Virgin America starting flights to Philly this spring

[Move2CLT]

They flirt with profitability regularity which I think I mentioned. They are essentially a start up whose numbers have gotten steadily better.

Not that I think it wrong but US Law has gotten in the way a bit. Sir Richard is a formidable businessman and competitor. It took Spirit a while to find their niche and hit their stride, now under the guidance of the "Killer B's" they are cruising along nicely.

One thing US does extremely well is protect what it considers "Bread & Butter" routes. This is especially true on anything coming in/out of PHL.

What I'm saying is NEVER EVER under estimate an enterprise run (Directly/indirectly) by Sir Richard Branson. I can see a protracted battle on these announced routes and that's good for customers. Lower fares, more choices is always good unless you're the one losing Money & Market Share.

August of 2007 and you still think of them as a start up?

$300M in losses for the first three years and still losing money.

Yup, they're cruising.

 

[SparrowHawk]

August of 2007 and you still think of them as a start up?

$300M in losses for first three years and still losing money.

Yup, they're cruising.

Actually very "Spirit Like" performance until they got going on the marketing, route structure, etc. WN lost money and nearly went under back when they were a 4 plane airline and we see how that turned out.

This move by VX could work to US's advantage. With good yield tables and an entrenched customer base it's entirely possible that US loses a few low fare seat per trip but ends up with a higher yield and more profitable.

In some ways it's not whose paint in on the plane but rather who's ass is in the seats.

 

[jack f]

Blah blah. Once again, straight out of your butt and onto this board.

1. Wrong
2. Deal with USAPA and get back to me
3. Don't remember that charter outfit that failed?
4. LMAO. Unless you mean never
5. They are. They're gimmicks that cost a lot to implement and maintain
6. Same as 5

Spoken like someone who has thier own head up something. US Airways happnes to be able to hold the passengers from the Phila area hostage and I'm one of those hostages. I'm a million miler who happens to believe that your company is slowly but surely removing the motivation for people like me to stay with you; $150 change fees for 'free'tickets, the destrution of the A321 and the appalling manner you price ticets in Philly when a competitor leaves the market; $600 tickest to Pitt for ex.

My wife and I fly US to LAX form PHL at least 5 times per year and I will defintely give VA a try. I think it is important they succed.

 

[Pi brat]

Spoken like someone who has thier own head up something. US Airways happnes to be able to hold the passengers from the Phila area hostage and I'm one of those hostages. I'm a million miler who happens to believe that your company is slowly but surely removing the motivation for people like me to stay with you; $150 change fees for 'free'tickets, the destrution of the A321 and the appalling manner you price ticets in Philly when a competitor leaves the market; $600 tickest to Pitt for ex.

My wife and I fly US to LAX form PHL at least 5 times per year and I will defintely give VA a try. I think it is important they succed.

You nailed him in one post.

Thanks for your support in spite of an inferior product. I hope we can keep you as a customer, but understand your reasons for trying VA.

 

[Pi brat]

Sounds familiar, but this last time it was "We are going with best practices" and everyone got together and decided those, some east some west and then when presented the hue and cry from the East about changing things was "We are a big international airline" so we usually went with the squeaky wheel on most decision making.

Oh yeah, like sphincter and the logbooks. One giant step forward there.

 

[Pi brat]

"Is that how PI did it?" followed by what was interpreted as "You hillbilly's don't know as much as we do so it's going to be the US way."

Jim

You must have missed the memo. It was spittin image, n'at..........

 

[FlyUs]

Spoken like someone who has thier own head up something. US Airways happnes to be able to hold the passengers from the Phila area hostage and I'm one of those hostages. I'm a million miler who happens to believe that your company is slowly but surely removing the motivation for people like me to stay with you; $150 change fees for 'free'tickets, the destrution of the A321 and the appalling manner you price ticets in Philly when a competitor leaves the market; $600 tickest to Pitt for ex.

My wife and I fly US to LAX form PHL at least 5 times per year and I will defintely give VA a try. I think it is important they succed.

While their product sounds ultra hip and sexy with fancy lighting and IFE, I'd have to bet Billionaire Sir Branson pays his employees rather modestly

 

[SparrowHawk]

While their product sounds ultra hip and sexy with fancy lighting and IFE, I'd have to bet Billionaire Sir Branson pays his employees rather modestly

After a very brief search of the internet I found this on a blog. Don't know if it's accurate or not.

Starting Pay: $19hour, 1 hour = 1 credit

Per Diem: $1.75 - non-taxable if layover

Guarantee: 70 credits

Overtime: starts at 82 credits and you get paid time and a quater or 125% of your current rate

Monthly Minimum Credit Required for line holders: 85 credits

The month starts with at least 15 closed days which makes trades, drops and swaps almost impossible… currently we have all Saturdays and Sundays closed for the month of June. Drops, trades, swaps are not done in real time and it it’s approved or denied by a person and not the computer which allows for a lot of lame excuses on why your requests was denied.

Vacation Pay: 3.5 credits per day

Holiday Pay: 3 days per year at time and a half… 150% of your current pay…. You only get paid holiday pay if you are working… Not sure if you get straight pay if you off.

ITL pay (a-line flight attendant): 15% of your current rate

Reserve: 20 days on reserve per month set in stone! Your schedule is not flexible and there are no trades allowed! 10 days off for 30 day months, or 11 days off for 31 day months.

If On call at home: 12 hours shifts and you get paid 3.5 credits. There is no ‘call in’ time… just have your cell on you for 12 hours.

If you are on Ready Reserve at the airport: 6 hour shifts and you get paid 3.5 credits – if you go on a trip you get paid the grater of the two.

Your reserve time can be changed at any time after the first day coming from a day off. So if you are on reserve form 6pm – 6am, you can get a trip starting a 12noon or 3pm, or any other time they deem necessary. Random stuff happens and favoritism is really big with crew schedulers… so if you know someone there, go for it!

Btw, if you get called on a trip after sitting at the airport for 5:45 hours you get paid for the trip OR the airport time, whichever one is greater… per diem starts, 1 hour prior to departure.

In addition, you only need 9 hours rest

 

[AstroLounge]

They flirt with profitability regularity which I think I mentioned. They are essentially a start up whose numbers have gotten steadily better.

Not that I think it wrong but US Law has gotten in the way a bit. Sir Richard is a formidable businessman and competitor. It took Spirit a while to find their niche and hit their stride, now under the guidance of the "Killer B's" they are cruising along nicely.

One thing US does extremely well is protect what it considers "Bread & Butter" routes. This is especially true on anything coming in/out of PHL.

What I'm saying is NEVER EVER under estimate an enterprise run (Directly/indirectly) by Sir Richard Branson. I can see a protracted battle on these announced routes and that's good for customers. Lower fares, more choices is always good unless you're the one losing Money & Market Share.

People may be willing to 'try' Virgin America because one thing Branson's ENTERPRISE is known for is a certain level of Panache' when it comes to advertising.....as All His Brands have seen. What many people are unaware of is Virgin Atlantic is hardly a profitable venture for Branson ( and Singapore Airlines holds a large stake) and if memory serves Me correct, I do NOT think Virgin America has EVER posted a profit. Sir Branson strikes Me as an individual who has a GIGANTIC Ego, who likes to see his Name "In Lights" but really only dabbles in ventures for publicity. If Branson was truly committed to the Airline Industry He would have made more of an effort to Merge His Airline with a struggling BMI to take on British Airways and increase the competitive landscape in the UK and make his mark in the airline industry. But No.........He aspires to Offer "Galactic Travel" in the future.............I'll hold My breath on That Venture. Mood lighting and Tuch Screens no doubt! 🙄