VS to use SFB??

I had a call from Virgin Holidays last night asking if I'd participate in some market research as we'd recently used them to visit Orlando.Having nothing better to do I said yes.The long and the short of it was that it was about holidays to Florida.One of the sections was about flying into Sanford as opposed to MCO with quite a lot of questions about this.Anyone else received such a call and anyone know if VS are actually considering pulling out of MCO and using SFB in the future?

[ChuckC]

Just curious, Dragon Lady, what was your opinion of Sanford?

Chuck-

Hi,

I have flown into and out of Sanford from the UK twice, and I have to say that it is not the best experience you can have with an airport. Arivals are handled quite well, unless more than one flight is arriving at the same time, but departures are a different matter. On both occasions when we arrived to check in ther queues were out onto the pavement and then snaked around inside the check in hall (Huge open area) for ages. This was all outside school holidays. Once you get airside there is very little to do and lots of people wanting to do it.

I would be very surprised if Virgin moved their operation to Sanford, as it is already pretty busy for a small airport and really couldn't handle possibly 5 additional 747's per day during the busy seasons.

It is interesting to note however, that My travel and others who use sanford make a big deal out of it being so much better and easier to get through than MCO. We all know that the only reason they use it is cost. If landing fees and handling costs at MCO suddenly became the same as SFB then they would all move in a second.

Just my opinion, hope it helps.

Neil.

Interesting !

Before 9/11 I had the pleasure of flying into Sanford in the Jump Seat of an Air 2000 Boeing 767.

At that time the flight deck crew told me that landing/passenger prices were exactly 1/2 of that charged at MCO.

SFB is also in a different county to MCO and comes under a different authority. But it's also a popular venue for local flyers ... Rather like having Biggin Hill & Gatwick together !

During our approach there were loads of light aircraft doing circuits much to the frustration of the 767 Crew !

Again at that time, there was limited air traffic control out of hours with contact having to be made with the Tower at MCO for a timed take off slot ! In other words as long as the runway was clear you had to be in the air in an alloted slot

Finally the runway wasn't long enough to take a fully laiden 747 take off. Back then Monarch were using a DC10 with a stop in Bangor for fuel to cutdown thw eight issue !

Anyone know if anything has changed ?

Last year Iceland Air transfered their flights due to the delays and the cost and the change hasn't seemed to have made their customer unhappy.

Having said that loading five 400s in the course of four or so hours could be absolutely hell. I've heard of a couple of expereinces with this and I really would have to think of changing over to the dark side.

I do hope they don't move as we like MCO it is a great place to shop at before coming home and we have never found immigration ot take long to get through.

Claire

Originally posted by ChuckC
Just curious, Dragon Lady, what was your opinion of Sanford?

Chuck-

I've never flown into Sanford Chuck. The last trip was our first into MCO(we usually fly into MIA if we're going anywhere in Florida)- it'll be our last to MCO in all probability too.The queues for everything were horrendous and it was overun with badly behaved -in the main British-children[n].The flight was much the same too. Interestingly, one of the questions I got asked last night was if I would be prepared to drive a longer distance to/from an airport if it meant quicker security,less queueing etc etc.
I don't know if there's a problem with the runway length anymore Andrew-don't charter companies like TravelCity Direct use Sanford with 747s?

I don't know if there's a problem with the runway length anymore Andrew-don't charter companies like TravelCity Direct use Sanford with 747s?

Um that's true !

VS always seem to pack alot of cargo/frieght into the forward holds of their 747's to MCO.

At the time the runway issue was for fully laiden 747's ... I suspect that Travel City don't have the frieght issue. SFB have probably done work as it was 2001 when I was there if I remember !

BTW Boeing quote a take off role of no less than 6, 000 - 7,000 feet for a non fully ladien 747 according to some google searches ... the runway at SFB is 9,600 feet ... 35L at MCO is nearly 3,000 feet longer at 12, 000 !

Hope they don't change, MCO is a very clean and easy airport to navigate.

David

Didn't VS used to use SFB at one time?
Would NOT be haooy with this vhange. After 8 hours I would not want to drive from SFB along the I4, its bad enough when not tired!

Just had the same call!! Took about 20 mins and as Julie says if you have notjig better to do it was quite interesting.

In addition to the questions about SFB they also asked about different types of lounges at airports and what you would expect to pay - seems like VH are plannng some sort of VH specific lounge.

They asked about the reasons for using VH, time spent at airports and what you did, how often you flew long haul - it was pretty in depth - but hey, if you get an opportunity to influence something you use - and enjoy using - then best to have your say I guess..

And as to whether I would use Sandford - I told them that if VS fly there then I will use it!![y]

Originally posted by MarkJ
Just had the same call!! Took about 20 mins and as Julie says if you have notjig better to do it was quite interesting.

In addition to the questions about SFB they also asked about different types of lounges at airports and what you would expect to pay - seems like VH are plannng some sort of VH specific lounge.

They asked about the reasons for using VH, time spent at airports and what you did, how often you flew long haul - it was pretty in depth - but hey, if you get an opportunity to influence something you use - and enjoy using - then best to have your say I guess..

And as to whether I would use Sandford - I told them that if VS fly there then I will use it!![y]

Ah yes Mr J- I didn't mention the lounge questions . She (person from VH) got a bit lost when I started to whitter about the VS Clubhouses.Questions were about mid range (ie Servisair type facility).Makes me wonder if VS/VH have some grand plan afoot....

[i]
Ah yes Mr J- I didn't mention the lounge questions . She (person from VH) got a bit lost when I started to whitter about the VS Clubhouses.Questions were about mid range (ie Servisair type facility).Makes me wonder if VS/VH have some grand plan afoot....

Do you think that the lounge question could have anything to do with the still-to-be-published changes to the FVC?

We have flown twice to Sanford and didn't mind it at all. We were out of the building and off in our car super quick. The I4 is not the best route, the toll road, which number I can't remember(!) is very quick, but of course not as quick as travelling from MCO. The speed of getting our of the airport made up for that to some extent.

If Virgin did fly there the main problem would be the departure side of things I think. Security is very slow, no shops, poor food outlet, and one big seating area. There is a pay lounge, but much needs to be done.

VS moving its ops to SFB would be a retrograde step for its passengers. As well as the extra travelling involved to get to the main areas of Orlando, the size will mean that the crowds will resemble something like Manchester Victoria train station during Saturday afternoon and would be total chaos unless expansion work was carried out.

I've never used SFB, and rather not. Last used MCO in 2002 and had no problems whatsoever, whether its still like that now I don't know.

SFB will need major work carried out to the terminal facilities to make it to a standard acceptable to passengers, and VS.

Would I fly into SFB, only if they address the issues regarding the terminal building.

Originally posted by Treelo

[i]
Ah yes Mr J- I didn't mention the lounge questions . She (person from VH) got a bit lost when I started to whitter about the VS Clubhouses.Questions were about mid range (ie Servisair type facility).Makes me wonder if VS/VH have some grand plan afoot....

Do you think that the lounge question could have anything to do with the still-to-be-published changes to the FVC?

I hadn't thought of that -FVC has been a damp squibb of late so it will be interesting to see what these new changes will be.

It's never taken us more than an hour after landing to be checked in at Disney on the last 3 or 4 visits to MCO. This sounds like a backward step, especially after the "rumours" that MCO was to get its own clubhouse.

David

[RichardMannion]

I've never flown to SFB, and don't intende to. There is nothing wrong with MCO at all. Since when have MCO fares been cheap for the majority of people travelling, Economy to MCO is probably the most expensive US Economy route they do during peak time (yes I know PE and UC are very reasonable but they are not the majority). If I recall VS have the majority share for Florida Over 50%) if I recall. If it is down to cost savings then I am surprised, as mike has indicated the cargo loads.

Whatever next, LHR flights been moved to LTN as the landing fees are cheaper?

Thanks,
Richard

I had to pick some people up from SFB in the past. I do not know if it has changed now, but the people waiting for oax off the planes had to sit or stand over the road under a canopy as there was not enough room in the terminal, plus if you chose fly drive you had a walk to another building to get the car. What an increase inflights would do to this airport would probably make it fall over in terms of service.

Perhaps they are looking at using SFB, to allow them space for more flights, such as ones from GLA as there's no more room at MCO?
I know I'd be slightly put off at using SFB, and seeing as BA use MCO is that a wise decision?
Plus, Im sure they would loose some business travellers as well.

Kev.

They would loose a lot of business, not just from business men.

I would certainly think twice about travelling VS to Orlando if they only used SFB. Whilst MCO is not perfect (notably the double bag reclaim on arrival from the UK) it is a nice, modern, pleasant airport that copes reasonably well with crowds.

Admittedly, I have not had the pleasure of going into SFB on another airline - but I have spoken to friends who have and it's quite clear that they would have chosen to fly into MCO, had their airline given them a choice.

Can't believe that VS would consider SFB....
Previous topic discussed Here
talks about increasing usage of MCO.

I also cannot believe that SFB would be considered, a lot of people travel regulary to MCO and surely VS would risk losing way too much regular business by moving ops up north...

The dark side would also be in like a shot with extra services to MCO..

Is the runway long enough?
The longest 9L-27R is 9,600 ft long