V-Flyer

I'm sat at the gate at STN awaiting a flight to GLA and at the adjacent gate American Airline's service to JFK is being launched. The band has just struck up "Fly Me To The Moon" (mmmm...nice...) which is just a little hard to take at 7.15 a.m.. Just had a gander at the AA website; business class from £995 return, but plugging in a couple of random dates I get a price closer to £2,500 I wonder how this will play against Maxjet ? Can't say I'm impressed with the American Economy offering either; still using overhead screens for IFE ?

Paul

Do you know what type of a/c it is? 757 I'm guessing...

45.

Originally posted by VS045
Do you know what type of a/c it is? 757 I'm guessing...

45.

Correct its a 757.

TBH its a very interesting move by AA- CO tried STN-EWR but pulled it after about two months due to 9/11 happening.

Clearly after the problems AA have had in the "regions" (MAN-BOS, MAN-MIA, NCL-JFK) they are reverting back to their more familiar London stomping ground. I look forward to loads on the CAA website.

TBH its a very interesting move by AA- CO tried STN-EWR but pulled it after about two months due to 9/11 happening.

Thank-you; I couldn't remember who operated a similar route previously with a 757. In fact, I thought it might have actually been AA.[y]

45.

Wonder if AA are using STN to tap into the large LCC European network with passengers wishing to travel onwards to the USA.

With AA in the UK 'regions' you will find that MAN-ORD is in no threat whatsoever. In fact I hear that this is one of AA's most profitable trans-atlantic routes!

Originally posted by VS075
Wonder if AA are using STN to tap into the large LCC European network with passengers wishing to travel onwards to the USA.

With AA in the UK 'regions' you will find that MAN-ORD is in no threat whatsoever. In fact I hear that this is one of AA's most profitable trans-atlantic routes!

The prelaunch publicity focussed on city travellers disenchanted with Heathrow ...

Well the service has started today.

It seems that AA are trying to get those that are not loving LGW or LHR. But surely connections must play a part.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out- after all this means we now have three carriers on the route. AA will be hoping their FF members follow them rather than book with Eos or Maxjet. Its certainly going to be a tough time for all three!

AA seems the weaker of the three on that route, but AA has the advantage of its FF programme and the ability to use predatory pricing to get a foot in the market.

45.

I suppose it's deemed predatory because large firms are able to set prices artificially low in some markets (i.e. not even covering costs) , and cover these costs across the rest of their interests, thus forcing other firms (who are not able to take advantage of such Economies of Scale) out of the market, subsquently putting prices back up to a normal level.[|:)]

45.

There's a review from Business Traveller of the new route and AA's new business class:

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/f ... n-airlines

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
Not much wow to that, is there, slinky? Thanks for sharing the link.

GJ

Yup totally agree - AA used to be good ...

Gee they are flying it with a 763!

I just assumed, given that they are wingleting there 757s that it would be a 757.

Strikes me that AA are really going for this route what with a 767 and the first route to have the lie flat business seats.

Originally posted by willd
Strikes me that AA are really going for this route what with a 767 and the first route to have the lie flat business seats.

Who else flies this route? hmmm [:?] The answer lies there

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin

Who else flies this route? hmmm [:?] The answer lies there

Im just rather surprised there is the demand TBH. But I guess there is always demand for LON-NYC.

The demand does is not there. EOS lives on corporate accounts as MaxJet is trying to. Both carriers have low load factors at low-mid revenues. As you can imagine, that does not help the bottom line or free up cash for growth. AA could be using there advantage of better seats, IFE to eat the market share that exist ex-STN combined with fare wars on the STN to JFK (and I imagine better corp rate deals behind doors). Also could offer same-day upgrades for free for any person flying any airline to North America from STN (directed at MaxJet). For those advantages combined with the fact that AA offers 'smooth' connections to many North American cities in JFK and AA is the only airline to fly USA from three London airports (IIRC) they maybe able to win some but contracts (easy to get to wherever employee lives, etc). Once MaxJet is gone or merges with EOS (bunches on common threads); AA will end the route due to 'Insert Blah Blah.' My thoughts.....

Oh and the UK government came up with one great equalizer that goes in to effect soon.... All-business class airlines will now have to charge their travelers the higher APD; making it on par with a normal two/three/four class carrier's APD collection. This was one loophole that did lower the total cost of transport for the person/company.

Now let us not forget that the UK government also plans to intro fees to the airlines based on a bunch of factors including MTOW and environmental friendliness. The MTOW category for taxes is unlikrly to change for a same type aircraft. All-business carriers could possible have a slight advantage if the legacy carrier operations a larger airliner. The all-business airlines tend to use older planes that are less environmental friendly. One other factor in environmental friendliness that maybe used is amount of seats versus normal layout. EasyJet and legacy carriers would have a higher ratio where all business airlines would have a very low ratio. Thus the would have an increased cost do to taxes that larger airlines could avoid or avoid with much less hassle.

V interesting points.

I am just surprised seeing as CO knocked the route on the head with a 757 back in 2002. Ok they canned it in the post 9/11 panic/cost cutting but they were barley getting above 50% loads.

One thing I will give AA a big [y] for is the ease of upgrading...I have never had an issue with getting reward seats out of them.