British Airways Is Launching Transatlantic Flights From Nashville

British Airways has been beefing up its presence in the US a lot over the past year. In March, the carrier began new service from both Oakland (OAK) and New Orleans (MSY) to London, and last month it launched service between Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and London Gatwick (LGW).

Well, it seems that British Airways isn’t done with its US expansion. The London-based carrier announced Tuesday that it will launch new service to Nashville, Tennessee (BNA) beginning May 4, 2018. This London service will be the Music City’s first transatlantic flight in many years.

Here’s the schedule for the flights, which will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays:

• • BA 222 — London Heathrow (LHR) 3:45pm Departure ⇒ Nashville (BNA) 6:50pm Arrival
  • BA 223 — Nashville (BNA) 8:25pm Departure ⇒ London Heathrow (LHR) 10:30am Arrival

At first glance, Nashville may seem like an odd choice. While the airport is the 33rd busiest in the US, it still seems hard to believe that the market could support five weekly flights to London. However, this is a perfect example of a route that’s enabled by the small but efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner. BA’s operating flights from BNA with a 787-8 equipped with 214 seats in a three-class configuration (economy, premium economy and business). This aircraft also serves British Airways’ other “skinny” transatlantic routes between London and Baltimore (BWI), New Orleans (MSY) and Austin (AUS).

If you’re interested in booking the inaugural flight on May 4, there are plenty of open seats. Economy fares start at $935 round-trip or a reasonable $1,287 round-trip in premium economy for the inaugural. Both of these prices are before the $65 or $130, respectively, discount that you can get for being an AARP member. Regardless of your age, it’s worth signing up for the $12 per year AARP membership to get this discount.

Award options are also a possibility but aren’t cheap due to British Airways’ infamous fuel surcharges. Award flights between from BNA to LHR will cost you:

• • • Off-Peak Economy: 16,250 Avios + $153 one-way
    • Standard Economy: 25,000 Avios + $153 one-way
    • Off-Peak Premium Economy: 32,500 Avios (no dates found with availability)
    • Standard Premium Economy: 50,000 Avios (no dates found with availability)
    • Off-Peak Business: 62,500 Avios + $506 one-way
    • Standard Business: 75,000 Avios + $506 one-way

Or, you can book these flights with AAdvantage miles:

• • • Off-Peak Economy: 22,500 miles + 287 one-way
    • Economy: 30,000 miles + $287 one-way
    • Business: 57,500 miles + $442 one-way

The flights will likely be codeshared with American Airlines, Finnair and Iberia. But, as of this writing, the codeshare flights aren’t yet being sold.

Source: thepointsguy.com