When will VX start PDX service?
 

Hello VXers,

I am curious to know when VX might start service to PDX. It is a gaping hole in their west coast network and the last major west coast city that VX doesn't serve. Surely 2x or 3x daily to SFO and 2x to LAX could work for VX? Plus, I presume the PDX-Vancouver area has the kind of people that VX is targeting: young and highly educated.

I am ITCHING to try them out, and would be one of the first PDXers to enroll in eleVAte after they announce PDX service. As an aside, does anyone know how many Oregonians signed up for eleVAte at this point?

Thanks, and prosper! :)

~FAI PDX Flyer :)

I believe SEA is going down to 2x SFO/3x LAX this winter. I highly doubt PDX is going to sustain MORE service than SEA.

As for when... who knows. I wonder if VX will knock some UA flights down to UX like they did on SEA-LAX...

Of note - SFO-SAN is also downgauging to UX on some frequencies.

And American Eagle completely leaves SFO-SNA after VX and WN entered the market. That's 5 frequencies they cut.

Yeah, that's 10 frequencies altogether out SFO-SNA for both of WN & VX.

What are VA's Schedules like? Is there decent gaps in there to even start a small frequency or are they pushed the absolute maximum like AirAsia does? 1 or 2 Flights is better than none, and it gives them a chance to build up the market until they gain more Aircraft..

I know at least 10 of my friends from the PDX / EUG area that is enrolled in Elevate... they normally fly to SFO or SEA on UA and than switch to VX.

Considering that almost every airline out of PDX is cutting frequency or switching to smaller planes... I think the only logical reason for VX to fly to PDX is to mess with AS and QX

Based on what I am currently paying to go between SFO and PDX, my guess is that the cut in capacity has driven yields up for AS and UA. VX would destroy that, like it destroyed yield on SFO-SEA.

Funny this would be the first post, as this is the main reason I began googling this morning and found this forum. I'm currently an Elevate member based out of LAX and Virgin America is pretty much the only airline I ever want to fly with anymore. However I'm moving to PDX in January and it would be a real bummer to lose my favorite airline. I'll still be flying to LAX on a somewhat regular basis and I would rather not have to switch to Alaska Air.

I agree, PDX is a gaping hole in Virgin's obviously favored West Coast market, and it would only make sense to me for them to expand there. The whole green/techie/young market they are geared towards is exactly what PDX offers. Fingers are crossed!

On the plus side, if you switch to Alaska at least you'll get some pretty valuable miles to use for premium international travel on a bunch of great airlines.

Edited to add: Welcome to Flyertalk!

Thanks! That much is true. Anyone know the benefits of AS? I've never actually flown them and really know nothing about the airline.

It's a very good airline and if you fly enough to gain elite status you will get upgraded to first class on a space available basis. Just make sure you fly AS airplanes rather than the tiny Horizon aircraft. Horizon is also great if you can tollerate pretty tight coach seating. It's certainly the best regional airline in the US.

Well that's definitely good to hear. I love the first class bit. I should pretty easily make it to elite status as I will be flying quite a bit with them once I move up. Thanks!

Still not giving up hope on VX expanding to PDX though!

AS doesn't have as many of the bells and whistles of VX (no TV, etc.) but I think the fact that you can actually use your miles for something makes it much better than VX.

Just keep your fingered crossing. :) It will hear it soon enough to be announced new route SFO/LAX-PDX anytime soon.