Delta buys 49% of Virgin Atlantic (official)
Dec 3, 2012, 10:22 am
#46
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Virgin's fleet plans are far superior. If Delta acquires Virgin as their UK partner, I wonder if Delta will still also run the 767-400ER's or will allocate those to better routes.
Dec 3, 2012, 11:55 am
#47
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: BUR
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I'd be curious about integration/merging with VS's Flying Club (FC) program. FC used to be a very generous one and earning miles, elite or "regular" were accumulated with the lowest fares. Now that's not the case. And here at DL we complain about taxes and fees on award travel. Have a a look at this awards chart with preset taxes and fees listed and you'll see we have it really good.
Dec 3, 2012, 12:23 pm
#48
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I'd be curious about integration/merging with VS's Flying Club (FC) program. FC used to be a very generous one and earning miles, elite or "regular" were accumulated with the lowest fares. Now that's not the case. And here at DL we complain about taxes and fees on award travel. Have a a look at this awards chart with preset taxes and fees listed and you'll see we have it really good.
Dec 3, 2012, 12:35 pm
#49
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
In the end it means less competition in the TATL market. For all of you cheering about the VS product be prepared to pay 50% more for that after DL would buy these shares. It's all about money...
Not everybody seems to understand that each and any "independent" airline offering TATL/TPAC service helps getting flights for $ 700 at certain times. If there are only 3 big JV's left over which control ( or better share ) the TATL market i guess that TATL flights starting at $ 1200 off-season.
Not everybody seems to understand that each and any "independent" airline offering TATL/TPAC service helps getting flights for $ 700 at certain times. If there are only 3 big JV's left over which control ( or better share ) the TATL market i guess that TATL flights starting at $ 1200 off-season.
Dec 3, 2012, 12:37 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
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At JFK Delta had limited 767-400ER flights which were very small and too little to count especially because of limited seating on those planes.
Virgin's fleet plans are far superior. If Delta acquires Virgin as their UK partner, I wonder if Delta will still also run the 767-400ER's or will allocate those to better routes.
Virgin's fleet plans are far superior. If Delta acquires Virgin as their UK partner, I wonder if Delta will still also run the 767-400ER's or will allocate those to better routes.
Dec 3, 2012, 12:52 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: West LA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 957
It does bring MCO-UK direct flights on ST. Maybe they'll even make one flight to LHR for connecting purposes.
Dec 3, 2012, 1:02 pm
#53
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It sounds to me like Delta should just rely on Virgin and reallocate the 767-400ER to another route. American and British both fly but AA doesn't own a stake in British though British was interested in acquiring a stake in AA at a future date.
Delta customers get access to way more seating so this isn't going to hurt competition as Virgin is going to have bigger jets on their routes. It is a much better and more efficient way.
Dec 3, 2012, 1:12 pm
#54
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
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In the end it means less competition in the TATL market. For all of you cheering about the VS product be prepared to pay 50% more for that after DL would buy these shares. It's all about money...
Not everybody seems to understand that each and any "independent" airline offering TATL/TPAC service helps getting flights for $ 700 at certain times. If there are only 3 big JV's left over which control ( or better share ) the TATL market i guess that TATL flights starting at $ 1200 off-season.
Not everybody seems to understand that each and any "independent" airline offering TATL/TPAC service helps getting flights for $ 700 at certain times. If there are only 3 big JV's left over which control ( or better share ) the TATL market i guess that TATL flights starting at $ 1200 off-season.
Dec 3, 2012, 1:14 pm
#55
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Mergers are just business decisions to profit and find higher revenues for lower costs.
Alliances get bigger and each has their own set carriers. Singapore had business decisions which failed devaluating their investment and Delta has a reason which will increase the valuation of their investment by a lot.
I don't think anything here will benefit consumers much if any. The business will try to make it seem like it is and perhaps there could be some slight tweaks or improvements, but before and after it is still just transportation to get between places using aircraft.
Only thing I could think of is Delta makes connection flights easier, allows integration of clubs and gates and the like, and times connection flights better with Delta.
But on the other hand Virgin has a better reputation than Delta although Virgin is known for tight seats in coach. So it remains to be seen if Virgin will alter its airplane configurations more in line with Delta.
For consumers: Alliance mean little if anything.
Dec 3, 2012, 1:54 pm
#56
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Dec 3, 2012, 2:02 pm
#57
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Using a singular carrier however is more convenient and easier so many people stick with a carrier for loyalty.
Is it better for Virgin to be in Delta's alliance? Yes. But there will always be new adds to alliances.
Dec 3, 2012, 2:05 pm
#58
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Using a singular carrier however is more convenient and easier so many people stick with a carrier for loyalty.
Is it better for Virgin to be in Delta's Skyteam alliance? Yes, I don't see any downsides.
Dec 3, 2012, 2:17 pm
#59
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Dec 3, 2012, 2:27 pm
#60
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Sorry about the double post. Internet connection issues. :-(
It is a benefit for flyers on SkyTeam and will encourage more loyalty and better connections and the like so future flyers will indeed benefit from the FF programs combined and other better shared resources.
But on the backend for Delta, it is more lucrative than it is for consumers.
It is a benefit for flyers on SkyTeam and will encourage more loyalty and better connections and the like so future flyers will indeed benefit from the FF programs combined and other better shared resources.
But on the backend for Delta, it is more lucrative than it is for consumers.