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Pittsburgh Airport has announced that British Airways will be increasing the number of flights that it offers to/from London Heathrow once the summer 2023 schedule is in place.
As British Airways continues to piece back together its schedules, the airline appears to be putting an ever-increasing emphasis on its transatlantic routes. There are strong rumors circulating which say that the airline will soon announce a new route to the US and now we have news that BA will be adding more flights to Pittsburgh starting in April 2023.
BA’s Pittsburgh route
Pittsburgh first started getting a British Airways service back in April 2019 and since then (with a break for the pandemic) the area’s residents have had the option of 4 flights per week to/from London Heathrow. This is what the schedule currently looks like:
BA171 LHR 16:35 – 20:00 PIT (Tue, Wed, Fri & Sun)
BA170 PIT 21:50 – 10:00 LHR (Tue, Wed, Fri & Sun)
On 24 April 2023, however, British Airways will begin ramping up its Pittsburgh service to include a 5th weekly flight (on Mondays), and on 14 May 2023, a 6th weekly flight will also be added (on Thursdays).
Once the 6th flight has been added, this is what the summer season schedule will look like:
BA171 LHR 16:55 – 19:55 PIT (Mon – Fri & Sun)
BA170 PIT 21:45 – 10:05 LHR (Mon – Fri & Sun)
As things stand, these 6 weekly flights will continue through 30 October 2023 (the end of the summer season) and while it’s hard to be sure (because the schedules are yet not available past 31 October 2023), it looks like a 4x/week service will be back in operation for the winter 2023/24 season.
The aircraft
Historically, this route has been operated by a British Airways 787-8 Dreamliner and assuming no further changes are made going forward, it looks like this will still be the case next year.
BA’s 787-8 offers 35 Club World seats (Business Class), 25 World Traveller Plus seats (Premium Economy), and 154 World Traveller (Economy Class) seats but no First Class cabin.
If you’re considering booking a Business Class fare (or award) on this route, keep in mind that the Club World cabin on the 787-8 continues to offer the airline’s ancient Business Class seat…
…and not the new Club World Suite so set your expectations accordingly.
Award availability
Currently, Business Class award availability (for 2 passengers) looks good…
…so if you don’t mind the horrendous surcharges that British Airways adds to most award bookings or if you have a 2-4-1/companion voucher that you can use, this is an easy route on which to secure a premium cabin seat using Avios or another oneworld currency.
Bottom line
Starting in May next year, British Airways will offer 6 weekly flights between London Heathrow and Pittsburgh. Business Class award availability on this route is plentiful but keep in mind that the 787-8 aircraft that operates this BA service is fitted with the airline’s old Business Class seat and not the newer and vastly superior Club Suite.
[HT: Business Traveller]
