V-Flyer

What’s up guys and welcome to 2019!

I wonder what treats we have in store?

The 350-1000s
Alliance with KLM&AF
The New Virgin Wide Loyality Scheme - are we due to see major changes to FC?
New Routes? Although LAX is new to Manchester, we haven’t seen a full new route launch since Seattle? Will 2019 bring any announcements?

Personally I hope we all have a great year of flying VS
Jan - I have Vegas and should get my Gold Card.
Feb - New York for a £1 and my first time trying Premium!
March - Boston and New York
April - BAs “secret” flight from Manchester to London City
May - Warsaw with BA...in Economy!
June & July Chicago thankfully back with VS
September - Hong Kong, Singapore and Delhi
November - Maybe Miami!!

Let’s all hope 2019 is prosperous and sucesful for us all and filled with lovely holidays

I love Boston
I love New York
I adore Chicago

Maybe a V Flyer meet up in 2019...

Happy new year to you all.
I am looking forward to my first taste of the LHR CH next month.
Although it will be a short stay with an early flight to Atlanta.
Dick D

ColOrd wrote:The 350-1000s
Alliance with KLM&AF
The New Virgin Wide Loyality Scheme - are we due to see major changes to FC?
New Routes? Although LAX is new to Manchester, we haven’t seen a full new route launch since Seattle? Will 2019 bring any announcements?

A350 interior should be announced in Q1, I'd expect the same 332 Prem seat, same economy as 789 and obviously a revised upper. Other than that - it'll be a case of look what we can do with the mood lighting. I also think VS will upgrade UC catering this year - making it dine on demand.

AF/KLM - should complete, however I bet this goes VERY quiet under Brexit decisions have been made - this is one to watch in my opinion - it's not signed, sealed and delivered. I do think a JV will 100% happen it's just whether the equity stake will go as planned.

Loyalty scheme - just more opportunity to earn FC miles - remember DL own a high stake - Could this be their way of launching a sky miles type scheme in the UK - I think so...

New Routes - more of the same, I think if Jet goes under they may look at India and either go Man-DEL or pull out altogether. Tel Aviv - one off to gauge interest. I can see Manchester being back and forward every year something different until they get it right (eventually being ATL and JFK only year round).

You missed one biggy Col - FlyBe - I recon this will go ahead. They'll make grand plans for this carrier - focusing more on hubs, they'll go all in to gain extra slots at LHR, Gatwick and Manchester as well as AMS for AF/KLM. FlyBe will be rebranded as Virgin Atlantic and they will look to move to the A220 eventually. Non profitable routes will be slashed, major job cuts announced and a huge refocus on what regional flying in the UK should look like. Make no mistake - this is Delta UK wearing a Virgin mask. I only think VS will be successful given competition concerns that will lead to IAG pulling out.

My thoughts anyway!

ColOrd wrote:April - BAs “secret” flight from Manchester to London City

What's this about? or are you sworn to secrecy

CityFlyer do a Manchester - Ibiza turn and when the aircraft positions back to LCY they sell it despite the load factor regularly being less than a handful.

I doubt Jet Airways will go under - it is illegal so far as I know to go bankrupt in India or at least there isn't a mechanism for it. They would more likely fade away or be bought. I have wondered about VS dropping Delhi - there have been rumours but then it has mostly made money. There may be a low cost threat from the likes of Indigo now though. Jet could stop international ops- would then like VS to restart BOM form LHR and DEL and BOM from MAN.

Happy New Year V-Flyers!

Currently the year is looking as follows -

LAX x5/6 (some via SEA/SFO probably)
SAN
JFK
Maybe HKG & PVG for good measure