Virgin America rumoured to be seeking a buyer.

Story here https://beta.finance.yahoo.com/news/report-virgin-america-thinking-selling-144811133.html

I wonder who potential suitors might be? JetBlue? Delta?

Just been reading an article on ABC's website and speculation is that it could be between Alaska Air and JetBlue.

-Steve

as per article in USATODAY

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/fl ... /82352476/

Looks like it's Alaska

What is concerning is that Alaska have pretty much said that they have little interest in keep VA alive - they just want the airport slots.
This is a shame because VX have by far the best service and seating on any domestic USA carrier I have flown.
Also they plan to get rid of the 320's and have a 737 only fleet.

[honey lamb]

What is concerning is that Alaska have pretty much said that they have little interest in keep VA alive - they just want the airport slots.
This is a shame because VA have by far the best service and seating on any domestic USA carrier I have flown.
Also they plan to get rid of the 320's and have a 737 only fleet.

While I accept your concerns, I have flown several sectors on Alaska and whereas they don't have the same pizazz as Alaska, they really aren't a bad airline. When I consider internal airlines in the US, I would rate Alaska, Virgin America and Jet Blue as the ones that stand out.

[mitchja]

Having flown Alaska several times between SFO and PSP (there is an overlap on that route, though VX only fly to PSP seasonally), Alaska are an 'OK' airline, nothing special and nothing much more than a 'get you from A to B' airline though.

There may well be some stipulation in the sale that they must keep the Virgin brand name possibly? Remember that Virgin are always very very particular about how their brand name is always used.

And the deal is done, for $2.6bn.

Shame, VX was good while it lasted. Its First Class seats were exceptional. But it was probably always too small to survive in this era of consolidation.

[mitchja]

They have set-up an website found at http://flyingbettertogether.com explaining everything so far.

They have set-up an website found at http://flyingbettertogether.com explaining everything so far.

Thanks for the link. So Virgin America will be gone from Q1 2018!

Worth remembering that this was not a hostile takeover. VX put themselves up for sale which probably means the management spotted turbulence ahead.
No one has (so far) offered to take a kick down below if the Virgin America brand is still around in 5 years so it will likely disappear along with the VX planes - most of which are leased until 2018 so the timing probably works out just great for Alaska.
The thought of flying on a plane with an image of Robert Maxwell on the tail is very unappealing.

I guess this will spell the end of the Virgin America brand Just hope the combined airline will still be a VS partner for TP earning...

Awww damn! I am glad I managed a return flight with VX! Was really impressed with them!

Loved the VXSafetyDance!

I guess this will spell the end of the Virgin America brand Just hope the combined airline will still be a VS partner for TP earning...

Thought they was pals with BA?

[mitchja]

They are and good luck even get getting miles & TP's credited to your BAEC account for AS flights. Everytime I've flown on AS and had my BAEC number on the booking, the points never credit and I've always had to send off boarding passes to BA, plus you get next to nothing points wise and zero TP's on all of AS's lowest fares anyway.

Clearly regulatory constraints on ownership is a key factor here but also given Virgin's extensive tie up with Delta in the States. I have always wondered how VS code share with Delta would sit easily with Virgin America. Odd juxtaposition from my perspective.

[Darren Wheeler]

A shame to be sure. Only my VX flights were great and world away from most internal US flights. Personally I thought JetBlue was a better buyer as they have a similar ethos to flights, shame the Alaska deal was better. Goodbye white leather first class seats.

Clearly regulatory constraints on ownership is a key factor here but also given Virgin's extensive tie up with Delta in the States. I have always wondered how VS code share with Delta would sit easily with Virgin America. Odd juxtaposition from my perspective.

VS had an arrangement with DL as an 'ordinary' partner airline long before VX got off the ground so it's always something that has been there and remember that VX is a totally separate company to VS with different shareholders etc