logical fit and a sophisticated product for a sophisticated market,” he told us, citing the aircraft’s advanced inflight entertainment system, fuel efficiency and smooth, quiet ride.
The A380’s two decks carry a whopping 469 passengers, with 14 suites in first, 97 seats in business, 55 in premium economy and 303 in economy. (See BA’s A380 page)
What makes BA’s A380 unique is that all premium seats are at the front of the plane: first class is downstairs (“main deck”) in the nose, and business class is both upstairs and downstairs. Economy sections are in the rear half of the plane. Most other airlines with A380s put all business or first class seats upstairs only.
Related: Emirates to bring its big A380 to San Francisco & Houston | Trip Report: LAX-London on a BA A380
Economy class on BA’s new Airbus A380 is configured 3-4-3 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
British Airways has two daily flights between SFO and London. Starting in April 2015 (no firm date announced yet), BA will operate the A380 on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (#286). On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, BA will operate its Boeing 747-400. BA will continue to use a 747 for its second daily flight from SFO (#284).
BA’s Doyle told TravelSkills that the A380 and 747 will share the route “for the moment” but could not elaborate on longer term aircraft deployments in the SFO-LHR market. (Click here for news about a big refurb for BA’s 747s)
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British Airways nice, big first class suites onboard its new Airbus A380 (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
Fares on both the A380 and the 747 will be the same, but Doyle expects there to be more demand for the newer aircraft. Plus, of BA’s two daily flights, the A380 is the later one in both directions, allowing more time in either San Francisco or London.
When BA launched A380 service from Los Angeles on what it calls the “Red Carpet Route” to London last fall, TravelSkills was there. Here’s our trip report from that fun ride!
Have you flown on an A380 yet? What did you think? Will you give this new flight a try instead of competitors like United or Virgin Atlantic? Please leave your comments below.
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I have had the pleasure of flying Emirates A380. The 747 has always been at the top of my list for the best ride in the sky. That is until a couple of years ago when I flew Emirate’s A380 from Sydney to Auckland. What a great quiet and smooth flying ride. If you are thinking of an international trip, book the 380 whenever you can. And if you can, book Emirates A380. Your experience will be the best you can buy in terms of service, leg room, yes even in economy, and superior customer service on the best widebody in the sky. I have flown both business and economy on Emirates and they always remind me of how flying use to be in the 60’s and 70’s during the dawn of the jet age. Although, I cannot remember having power window shades back then. Really neat feature when flying Emirates business or first class. So absolutely, book that A380 whenever you can! The new queen of the air!
Excellent! Just be sure you are on the NEW plane 🙂 — chris
I just booked a couple of business class reward flights at the end of April/May. Looking forward to trying the new A380.
I believe it’s 4. — at the ends of Terminal A & G on Int’l. A longer walk from the BA lounge, that’s for sure! — chris
How many gates at SFO can handle the 380?
Good news — those BA 747s have been looking really dated of late.
BA’s first class on the A380 is on the lower deck, not the upper as claimed here.