According to the Independent BA will start direct flights to Vegas from LHR on 25th October this year. It will be interesting to see whether prices become more competitive!
Now that will get very interesting if that comes online....
Very interesting indeed. I think its a great move for BA, we know how busy the LAS flights are already, add in LHR instead of LGW and all the possible connections (regional and European) and I think BA will see a great return. I wonder if this will prompt VS to shift LAS to LHR too?
Thanks,
Sarah
Thanks,
Sarah
See here - expected to be officially announced tomorrow.
I am interested in the statistic that VS carried 287,000 pax to LAS last year, with one 747 a day that means on average each flight (to and from) had 393 passengers which is a great load factor with 424 seats available! It must be a cash cow for VS and I too will be interested to see what competition effects ...
I am interested in the statistic that VS carried 287,000 pax to LAS last year, with one 747 a day that means on average each flight (to and from) had 393 passengers which is a great load factor with 424 seats available! It must be a cash cow for VS and I too will be interested to see what competition effects ...
There's a plane at JFK, to fly you back from far away
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
quote:Originally posted by lilyjosh0
Apparently flights can be booked online from tomorrow. The aircraft will be a 777 but it is not clear whether it will be a 3 or 4 class flight. Agree that it's really good news that it's LHR.
I would imagine there will be a significant number of CW seats, making it an interesting option against the limited and relatively expensive number of UC seat on VS.
Apparently flights can be booked online from tomorrow. The aircraft will be a 777 but it is not clear whether it will be a 3 or 4 class flight. Agree that it's really good news that it's LHR.
I would imagine there will be a significant number of CW seats, making it an interesting option against the limited and relatively expensive number of UC seat on VS.
One thing I have noticed with VS, is that if you select 'All London Airports' as your UK departure point, as well the usual direct VS43/44 LGW>LAS service you now also get a VS19/20 + code-share US airways SFO>LAS option too.
Not sure how long that's been there.
Regards
Not sure how long that's been there.
Regards
Regards
James Mitchell
James Mitchell
Well good news if it brings the fares down a little.
Heading that way in Nov, and VS prices are more than the budget will allow.
Heading that way in Nov, and VS prices are more than the budget will allow.
Well it has been a long, long time coming and is about to make things very interesting. I think VS get a very good flow of passengers from VH. Whilst BA have their own tour operator, it is not a patch on the magnitude of VH.
Over on a.net they are saying that BA have 'discovered' a huge amount of connecting travel for LAS through LHR hence the decision to go from LHR over LGW.
It will be interesting to see how VS, if at all, responds. If VS is to move LAS to LHR then there will have to be a service cut somewhere else (maybe a NYC frequency). More so if they move both BGI and LAS to LHR. I just don't really think that VS has the the flexibility (or the correct timings) to be able to move LAS over to LHR unless they are going to acquire some more slots.
Over on a.net they are saying that BA have 'discovered' a huge amount of connecting travel for LAS through LHR hence the decision to go from LHR over LGW.
It will be interesting to see how VS, if at all, responds. If VS is to move LAS to LHR then there will have to be a service cut somewhere else (maybe a NYC frequency). More so if they move both BGI and LAS to LHR. I just don't really think that VS has the the flexibility (or the correct timings) to be able to move LAS over to LHR unless they are going to acquire some more slots.
I think that the competition is good for the traveller, and probably helps to keep VS honest on the LAS route.
The point about connecting traffic off BA's route network in LHR is a valid one. VS are very much an O&D outfit out of LGW. Currently, coming from somewhere in Europe to Vegas, without a direct flight, you would fly to a US hub and connect there. Maybe the possibility of 'sterile' international transit through T5 at LHR, avoiding connecting in the US, is sufficiently attractive?
As far as a move by VS' Vegas flight to LHR goes, who knows? It does create some complications, such as a leisure config aircraft outbased at LHR, which requires positioning flights to/from LGW to be flown, as there's nothing to do a 'W' with at the far end. Though, this has been done with BGI, which continued to operate on a leisure config 744 that positioned over from Gatwick when it was running out of LHR.
Could VS be put under pressure to fly a larger J cabin on the LAS route, to keep competitive with BA on redemptions and cheap J availability?
Right now, VS' smaller J cabin means few or no redemptions, and the fares start creeping up very quickly as the small cabin sells through.
Mike
The point about connecting traffic off BA's route network in LHR is a valid one. VS are very much an O&D outfit out of LGW. Currently, coming from somewhere in Europe to Vegas, without a direct flight, you would fly to a US hub and connect there. Maybe the possibility of 'sterile' international transit through T5 at LHR, avoiding connecting in the US, is sufficiently attractive?
As far as a move by VS' Vegas flight to LHR goes, who knows? It does create some complications, such as a leisure config aircraft outbased at LHR, which requires positioning flights to/from LGW to be flown, as there's nothing to do a 'W' with at the far end. Though, this has been done with BGI, which continued to operate on a leisure config 744 that positioned over from Gatwick when it was running out of LHR.
Could VS be put under pressure to fly a larger J cabin on the LAS route, to keep competitive with BA on redemptions and cheap J availability?
Right now, VS' smaller J cabin means few or no redemptions, and the fares start creeping up very quickly as the small cabin sells through.
Mike
Having spoken to the Virgin ground crew at LAS last year they've feared for a while BA would soon operate a direct service, especially following the demise of Maxjet. For years they've been pushing to have a second VS flight on a daily basis realising the high demand, but seems to have fallen on deaf ears and now BA are picking up the excess. As others have said lets hope this is good competition and means VS review the aircraft and the departure airport, as often felt its has been considered a second class route.
On the subject of the system showing a flight schedule via SFO. I found this back in January but when went to book, the website wouldnt take it. Called VS direct and they said the US domestic legs they couldnt book and would have to be transferred to Virgin America, this meant my international and domestic legs would be under separate bookings which was concerned about. That was proven correct to be suspicious, as by booking at early time the VS flight time got subsequently changed and meant would have enough time to catch the connecting flight.
Luckily was able to book the whole package on Expedia, which I think had it priced incorrectly at the time as the following day they were quoting 1k more for the same deal, or I was just lucky getting UC for 1,600
On the subject of the system showing a flight schedule via SFO. I found this back in January but when went to book, the website wouldnt take it. Called VS direct and they said the US domestic legs they couldnt book and would have to be transferred to Virgin America, this meant my international and domestic legs would be under separate bookings which was concerned about. That was proven correct to be suspicious, as by booking at early time the VS flight time got subsequently changed and meant would have enough time to catch the connecting flight.
Luckily was able to book the whole package on Expedia, which I think had it priced incorrectly at the time as the following day they were quoting 1k more for the same deal, or I was just lucky getting UC for 1,600
It's a 3 class 777 flying LHR T5 to LAS T2
Depart LHR 15:30 Arrive LAS 18:20
Depart LAS 20:20 Arrive LHR 14:05+1
They haven't loaded the discounted fares at the moment, only
BA 275 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LHR 5 LAS 2 1530 1820
BA 274 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LAS 2 LHR 5 2020 1405+1
When they load in the rest of the fare codes you will see the real prices come up.
Ed
Depart LHR 15:30 Arrive LAS 18:20
Depart LAS 20:20 Arrive LHR 14:05+1
They haven't loaded the discounted fares at the moment, only
BA 275 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LHR 5 LAS 2 1530 1820
BA 274 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LAS 2 LHR 5 2020 1405+1
When they load in the rest of the fare codes you will see the real prices come up.
Ed
Move to the red side...
quote:Originally posted by eejp1007
It's a 3 class 777 flying LHR T5 to LAS T2
Depart LHR 15:30 Arrive LAS 18:20
Depart LAS 20:20 Arrive LHR 14:05+1
They haven't loaded the discounted fares at the moment, only
BA 275 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LHR 5 LAS 2 1530 1820
BA 274 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LAS 2 LHR 5 2020 1405+1
When they load in the rest of the fare codes you will see the real prices come up.
Ed
Interesting flight times. I quite like the late return, practically a full extra day in Vegas! Would prefer an earlier outbound, so VS has the advantage for me there.
It's a 3 class 777 flying LHR T5 to LAS T2
Depart LHR 15:30 Arrive LAS 18:20
Depart LAS 20:20 Arrive LHR 14:05+1
They haven't loaded the discounted fares at the moment, only
BA 275 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LHR 5 LAS 2 1530 1820
BA 274 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LAS 2 LHR 5 2020 1405+1
When they load in the rest of the fare codes you will see the real prices come up.
Ed
Interesting flight times. I quite like the late return, practically a full extra day in Vegas! Would prefer an earlier outbound, so VS has the advantage for me there.
quote:Originally posted by Slipperman
quote:Originally posted by eejp1007
It's a 3 class 777 flying LHR T5 to LAS T2
Depart LHR 15:30 Arrive LAS 18:20
Depart LAS 20:20 Arrive LHR 14:05+1
They haven't loaded the discounted fares at the moment, only
BA 275 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LHR 5 LAS 2 1530 1820
BA 274 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LAS 2 LHR 5 2020 1405+1
When they load in the rest of the fare codes you will see the real prices come up.
Ed
Interesting flight times. I quite like the late return, practically a full extra day in Vegas! Would prefer an earlier outbound, so VS has the advantage for me there.
From my POV, the good thing about the later arrival in to LAS is that you can have a couple of hours looking around before going to bed and get your body clock set quicker.
quote:Originally posted by eejp1007
It's a 3 class 777 flying LHR T5 to LAS T2
Depart LHR 15:30 Arrive LAS 18:20
Depart LAS 20:20 Arrive LHR 14:05+1
They haven't loaded the discounted fares at the moment, only
BA 275 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LHR 5 LAS 2 1530 1820
BA 274 J9 C9 W9 Y9 B9 H9 GL /LAS 2 LHR 5 2020 1405+1
When they load in the rest of the fare codes you will see the real prices come up.
Ed
Interesting flight times. I quite like the late return, practically a full extra day in Vegas! Would prefer an earlier outbound, so VS has the advantage for me there.
From my POV, the good thing about the later arrival in to LAS is that you can have a couple of hours looking around before going to bed and get your body clock set quicker.
I too like the flight times, these are IMO better than VS's. For info, I looked at Y, PE and J costs for 1 Dec out and 8 Dec back, here are the current comparisons:
Y - 706.90 on BA and 465.90 on VS
PE - 2,847.90 on BA and 1,018.90 on VS
J - 6,522.90 on BA and 2,927.30 on VS
So, looks like not all fares are loaded still but the full whack VS UC cost is an incredible 7,970.90 so BA may well be competitive across all cabins. I bet Crawley is watching with great interest!
Interesting that the BA Web site calls WT+ 'Premium Economy'!
Y - 706.90 on BA and 465.90 on VS
PE - 2,847.90 on BA and 1,018.90 on VS
J - 6,522.90 on BA and 2,927.30 on VS
So, looks like not all fares are loaded still but the full whack VS UC cost is an incredible 7,970.90 so BA may well be competitive across all cabins. I bet Crawley is watching with great interest!
Interesting that the BA Web site calls WT+ 'Premium Economy'!
There's a plane at JFK, to fly you back from far away
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
The local media are saying BA is offering flights for $460 rt + taxes.
That is a good fare as Business Traveller is quoting fares start from 467 inc taxes.
The link http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/b ... egas-route
Still a good fare IMO
DMB
The local media are saying BA is offering flights for $460 rt + taxes.
That is a good fare as Business Traveller is quoting fares start from 467 inc taxes.
The link http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/b ... egas-route
Still a good fare IMO
DMB
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