VS in 2011, what will we see?

As the new Year approaches, opening up discussion on peoples thoughts on VS in 2011, and the competition..

New routes, less routes
Fares and reward availability
Lounges,eg the muted Vroom at MAN,

Crystal ball time..

[Darren Wheeler]

New routes
New aircraft
New interiors (hopefully)
UC sales galore (I know, I know...)
Same old red marks on the suites

Are there any rumours on new routes - or have I been on a different planet as usual!!!

There seems to be quite a good selection of FC MPM and miles only offers coming out, so maybe 2011 will bring many oportunities to grab bargains.

VS are starting 4 weekly flights to Accra instead of 3 at the moment.

yay!

Not!!!!


cheers

alex

[Neil]

It will be an interesting year for VS, new a/c arriving, the re-fits of the LGW 747's, the new LAS service ex MAN, the new V-Room at MAN (okay not VS directly but still kinda related). I'm not so certain we will see many routes, maybe some towards the end of the year when/if more of the new a/c arrive.

Hopefully what will continue is what seems to have been an positive step forward in the food offering in UC and an overall improvement on the board experience, and less cutbacks like charging for some treatments in the CH etc.

Whatever happens I'm sure it won't be boring and will no doubt give us plenty to discuss on here.

Neil

Well City AM this morning has an article about US airlines incl. Delta circling SRB to purchase ... although VS said there's nothing formal underway

New routes and planes are all very well but VS need to get the basic service elements right and that includes food/drink, amenity kit, IFE that works, cleanliness of seats & cabins, ensure priority boarding is always implemented, priority luggage means priority luggage etc.

Some staff also need a reminder of what customer service means

Sorting out the website must also be a priority.

[Darren Wheeler]

VS are starting 4 weekly flights to Accra instead of 3 at the moment.

yay!

Not!!!!


cheers

alex

Why not? Apparently it's a veritable cash cow.

I hear what what your saying darren, would prefer to be writing about new routes such as vancouver, denver, or singapore though.....oh well


cheers

alex

Agree on the new route sentiments however VS has to be careful which is chooses.

Singapore is already served via SQ code share.
Denver would be a bloodbath with BA/AA totally dominant.
Vancouver? A bit 'thin' and do VS have the right aircraft for it?

If any new routes are announced I'd expect to see more leisure routes than anything else, but lack of aircraft remains the key issue.

oh yeah i knew i forgot a route, it would be cancun which staggers me that they didnt organise it sooner, even if they were to bring it in as a new route it would be well into the new year before it started and BA would have probably packed their plane to the rafters by then.
Way to slow on virgins part.

cheers

alex

I'd personally like to see a Phuket flight from LGW. Surely Virgin Holidays could sell enough seats to this popular tourist destination? Get in before BA does - don;t let it be another Cancun!

Well on the new aircraft you're going to see widescreen seat-back TV's..... (it's a start!!)...

[Darren Wheeler]

Vancouver is earmarked for when the 787's arrive. Time will tell on that.

I've heard talk of Rio....

Vancouver - there could be a big market with a VH link - easy access for fly-drives to the rockies and the expanding cruise market up the inside passage to Alaska.

Rio - deffo an emerging market with the world cup in 2014 and the olympics in 2016

We've had plenty of rumours about Vancouver, Cancun, Brazil, Honolulu even, Phuket etc. Now a SkyTeam tie up to add to the rumour mill. There should be five or six A333s coming next year, and we know that two will be leisure config'ed only for MAN-LAS and to create flexibility in LGW to allow for the 747 refits. The others should (I hope) replace some 343s which really are now passed their best and expensive to operate. So that leaves no planes, and no LHR slots also (unless VS pull something out of the bag) to operate from there. Some of those routes also require 787s since the 333s don't have the distance, and we know they're going to be hugely delayed due to Boeing's numerous problems.

I'll expect a quieter year, until something happens!

Routes to Seattle, San Diego would suit me. I don't know what the demand is - or how VS measure these things - but it would save the VS -> V America hops up and down the west coast of the USA.

And what about Toronto - I wold have thought that would be a good route ... but maybe too much competition.

I've heard talk of Rio....

VS have had rights to fly into Rio for years- just like they did for Beijing. Just never chosen to use them (or had the slots from LHR to make it work).

VS are starting 4 weekly flights to Accra instead of 3 at the moment.

yay!

Not!!!!


cheers

alex

Why not? Apparently it's a veritable cash cow.

And not a bad destination to visit - absolutely nothing like you'd imagine!

I had the good fortune of taking a tour of SEA a few months backed. They confirmed VS had spoken to them a time or two- but wouldn't discuss any more. As a recent arrival up here I would find that fantastic. I was very disappointed by the BA nonstop I took late last week but I sure didn't miss the four or five hour connection time it takes to fly into SFO, LAX or LAS and connect up to SEA.

- Greg

Well I heard from a good source that you won't see any more than two 333s...

Well I heard from a good source that you won't see any more than two 333s...

Initially, rumour is that until the suite issue is sorted out the others will be leased out ... and 343 leases extended.

Ugh.

But will then come back and presumably be fitted / refitted ...

Sounds like an airline somewhat in managerial disarray.

Sounds like an airline somewhat in managerial disarray.

I don't see why you draw that conclusion - the new UCS was designed for a different plane, the A333s were a stop gap but logistics and costs presumably didn't add up - fitting the current UCS now and replacing it in one or two years would also add up. I should think the lessor from who VS is leasing the 333s have no shortage of other customers, and a deal was struck that manages cost over time. What seems to be the case, is that two Y and PE A333s will come next year, then no more for a couple of years or in 2012 when the new UCS is now supposed to be launched.

The down side is that the two A343s being lease extended will still have grubby interiors and the hateful and now totally knackered Odyssey. But just think, UA and LH don't even have seat back screens in many of their 747s!