Virgin Atlantic
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Originally Posted by JSCL
Good chance of a CWL route if RB bought a Twotter and flew it in to LHR or MAN for ongoing connections.
Originally Posted by JSCL
Doubtful, he would just ask BMI regional to fly it and interline, like they already do.
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Not Impressed
Just returned from a trip to Vegas using Virgin for the first time. Not impressed at all. The aircraft for both trips i believe to be OP. I felt like i was travelling on a charter airline using an old 747. Uncomfortable seating, poor inflight entertainment, poor food and really sulky crew. Check in at LGW or should i say " bag drop " was chaotic!
So not impressed at all. I wonder is this the service standard on all LGW departures. Is LHR better.... it would need to be.
So not impressed at all. I wonder is this the service standard on all LGW departures. Is LHR better.... it would need to be.
Join Date: May 2011
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Virgin isn't the only one that's like this in terms of mentality - put the proper goods out of LHR where the higher fare paying pax are transiting and stuff the older (not really that old) and stuffier stuff via MAN and LGW.
Join Date: Jan 2000
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You all say this like its ok to be a 'charter operation' and treat the passenger like sh1t! Why should the economy leisure paz be treated with less respect than someone that flys from a different hub. It sounds like you all justify it!
The economy leisure pax at LGW and MAN are generally paying less for their flight than those at LHR, tend to be more price sensitive, and have fewer options to switch to an alternate airline. Thus, VS have greater market power with these passengers, compared to those at LHR who will happily pay big bucks for a flight and can easily switch to an alternate carrier.
Yes, it would be nice if pax flying from LGW on VS to the Caribbean could be given brand new planes fitted out with the latest entertainment kit, marvellous food, champagne and excellent customer service, but this all costs money, for which most of these pax are reluctant to pay.
An airline is meant to be run as a business, despite what the pax seem to think !
Yes, it would be nice if pax flying from LGW on VS to the Caribbean could be given brand new planes fitted out with the latest entertainment kit, marvellous food, champagne and excellent customer service, but this all costs money, for which most of these pax are reluctant to pay.
An airline is meant to be run as a business, despite what the pax seem to think !
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Southampton, U.K
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I think upgraded planes make a fairly significant difference to a passengers choice when flying long haul, even if its not the case with short haul. This may encourage them to choose VS again even if they are not the cheapest option. Thompson have had great feedback from their long haul product ever since it was upgraded a few years ago so I don't see how the same can't happen for VS's beach fleet. Its also worth noting that Thomson are also very competitively priced and often cheaper than BA/VS, even if they do not offer the same flexibility and frequencies.
Also, as for alternative options for LGW/MAN/GLA you have:
British Airways
Thomson Airways
Monarch
Thomas Cook
So there is plenty of competition on the long haul leisure routes although I do realize all of the above airlines do not aim themselves at the same type of customer.
Also, as for alternative options for LGW/MAN/GLA you have:
British Airways
Thomson Airways
Monarch
Thomas Cook
So there is plenty of competition on the long haul leisure routes although I do realize all of the above airlines do not aim themselves at the same type of customer.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Arn't the brand new A330's flying leisure routes?
Its small and we would prefer to fly on the B747, followed by their comments having returned on the b747, it was tatty and we didnt like it.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
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The economy leisure pax at LGW and MAN are generally paying less for their flight than those at LHR,
There are some good off peak deals but even visiting Mickey Mouse on Virgin will cost you an arm and a leg, so I suspect they have a captive audience they are making a good margin on. Remember BA's long haul out of LGW was (allegedly) the only part of the company making money during the worst times of the last few years. That's a good indicator of a stable yield.
Aren't the brand new A330's flying leisure routes?
VS076 / 075 MAN-MCO
VS072 / 071 GLA-MCO
Dedicated to Disneyland.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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The LGW/MAN 747 Fleet are being upgraded between April and October, they will feature a new Upper class suite,mood lighting, 777 style interiors throughout and the new economy seat as featured on the A330. The 'JAM' IFE from the 330 will also be installed on all LGW/MAN 747, which although well overdue will mean the leisure routes will feature the latest VA product, leaving LHR behind until there updated.
Its true LGW fleet are well overdue the re-furb but as mentioned in an earlier post, these are leisure routes where passenger demand is very price sensitive, so it had to be put on hold until the Airline was in a financial position to invest the millions needed for the project, which thankfully is almost here. The fact competitors on these routes such as TCX have plans to take out seat back ife due to costs etc, this investment will once again put VA at the top of its game where it once was.
Its true LGW fleet are well overdue the re-furb but as mentioned in an earlier post, these are leisure routes where passenger demand is very price sensitive, so it had to be put on hold until the Airline was in a financial position to invest the millions needed for the project, which thankfully is almost here. The fact competitors on these routes such as TCX have plans to take out seat back ife due to costs etc, this investment will once again put VA at the top of its game where it once was.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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No new routes from MAN confirmed as far as I've heard, the remaining 330's that are being delivered next year will be joining the LHR fleet so no new aircraft to join LGW/MAN. All that has been confirmed is the 747 re-fit program. However who knows, I personally think MAN will feature heavily in VA future expansion plans.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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I personally think MAN will feature heavily in VA future expansion plans.
From starting ops in 1997, they've had MCO, added BGI in winter 2005, seasonal UVF in winter 2006 (since dropped) and LAS this summer.
All of these used to be sold heavily on BMI out of MAN with Virgin Holidays so beyond the "beach fleet" destinations currently served out of out of LGW, I would see NO expansion out of MAN for VS.
They can't do US destinations as the US carriers have them sewn up out of MAN and are struggling with overcapacity to a Europe struggling economically so yields are down. Looking East, the over capacity increase on EK / EY / QR would make that commercial suicide as they couldn't match price on a direct daily service versus a one stop via the gulf hubs.
That leaves from the beach fleet destinations :
KIN (being dropped out of LGW so unlikely)
MBJ
ANU / UVF possibly more viable on the A333
GND / TAB
HAV
SJU
In all honesty, the best VS will ever do out of MAN is daily (double daily some days) to Orlando and a based A333 doing a suite of once / twice weekly from the above. I cannot foresee any business case for that airline to do anything beyond that. Certainly point to point outside of London Heathrow looks impossible alas.
(unless of course the shiny new B787 does actually "change everything" which seems unlikely in the extreme, it'll just be way more efficient doing most of the current things!)
Join Date: Dec 1998
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the 330's have panasonic eX2 IFE, not sure what JAM is. The 330's are off to ZRH for a retro fit of an addition to this, but can't sat what it is, I know, but can't say.
The 744's as stated are off for interior refurb and installation of eX2.
The 744's as stated are off for interior refurb and installation of eX2.
Join Date: Dec 2007
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The fare paid LGW LAS return was in excess of £800 per passenger. Price sensitive passengers have been mentioned in earlier forums. When i have paid that amount of money and i received shoddy service .... it made me very sensitive !!