Why have sales?

Not that I am complaining, taking the familly to MIA for some time in the summer booked and paid £1,600 for UC seats. A saving of around 45%.

But why do VS bother? Are there really that many empty seats over the summer holidays?

[Scrooge]

Well thats part of the problem.

Also while the pound/dollar exchange rate is great for those leaving the UK, for us in the US it is a killer, I am putting off flights for a while and heading to "cheaper" places.

I don't think its more of the lack of sales (if any). I think its more down to trying to attract new customers, and every airline would've done it at some stage.

I say well done to VS for trying to attract a new host of customers [y]

Originally posted by jimbob247
Not that I am complaining, taking the familly to MIA for some time in the summer booked and paid £1,600 for UC seats. A saving of around 45%.

But why do VS bother? Are there really that many empty seats over the summer holidays?

Empty seats ... LHR to JFK recently on a 747 - 400 with only 113 on board. BOS to LHR on an Airbus with 116 on board !

I'd say they're after all the passengers they can get !

My booking trends have changed. I now book really close to departure as I know they'll always be some sort of offer. If not I do a 'MPM' fare which is equally as cheap.

[Neil]

Sales are common practice in business, for a variety of reasons. As Alex says its a good way to attract new customers but I am sure there is also the need to move empty seats, better to have bums on seats with a lower profit margin then non at all.

Simply to win over customers, if only temporarily, but even better if they stick around;)

45.

Originally posted by jimbob247
Not that I am complaining, taking the familly to MIA for some time in the summer booked and paid £1,600 for UC seats. A saving of around 45%.

But why do VS bother? Are there really that many empty seats over the summer holidays?

Presumably on the largely holiday based routes the loads can be reasonably well forecast and as Neil said reduced yield bums on seats are better than no bums at all. As to cause - are the higher end charters winning some of the customers who want the extras, or is there a general tightening of consumer spending as a result of higher interest rates and more than a year of higher domestic fuel prices ?

Perhaps there'll also be some more reward seat availability soon too ?

Paul

Grrr, I see the sale is followed by another sale, at even lower prices.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by jimbob247
Grrr, I see the sale is followed by another sale, at even lower prices.

Get used to it - VS and BA have a habit of doing just that...