OT: New Virgin Atlantic Upper Class due 2011
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
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OT: New Virgin Atlantic Upper Class due 2011
#2
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Berkshire
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•Speaking of the effect of the BA strikes on Virgin, Sir Richard said that all cabins had seen an increase in demand since the strikes began, with Upper Class seeing a 10 per cent increase. “We are picking up British Airways customers and once they have tried the Virgin product they tend to stay with us. It is clear that the strike is doing the company long term damage as well as short term”. Nevertheless, Sir Richard said it was sad to see “BA tearing itself apart.”
#4
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Programs: BA gold
Posts: 3,902
In summary, 2% of the content was about a proposed secret new innovation in x time, 1% about operations (airports/slots). The remaining 97% is him whinging all about VS' chief competitor to try and make people feel sorry for VS...
What's new?
What's new?
#5
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,257
Shame the interviewer didn't try to squeeze out 3% of the interview to discussing his apparent volte face over '4 engines 4 longhaul'. Is it me, or does SRB seem to get a very easy ride from the media?
#6
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New York
Programs: BA, LH, VS, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 3,813
It has been suggested elsewhere that some of the A330s may be W and Y only, presumably those on leisure routes where VS get good volumes from Virgin Holidays.
On LHR slots ISTR they did a five year deal with United in 2005 to lease slots and I presume these are now going back to UA.
As for the comments on the strike, well he would say that wouldn't he (though I don't doubt they've picked up a lot of traffic because of it)? As for bmi he's been suggesting a deal for years and nothing has come of it yet. In Q1 bmi lost €45m on a turnover of €196m so whoever buys it has a lot of work to do.
On LHR slots ISTR they did a five year deal with United in 2005 to lease slots and I presume these are now going back to UA.
As for the comments on the strike, well he would say that wouldn't he (though I don't doubt they've picked up a lot of traffic because of it)? As for bmi he's been suggesting a deal for years and nothing has come of it yet. In Q1 bmi lost €45m on a turnover of €196m so whoever buys it has a lot of work to do.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,257
I think the staggered J cabins such as EY, AN and LX have look markedly better than the VS herringbone version. CX appear to be ditching it (although I understand that there seat is noticeably narrower than that found on VS) in favour of the inverted herringbone US style seat.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver (Oneworld Sapphire), VS Silver, Skywards Blue, UA General, Qantas Bronze.
Posts: 1,077
But they are few and far between...
#9
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: london uk
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,046
Scrummed it in prem econ on VS yesterday (temporarily dodging BA's strike-ridden service which has let me down repeatedly thanks to blindly dogmatic unions) and for the first time saw the VS upper class product. I was seriously unimpressed and relieved I'd not parted with my cash to use it. It looks cramped and lacks exclusivity (on an airbus A340 at least). BA still get my vote for now.
#10
Suspended
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Rumers
I heared from one ISM on CX from LAX to HKG that MR. Richard Branson is trying to sue other airlines who adopted fish bone Business class seats for breach of content right. That is why CX is trying to get new business class seats rather than ressure from passengers. May be a rumer but it may be true.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
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I heared from one ISM on CX from LAX to HKG that MR. Richard Branson is trying to sue other airlines who adopted fish bone Business class seats for breach of content right. That is why CX is trying to get new business class seats rather than ressure from passengers. May be a rumer but it may be true.
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: back to my roots in Scotland!
Programs: Tamsin - what else is there to say?
Posts: 47,843
I heared from one ISM on CX from LAX to HKG that MR. Richard Branson is trying to sue other airlines who adopted fish bone Business class seats for breach of content right. That is why CX is trying to get new business class seats rather than ressure from passengers. May be a rumer but it may be true.
http://www.jenkins.eu/df-autumn-2009...gn-trouble.asp
#15
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