September announcement

... cherry tomatoes with gravy ...

):

IT department in "we fixed something" shock announcement ?

Now I've heard a load of Virgin rumours at GLA. The main ones:

1) Virgin base within the next 18months/2 years. VS cabin crew (yes, I know: Galley FM! v( 8D ) and other well connected folk have said the same.

2) GLA expansion. VS applied for a Friday MCO slot for S13 to operate GLA-MCO 3x weekly.

3) Cancun: rumoured to be operated from both MAN & GLA next summer.

4) An article in a Scottish Sunday newspaper (albeit a total, complete rag! ) stating that VS have invited Scottish MPs to a meeting next week, to discuss "Scottish expansion plans". Now that could be the much rumoured EDI-LHR (don't think so, IMHO) route or it could well be some GLA expansion.

Just my thoughts and findings |:)

This is interesting seeing as a *ahem* friend of mine works for BA at EDH and received an approach from VS about working for them... however they wanted her to work in London for a year then didn't specify if it was GLA or EDH. ?|

I for one love seeing the A330s operate out of GLA and some permanent staff to replace the rent-a-mob they currently use would be welcome.

OTT hype...
Expansion of LGW base and some token feeder codeshare from "the north"..
Oh and a charge for booking seats.

I do wonder if a stronger 'regions' based operation (expanding MAN/GLA bases) would reduce the need to have a UK domestic service and therefore leave room for a joint code-share for the business traffic to LHR from the other regions provided by someone else. Flybe seems like a possible conspiritor seeing as they already have a strong regional presence and you can also check through your bags when flying with them and VS

If only the Olympic terminal wasnt reverting back into a staff car park, that could have been the perfect LCC terminal for such a service

Anyone heard anything about an exciting announcement regarding Virgin and the UK to be made beginning of September.

I was given some interesting info, put two and two together and have come up with some very interesting theory's.

David

No longer moving to T2 at LHR?

If only the Olympic terminal wasnt reverting back into a staff car park, that could have been the perfect LCC terminal for such a service

Going back to checking in at a tent?!

Flybe allow checking through bags to/from VS flights?

Even if you book seperately or only as part of a virgin ticket?

It is an interline agreement between VS and FlyBe.

For example, our extensive interline partnerships with airlines like Emirates, Air France and Virgin Atlantic allows Cornish travellers to check-in their baggage at Newquay Cornwall Airport and pick it up again when they arrive at such far-flung destinations as Atlanta, Denmark, Dubai, Orlando and Singapore!

http://www.flybe.com/corporate/media/news/1202/23.htm

Merging with IAG?

[buns]

I have it on good authority that every UC booking made in the UK will receive a new I Phone 5 in compensation for the high fuel surcharges, disguised as "tax" by VS )

buns

I have it on good authority that every UC booking made in the UK will receive a new I Phone 5 in compensation for the high fuel surcharges, disguised as "tax" by VS )

buns

Lol..
With news today of steep rises in rail fares, maybe Virgin have found a way to introduce Fuel Surcharges to rail tickets also, and blame the government....

New menu to include veggie option of Cherry tomato and mushroom chasseur with rice plus cheese and bicies back to PE

So was this morning's train news story made early due to possible leaks from David?

That news was in the guardian a week ago...

Train news makes it very interesting... SRB has categorically said they are removing themselves from the rail market due to an uneven playing field (not an exact quote) which means they won't be bidding for the ECML when it comes up.

This, in my opinion, paves the way for a Virgin UK domestic service based out at Gatwick and for FlyBe to operate a feeder service for Manchester. (bearing in mind FlyBe are 20% owned by IAG.)

Although the odd thing about David's rumour news is there has not been a peep about anything on PPRune.

Although the odd thing about David's rumour news is there has not been a peep about anything on PPRune.

y) Thats why I don't want to expand on my theory incase I wasn't supposed to have been told anything

David

September is not to do with trains!

Although the odd thing about David's rumour news is there has not been a peep about anything on PPRune.

y) Thats why I don't want to expand on my theory incase I wasn't supposed to have been told anything

David

well if you think you were not meant to know, why post? im a little confused as to why you would post and then not follow it through

It's a bit like when people post cryptic messages on Facebook, and then go on topmost they don't want to talk about it online. They clearly do, but they just want a little attention in the meantime to eak it out...

It's a bit like when people post cryptic messages on Facebook, and then go on topmost they don't want to talk about it online. They clearly do, but they just want a little attention in the meantime to eak it out...

There's no harm in dropping hints about future announcements, or even rumouring here, it is a chat forum after all. Some of us do get told certain things and in the spirit of sharing like to flag a forthcoming announcement so that people are alerted to new things happening ... yet we're still asked not to reveal all.

Hmmm, well I go back to my original theory of UK domestic routes, either using the old BMI slots or bizarre tie up with QueasyJet or FlyBe.

I agree. VS is in need to a European partner now it no longer has BMI.
On the other hand it maybe just a coupon for Virgin Wine.

Virgin Whine more like.

Best Twitter comment on West Coast debacle: "Virgin gets f**ked"

Glasgow to start a NY flight, seems obvious choice, scottish Gov wanting better ties, easy win for short A330 slot, heavily subsidised. Massive marketing pull stateside for US tourists wanting to met up with their motherland...you can imagine the marketing campaign...

Glasgow to start a NY flight, seems obvious choice, scottish Gov wanting better ties, easy win for short A330 slot, heavily subsidised. Massive marketing pull stateside for US tourists wanting to met up with their motherland...you can imagine the marketing campaign...

God, I hope not! v(

I wouldn't want that to affect our daily United flight. Saying that, if Virgin do indeed join Star....well I'll leave that for another thread!

But joking aside, there has been some pretty serious, plausible rumours doing the rounds that Virgin will either increase their GLA ops or indeed make it a base.

Is MAN classed as a base? I know folk say the MAN/LGW fleet, but I don't know if MAN is an actual base - apologies for my ignorance! ?|

My glass is always half full and I'm ever the eternal optimist, so I'm going (read hoping! y) ) for a GLA announcement regarding increased operations.

Of course, and remaining oh so diplomatic, I'll be happy if the announcement is regarding new routes from either MAN, LGW or LHR. I'm a fair guy )

Surely it won't be domestic flights?!? That would (imo of course) be commercial suicide. BMI operated LHR-GLA and codeshared on the route with every bloody airline known to man, yet still lost millions on it each year. I guess a tie-up with either FlyBe or easyJet would make the most commercial sense for Virgin.

Time shall tell though.

MAN is a base as there are dedicated crew based there who only fly out of Manchester. At present the GLA crew are ferried in and out via MAN or LHR/LGW or are London crew who live in Scotland and volunteer to do the flights

[honey lamb]

Is MAN classed as a base? I know folk say the MAN/LGW fleet, but I don't know if MAN is an actual base - apologies for my ignorance! ?|

They refer to the MAN/LGW fleet simply because of the shared aircraft which also applies to GLA. I suppose that because GLA is currently a seasonal service we've been slow in referring to it as a MAN/LGW/GLA fleet. However MAN could be considered as a base as it has its own crew whereas the LGW/LHR crew are interchangeable and they could find themselves flying to LAX or JFK this week and MCO or LAS or BGI next week

Thanks for the replies virginboy & HL, much appreciated! y)

They refer to the MAN/LGW fleet simply because of the shared aircraft which also applies to GLA. I suppose that because GLA is currently a seasonal service we've been slow in referring to it as a MAN/LGW/GLA fleet.

Of course. I didn't intend my previous post to come across as if I was complaining about a lack of acknowledgement for GLA ops or anything. I hate it when I see folk moaning that GLA (or Scotland overall tbh) doesn't get any recognition when, in the grand scheme of things, our ops are tiny compared to those of LHR/LGW/MAN.

Anyway I digress!! v(

Roll on September - I'm rather impatient now to see what this announcement really is! 8D