Virgin America moving into AS territory
Dec 14, 2007, 3:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: AA PLT, EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 42
Virgin America moving into AS territory
Just wondering what other FTers think about the announcement that Virgin America will start 3x daily flights between SFO and SEA, and 4x daily LAX and SEA flights in March and April. I feel as if this will be the first real test against AS.
Dec 14, 2007, 4:08 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 151
I agree. I'd be all over Virgin America. 55 inch pitch in First? Personal entertainment throughout? Assuming miles are easily used on Virgin Atlantic, and assuming their network expands quickly to include other SEA>XXX NonStops, AS product isn't good enough to keep me loyal.
AS needs to start upgrading services and equipment. Frankly, they probably should have a big international carrier take a stake in them (ala LH in JB).
The king is dead. Long live the king.
AS needs to start upgrading services and equipment. Frankly, they probably should have a big international carrier take a stake in them (ala LH in JB).
The king is dead. Long live the king.
Dec 14, 2007, 4:32 pm
#3
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 11,802
Dec 22, 2007, 6:16 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: British Airways Executive Club, United Mileage Plus & bmi Diamond Club
Posts: 1,427
Virgin Atlantic & Virgin America aren't allowed to cooperate. US Legacies kick up too much of a fuss. Still, there's always Virgin Blue & the new transpacific V Australia to cooperate with, & i think this is far more relevant given that all the activity will be on the West Coast.
Hopefully Alaskan will improve there product. I don't reckon fares will be hit that much, but who knows what we may see. PTVs in economy with AVOD...Self service buffets...Free meals...
Hopefully Alaskan will improve there product. I don't reckon fares will be hit that much, but who knows what we may see. PTVs in economy with AVOD...Self service buffets...Free meals...
Dec 28, 2007, 1:41 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AAdvantage PLT
Posts: 516
The Virgin flights between San Francisco and San Diego are probably going to be seeing some of me next year now that Alaska isn't flying the route.
I'm just barely going to make MVP this year, so I may end up giving up on AS and putting all my AS miles on AA. Granted, I'm a relatively low-rev customer for AS, since most of my mileage was on partners, and they would still see most of the rev they get anyway if I credit to AA.
Virgin has been dragging its feet on posting details of its mileage program, so it's impossible to know if there will be much attractive about it. I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that if it set up a reasonable partnerships with Virgin, Virgin Blue, etc, that would necessarily violate prohibitions of foreign control of U.S. domestic airlines. I just wish we knew.
I'm just barely going to make MVP this year, so I may end up giving up on AS and putting all my AS miles on AA. Granted, I'm a relatively low-rev customer for AS, since most of my mileage was on partners, and they would still see most of the rev they get anyway if I credit to AA.
Virgin has been dragging its feet on posting details of its mileage program, so it's impossible to know if there will be much attractive about it. I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that if it set up a reasonable partnerships with Virgin, Virgin Blue, etc, that would necessarily violate prohibitions of foreign control of U.S. domestic airlines. I just wish we knew.
Dec 28, 2007, 9:38 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
The Virgin flights between San Francisco and San Diego are probably going to be seeing some of me next year now that Alaska isn't flying the route.
I'm just barely going to make MVP this year, so I may end up giving up on AS and putting all my AS miles on AA. Granted, I'm a relatively low-rev customer for AS, since most of my mileage was on partners, and they would still see most of the rev they get anyway if I credit to AA.
Virgin has been dragging its feet on posting details of its mileage program, so it's impossible to know if there will be much attractive about it. I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that if it set up a reasonable partnerships with Virgin, Virgin Blue, etc, that would necessarily violate prohibitions of foreign control of U.S. domestic airlines. I just wish we knew.
I'm just barely going to make MVP this year, so I may end up giving up on AS and putting all my AS miles on AA. Granted, I'm a relatively low-rev customer for AS, since most of my mileage was on partners, and they would still see most of the rev they get anyway if I credit to AA.
Virgin has been dragging its feet on posting details of its mileage program, so it's impossible to know if there will be much attractive about it. I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that if it set up a reasonable partnerships with Virgin, Virgin Blue, etc, that would necessarily violate prohibitions of foreign control of U.S. domestic airlines. I just wish we knew.
Dec 28, 2007, 3:47 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 544
VX have already announced their intentions regarding their loyalty program. It's not a frequent-flyer program at all - points are accrued per dollar spent, not per mile flown.
Totally uninteresting to the savvy flyertalker, since there's no way to improve the cost per point earned.
Totally uninteresting to the savvy flyertalker, since there's no way to improve the cost per point earned.
Dec 29, 2007, 10:24 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SEATTLE, WA USA
Programs: UAL, AA, AS, CX
Posts: 1,973
VX have already announced their intentions regarding their loyalty program. It's not a frequent-flyer program at all - points are accrued per dollar spent, not per mile flown.
Totally uninteresting to the savvy flyertalker, since there's no way to improve the cost per point earned.
Totally uninteresting to the savvy flyertalker, since there's no way to improve the cost per point earned.
Dec 29, 2007, 11:00 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
AS has all but ceded its quality / service differentiator in the west coast corridor. It'll be interesting to see if the VX foray encourages AS to try and regain it, or pushes them further toward cattle-car territory.
Dec 29, 2007, 12:47 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland
Programs: AA Exec PLT; BA Silver
Posts: 273
Dec 29, 2007, 8:28 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: VX unless destination indicates otherwise (damn hippieanarchistville--EUG--and PHX)
Posts: 577
VX is not invading AS
VX is not really invading AS territory as much as they are strengthing their SFO and LAX bases. SFO is competing against UA and AS, a possible preemptive strike at WN opening SEA-SFO. UA is two of their four LAX flights to CR7's and this may be a strike to take DL (XE) out of the market and steal some revenue from WN onestops. If VX really wanted to annoy AS and carve a SEA niche they would open up ANC a few times a day akin to Reno Air. In addition they would open up SAN, and JFK (or IAD). I posted a possible schedule in the "Other North and South American Forum" in the "Virgin America to expand?" thread. I posted at post 104 and 105. See link at post 18
Note: I am not a VX representitive but I would like for any airline to succed and grow in as many routes as possible from SEA. I just live in SEA and want more choices from my home airport.
Note: I am not a VX representitive but I would like for any airline to succed and grow in as many routes as possible from SEA. I just live in SEA and want more choices from my home airport.
Last edited by prismwiz; Dec 30, 2007 at 4:26 pm Reason: corrections