A VX Flyertalk Do ?
 

One of the cool things about flying VX and flying in F sometimes is the number of very interesting people I've met over the past few years. Some have turned into business contacts and some into social acquaintances.

Therefore, I would like to see if my fellow Flyertalkers would be interested in a meet IRL with some sort of do at SFO or nearby. I suspect some folks at VX would be very interested to meet some of their most loyal and frequent flyers.

I do have some contacts at VX and I am wondering if we could have a Flyertalk Do sometime this year at SFO or in combination with a place nearby.

I would be happy to lead organizing this and I have prior event management experience. It is how I caught the traveling bug or as my British friends would say "A case of itchy feet." :D

I'm curious to know the following:

1. Who would be interested in helping to organize this?

2. What kind if do ? A simple get together ? An airside visit ? VX HQ ? Something else ?

3. When ? Daytime ? Evening ?

4. Are folks willing to pay something to cover charges ?

5. Just noting you are interested in attending.

Those are just a few thoughts to see if this is of interest and how many would attend. Please feel to post thoughts here on in a PM. If there is enough interest, I will make a wiki post and keep it up to date on progress.

Hey - I'd be down. I live in SF.

I think a meet and greet with some of your contacts from VX would be cool, either at HQ or perhaps at the VS Clubhouse :)

(Of course, I'd pay my way, what you get for the $40 is one of the best kept secrets in SF).

If I'm around and available, I'd go. Great idea.

The more stuff we can do, the better! As long as I don't have any conflicts, I'm in!

I'd be interested. Might not be able to make it (I live on the wrong side of the country) but I'd certainly try!

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I'll keep this going and will start working on some things next week. Of course I'm traveling this week. Currently, freezing in a windy NYC.

I'm in the area, so I'm likely to attend if my schedule permits.

I split my time between the Bay Area and Las Vegas. If the meetup is for when I'm in the Bay Area, and I have no scheduling conflicts, I would love to attend.

Call me ignorant, but what is a Magic Castle event ? I've only been on the West Coast about 4 years, so I am still learning. :)

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Great idea. I'd be interested. Would be coming up from SoCal.

I would be interested. Plus it would be fun to meet VegasGambler! :-)
Any VX access is fun. Ual SFO Do from 2013 included sfo offices, baggage area, and construction of T3 plus Rooftop!!!!
Weekend Day is best for me
I would pay under $50 plus forced raffle with simple branded VX Schwag - VX glasses or plates used in F, VX stationery, VX shoulder bags, etc etc. that can be donated from VX
The ual do was part of a 513c charity so there was a tax deduction as well - us Americans love tax donation receipts :-)
It increases goodwill with the airline - after the Ual 2013 Do, I kept flying ual for 2014 until finally leaving for VX in 2015!

Years ago I knew a VX guy who handled baggage complaints named Jeb - it'd be funny if that was your VX friend!

Sounds interesting!

Being a native Bay Area person, I had witnessed first hand the challenges and obstacles Mr. Fred Reid had to both endure and overcome to launch VX. It was astonishing that in America, a local California company, faced such fierce resistance, not only from the Fed Gov't and Agencies, but also from Ms. Pelosi, then Speaker of the House. I still find it astonishing that our SOH, for political reasons, didn't fight harder for a local CA company that would bring much needed revenue and job growth to the area.

I love disruption and companies forcing competition on the establishment. At the time, VX represented both; and, had the advantage of building an airline based on ideals, along with having the added benefit of learning from the mistakes of the legacy carriers. I've always rooted for VX to succeed, which can only result in a better product and more options for consumers.

I love that VX never gives away an F seat; and, moreover, even their Senior Execs do not fly free in an empty F seat. They are reserved for paying customers. This concept--price is what you pay, value is what you get--is what I find most appealing about VX's product. Not to mention, VX has the most professional FAs with the best attitude of any domestic carrier, in my view.

Like any Bay Area native Californian, I'd find this worthwhile!

I would be up for it and willing to pay something, if it fit my schedule (which is, unfortunately, insanely busy at the moment). I do live in the Bay Area though, so I wouldn't have to travel far.

Glad to see the interest from the regulars. I will begin to put out my feelers and report back in the next few days. I've followed some threads from other FT Do's on what makes them successful, which will guide my plans. ^

Well, I'm a carpetbagger from back East via London and France, but agree with everything else you mentioned.

Just a few weeks ago, I met on board the best FA I have experienced in 35+ years of flying on VX. I'm going to ask that she be a part of our do. ;)

Count me in a Magic Castle

I'd be up for it for sure and would be willing to pay something for it. FWIW, I'd prefer something that's a reasonably easy business-trip add-on...

Sounds fun n to meet other FT. I'm from the Bay and go through SFO 2-3 times a week. Let's pick a date and venue.

A VX Flyertalk Do ?
 

Located in the Bay Area and would love participating in a do for my favorite airline! Would be interested in seeing VX behind the scenes and hearing about future plans. Weekends work best for me. Would be willing to pay to cover costs.

I am pleased with the reception to pulling this off. :)

My thinking is to give folks a long lead time to plan. I am looking at mid-May or late June before we all disappear on vacation.

It would be a Monday afternoon or a Friday, so we can all get home for the weekend.

Pleased also to know people are willing to chip in, but I do not consider this a barrier. I'd cover the costs myself gladly to meet some interesting FT folks.

Let's see what the VX says to my proposal. The few VX folks I did mention the concept to were really enthusiastic.

That's great news! Let us know ASAP, as my May weekends are filling up fast!

Agreed. It already looks like I will be out of town pretty much the second half of May. But if there is any chance it fits with my schedule, I will be there.

Don't worry about me, but I'm pointing it out because it probably effects others as well: Bay Area schools largely get out in early-to-mid-June, so people may be traveling/away in late June. E.g., my kids' last day is June 8, and we're pretty immediately leaving for Europe for three weeks.

OK, an update:

I've formally engaged someone at VX HQ who is leading the charge. They *loved* the idea.

Thanks for setting this up - super excited to see what this might turn into ^

I'm not much of a VX flyer but I love FT Dos and meeting new FTers...I'll keep an eye on this page ^

That's great news! Thanks for the update.

Huge, huge, VX fan. Count me in.

Same ... minus the partner award redemption process. :D

Seriously. Booking two seats on the same HA flight (pre-VX HNL service) from Los Angeles in FC was next to impossible.

Again not knowing future travel plans, based in SFO I'd love to participate.

I'd love to be a VX customer---if only their routes and my itineraries coincided.

Founding Elevate Member from SFO and now happy to have VX in Denver. Love to join you. (My husband was a VX employee until we moved).

I'm interested

It depends on the partner. Booking with VS is easy. VA is spotty, HA is spotty...and so on. In a few cases I think it's down to the pricing being "too good" (e.g. the point cost of the other-airline ticket is low enough to dissuade them opening space) and there are times I wish I could pay more points for given space.

Back to the main thread: I'm pleased with the response and am working diligently to secure an event which merits the investment in time and money.

I'd be happy to help. I live in southern California and I'm not a big VX flyer, but I've always been fascinated with the airline, so if there's anything I can do feel free to holler.

I'd be interested in learning more about the inner workings of the airline. I'm not sure I'd come for just a get-together, but I'd come for something more substantive.

To attract people from outside the bay area, I think a weekend would be best.

Certainly.


Count me in.

I know I'm not a 'regular' (I lurk. A LOT) but just booked my first vx flight a few weeks ago, so I'm interested in attending. I'm east coast though, so Friday is much easier for me that Monday afternoon. Monday afternoon I'd feel like I'd have to cut out early to make a flight back home for work the next day. I'd be willing to chip in to attend.

Is there any more of an exact date yet for a possible event? I recall an earlier post mentioning May, but I don't think I saw any follow-up on that. Honestly, I'm hoping it gets pushed back to early June because I will be out of town the last three weeks of May.