Virgin is never going to fly to or from Alaska. Sorry, but there just isn't the demand and that that doesn't fit into their business model.

You can go OAK-KOA on TZ next week for $378 all in R/T. Plenty of seats available! ;)

I don't think VX would want to go through the trouble of getting their A319's certified for HI, the smallest plane the other people fly is the 73G, similar but different than the A319. Check SFO/OAK/SJC-HNL for HI fares, nearly as cheap at time as TransCon's.

I suggested VX expanding to AK in a different thread, "Virgin America to Expand?", but no one payed attention to it. The basis was 5X SEA-ANC 1X SEA-FAI 1X SFO-ANC 4X SEA-LAX 5X SEA-SAN 2X SEA-JFK/IAD 1X SEA-MIA 4X SEA-SFO. Times and amount of planes are in the other thread. Link is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=738213 My posts relating to the schedule are posts 104 and 105.

You're theory on VX having those flights to Alaska, assumes all those flights to/from Seattle. I doubt they will have THAT many flights to Seattle. Their base on the West Coast is SFO.

Yes, it is. AS has already flies from ANC-HNL nonstop by the equipment 738. I'm surely if AS will done extremely very well. It was during overwater restrictions by ETOPS. I know NW is currently still flies from ANC-HNL all year-round. I assume that I don't see specifiable information from AS. I'm sure if AS will continuation goes for all year-round long for ANC-HNL instead one-stop in SEA.

No, probably not but, they won't do that. Because it doesn't have anything more aircraft availability for this time. Because VX will remain in USA mainland for a long time.

VX should be a P2P O/D airline not bound by the hub and spoke system. If there is demand at a sustainable amount why should VX not fly the route? VX could provide a WN effect and create a niche in the SEA and AK markets. If VX remains bounded by only expanding SFO not enough profitable routes would be able to be created.

For purposes of this thread, you have to allow for a basic fact - VX has an SFO hub. If you want to play "fantasy airline" and define your own set of routes, that's cool - but it's not the VX business plan. Perhaps an alternate thread that you start that lets you create an airline based on your ideas of best routes would generate a worthwhile conversation. Not sure which Forum is best for that ... ??

OK, then scale back AK expansion to 1X SFO-ANC, a good use of a RON plane (also allow for good connections to LAX/SAN/LAS). SFO-AUS would also be a good route to pick up spill from the nerd bird.

Any suggestions on fantasy airline based threads?

I think if VX were to serve AUS they would do quite well. I hope it's in their 5 year/30 city plan.

For Fantasy Airlines - try Travel Buzz!

Are you talking about Austin, Texas? or Australia?

Virgin Blue spin off "V Australia" is planning on serving the USA-Australia route later this year (if the open air talks go well this month). Probably BNE-SFO from what I last read.

No prizes for guessing which US airline will handle connections :D

AUS = Austin, Texas.
I was speaking in response to prismwiz's comments.

Sure they'll stay on the mainland for a while & get the big cities covered, but ANC can be served relatively easily with aircraft downtime. Most flights depart for Alaska in the evening & fly back as a redeye with almost no influence on aircraft scheduling the following day. You could fly ANC-SFO/LAX-JFK/MIA return daily with the same aircraft.

I wouldn't say 'never' but given that VX plan to focus on the west coast, sure it's a niche market but it'll happen someday...

...& to an extent LAX. I could see some major cities being served from SEA. It's basically an AS monopoly except for Major Airlines routes (ORD for UA/AA connections etc.) & could do with the competition. JFK double daily would be a nice addition to SFO/LAX...


V Australia could also work well with Virgin Atlantic giving another Virgin choice from London to Australia. These connections will be important as VX is basically carving out a market of O&D pax who are otherwise loyal to someone else. This should boost loads & do something magic for fares to Australia.

Why would you want a niche out of the SEA/Alaska market? The population center up there is so small it doesn't make sense. Seattle is just about the same size as San Diego and has no nearby medium-large cities to connect to. LA and SF are MUCH larger areas with MUCH larger population bases.

If VX is going to look for a secondary market on the west coast, San Diego would offer the benefit of closer connection cities (LAX, TUS, PHX, LAX, etc.) and also with better weather in SAN vs. SEA, you will have less delays.

I think LAX and SFO is plenty for one coast.