Virgin America Elevate - Newest city: Palm Springs

Seasonal service starting Dec15 with one roundtrip a day to/from SFO.
Seems to be an odd choice to me. Another leisure destination from an airline that says it wants to cater to large business markets.
Maybe PHX isn't such a long shot after all ;)

Press Release here (http://virginamerica.com/press-release/2011/virgin-america-launches-new-flights-palm-springs.html)
Well, actually, there is no "Release" button to be pressed here. But if you click on the above text, it will take you there ... to the official announcement on the VX website :o

Steve

WooHoo! Seems like they're going after Alaska's niche markets. As a FF to PVR and PSP, I'm loving this. AS has been pretty much the only game in town on this flight. United offers some service but it's always been really expensive. EVERY AS flight to PSP I have ever been on has always been over sold as well, so there is some money to be made.

It's also a great way to utilize idle planes, as it's a quick round trip.

I like it! The times are pretty good too. I think I may have to cash out a few Elevate points and take a weekend trip with the wife.

Wow! Just about time!! VX is starting expansion more new city. Keep it up!! How about VX can start next a new route to PHX, DEN, PDX, SLC, ABQ, TUS, RNO, GEG and few others, too.

I fly SFO-PSP often, and the load factors on AS and UA/UX are always full or nearly full. I'm happy to have another choice, and hopefully the competition will help drive fares down.

Bam! Didn't see PSP coming - exciting nonetheless.
Although only seasonal for now..

"Mr. Cush said another new destination will be announced next week and later in the year Virgin America will announce the start of a "major" transcontinental route."



Any ideas on this "major route". They need more than a bloody miracle to start making money.

"Mr. Cush said another new destination will be announced next week and later in the year Virgin America will announce the start of a "major" transcontinental route."



Any ideas on this "major route". They need more than a bloody miracle to start making money.

Where does this quote come from? Doesn't seem to be in the press release.

Where does this quote come from? Doesn't seem to be in the press release.

WSJ (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903927204576574872083460118.html).

PSP is the new destination (the interview was last week).

For transcon... With BOS, IAD, JFK, MCO and FLL, I'd have to think one of ATL (stretches definition), PHL, CLT or TPA (TPA's airport is begging for carriers).

WSJ (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903927204576574872083460118.html).

PSP is the new destination (the interview was last week).

For transcon... With BOS, IAD, JFK, MCO and FLL, I'd have to think one of ATL (stretches definition), PHL, CLT or TPA (TPA's airport is begging for carriers).

Yeah, I'm guessing TPA, since there's no competition and the new airport director is very aggressive.

I say PDX or PHX

Seasonal service starting Dec15 with one roundtrip a day to/from SFO.
Seems to be an odd choice to me. Another leisure destination from an airline that says it wants to cater to large business markets.
Maybe PHX isn't such a long shot after all ;)

[Steve



Not an odd route at all when you consider the variables: A destination with no other LCC competition, that doesn't demand high frequency. Additionally, a single daily R/T doesn't require tying up 1+ airframes to do transcons or mid continent runs, the way ORD, DFW, JFK or FLL does.

Yeah, I'm guessing TPA, since there's no competition and the new airport director is very aggressive.

Yet TPA faces the problem of being in close proximity to other regional airports such as MCO, RSW, PGD (Punta Gorda), and PIE (St Petersburg) that either offer connecting options via legacy carriers or one off charter type services from the likes of Direct Air or Allegiant.

I say PDX or PHX

You mean airports with existing LCC competition, legacy carrier strongholds, and short haul so that VX's onboard product becomes less effective?

Yeah, I'm guessing TPA, since there's no competition and the new airport director is very aggressive.

Do you remember what happened former Air Development Director who fired from the job.

I say PDX or PHX

My prediction will be PHX, RNO, PDX, ABQ, BOI, GEG, EUG, TUS, SLC, BIL, ELP.

My prediction will be PHX, RNO, PDX, ABQ, BOI, GEG, EUG, TUS, SLC, BIL, ELP.

Oh my...thanks for the laugh! You've obviously never been to the vast majority of these towns/cities. PHX and PDX maybe...the others don't stand a chance in hell.

My prediction will be PHX, RNO, PDX, ABQ, BOI, GEG, EUG, TUS, SLC, BIL, ELP.

Again, you are just throwing darts here. I'd expect service to markets with a duopoly or no direct LCC competition in the N/S transcon market: PHL, CLT, IAH, BNA, MSP, TPA, CVG, STL...

Incentive to Virgin for adding Palm Springs:

http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011109210314

Again, you are just throwing darts here. I'd expect service to markets with a duopoly or no direct LCC competition in the N/S transcon market: PHL, CLT, IAH, BNA, MSP, TPA, CVG, STL...

I think of those on your list, PHL makes the most sense. But they've never really gone head-to-head against US, and that's their fortress.

I think of those on your list, PHL makes the most sense. But they've never really gone head-to-head against US, and that's their fortress.

Really no different than confronting UA/AA in Chicago or DFW. Or DL in ATL, if they choose to go there.

Incentive to Virgin for adding Palm Springs:

http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011109210314

Seems sort of off to provide support for service to a market you already have service from two carriers from. Usually airports only dole out marketing dollars for service to a new market.

I'd love to see Virgin in CLT given the distinct lack of competition, but doubt it happens any time soon. It was on their list of 30+ cities they were looking at during their launch at least.

US kills me on much of my travel out of CLT, but tbh most the routes Virgin flies are the ones where US isn't half bad anyway.

I think of those on your list, PHL makes the most sense. But they've never really gone head-to-head against US, and that's their fortress.

It's either PHL or EWR...and I'm not guessing ;-)

I claim no expertise in route selection from a business perspective, but I have been a purchaser on the SFO-PSP route many times in the last decade. For me, though, it's always during the Thanksgiving weekend. Demand way exceeds supply with the United/Alaska combo from SFO, but I have no idea what it's like outside of that peak period.

In any case, I hope to book VX the next time we do this. Alaska is fine, but VX is my favorite domestic carrier.

In the past couple of years, the load factors on UA/AS to/from PSP and SFO have been fairly heavy during non-holiday periods. Since UA only flies CRJ's, having an alternative to AS with a larger plane is welcome. Hopefully they can use the AS/AA terminal with the jet bridges.

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Seems expensive at 99 ew from sfo

I would be happy if the $99 fare were available all the time. Already, VX is pricing higher than UA over Christmas and New Year holidays - UA = $208, VX = $278 (all pre-tax). UA has already expanded its flight schedules.. don't know if it's temporary for the holidays or permanent, but they're not letting the route go unchallenged.

VX is pulling service starting in May.

VX is pulling service starting in May.That's generally what "seasonal" means.

That's generally what "seasonal" means.

As of last week it was loaded through end of schedule.

End of schedule was extended to September.

End of schedule was extended to September.

It was loaded through Sept in OAG as of last week. I don't know if it was a mistake or they reconsidered but it was definitely loaded.

It was loaded through Sept in OAG as of last week. I don't know if it was a mistake or they reconsidered but it was definitely loaded.

Just read the original press release (link in OP)...
With seasonal service from December 15, 2011-April 30, 2012, Virgin America’s daily PSP schedule is...

Just read the original press release (link in OP)...
With seasonal service from December 15, 2011-April 30, 2012, Virgin America’s daily PSP schedule is...

I can read. It was loaded through Sept in OAG which is the system of record for airline schedules.

Just read the original press release (link in OP)...
With seasonal service from December 15, 2011-April 30, 2012, Virgin America’s daily PSP schedule is...

Maybe they will adds more flight from 1 daily to 3rd daily R/T. I actually believe those route has been done extremely very well. Maybe VX will become go for year-round long instead of going to winter seasonally. If necessary, they will have extended the schedule from Apr to September 2012.

I can read. It was loaded through Sept in OAG which is the system of record for airline schedules.

Naw, not really.
Airlines do not operate their flights based on what OAG "schedules" say :p
The airlines themselves are the system of record. They set their own schedules and OAG simply prints the info as a reference guide.
Based on other comments here, I guess VX doesn't release their schedules out as far as other airlines. It would make sense for OAG, in their reference guide, to "fill in the gap" by extrapolating the known schedule into the unreleased time frame.

You original statement on the topic ::VX is pulling service starting in May:: ...
makes it sound as if VX has already decided to pull out of their new market in PSP. This is not true. Per the airline itself, in their original press release, it was never their intent to have PSP flights in May. What OAG publishes in a reference guide does nothing to change that fact.
IMHO, "ending seasonal service" is a far different thing than "pulling service".

The only thing that has happened here is that OAG updated their reference guide. Once VX released their schedule out into May and beyond, OAG replaced the assumed/extrapolated info with the real schedule.

Steve

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Seems expensive at 99 ew from sfo

Everytime I've flown AS SFO-PSP the fares have ranged $250-$400 RT for economy out on Fri, returning Sun. I welcome VX service, besides who wants to fly UA on a CRJ there especially with the desert thermals bouncing + tossing the plane around. The fares have come down. I snagged the $99 ow fare. I fly this Fri !

Everytime I've flown AS SFO-PSP the fares have ranged $250-$400 RT for economy out on Fri, returning Sun. I welcome VX service, besides who wants to fly UA on a CRJ there especially with the desert thermals bouncing + tossing the plane around. The fares have come down. I snagged the $99 ow fare. I fly this Fri !

Depending on when you book the ticket, AS, UA, & VX tend to price the same. Keep in mind that VX is only seasonal service to PSP. And, with only one flight a day, there is always a chance that the flight can be severely delayed (happened to me twice .. 3.5 and 4 hrs late) or canceled.

I have been flying to PSP every other weekend for the past year, and I just go with the cheapest ticket, since it's only an hour. I don't care if it's a CRJ.. especially since UA has 6 nonstops and several LAX connecting flights.

Well UA has hacked their schedule once VX ends its seasonal service down to as little as 1 flight per day. Plus with the rainy weather in the past few weeks, intra-California flying on United Express has not exactly been reliable to any destination from SFO.

I've been lucky on UA the past several months.. only 2 delays which were less than 30 mins. I'm sorry to see the nonstops reduced, since AS will be the only competition. But there are decent UA connections through LAX. I'm sorry to see VX not flying there in the summer.