Branson Interview
 

Finished reading the Branson interview in the Jan 09 Playboy, so I figured I'd check out the VX site and see what it was all about.

If they start flying out of DFW, and get me where I need to go, I think I'd switch to VX in a heartbeat!!

Just a random check of SFO-LAS, and the cost of a seat in F is over $1000 less than UA for the same flight.

Is the service and the airline, overall, as good as it's touted to be?

If so, I'm going to start directing family to VX when we meet then in LAS.

So you "read" Playboy do you? :D

United does not have F seats between SFO and LAS. I wouldn't be surprised if the 1,000+ fare you got was for two separate tickets (SFO-LAX and LAX-LAS).

Not for long; United is dismantling the Ted brand and reconfiguring the A320s into the traditional United livery and configuration. VX should still be a better product than anything United will offer to LAS.

Indeed, but I suspect fares will no longer be $1000+ once UA puts mainline aircraft on this route.

VX F service is quite good for a domestic carrier. The service is competitive with CO on transcon routes. IMO however, there are certain details that VX should have such as a curtain between FC and Y class. Too many Y class pax run to use the lav in F class even though FAs announcements state that the forward lav is for F class only. VX should also have coat closets in F class, just to make their F class and bit more refined and civilized.

Y class is decent for a low cost carrier. VX is one of the few carriers to have "on demand dining" for purchase in Y class. FA service in Y class has a tendency to be like service in a fast foods restaurant. In comparison, service in F class included the FA sitting with you if the seat next to you is empty, to tell you about the cocktail and meal selections. FAs also address you by first name and remember your name during flight. Nice touch.

No, they are very different. CO has a much more elaborate and better meal service; VX has much better seating; VX has much better service.

In my line of work, there is such a thing called trade-off analysis. If you consider the trade-off analysis between both carriers (the pluses and minuses between the two carriers F service) don't you think the average between the two is roughly the same? And if it is the same, won't other factors such schedule convenience or airport location play into final decision-making when selecting carriers if fares are more or less equal?

It depends on what you value. To some, the power and IFE advantage of VX F means CO is not competitive. To others, the better meal and freqeuent flyer miles on CO make VX non-competitive. Given the significant differences, broadly describing the two as "competitive" makes too many assumptions about what people value.

As I sit here right now, cramped in F on CO with the guy behind me banging his head into my seat every 5 minutes, at SEA on the ramp with an expected 1+ hour delay to get a gate, I would say they are not competitive. Also, the meal for this almost 5 hour flight was 2 pieces of salami, a 1" diameter piece of brie, some carrots, and a dish of fruit.

I'm just lucky that I can receive the WiFi from the terminal to be able to type this.

Edit: It's now been nearly 2 hours and we still haven't moved.

What was the city pair, time of departure, and was there another meal choice you opted not to have in lieu of the one you received?

IAH-SEA, departed 7:55pm. No other choice.