VS Announces MAN-SFO/BOS from March 2017

WOW! Starting to get picked up on some news outlets- VS have today confirmed that they will begin services to San Francisco and Boston from Manchester in March 2017.

Details are light right now but I believe both routes will be operated three times a week by an A330.

Lots of chatter on social media that from Summer 2017- VS will base five aircraft at MAN. Two 744s and three A330s to operate:

MCO 14 weekly B744
BGI 2 weekly A330
LAS 4 weekly A330
SFO 3 weekly A330
BOS 3 weekly A330
ATL daily A330

Rumours too that DL will commence DTW from next Summer too. And with the transformation plans for Manchester Airport a Clubhouse is strongly rumoured to be in the plans to open in Summer 2018.

Great news!

Jon

[buns]

Thanks for the heads up

Just when we thought VS was a shadow of its former self

buns

Good news, however, unless the market improves I cannot see 14 weekly services to MCO based on this years cancellations and mergers.

-Steve

Very good news indeed, thanks for the heads up. 14 weekly to MCO is a very bold move indeed, unless it was indicated that it was for the summer season only?

Very good news indeed, thanks for the heads up. 14 weekly to MCO is a very bold move indeed, unless it was indicated that it was for the summer season only?

Indeed. I would expect the 14 weekly flights to MCO would be Summer only.

Brilliant news! Looks like I've got my summer and winter holidays tied up from March next year

Wow, great news and exciting.

I guess the only thing that's really missing is a JFK

I wonder were the extra planes are coming from ?

David

(And a clubhouse as well )

[honey lamb]

Oooh, I'd have been interested in the SFO/BOS options (and may still be yet) if Aer Lingus had not become a serious contender. Having said that, given that the flights are on the A330, I think I'd rather have the EI option.

Always good to hear of new routes and Manchester seems like a sensible option especially with the likes of Thomas Cook stepping up their LH routes from there - New York, LA, Miami .etc. Also Cathay Pacific launching HKG.

I'm very happy about this! We'll definitely be making good use of the MAN>SFO route, especially as I'm guessing award availability might be a little easier to snag

This is great news - finally an Escape from the Escape Lounge if travelling in UC (if all the rumours prove to be true). The big problem will be the DL Elites who will ditch whatever lounge DL currently use in favour of a Clubhouse if it's on offer.

Whilst the A330 does not offer the B744 Upper Class experience, it is not all that bad - especially if the rumours of a 1-1-1 cabin refit turn out to be true.

Does anyone know what the deal with FlyBe will be? As in, will there be an official partnership with the ability to earn miles/TP?

Great news. Just wonder where the aircraft is coming from. We are off to Boston in August could now have left it 12 months and avoided LHR and the high fares to get there.

[Neil]

Definitely positive news for us Northern based travellers, and a CH would be a very welcome announcement.
Personally I would have preferred NYC to BOS, so I hope these flights are full and show VS that a true Northern hub is a viable business option and allows more room to expand.

Does anyone know what the deal with FlyBe will be? As in, will there be an official partnership with the ability to earn miles/TP?

According to this article from the news scroller - it looks to be a codeshare arrangement. Looks like VS will have some kind of presence on the domestic front again. Very good news indeed!
Will be interesting to see what kind of miles/TPs could be had from it...!

I assume a tie up with Flybe would help fill VS flights as MAN could become a Northern hub. Doubt NYC would be added as Delta already fly this and I think they have just changed from a 757 to a 767 so loadings must be good.

That's great news. It's great news for the check in girls too as I always ask them when we are getting a club house

Great news for everyone alike , travellers and staff just need a couple of carribean flights

Good news. We are due a couple of Amex pe upgrade vouchers in June. A trip to Boston has just move up the bucket list.

FlyBe is Avios I believe.
Also, Delta already fly to JFK, so can't see Virgin taking over the route.
My guess would also be its to profitable to Delta to even codeshare it as well.

The Flybe codeshare is now on the VS web site http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/tr ... flybe.html but doesn't really mention anything about miles / tier points and even the baggage link doesn't shed any light on that

David

Fingers crossed we might be able to earn miles and TP with FlyBe. As with last year, this year I am a few points shy of Gold, so I'll need to do a TP run to retain status. If there's an EU option that would make it infinitely easier!

Great news for any V Flyers residing in the Midlands & North of the country.

I've asked on Twitter regarding FlyBe and they're looking into it! Will report back with any further details.

The provisional schedule looks like this. Flight numbers still TBC.

VS*** MAN 1120 SFO 1440
VS*** SFO 1705 MAN 1140+1
Tue, Fri, Sun Starts 27th March.

VS***MAN 1520 BOS 1750
VS***BOS 2005 MAN 0740+1
Wed, Sat Starts 28th March.

BOS is currently x 2 a week and SFO x 3 a week.

Jon