Routes and Cabin Configuration -- Contest!

[Scrooge]

Pete,I agree with just about everything you say,'cept for the thing about southwest and Jetblue.

Both those airline's know their strengths and play to them,they don't try and be something they are not and they are both making money,something that isn't that common in the US market.

It would be nice to see VS-A play to the Virgin strengths,however you are right,if they try and go toe to toe with the majors with just a "normal" product they will be crushed.

I don't know if anyone remembers Legend? they flew out of DFW to a number of places,they had a good product,but they decided to take on AA on AA home turf.

Vs will be playing on UA's home turf,meaning they need to set themseleves apart from UA to start.

With not offering VS miles VS-A loses out straight away to UA,why fly VS-A when you can earn miles by flying UA domestic

I could type on for hours about what VS-A needs to do and what they shouldn't do,but in the end they don't listen to me,let's just hope they get it right the firsttime,there were plenty of airlines that didn't.

Hi Guys,

First post - I'm glad to have found out about this site! It's good to find people as enthusiastic about Virgin as I am!

Anyway - noticed this posted a couple of days ago:


quote:

Originally posted by mcuth

Definitely a moot point I'm afraid - there are 2 separate terminals at SFO, domestic & international - highly unlikely that the Virgin America operation will be based in the international terminal


Actually the International terminal at SFO is home to Indepndece and Westjet who are both domestic carriers so it's not inconceivable that Virgin America will be based there especially if Independence does go belly-up! However given their expansion plans I agree it's unlikely!

Just thought I'd pitch inon the topic...

Originally posted by SFO-Marc
Actually the International terminal at SFO is home to Indepndece and Westjet who are both domestic carriers so it's not inconceivable that Virgin America will be based there especially if Independence does go belly-up! However given their expansion plans I agree it's unlikely

Oooh - thanks for pointing that out Marc, hadn't realised that before [y] Welcome to V-Flyer, hope you find the site useful and continue to share your knowledge (SFO is my favourite airport )

Cheers

Michael

[mcmbenjamin]

Well yes, SFO international WAS the home on IndyAir in San Fran and is the San Fran home of AirTran, WestJet *Canadian and some UAL domestic sectors.

US airports (for the most part) do not have a dediected domestic/international area. That is one reason the DHS departure kiosks are used. IMHO it allows better use of the airport than other designs; with up to three areas for departures to different areas.

Benjamin

Sice the max capacity of the 319 is (1) 134 in an all y class at 32 in pitch or (2) 124 in 2 classes, 8f at 38 in pitch and 116y at 32 in pitch.

In the 320 it could be either (1) 164y in 32 in pitch or (2) 150 in a 2 class config, 12f in a 36 in pitch and 138y in 32 in pitch.

i would also suspect that there will be some form of IFE on board but dont know if it will be live tv a la jetblue and fontier.

Possible routes from Sfo would be Jfk more so that Ewr because it would be less competitive to Sfo, Iad, ord, las, den, lax, dfw, orl, bos and mia.

I dont think that sea would work as its got a ton of flights to the bay area eg Alaska, Untied, southwest, aa. Also i think that atl wouldnt work as it is a strong hub for 2 carriers. Ewr wouldn't work because of the strong CO hub their. Perhaps they could co-share with CO.

Originally posted by AerJohn
Sice the max capacity of the 319 is (1) 134 in an all y class at 32 in pitch or (2) 124 in 2 classes, 8f at 38 in pitch and 116y at 32 in pitch.

In the 320 it could be either (1) 164y in 32 in pitch or (2) 150 in a 2 class config, 12f in a 36 in pitch and 138y in 32 in pitch.

i would also suspect that there will be some form of IFE on board but dont know if it will be live tv a la jetblue and fontier.

Possible routes from Sfo would be Jfk more so that Ewr because it would be less competitive to Sfo, Iad, ord, las, den, lax, dfw, orl, bos and mia.

I dont think that sea would work as its got a ton of flights to the bay area eg Alaska, Untied, southwest, aa. Also i think that atl wouldnt work as it is a strong hub for 2 carriers. Ewr wouldn't work because of the strong CO hub their. Perhaps they could co-share with CO.

Well, airbus's statistics are for a base number of first class and economy seats, Airlines can add or remove seats to/from either class if they wish.

I disagree with you about EWR. The same reason you say EWR won't work, applies to almost every other airport Virgin America should fly to. JFK has American and United Hubs, not to mention jetBlue. They have to pick one or the other, or both.

[mcmbenjamin]

Honestly I think AerJohn makes a very valid point that VAmerica (herein VM) starting the SFO-JFK route would be more possible than EWR for many reasons.
VM would be able to use the VS CH on both ends of the trip. At SFO they could easy use the VS CH in the international terminal and the great JFK CH. Both terminals are currently used for both international and domestic departures. Yes EWR terminal B is used by the SkyTeam (DL and NW) but in mainly a international terminal. Also IMHO both the SFO and JFK CHs offer better views than UA/AA. SFO-JFK is a premium market. Look at the UA P.S. marketing with the three classes. If VS put four UCS they would beat UA and AA on this market. IMHO VM would be able to break the UA/AA market share like VS broke some of the BA market share. Also the lounges would be better than the UA Red Carpet Club/AA Admirals Club. UA and CO both play the non-stop EWR-SFO game many times a day. Going a few miles to the east would not exit the UA marketshare.VM SFO-JFK-SFO services would allow for connections to the VS LHR hop and SQ FRA hop

Every airline was a 'major traffic center.' BNA=Southwest IAD=United (and Indy of the time being). EWR is CO land.

Benjamin

[ChuckC]

This conversation is really getting intersting. Thanks to everyone who has contributed thus far. Any other thoughts, let's have them. Can't win if you don't enter!


Chuck-

Some people might find this thread interesting. It gives some hints as to aircraft names and the name of the FF program. I didn't make it a new thread basically because there's no real evidence behind any of the claims.

[ChuckC]

Any other takers to our "routes and configuration" contest?

Chuck-