Virgin-Express / Virgin Atlantic bookings

JetB · Post by **JetB** » 24 Nov 2003, 14:54

Why can't Virgin-Express and Atlantic work closer together. Isnt it so that every big airline has a smaller brother (United-Express, American-Eagle,...)

It sounds strange that Virgin Atlantic doesnt use the Express network, there isnt even a connections between both networks ?.

Dont you think Virgin-Express can benefit from this ? So many American's fly Atlantic to Europe, but cant book a simple flight from Los Angeles to Barcelona. So once here they fly airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet.

Anyway Virgin Express is trying so hard to expand (next year to Norway) but isnt it easyer if they connect both networks and use the same booking system.

Isn't this a cheap way for Virgin-Express to grow faster ! and also to sell tickets to the US;

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 24 Nov 2003, 14:59

It would be a good idea for the two Virgin sections to co-ordinate their booking systems, but in practice it will probably not happen (certainly not in the near future). I don't thinknthat any low cost airline co-ordinates its bookings with another airline, even those which are just part of a larger, full service company.

JetB · Post by **JetB** » 24 Nov 2003, 15:16

When I book a United Airlines flight from Brussels to NY I have to change planes in Washington using United Express.

I know United Express isnt a full service airline, so ?......, it is a short flight !. And dont you think the name Express gives it ayway.

Why cant Virgin do the same, Virgin-Express isnt going to give Atlantic a bad name !.

Its just a easy and cheap way after a full service intercontinetal flight to make a connection.

Look at KLM's cityhopper, they fly people from Maasticht and Brussels to Amerstedam to make there international connection.

Post by **sn26567** » 24 Nov 2003, 15:28

BobClaes wrote:It sounds strange that Virgin Atlantic doesnt use the Express network, there isnt even a connections between both networks ?

It was even worse. When VEX was flying to Heathrow (the only common destination), it would NOT connect to Virgin Atlantic. People crossing the Atlantic on Virgin Atlantic would have their connection to/from Brussels on ... bmi (which had a codeshare agreement with Virgin Atlantic), not on sister company VEX !!!

Sometimes strange thinking in the head of Sir Richard!

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 24 Nov 2003, 15:33

It is nice to see that there are no longer any low cost carriers taking up slots in the UK's premier airport. The only sad thing is that SNBA do not fly into LHR themselves, they do it as a code operated by British Airways.

The only route that Virgin Express has into London is in code with VLM, on VLM's flights into London City (London's nicest airport!!)

Post by **sn26567** » 24 Nov 2003, 15:46

Comet wrote:The only sad thing is that SNBA do not fly into LHR themselves, they do it as a code operated by British Airways.

There remains one weekly SN BA flight to LHR by Avro RJ85 on Saturdays: SN 3831 (dep. BRU 19:00 arr. LHR 19:10). Return on Sundays, SN 3832 (dep. LHR 6:55 arr. BRU 9:05).

sabena4ever · Post by **sabena4ever** » 24 Nov 2003, 15:49

Hi
SNBA has no more slots from Brussels to London heathrow. The slots has been sold to British Airways, SNBA flies to London Gatwick with Avro twice daily.
have a nice day
d sabena4ever

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 24 Nov 2003, 15:52

I was pretty certain that SNBA had given up their Heathrow slots, we always used to check the LHR arrivals when SN flew in there, but stopped when they sold the slots to BA.

We always check the London City arrivals without fail though, because you get real class there!!

LCY - London's nicest airport!!

Post by **sn26567** » 24 Nov 2003, 15:54

Well, since the only weekly SN flight is codeshared with BA, they must be using a BA slot!

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 24 Nov 2003, 16:03

It won't be long before that flight, if it is still done by SNBA, will be taken over by British Airways, believe me. The Manchester frequencies of SNBA have reduced and are instead operated by BA (with the exception of SN2174/73 and SN2177/78 - and I hope it stays that way!!)

Fly from LCY - treat yourself!!

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 24 Nov 2003, 16:21

André, in the past BA leased an Avro of SN for a few LHR rotations (I'm not sure but I believe it's 2 seasons ago).

For the rest: I don't understand the link between Virgin Express and Virgin Atlantic (besides Branson). VEX put's it's code on the VG flights to LCY, that's all. VS put's it's code on a few BD flights these days however.

Even when VEX would offer a link between LHR and BRU, it would not be very suitable for the pax to fly for example JFK-LHR-BRU-FCO. And even than, VS offers a quality product. VS pax would be shocked if they end up on VEX!

Regards
Frederic

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 24 Nov 2003, 18:17

Frederic is right.

It is very easy to explain:

VIRGIN EXPRESS = LOW COST / BUDGET AIRLINE

VIRGIN ATLANTIC = FULL SERVICE AIRLINE :dance:

Both airlines offer the best quality and best value for money in their own marketsegments.
And this" best quality" is what Richie Rich's (Sir Richard Branson's) "VIRGIN" stands for.

The other Virgin companies of high quality are:
Virgin cars, Virgin cosmetics, Virgin holidays, Virgin mobile, Virgin Blue Airways, Pacific Blue Airlines, Virgin trains, Virgin creditcard, Virgin drinks, Virgin limobike, Virgin money, Virgin travelstore, Virgin wines, Virgin books, Virgin ware, Virgin bikes, Virgin megastores uk, Virgin active.
:mexwave:

All these profitable companies have the privilege to wear the Virgin brand, and this on an independent basis.

TWA

Dustbiter · Post by **Dustbiter** » 24 Nov 2003, 18:41

TWA,

Looks like you are a real VIRGIN fan !!!!!

Dustbiter

meerkat · Post by **meerkat** » 24 Nov 2003, 18:48

@ TWA - LOL

There a lot of people who might find your description of Virgin Trains as being "high quality " a bit too much to swallow. Their record (along with many other train operators in the UK is nothing to shout about.

Meerkat

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 24 Nov 2003, 18:53

Well, I think I can call myself lucky to work for one of them. I wish you were that lucky as well dustbiter.

TWA

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 24 Nov 2003, 18:56

TWA,

Are you working for VEX ?

Chris
8)

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 24 Nov 2003, 19:03

Dear Meerkat,

from all the train companies in the UK, Virgin's network offers the best quality and leaves others far behind . Believe me I've been a train commuter between Bournemouth and London Waterloo for several years. When Virgin Trains just started, they had their minor problems just like every other start-up. Look at Thalys, Eurostar (by the way partly owned by the Virgin group), they are doing quite all right now.

TWA

PS: Chris , most people are using a fictitious name on this site, why not having a fictive job. I was only joking.

JetB · Post by **JetB** » 24 Nov 2003, 19:03

VIRGIN EXPRESS - BEST SHORT HAUL AIRLINE OF THE YEAR !!!

Anyway if I listen to you guys, it is better that all full service airlines stop there regional operiations.

So it is better for there image ? Bye bye United-express, American Eagle, Delta-express, Klm-cityhopper, and many more.......

So why invest in a company like Virgin - Express, not good for Virgin Atlantic, they dont make big profits and grow slow.

Look at there Amsterdam operations, they dont even sell the produckt Virgin Express in Holland ! Pax book budget air and fly Virgin..........

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 24 Nov 2003, 19:39

TWA wrote:Dear Meerkat,

from all the train companies in the UK, Virgin's network offers the best quality and leaves others far behind . Believe me I've been a train commuter between Bournemouth and London Waterloo for several years. When Virgin Trains just started, they had their minor problems just like every other start-up. Look at Thalys, Eurostar (by the way partly owned by the Virgin group), they are doing quite all right now.

TWA

As a regular traveller on the East Coast Main Line (London to Edinburgh which stops in York), I can tell you that GNER is the best train company in the UK.

They have fewer breakdowns and delays than any others, including Virgin. Another bad one was Arriva, who operate the Scarborough-Manchester-Liverpool-Blackpool services.

Flybe · Post by **Flybe** » 24 Nov 2003, 19:45

It is very easy to explain:

VIRGIN EXPRESS = LOW COST / BUDGET AIRLINE
VIRGIN ATLANTIC = FULL SERVICE AIRLINE

Anyway if I listen to you guys, it is better that all full service airlines stop there regional operiations.

So it is better for there image ? Bye bye United-express, American Eagle, Delta-express, Klm-cityhopper, and many more.......

Although i can see the reasoning of TWA, i agree more with BobClaes. Indeed, you see many examples with full service airlines having their "low cost" regional airlines as well to transfer pax from their hubs on short distances. The problems that i think why VEX and virgin atlantic do not do this, are the following:

VEX is based in BRU, while virgin atlantic doesn't even fly here. So if you then want to transfer pax from a virgin atlantic flight in LHR, you have to put the on a flight to BRU and then to their next destination. That makes 2 stops! not many pax want to have 2 stops, since you loose much time in between. 1 stop is the maximum for such a concept. So i hope that Virgin atlantic will once start flying to BRU:-)

Also i guess that VEX has a broader area that they serve in comparison to for example KLM cityhopper (i'm not sure of this!). You could argue that that is a good thing, since then passengers from virgin atlantic can go to more destinations, but it also brings a problem along... For flights of about 1h, you can have a LCC, even if you come from a full service airline. But when you have to fly 2h more, then the diference between the virgin atlantic flight and VEX would become painfully clear, i guess. Especially when that would be around noon, when everybody gets hungry

Greets,

Pieter

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Virgin-Express / Virgin Atlantic bookings

Virgin-Express / Virgin Atlantic bookings

Re: Virgin-Express / Virgin Atlantic bookings