If you’re flying British Airways from London to Chicago this summer, you might find yourself on a plane you weren’t expecting.
In this post:
Air Belgium operating London to Chicago flight
British Airways operates two daily flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Chicago (ORD). Generally one frequency is operated by an Airbus A380, while the other frequency is operated by a Boeing 777. However, that will be changing over the coming months, per a schedule update that was just loaded.
From July 1 through October 28, 2023, Air Belgium will be operating on behalf of British Airways on the following frequency:
BA295 London to Chicago departing 10:35AM arriving 1:15PM
BA294 Chicago to London departing 4:50PM arriving 5:35AM (+1 day)
Specifically, the frequency ordinarily being operated by a British Airways Boeing 777-300ER will instead be operated by an Air Belgium Airbus A330-900neo. This is a wet lease agreement, meaning that the aircraft and crew will be from Air Belgium, while you can expect the standard British Airways food, drinks, and amenities.
This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen Air Belgium operate flights on behalf of British Airways. Presumably it reflects that Air Belgium has some excess capacity (or at least feels it can make more money leasing out its planes than operating its own schedule), while British Airways has an aircraft shortage.
For those not familiar, Air Belgium is a quirky Belgian airline, which operates scheduled flights to leisure destinations, cargo flights, and also wet leases aircraft to other airlines. Initially the plan was for Air Belgium to exclusively be a passenger airline selling its own tickets, but the airline has had mixed success with this strategy, which is presumably why it’s leasing out aircraft.
What does this Air Belgium swap mean for passengers?
Should passengers booked on this Air Belgium frequency be looking forward to this change, or does it represent a downgrade? Well, it depends on the cabin you’re traveling in.
For context, British Airways’ Boeing 777-300ERs feature 256 seats, including:
- Eight first class seats
- 76 business class seats
- 40 premium economy seats
- 132 economy seats
Air Belgium’s Airbus A330-900neos feature 286 seats, including:
- 30 business class seats
- 21 premium economy seats
- 235 economy seats
As you can see, this aircraft swap actually increases seat count for the flight by 30, though completely changes the mix of classes:
- There’s no first class on Air Belgium, so that’s obviously bad news for first class passengers
- The size of business class is being reduced by 46 seats; furthermore, with British Airways’ new Club Suites, I’d say this represents a product downgrade as well
- The size of premium economy is roughly being cut in half, though I’d say Air Belgium’s premium economy product might just be better
- The size of economy is much bigger than before, and I’d say the A330-900neo is superior for the 2-4-2 layout, giving lots of passengers a pair of seats to get comfortable
Bottom line
Air Belgium is taking over one of British Airways’ frequencies between London and Chicago from July 1 through October 28, 2023. This reflects British Airways’ long haul aircraft shortage, and for whatever reason, Chicago was decided as the destination that will get the Air Belgium aircraft.
While the Air Belgium A330-900neo has more seats than the British Airways 777-300ER, the reduction in premium cabin seating is massive, with the elimination of first class, business class being cut by more than half, and premium economy being cut by nearly half.
What do you make of Air Belgium operating British Airways’ Chicago service?
Hi. Does anyone know when this arrangement is going to end please? Article says 28 October but today is 5th November and it’s still operating. I’m due to fly it 30th Nov in first class as a once in a lifetime treat. I’m now worried it won’t be happening which would be a huge let down and I have hotels etc booked. Have heard nothing from BA and only found this from a bit of...
Hi. Does anyone know when this arrangement is going to end please? Article says 28 October but today is 5th November and it’s still operating. I’m due to fly it 30th Nov in first class as a once in a lifetime treat. I’m now worried it won’t be happening which would be a huge let down and I have hotels etc booked. Have heard nothing from BA and only found this from a bit of research so wondering if I should contact them and/or start preparing for bad news. Any advice welcome please
Hello,
We will be flying Air Belgium on behalf of LOT soon, but I am worried the airline is in a very bad state and the quality of the plane maintenance and pilots will be drastically reduced. Does anyone know if Air Belgium has made positive steps to improve the working conditions of its staff and managed to keep its fleet well maintaned?
12 Sept to Chicago. Late by 1.5 hours. Awful. Very warm on board with no air con. Sat on plane for 2 hours with no offer of water,
Booked and paid for seat 14A, was changed to 35A with no explanation.
Also late on return, 22 Sept. Still very warm on board. Water is obviously very expensive.
Sorry BA, you have failed in my opinion. You are not the blue chip airline you used to be.
Last time for me. Will stick to AA for my next trip.
Just flew it in Economy and honestly, was better than standard BA economy with the wider seats and 2-4-2 layout (becomes 2-3-2 for the past couple rows!). The IFE selection really wasn’t that great though, missed that part.
We are flying 8th July after email received I spoke our agent who told me to speak to BA so I did. Missing from our booking
1 extra case
4 booked seats
Wheelchair both ways.
Rang ba and there rep told me to speak to travel agent and didn't want to stop talking to the degree I had to shout to stop here to state all was booked via ba not...
We are flying 8th July after email received I spoke our agent who told me to speak to BA so I did. Missing from our booking
1 extra case
4 booked seats
Wheelchair both ways.
Rang ba and there rep told me to speak to travel agent and didn't want to stop talking to the degree I had to shout to stop here to state all was booked via ba not agent. I ended up ring agent and asked for help to which they did they rang BA , BA rang air belgium and got everything reinstated. I feel BA have just washed there hands of the flights on the swop over I'm disgusted I'll see what service we receive on the flights and then pursue thereafter if need be
I'll be very interested to hear what your experience was like Simon, let us know what we can expect.
I've been calling British Airways since I received the email and they are not accepting calls. Each time it says they are busy, i've sent an email as well and they replied stating they can't process a refund for the difference via my email request that I need to call. This is just totally unacceptable. They've messed up our seating, this is just a mess. They need to either provide the refund on the difference or rebook us on the later British Airways Flight.
I've managed to speak to them a couple of times Kellie. The agents have been very evasive, I don't think they've been permitted to say anything. I think they know they have a big problem and they don't know what to do about it. The second agent I spoke to kept trotting out the same line over and over again 'anything can happen between now and when you fly'. I've tried cancelling the whole thing,...
I've managed to speak to them a couple of times Kellie. The agents have been very evasive, I don't think they've been permitted to say anything. I think they know they have a big problem and they don't know what to do about it. The second agent I spoke to kept trotting out the same line over and over again 'anything can happen between now and when you fly'. I've tried cancelling the whole thing, moving my flight to another location and changing flights to the same location. They won't allow me to do anything.
many will be downgraded.
Yes iamhere, I'm one of them. I really don't want to fly 8 hours economy and they're going to have to give me a massive refund and I'll get to flight very cheaply. Why don't they allow me to cancel and give me a total refund and then re-sell my seat for a lot more money than my 25%.
By my calculation that means that on flights that are already fully booked for non economy seats a total of 73 people per flight will be downgraded all of whom are legally entitled to a 75% refund on the total cost of their fares. That must be a massive financial hit for BA.
I'm on an outbound flight affected. Last time I flew to ORD I was in a BA club suite seat which was not particularly good if you are 1.98m tall as I am - the secondary seat strap was not long enough to go over my shoulder without crouching down uncomfortably in my seat.
The Air Belgium offer may actually be better. We'll see.
I moved my flight to American . They got good timing out of LHR , brand new 787 aircraft , 4 service a day. And flexible booking and re booking options without no fuss . And four amazing lounges(AA plus oneworld ) at Terminal 3 and , and great staff . I have done 7 trips on AA this year. Flight bang on time and landing early. Good luck changing it from ba to aa . You need the right agent on phone . And AA flights are sold out most of them.
We booked 4 seats on the BA flight via AA, in Traveler Plus class - it appears that Air Belgium has half the seats. Does that mean we will be pushed into coach and how do we confirm the seats on this new plane? I can't even get through to BA on the phone.
If it’s booked via AA and their ticket you should contact AA. It is a wet lease meaning BA control the inventory and operation.
If you are downgraded AA ( as it’s their ticket) will arrange a refund of the sector ie 75% of the value once your trip is complete. If it’s an award ticket, the equivalent in miles.
In fact many airlines are wet-leasing this summer.
If it's replacing a BA plane with Club World, it's an upgrade.
Agreed but I’d be really irked if I booked first class
it's most likely replacing an aircraft with the new Club World (/Club Suites) product so I'd consider that a downgrade (though yes, an upgrade if it had been the old 8 abreast Club World ying yang seat).
Actually, BA has been operating un-refurbished 777s to Chicago with old club seats since spring (consistent with the product offered on the A380 rotation) so this is an upgrade of sorts. F passengers will likely be re-accommodated on the A380 rotation, typically there has been a lot of Avios F availability on this route so they will likely scale that back.
BA = Bloody Awful
What a joke British Airways is. They are not a full service airline they have slumped so far
I just had 3 flights cancelled in under 48 hours, downgraded on one of those flights and got no luggage for 6 days, apart from then sending the wrong bag that had my original baggage tag. And BA ground staff gave assistance to help at least premium passengers on emerald status on one world. Ground staff...
What a joke British Airways is. They are not a full service airline they have slumped so far
I just had 3 flights cancelled in under 48 hours, downgraded on one of those flights and got no luggage for 6 days, apart from then sending the wrong bag that had my original baggage tag. And BA ground staff gave assistance to help at least premium passengers on emerald status on one world. Ground staff said organiser your hotel rooms, pay and chain and now BA don't want to cover the expenses. There's more.
This should read
And BA ground staff gave NO assistance to help at least premium passengers on ...
Most airlines are the same. At least EC261/UK261 protects you and you should be refunded accommodation if you had to be rebooked another day. In most countries you’re on your own, including the US.
Got the notification this morning for my flight tomorrow (July 1st).
Seat selection is the only thing I’m currently worried about. Was booked in J, seats 13A/B. BA apps now shows 3B while BA rep confirmed it is still 13A/B. Wife doesn’t have a seat on the app. Neither seat is available according to the AB seat map (8 rows, ACFH letters, unsure if that carries over.
Attempted to get us switched to AA86 but...
Got the notification this morning for my flight tomorrow (July 1st).
Seat selection is the only thing I’m currently worried about. Was booked in J, seats 13A/B. BA apps now shows 3B while BA rep confirmed it is still 13A/B. Wife doesn’t have a seat on the app. Neither seat is available according to the AB seat map (8 rows, ACFH letters, unsure if that carries over.
Attempted to get us switched to AA86 but the AA rep said I would need to pay the difference. Unsure if they are yet aware of the change guidelines.
It's a perfect flight rotation. Air hours and ground hours provide pretty much the best operational schedule. They just constantly run the same plane on this route.
Pretty thrilled to have lucked into booking F on BA297 and, thus, not impacted by this change.
How is Air Belgium still in business? Can anyone explain? honest question.
I flew them on a contracted Condor flight from FRA to SEA. A little bummed I missed the actual Condor A330NEO but Air Belgium was fine for business. Hard product was better then expected, I like how it was pretty open on the footwell, made sleeping a lot easier. Soft product and food was average, tho hard to say what BA contracted standards are. I wouldn’t go out of my way to fly it, but if you need to take it, it’s fine enough for a J flight.
There's a worldwide aircraft shortage following the pandemic. They can make good money wet leasing to airlines who need more aircraft.
Hey Ben! Quick question: As someone who was booked in First on this exact route, who've now been downgraded to "Club World" on these Air Belgium planes, what are my best options?
Could I ask to be switched to another city pair that offers their new 773 First seats?
Currently they're offering me a switch to one of their A380 flights to ORD. But I feel that the new 773 First seats are superior to the A380 First offering
Crazy to take a connection for the new F on the 773 vs direct in F on the A380..
Chicago isn't my final destination, so am flexible as long as it's a east coast US city
I actually quite like F on the 380. It's not the most modern seat but gives tons of space and because it's still it's own cabin (14 seats, between toilets and galley), much more private and quiet. the 8 seat 'cabin' on the 777 is 'only' separated by a curtain from CW and there's more through traffic on the 777 than the 380. So I'd happily take a swap from 777 to 380 in F with BA.
Appreciate your insight Christian!
First time in BA First so wanted to optimize for best experience. I'll take your advice and rebook on their A380 First.
BA don’t distinguish between different types of F, so I don’t think you have a right to be re-booked to new 777 F but may get lucky. That said, I’m pretty sure it would have been old 777 F to Chicago anyway?
What's an Air Belgium Swam. (sorry couldn't resist)
BA has generally been running one of the 77Ws with the old Club World seat on the route - the swap is a bit of an upgrade for people who actually can snag a seat up front
Over the past few months, Air Belgium was frequenting Seattle quite a bit as well, operating for Condor. I think they have since stopped in favor of Condor metal.
Just a pity that Global Airlines A380 isn’t available just yet…..