$800 ???
In today's $s or what was in your pocket at the time ?
In any event it was a fraction of the posted fare !
The unique part of the fare was the SPAV FC on the BA 747 return - not always easy but coach was always open.

These flights were almost always full and any non-rev hoping for a seat the inkle of space available was certain to
be less than 48 hours. When the opportunity opened very few got on and then to contend with the revenue
displacements from other airlines (the airlines did not have those ridiculous change fees at that time) so there
were infrequently walk-up passengers at the last minute bumping aside NRSA hopefuls. The same for the west
bound flights out of the UK.

Operationally - the aircraft did not break the sound barrier on the ground (take-off) but some 50 or so miles off
the shore of Long Island - sort of like going to Warp Speed Star Trek style !