dohadosser

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-28314686

As a native of NI I am wondering if anyone has any more information about this short term route next summer. I read on another news report that there would only be 8 services in total.

Nottingham Nick

Thanks for the link - I hope is is a success.

Nick

Me2E

That could be a cheap redemption opportunity with no APD.

GumshoeW12

Actually I believe the BFS-MCO route's only operating 4 times next June & July, starting on June 25th. That'll be followed by another new trial route from GLA to LAS, also operating 4 times in September & October.

There's a bit more info on latest news section of the VS website: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en...test-news.html

Nottingham Nick

Thanks for the update, GumshoeW12 ^

Given the small number of trial flights, it will be interesting to see if there are many, if any, redemption seats available.

Nick

TennisNoob

Waiting for VX In Houston

tangey

Anecdotally, I know quite a few people from N.I. That fly to Orlando with VS from mainland uk.

VS can selling the flights out of BFS for the same price, but build the APD into the base price and pocket it. Might also add extra to recognise that their current customers have to find the cost of a UK connection.

Of course there are some charter flights out of NI to MCO, and then there is the 3 times a week aerlingus flight out of Dublin, that will be competitive due to the lack of APD.

I wonder will they actually run the upper class service. Not sure there are many customers from N.I. That would want 1st class of a holiday leisure route.
Although there are only a handful of flights, 1st redemption might actually be relatively good.

I wonder when was the last time there was a long haul 1st out of N.I.

ANstar

Well Virgin Atlantic don't offer a FIRST CLASS. So not sure when the last or even the next airline to offer it will be.

As for Virgin Atlantic, they will offer their business class product (UPPER) on this seasonal route - the same as they do from GLA and MAN. Unlike the LHR birds, there are only 14 J seats which I presume can easily be filled with upgrades or award redemptions if pax don't choose to pay.

tangey

I wonder will they actually run the upper class service. Not sure there are many customers from N.I. That would want 1st class upper of a holiday leisure route.
Although there are only a handful of flights, 1st upper redemption might actually be relatively good.

I wonder when was the last time there was a long haul 1st upper/biz out of N.I.

benjyyy

Looking at the first flight out on 25 June it doesn't look like they are making any redemption seats available

UKtravelbear

VS doesn't always release reward seats at the same time as cash ones.

They may just be testing the market to see if there is a demand for paid seats. If not then I'm sure they will release some as rewards.

Plus they have only released flights for one day - you can't even book the return for the following week yet.