Disclaimer: This should maybe be in the US section, but I think it affects both sides of the Atlantic, so I'm posting in General. Mods, if you feel it should be moved, please feel free.
When posting in the thread about other airlines catching up with Virgin's UC service, I got to thinking about my experiences behind the counter at DL (well Delta Connection).
Even since I've been working under DL, with my near free flight benefits, I still buy revenue tickets with VS. I've been flying with them since 1988, and having sampled other carriers VS has just always stood out. After all, starting as a very young traveler, it was the VS perks of IFE and kids backpacks that sold me. I suppose it's the same notion as if your parents feed you vegetables when you're young you'll grow up liking them.
Anyway... standing at a gate or ticket counter, I get a lot of time to talk with passengers, and the topic always comes up of where I've been. People say, "oh you work for an airline, you must fly all over the place". First of all, we only get a week of vacation, and I work 5 days a week so the benefits are pretty much useless, but they don't know that.
I always mention my most recent trip to the UK and they always say, "oh and you flew with Delta?!" As much as I shouldn't, I'm an honest person and say "no, I flew with Virgin Atlantic", always citing the reason as my FF account with them. The general response (from first time flyers all the way up to Platinum's and Million Miler's is always, "Oh wow, I hear their service is excellent".
When I ask if they've flown with VS, I usually get a "well I can't really get to them", or "my company likes me to fly out of a local airport" type of response. I've found that people are keen to fly with VS, but there just isn't the accessibility to the service.
I suppose this is also related to the post on new routes, but I was just wondering if anyone thinks some more expansion in the US should be on the table (from both a US and UK point of view). It would almost be nice if VS could offer through service from JFK or BOS to other airports within the US.
I'd also be curious to know how much promotion VS does of flyinco in the US.
It just seem's that VS has a huge market that isn't tapped because passengers can't get to them. I would have hoped to see Virgin America tie in with the VS network, but as of now, it's looking as if that isn't going to happen.
When posting in the thread about other airlines catching up with Virgin's UC service, I got to thinking about my experiences behind the counter at DL (well Delta Connection).
Even since I've been working under DL, with my near free flight benefits, I still buy revenue tickets with VS. I've been flying with them since 1988, and having sampled other carriers VS has just always stood out. After all, starting as a very young traveler, it was the VS perks of IFE and kids backpacks that sold me. I suppose it's the same notion as if your parents feed you vegetables when you're young you'll grow up liking them.
Anyway... standing at a gate or ticket counter, I get a lot of time to talk with passengers, and the topic always comes up of where I've been. People say, "oh you work for an airline, you must fly all over the place". First of all, we only get a week of vacation, and I work 5 days a week so the benefits are pretty much useless, but they don't know that.
I always mention my most recent trip to the UK and they always say, "oh and you flew with Delta?!" As much as I shouldn't, I'm an honest person and say "no, I flew with Virgin Atlantic", always citing the reason as my FF account with them. The general response (from first time flyers all the way up to Platinum's and Million Miler's is always, "Oh wow, I hear their service is excellent".
When I ask if they've flown with VS, I usually get a "well I can't really get to them", or "my company likes me to fly out of a local airport" type of response. I've found that people are keen to fly with VS, but there just isn't the accessibility to the service.
I suppose this is also related to the post on new routes, but I was just wondering if anyone thinks some more expansion in the US should be on the table (from both a US and UK point of view). It would almost be nice if VS could offer through service from JFK or BOS to other airports within the US.
I'd also be curious to know how much promotion VS does of flyinco in the US.
It just seem's that VS has a huge market that isn't tapped because passengers can't get to them. I would have hoped to see Virgin America tie in with the VS network, but as of now, it's looking as if that isn't going to happen.
