Only Slightly OT - Virgin win EDI & ABZ Heathrow routes
Nov 19, 2012, 1:24 pm
#61
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Much as I welcome the competition as others have stated to peg back excessive prices, I genuinely hope that, given their history, they do not engage in a detrimental price war. There are certainly people around who would like to see the back of domestic flights, and they would be more than pleased if airlines decided that it was not worth the effort due to too low fares.
As an aside I wonder what people would regard as a fair price for a discounted LHR - EDI return. As a starter, I would suggest around £125 to £150.
As an aside I wonder what people would regard as a fair price for a discounted LHR - EDI return. As a starter, I would suggest around £125 to £150.
Nov 19, 2012, 1:26 pm
#62
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I'd say between £100 and £130. 2 years ago I was paying £90 and now I can't get it less than £110, but mostly £130. Stopping domestic flying would be a disaster for airborne commuters like me. I can leave Edi on a Tues morning and be at my desk in London for half 9. Using the train would stop all that!
Nov 19, 2012, 1:31 pm
#63
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Because Easyjet got the Moscow rights, presumably planned from Gatwick - does this mean Virgin have actually won bmi's Moscow LHR slots - but cannot fly there so therefore can fly elsewhere using them?
If so, would it have to be Riyadh, Cairo or Nice? Or Edinburgh/Aberdeen?
Or could they operate a new long haul route? Glasgow would be great too - must be on the list if the others are a success.
If so, would it have to be Riyadh, Cairo or Nice? Or Edinburgh/Aberdeen?
Or could they operate a new long haul route? Glasgow would be great too - must be on the list if the others are a success.
This however could potentially change quickly for a variety of reasons. UTAir wants the rights to fly VKO to London, S7 are making noises about DME to London as well. Transaero have announced a partnership with Virgin and are backing them in government talks. All of these airlines are having talks with the government, who a week or so ago announced that it is likely they will remove the restrictions. There is also a big push towards getting carriers into the new 4th airport (I forget the name, its a former Air Base and Research Centre, just north of Bykovo Airport and you actually see it out of the left hand side window on a clockwise approach to DME along with Bykovo, the emergency strip and another air base which I forget the name of again), so Virgin if allowed may fly from there or VKO.
Also re the Easyjet SVO Services. They are going to have a interesting problem, as the Government announced that Terminal's D, E and F are now Only Aeroflot and Sky Team and, are kicking out the likes of Finnair, SAS and LOT pushing them into Terminal C, which is currently mainly Domestic, with a few International Flights Terminal a 30 minute run by extortionate taxi to the main terminals and the Trains to Moscow, so Easyjet Passengers are going to have a rotten time getting in. I have to say as someone who has used A, B & C that they all make the worst Indian Airports look like the CCL in T5 in comparison!
Nov 19, 2012, 1:37 pm
#64
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Much as I welcome the competition as others have stated to peg back excessive prices, I genuinely hope that, given their history, they do not engage in a detrimental price war. There are certainly people around who would like to see the back of domestic flights, and they would be more than pleased if airlines decided that it was not worth the effort due to too low fares.
As an aside I wonder what people would regard as a fair price for a discounted LHR - EDI return. As a starter, I would suggest around £125 to £150.
As an aside I wonder what people would regard as a fair price for a discounted LHR - EDI return. As a starter, I would suggest around £125 to £150.
What he said - rail is an off peak luxury, not a commuter option. And plenty of us commute Scotland - London... Competition helps us all...
Nov 19, 2012, 1:38 pm
#65
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I'd say between £100 and £130. 2 years ago I was paying £90 and now I can't get it less than £110, but mostly £130. Stopping domestic flying would be a disaster for airborne commuters like me. I can leave Edi on a Tues morning and be at my desk in London for half 9. Using the train would stop all that!
For example, here's how BA's cheapest one way fare from LHR to EDI is calculated:
Net fare: £5.00 (O class)
Taxes, fees, and carrier charges: £56.05
Air Passenger Duty: £13.00
Passenger Service Charge: £24.55
Fuel surcharge: £18.50
Total ticket cost: £61.05Passenger Service Charge: £24.55
Fuel surcharge: £18.50
That's the reality of flying on UK domestic services in/out of Heathrow today.
Nov 19, 2012, 1:39 pm
#66
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: City of Kingston Upon Hull
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Much as I welcome the competition as others have stated to peg back excessive prices, I genuinely hope that, given their history, they do not engage in a detrimental price war. There are certainly people around who would like to see the back of domestic flights, and they would be more than pleased if airlines decided that it was not worth the effort due to too low fares.
As an aside I wonder what people would regard as a fair price for a discounted LHR - EDI return. As a starter, I would suggest around £125 to £150.
As an aside I wonder what people would regard as a fair price for a discounted LHR - EDI return. As a starter, I would suggest around £125 to £150.
Nov 19, 2012, 2:05 pm
#67
Join Date: Nov 2012
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BA need another "full service carrier" to keep their domestic service from slipping!
Nov 19, 2012, 2:06 pm
#68
Join Date: May 2009
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Oh my bad. Evidently been fed the wrong information!
Nov 19, 2012, 2:57 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Even if you score the lowest published fare, the overall fare does increase eleven fold after APD, fuel surcharges, and airport fees are added.
For example, here's how BA's cheapest one way fare from LHR to EDI is calculated:
Net fare: £5.00 (O class)
Taxes, fees, and carrier charges: £56.05
That's the reality of flying on UK domestic services in/out of Heathrow today.
For example, here's how BA's cheapest one way fare from LHR to EDI is calculated:
Net fare: £5.00 (O class)
Taxes, fees, and carrier charges: £56.05
Air Passenger Duty: £13.00
Passenger Service Charge: £24.55
Fuel surcharge: £18.50
Total ticket cost: £61.05Passenger Service Charge: £24.55
Fuel surcharge: £18.50
That's the reality of flying on UK domestic services in/out of Heathrow today.
Now the cheapest fare LHR-MAN return is around £106, a few £££ less if flying to/from Gatwick which you can only do for the next few months.
The competition will be good for BA will be interested to see what the inflight experience with VS will be. I believe they are going to be using T1 which will be a nightmare to connect to T3.
Nov 19, 2012, 3:20 pm
#70
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
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I noticed today that fares on the LHR-EDI route for next May have come down by around 25% for the same flights that I'd looked at the other day while GLA's remain 30% more expensive.....coincidence?
Nov 21, 2012, 5:46 am
#71
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 387
If I was a betting man, I might put money on Avion Express...
http://jobs.flightglobal.com/employe...avion-express/
http://jobs.flightglobal.com/employe...avion-express/
Nov 21, 2012, 5:53 am
#72
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If I was a betting man, I might put money on Avion Express...
http://jobs.flightglobal.com/employe...avion-express/
http://jobs.flightglobal.com/employe...avion-express/
As in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avion_Express
?
Looks like a half decent bet looking at start dates posted on the link
cs
Nov 21, 2012, 6:03 am
#73
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Originally Posted by Virgin
We have fought hard for the right to fly short haul
Nov 21, 2012, 6:05 am
#74
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Nov 21, 2012, 6:12 am
#75
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Also those transferring to central London have a faster ride on the HEX. So T1 does have some advantages.
What will they do for a lounge though? If they could use T3 then they'd have the Clubhouse which would help sell tickets in the business cabin (I think I read they plan one) and encourage domestic passengers to build status. At T1 they might get the London Room if they're lucky and BA decides to consolidate domestic and international into the Great British Lounge, if BA keep the London Room there's not many options. The bmi domestic lounge used to have a smaller upper floor area which could be reopened if the area is not being used, but new access stairs would have to be built for it. There's a Servisair lounge in T1 but currently only limited to international passengers and last time I used it I thought it was worse than the ex-bmi offerings.