Plus, the website has a promo that you can get 30,000 addl points if you are a new member and fly before June 30.

Interesting trip report. Sounds like a nice experience. If anything, it must be nice not fighting the crowds at LHR and LGW.

EOS is apparently the best of the LON-NYC carriers at the moment. MaxJet is also in there, and SilverJet is starting up within the next 9 months (and looks set to be considerably cheaper - Ł999 instead of Ł2,000+ - with a better seat than the others).

The thing about all of these carriers is that you pay a reduced business class fare. The American legacy carriers are still offering business class travel (admittedly not so cosseted as this EOS report indicates) for those who can upgrade from coach using miles or systemwides; and this means that BA and VS are still having to work hard. EOS is very good, but at a price. So there is still competition.....

Anyone remember People's Express and their business fares?

Sounds nice, but don't get too used to it.

All premium carriers have been tried many times and they all have one thig in common . . .


. . . THEY FAIL.

As the other poster suggested, EOS has been running a few charters here and there. They have "spare" aircraft and are starting market them.

Clearly you haven't heard of Privatair.

However, I disagree that ALL three of these carriers will fail.

First off, none of them have the massive pension programs, staff overheads, massive tech groups so they have a huge cost advantage over the traditional carriers.

Secondly, the way we buy travel is vastly different to when MGM and PE were operating. We're no longer dependent on travel agents who recieved big kick backs from the airlines to organise our travel, we use the internet and do it ourselves. We can do our own research into the best airline and best price for our needs and buy accordingly.

Thirdly, because these companies are small they can develop a better relationship with their clients. If people are happy with the service then they're going to keep coming back.

THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC..PLEASE, FLY TO INDIA!!! i've also heard nothing but great reviews of EOS and the luxury experience they are providing...great to know they are now part of the AMEX 2 for 1 program...

Privatair is a completely different business model than EOS or MAXjet, so it is comparing apples to oranges.

Both EOS and MAXjet have low density seating. They need to fill the vast majority of those seats on a nightly basis at high fares to stand a chance at making a profit.

Neither airline offers frequency. Their competitors in the market do.

They only fly to one overseas and two U.S. destinations. That makes it very difficult for them to land corporate accounts, which are what provide a reliable stream of premium fares. Without this, they need to rely on ad-hoc business travelers and price sensitive premium leisure travelers. That's not a reliable base of support.

It would be hard enough for one carrier to succeed here, but there are two going head-to-head.

Fuel prices are high and one of the carriers, MAXjet, is operating particularly old equipment.

The airports served by EOS and MAXjet have huge O&D markets so the connectivity is much less of an issue. I'm also willing to bet both already have some decent corporate accounts from financial institutions that have no interests outside Wall Street or DC.

Your assumption that they need high load factor can't be debated as we don't know what load factors they need to make a profit. It might be far lower than we think especially if you consider the low number of first and biz pax on any legacy carrier flights. Also, their fuel burn is going to be lower because they don't have as much weight onboard.

It's quite possible one will exit the market but I maintain that one or two of these airlines can be successful in cherry picking routes and premium pax from the legacy carriers. Personally, if I had the choice between sharing an aircraft with a couple of hundred economy pax with screaming babies and unruly passengers and an airline that is probably out of the reach of most, I know where I'd spend my money.

EOS has it's seats on display in Terminal 4 at Heathrow - few steps from the BA Pavillion lounge... I must say, they don't look all that great..

Sure, it's a huge O&D market, but it is also one of, if not the most, heavily competitive international market in the world. Sering only one market limits their ability to sign corporate contracts on the U.S. side. Their newness and, frankly, their precarious financial position, also impede their ability to land corporate contracts.

Competitors include AA, BA, VS, UA, CO, AI and KU.

I actually have some insight into this as far as one of the two competitors in concerned. Suffice it to say they need a very high load factor to break even. All anecdotal evidence that I have heard is that they are runnign with very, very low load factors. Far less than they need. Remember, their fares are not as high as the mainstream carriers.

Even though they are lighter, their engines (well, MAXjet's, at least) are a very old model (JT9Ds) that are not very fuel efficent. That will more than eat-up any weight-related fuel savings.

I would consider using them too, but, as you point-out, most people won't. Price conscious premium travelers are a very small market and not one that produces consistent business year-round.

I know about the UA/AA forums, but BA/VS on FT. Who'd a thought.

cruisr, thanks for the enjoyable read.

Dan

http://www.eosairlines.com/travelauction

I'm flying EOS in July, 2 tickets for $3100 and get $800 worth of their FF points. (Which appear to have excellent redemption options)

At $1500pp (Buy 1 get 1 free) I might just have to book another set before the June 30 (travel by December 31) deadline hits. :P

(You have to pay with an AMEX card, I used my SPG one)

I'll certainly post about the experience.

Try sleeping in them - and compare to BA-CW.

I am 6-3, how will I like the beds?
The company I am consulting for wants me to fly Eos, MAXjet or Silverjet.
What does everyone else think?

EOS is far and away the best option. Then Silverjet. Maxjet have just suspended their share listing "pending clarification of their financial position" - i.e. they're going bust. Probably.

You can read my trip report on EOS here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=745831