PI article on Virgin-Alaska competition
Mar 24, 2008, 5:38 pm
#46
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Those nonstops are Alaska's golden ticket. I wouldn't want to connect either. It's just my gut, but I don't think this VX experiment is going to work out too well. It smacks of National Airlines.
Mar 25, 2008, 11:27 am
#47
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I might give VX a try this year, but I'm rather loathe to connect in SFO/LAX (which is why I no longer fly UA) so I'll likely stay with AS once again.
I know for SEA-LGB (an airport I fly into reasonably often), I'll sure be doing pricechecks for Alaska and JetBlue...
Those nonstops are Alaska's golden ticket. I wouldn't want to connect either. It's just my gut, but I don't think this VX experiment is going to work out too well. It smacks of National Airlines.
I would argue that Alaska's golden ticket, actually, is Alaska. Places like JNU with high operating costs are probably ones that a startup airline isn't going to be interested in.
Mar 25, 2008, 4:24 pm
#48
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Unlikely, since I prefer to fly First Class. However, I hear B6 will be adding an "Economy Plus" section with some 38" of pitch (but 3+3 seating) for a small surcharge, so depending on what a fully-flexible B6 ticket costs vs. AS, I might give it a try.
Mar 31, 2008, 12:12 am
#49
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OK, flew LAS-SFO-SEA on VX coach today. Comments...
- The seats do seem more comfortable than AS coach, with more room.
- Mood lighting was OK.
- Red, the IFE system, is still in beta. Email and IM don't work yet; neither does the inflight magazine. The games are fun to play, though. It's definitely a step up from a Digiplayer (and you can't get one on a West Cost flight).
- The $9 turkey bacon wrap was OK, but... I'd have rather had the $5 Snack Pack.
- The crowd seemed to be fairly young flying both flights.
- Service was fine- not obtrusive. Crews have a lot of young guys.
- The video for flight safety was a bit kitschy (animated).
I think AS does have a fair amount to worry about if VX stays price-competitive with them. I'll also be flying a Sunday LAX-SEA flight with them in a couple of weeks.
- The seats do seem more comfortable than AS coach, with more room.
- Mood lighting was OK.
- Red, the IFE system, is still in beta. Email and IM don't work yet; neither does the inflight magazine. The games are fun to play, though. It's definitely a step up from a Digiplayer (and you can't get one on a West Cost flight).
- The $9 turkey bacon wrap was OK, but... I'd have rather had the $5 Snack Pack.
- The crowd seemed to be fairly young flying both flights.
- Service was fine- not obtrusive. Crews have a lot of young guys.
- The video for flight safety was a bit kitschy (animated).
I think AS does have a fair amount to worry about if VX stays price-competitive with them. I'll also be flying a Sunday LAX-SEA flight with them in a couple of weeks.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Mar 31, 2008 at 12:44 am
Mar 31, 2008, 12:32 am
#50
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Posts: 4,052
OK, flew LAS-SFO-SEA on VX coach today. Comments...
- The seats do seem more comfortable than AS coach.
- Mood lighting was OK.
- Red, the IFE system, is still in beta. Email and IM don't work yet; neither does the inflight magazine. The games are fun to play, though. It's definitely a step up from a Digiplayer (and you can't get one on a West Cost flight).
- The $9 turkey bacon wrap was OK, but... I'd have rather had the $5 Snack Pack.
- The crowd seemed to be fairly young flying both flights.
- Service was fine- not obstrusive.
- The video for flight safety was a bit kitschy (animated).
I think AS does have a fair amount to worry about if VX stays price-competitive with them. I'll also be flying a Sunday LAX-SEA flight with them in a couple of weeks.
- The seats do seem more comfortable than AS coach.
- Mood lighting was OK.
- Red, the IFE system, is still in beta. Email and IM don't work yet; neither does the inflight magazine. The games are fun to play, though. It's definitely a step up from a Digiplayer (and you can't get one on a West Cost flight).
- The $9 turkey bacon wrap was OK, but... I'd have rather had the $5 Snack Pack.
- The crowd seemed to be fairly young flying both flights.
- Service was fine- not obstrusive.
- The video for flight safety was a bit kitschy (animated).
I think AS does have a fair amount to worry about if VX stays price-competitive with them. I'll also be flying a Sunday LAX-SEA flight with them in a couple of weeks.
Were we on the same flight? (8pm-10:15pm)? Just wondering. I wasn't expecting SEA to be so backed up tonight. It was one delay vector after another.
Mar 31, 2008, 2:18 am
#51
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Mar 31, 2008, 8:48 am
#52
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SEA
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All I'll note is that I've been flying AS F every year SEA-SAN for close to two decades during the summer for the San Diego Comic Con and I'm paying about the same price now that I did 20 years ago, while the cost of every single thing related to getting me between SEA and SAN and back to SEA has risen in price during that time.
If AS isn't charging me more, then they have had to reduce the costs of flying me...
I might give VX a try this year, but I'm rather loathe to connect in SFO/LAX (which is why I no longer fly UA) so I'll likely stay with AS once again.
If AS isn't charging me more, then they have had to reduce the costs of flying me...
I might give VX a try this year, but I'm rather loathe to connect in SFO/LAX (which is why I no longer fly UA) so I'll likely stay with AS once again.
) and I was also thinking of giving VX a try, but without that non-stop I don't know. If VX had a non-stop to SAN I would go for it.
Mar 31, 2008, 8:59 am
#53
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Posts: 4,052
Some of them are indeed networked. However, a big minus on VX is a lack of a trivia game. I got to meet the VP of inflight entertainment 2 weeks ago, and they should have it soon.
Mar 31, 2008, 9:41 am
#54
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Apr 7, 2008, 2:13 am
#55
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So, doing some pricing.
First class on VX, one-way, on their LAX-SEA flights: $199
Value fares on AS (that would allow me the instant upgrade to FC, but I wouldn't get the full bonus): $234
Full FC fare: $358
Um... they putting massage chairs on AS planes? Didn't think so.
First class on VX, one-way, on their LAX-SEA flights: $199
Value fares on AS (that would allow me the instant upgrade to FC, but I wouldn't get the full bonus): $234
Full FC fare: $358
Um... they putting massage chairs on AS planes? Didn't think so.