i seriously think that VAA really has not been reading the markets well and has been like a fish out of water for years now - who ever makes big decisions there re routes and product hmmm well! lol
the J upper class suite product whilst innovative in its time is not now that keenly liked by the business flyer and VAA could have adopted a new 'wow' product...they have been left behind now and the food is truly muck on board in J.
never see any big celebs fly on VAA any more and once there were always big names in J on the LAX or NYC etc etc...(and no they were not always upgrades)
2 x LAX flights a day and still NO clubhouse at LAX after 23 years - no wonder the celebs wont fly
all the clubhouses are great but not everyone eats in there so to cut the food to the bone and quality on board is wrong.
the W prem econ product does not offer enough value or space for the extra money (alot) charged - the seat is good but the legroom not enough.
TOP TIP increase legroom to 42-45'' and enhance meals.
the Y product - oh please...just read airline reviews - VAA Y in the 1980's was fantastic - great seat/legroom/ife/crews and a very nice meal -
TOP TIP just go back to basics - the pax will love you for it and the VAA brand loyalty will recover fast
stop start thinking on various routes - NBO for one being reconsidered...
CPT still only seasonable after all these years - a/c does ORD in UK summer -
still using clapped out worthless a340-300 weight restricted on many CPT-LHR flights
HKG and JNB could have been double daily for years now with the loads they generate and JNB should have been an A380 route by now or B747-8
LOS could be double daily, huge J loads and cargo
the ridding of a340-600 due disappointing operations, a mess of a fleet now -
too many a/c types
340 2 versions the -300 suffers weight penalty and old ife in some a/c
330 (the non J leisure versions have been re-jigged now to mainline fit -that did not last long! - gosh the expense wasted)
a330 J product received many complaints from J pax - now being enhanced
744 leisure fleet re-fitted but now they want rid huh?
744 LHR vers - mixing Y pax with J on the upper decks? big no no
78-9 on the way where is that going? now not leisure fitted
A380 deferred indef - why? when every l/haul legacy carrier is picking up more pax as they like it so much
could have Boeing been knuckled down for a great deal on 747-8 to replace the 744 fleet?
sorry for the neg's but i think the eye has been off the ball at the top for along time, way too long...
back to basics and keep it simple