NEWS: BA to leave Gatwick – could Gatwick close?, Marriott another data breach for up to 5.2 million people & BA explores Ryanair merger for low cost long haul?

British Airways to leave Gatwick temporarily

As I predicted, with Gatwick North terminal closing, BA are moving their operation to Heathrow on a temporary basis. In a statement they said

“Due to the considerable restrictions and challenging market environment, like many other airlines, we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick”, British Airways said in a statement. “We are contacting affected customers to discuss their options”.

With so few airlines still actually operating at Gatwick, the question now is will Gatwick be able to keep going. Virgin have already left and EasyJet have stopped all their flights completely. According to Sky News, the option to close completely;y is still being considered once all the repatriation flights end. 

Marriott announces yet another data breach

After one of the biggest data breaches to date announced in 2018, Marriott have just announced another one that happened earlier this year. They will be emailing affected members individually.

Hotels operated and franchised under Marriott’s brands use an application to help provide services to guests at hotels. At the end of February 2020, the company identified that an unexpected amount of guest information may have been accessed using the login credentials of two employees at a franchise property. The company believes that this activity started in mid-January 2020. Upon discovery, the company confirmed that the login credentials were disabled, immediately began an investigation, implemented heightened monitoring, and arranged resources to inform and assist guests. Marriott also notified relevant authorities and is supporting their investigations.

Although Marriott’s investigation is ongoing, the company currently has no reason to believe that the information involved included Marriott Bonvoy account passwords or PINs, payment card information, passport information, national IDs, or driver’s license numbers.

At this point, the company believes that the following information may have been involved for up to approximately 5.2 million guests, although not all of this information was present for every guest involved:

• contact details (e.g., name, mailing address, email address, and phone number)
• loyalty account information (e.g., account number and points balance, but not passwords)
• additional personal details (e.g., company, gender, and birthday day and month)
• partnerships and affiliations (e.g., linked airline loyalty programs and numbers)
• preferences (e.g., stay/room preferences and language preference)

Marriott is sending emails to guests involved. Marriott has also set up a dedicated website (www.mysupport.marriott.com) and call centre resources with additional information for guests. The call centre resources can be reached by calling the numbers listed on the dedicated website. The email sent to guests and the website also contains a list of steps guests involved can consider taking and information about enrolling in a personal information monitoring service that Marriott is providing.

BA explores Ryanair merger for low cost long haul?

British Airways is said to be considering drastic changes when we emerge from the coronavirus crisis. BA are allegedly considering a merger with low-cost airline Ryanair and ditching their premium Club and First cabins completely. The cabin would consist of two sections – the standing room only and the main economy section with extra aisle standing for those on the cheapest fares. The Economy Cheapskate Ticket would give the customer the right to stand in the aisles with a strap to hang on to and any hand luggage would have to be carried on their person during the flight. Tokens to visit the toilet would be available in flight. 

Cheapskate Plus would allow you to have a ‘seat’ in the standing section plus you can stow hand luggage in the locker for an extra £50 per piece.

But fear not, there will still be a premium section. Passengers can buy a Bog Standard Economy Class seat with a roomy 24-inch pitch or if they would like the Economy Posh Class, they can purchase a flatbed by buying 3 economy seats plus a £100 seat booking fee to ensure seats will be together.

BA are looking into turning the Concorde Room into a food court to allow Economy Posh ticket holders to purchase gourmet burgers and fried chicken before their flight.

When approached BA and Ryanair declined to comment.