V-Flyer

You now seem to be able to book 787 flights to Florida by Norwegian air.
http://www.norwegian.com/uk/flight/lowf ... BP&rnd=791

From £150 one way, £600 premium. Orlando & Fort Lauderdale.
From £200 to LA

Their 787 looks good.
http://www.norwegian.com/longdistancerevolution//m/

How will these prices and 787 service affect VS?

Virgin will have't to look at there prices cost me £500 just to upgrade to PE for a family of 5 not cheap but well worth it, will be interesting to see how Norwegians PE Compares.

murrell1968 wrote:Virgin will have't to look at there prices cost me £500 just to upgrade to PE for a family of 5 not cheap but well worth it, will be interesting to see how Norwegians PE Compares.

There are pictures of the 787 Premium product on their website.
Just edited to add links.
I have not searched for the cheapest Premium fares.

Travelmole article http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature. ... id=2012242

Their fares have been cheap since they launched last year - it is effectively a LCC type set up for transatlantic business.

My concern would still be that they are running a lot of long haul flights with very few a/c, and delays / cancellations are more likely.

Still good that there are lot of options out there for people to choose between.

Thanks for this may allow a trip in Oct we effectively have been priced out of on BA/VS by them charging > 400 more pp - even indirect is coming in at 300 more pp. Only downside is flying into FLL requires a bit of a drive, but it easily will save enough to be worthwhile..

Will ask wife tonight if she'd be willing to do the drive.

Norwegian have 7 dreamliners all virtually new so reliability shouldn't be a problem. 46" leg room in PE and 32" in economy wifi and cheap fares. BA/VS will loose a lot of the once a year holiday makers. Plus less immigration hassle at FLL.

PaulS wrote:Norwegian have 7 dreamliners all virtually new so reliability shouldn't be a problem. 46" leg room in PE and 32" in economy wifi and cheap fares. BA/VS will loose a lot of the once a year holiday makers. Plus less immigration hassle at FLL.

Norwegian have had lots of issues with their relatively new 787's, from 24/36hr delays to subbing aircraft with charters from HiFly and others. I think things are starting to settle down now but they haven't had the smoothest of starts.

How easily available are the headline £150 fares to Florida?

Not very, I'd imagine - particularly during the school holidays.

Next month, for instance, return fares currently range from £599-759.

And with only two flights a week compared to VS's 21 from London to Florida I doubt VS will be overly concerned - yet. If Norwegian were to go daily, then they'd have a problem.

Bad timing, too, with the extra security which may put some infrequent flyers off booking US flights.

If it is like any others of those "low cost" airlines, it's usually not really any lower. Well, not when you want to go.

So 150 quid is what they quote. All of a sudden one way is being quoted, so why not 300 return? And you'll be doing two weeks in Florida with hand luggage only (I bet that is a nightmare onboard for 10 hours with everybodies hand luggage squeezed under you feet)? They'll be charging for both food and drink, right? Tot that up.

Then realise that only a few of those wonderful fares will appear as 300 quid return. If its anything like Easyjet etc, if the demand is there, those fares will disappear quick, leaving you paying the BA/VS flight for the fare, with those airlines gone from your hub or not going there anymore (I remember BA in Birmingham).

As for their premium product. Just cos its the same name, doesn't mean its the same thing. Thomas cook does a premium product which is no PE, as far as I can tell.

If it forces fares down it will be in the short term (and frankly VS has been overcharging for those recently, they'd make more money with a full economy), but I very much doubt this is any more wonderful than the reason why I've not flown from Birmingham for over 12 years: "lost cost" airlines.

PaulS wrote:Plus less immigration hassle at FLL.

Flew into FLL recently and was in line for immigration for about an hour. It's a small facility but JetBlue and Spirit have loads of Caribbean and Central American flights arriving there so can be just as bad as mco. I think mco, Mia and fll are all as bad as each other.

Quick Premium pricing. 2 adults, O/B Sept 8th. I/B Sept 22nd. total price. DY is to FLL and VS to MCO

DY - £2813.60
VS - £2438.38

Darren Wheeler wrote:Quick Premium pricing. 2 adults, O/B Sept 8th. I/B Sept 22nd. total price. DY is to FLL and VS to MCO

DY - £2813.60
VS - £2438.38

I bet that sort of information won't make the publicity...

Darren Wheeler wrote:Quick Premium pricing. 2 adults, O/B Sept 8th. I/B Sept 22nd. total price. DY is to FLL and VS to MCO

DY - £2813.60
VS - £2438.38

Using the link I provided in the OP, selecting Oct Out and Dec in, was quoted £1,406.80 ret. for premium including meals , seat res. and 2pcs. hold baggage.
46" leather seating.

Bill S wrote:for premium including meals , seat res. and 2pcs. hold baggage.
46" leather seating.

Also worth noting you only get 1 beer or wine with dinner in premium - all other drinks are chargeable (for those who like a few drinks)

The Guardian investigated DY's low fares claim on each day up to March 15, 2015. Here's what they found:

- On only four days in that time period were £149 fares available.
- This month's flights are a minimum of £500 up to £700 (each way).
- In economy a meal and a single bag are £35 each way.
- On a sample week (return trip) in September LGW-New York return DY was £709.31, VS £689.31 and DY £649.20.

Add the average V-Flyer's drinks and it's probably comparable. I don't think they're that much in terms of competition. But, if you can find the elusive dates when those fares are available, and you're flexible, and you only take a small carry on, and don't eat or drink, then yes you could well do it for £300!

slinky09 wrote:The Guardian investigated DY's low fares claim on each day up to March 15, 2015. Here's what they found:

- On only four days in that time period were £149 fares available.
- This month's flights are a minimum of £500 up to £700 (each way).
- In economy a meal and a single bag are £35 each way.
- On a sample week (return trip) in September LGW-New York return DY was £709.31, VS £689.31 and DY £649.20.

Add the average V-Flyer's drinks and it's probably comparable. I don't think they're that much in terms of competition. But, if you can find the elusive dates when those fares are available, and you're flexible, and you only take a small carry on, and don't eat or drink, then yes you could well do it for £300!

I don't think I can do without the CH before I go on holiday so it counts me out

Slightly off tangent, I was seriously impressed with Norwegian's short haul product over the weekend. Flew EZY over to CPH on Fri evening and DY back yesterday. Both flights absolutely fine (never had an issue with EZY) but DY had the edge for seat comfort (no recline on EZY) and free inflight WiFi (which incicentally was exceptionally fast & worked a treat). I'd definitely use them again for short haul. They also allow two items of hand luggage (the second being laptop bag or 'small personal' item) unlike EZY who strictly enforce the single item.

As for the new USA routes I find the 46 inch pitch in premium sorely tempting but, as others rightfully say above, it comes as a cost compared to VS.

1 beer in PE.... Well, they won't be getting my business - such talk is verging on insane. Beer, decent Gin, thats what we need.

starquake wrote:1 beer in PE.... Well, they won't be getting my business - such talk is verging on insane. Beer, decent Gin, thats what we need.

Indeed, I'd use that phrase again: "That aint no premium product".

But what I'd expect in the way of norwegian drink prices.

"Another beer, sir?"
"Yes, please."
"That will be 15 pounds."