MCO starting 10/6
 

Hahahahahahaha....


When the article starts with such quality it is hard to get past the first line.

I didn't think eo either. :p I knows VX & VS is an independently airlines. Does not have a codeshare partnership yet.

It's on the VX website and facebook page too:

http://www.virginamerica.com/flights...d=sm_social139

Considering the short time frame until the service starts Id say fares will go lower.

Right. They will get a real cheapest the reasonable fares. If they will find a real cheap ticket. Its likes same as $89 fares one-way ticket or even higher fares is $109 one-way ticket.

I don't get it. MCO, YYZ, CUN and SJD are the adds to VX's network this year- and there's no CHI, DFW, DEN, or anything remotely approaching a US business destination (where you might have a prayer of someone paying for premium travel)? (Yes, I know, YYZ. Well, I said "US".)

This is really random.

They're advertising connecting service from SEA to MCO via SFO. I looked at a random weekend (Dep SEA Thurs 10/21 Return Mon 10/25) and the VX coach fare was nearly $200 higher than Alaska's nonstop service on the same route.

ouch! Have AS dropped their price to compete, or is that the regular fare?

Perhaps DL will match on MCO-LAX. Could make for a quick milage run possibility.

VX doesn't use SFO as a connecting hub to match prices in the SEA market. Price out SEA-LAS on VX compared to AS or anyone else: you'll find their prices are generally higher. (Contrast with UA connecting at SFO and LAX, or DL via SLC: they DO match AS/WN prices.)

Basically, VX uses SEA for point-to-point on SFO and LAX, and maybe connecting JFK/IAD traffic... and that's it. If you really really like the mood lighting, VX will happily sell you a coach ticket at a 40% premium, but they are not really trying to serve SEA-XXX via their hubs. If they were, their prices would be similar across their network to AS's or other carriers, and they aren't. (These are on fares months out on empty planes, so it's not like they are selling through a bunch of cheap coach fares, either.)

B6 has matched at $139. Not bad considering bags fly free.

If VX hopes to have a successful launch of this route - their fares are going to have to be lower than that. $300 round trip for LAX to MCO is by no means a great fare or a sale fare (or one that I'd expect for VX - especially in a market where they are competing with AA, UA, and DL with direct flights to LAX from MCO). Most of the fliers on the SFO to MCO and LAX to MCO route are business fliers with companies in Orlando (and Los Angeles/SFO) who have worked out group rates with the Dl/UA/AA. None of these business fliers are going to leave their preferred airline (where they most likely will get a upgrade to first based on their status) for VX unless the rate is significantly cheaper.

VX will either have to match this to their LAX-FLL fares of $200 that they've done in the past, or they will fail in MCO.

VX has vastly over estimated the appetite for nearly $400 SFO-MCO flights in this economy. Leisure and convention folks will just take a cheaper connecting flight. Biz travelers will stay with UA for schedule, miles and UDU. What market are they targeting?

Well you were right, fares from SFO/LAX both now $129.