AS considers keeping VX brand
Jun 15, 2016, 4:27 pm
#1
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AS considers keeping VX brand
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...nap-story.html
This is an about-face from their earlier statements!
Please keep VX around! ^
This is an about-face from their earlier statements!
Past aviation mergers in the U.S. have meant the death of the acquired brand. But Tilden noted that in Europe, both names and cultures tend to live on. He cited the Lufthansa Group, which includes its namesake German airline, along with Swiss and Austrian Airlines....
...In a brief interview with the Associated Press after the speech, Tilden said he is “taking a good look at running two brands for some period of time, perhaps forever.”
...In a brief interview with the Associated Press after the speech, Tilden said he is “taking a good look at running two brands for some period of time, perhaps forever.”
Jun 15, 2016, 5:16 pm
#3
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Jun 15, 2016, 5:34 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Given that both are relatively small airlines, dumping $4 billion down the drain to operate them as two separate entities would make no sense what-so-ever. A typical US legacy airline move would be to destroy the good will they have with they employees by putting all new hires under the lower pay scale Virgin brand to save money to make up the added cost of having two different brands and company cultures.
Last edited by sfozrhfco; Jun 15, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Jun 16, 2016, 10:19 am
#7
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I too would like to see that VX stay around indeed... Jet Blue acquiring it would have been a better match as well, but hey, if the culture stays, I'm cool and will continue to fly VX. Just hope the connection to VS remains. Have biz trips that take me to London now.
Jun 16, 2016, 12:54 pm
#8
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While I agree that AS didn't completely think this through, I'm not sure that JetBlue intended to keep the brand either. Back in the day (80's), AS had premium level service on its airplanes. Their meals were literally twice as big as anyone else's. I distinctly remember in Coach getting a breakfast with eggs, pancakes, meat, fruit, and a muffin. Obviously, times change but AS should decide to adopt the service standards of VX on all of its flights.
Jun 16, 2016, 2:46 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2015
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Ok, let me ask a question to all VX Golds that have yet to renew for next year:
Would this "reconsideration" cause you to reevaluate spending $$ to renew your Gold status for next year if AS decides to keep VX in some capacity?
I highly doubt that the VX Elevate program will survive as well. But if the AS MileagePlus program allows members to fly/upgrade on this separate "VX" carrier, should I spend whatever I have left to requalify for VX Gold / AS MVP Gold?
Would this "reconsideration" cause you to reevaluate spending $$ to renew your Gold status for next year if AS decides to keep VX in some capacity?
I highly doubt that the VX Elevate program will survive as well. But if the AS MileagePlus program allows members to fly/upgrade on this separate "VX" carrier, should I spend whatever I have left to requalify for VX Gold / AS MVP Gold?
Jun 16, 2016, 4:23 pm
#10
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This would be the stupidest way to run "one" airline. And wouldn't AS have to pay a licensing fee to continue using the "Virgin" brand?
Jun 16, 2016, 8:33 pm
#11
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Posts: 340
If JetBlue had purchased the carrier, it could have subsumed VX in terms of brand identity more easily. As it stands there is a greater contrast between AS and VX and thus at a brand level the possibility of running them separately merits consideration IMO.
Jun 16, 2016, 9:48 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2014
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This shows AS is listening.
Given the amount of flying and my move to Seattle, I could easily hit DL Diamond if I dropped my VX flying.
In a 10 bil market cap company a few million a year for the brand fee is pocket change.
Jun 16, 2016, 9:52 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: BOS
Programs: B6/Mosaic/AF/VX/AS Gold Hertz PC HH Dia. AMEX Plat SPG/Marr Gold Nat. EE FPC Plat
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I'm in it for the long haul.
Ok, let me ask a question to all VX Golds that have yet to renew for next year:
Would this "reconsideration" cause you to reevaluate spending $$ to renew your Gold status for next year if AS decides to keep VX in some capacity?
I highly doubt that the VX Elevate program will survive as well. But if the AS MileagePlus program allows members to fly/upgrade on this separate "VX" carrier, should I spend whatever I have left to requalify for VX Gold / AS MVP Gold?
Would this "reconsideration" cause you to reevaluate spending $$ to renew your Gold status for next year if AS decides to keep VX in some capacity?
I highly doubt that the VX Elevate program will survive as well. But if the AS MileagePlus program allows members to fly/upgrade on this separate "VX" carrier, should I spend whatever I have left to requalify for VX Gold / AS MVP Gold?
Given where we are at in the merger, I am riding this out as much as I can. I am also not enamored of the new Comfort + upgrade procedure from Delta, so while I could go with DL, I am going to stick with VX until its last flight.
For me, it is not the status program itself, it is the on board experience and the VX staff who make it special for me.
Jun 17, 2016, 2:24 am
#14
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Which also means they won't be able to "water-down" VX's much higher CASMs to be closer to that of AS's. (I think it's something like 10.5 cents versus 8.5 cents).
Jun 17, 2016, 4:03 am
#15
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I'm already status matched to MVP Gold.
Given where we are at in the merger, I am riding this out as much as I can. I am also not enamored of the new Comfort + upgrade procedure from Delta, so while I could go with DL, I am going to stick with VX until its last flight.
For me, it is not the status program itself, it is the on board experience and the VX staff who make it special for me.
Given where we are at in the merger, I am riding this out as much as I can. I am also not enamored of the new Comfort + upgrade procedure from Delta, so while I could go with DL, I am going to stick with VX until its last flight.
For me, it is not the status program itself, it is the on board experience and the VX staff who make it special for me.
But I'd much rather see VX stick around – and this news gives me some hope to cling to!