Routes and Cabin Configuration -- Contest!

[ChuckC]

Okay, now that the word is out (thanks, Jetwet1, for the scoop)... what does everyone think are some of the logical city pairs that Virgin America will fly using its soon to be acquired A319, A320 aircraft? [i]Thanks, VS-EWR for catching my aircraft type error!

And what will the cabin configuration be?[i]

Just to make this interesting, we will come up with a prize for the person who nails the greatest number of city pairs. And we'll award a second prize for the person who guesses the correct cabin layout. In case of a tie, well, I'll think of something. All entries welcome!

Best regards,
Chuck-

hmmm...[?]
just a wild guess
30 PE
180 Y
will there be a j class?[?]

Well first of all they aren't getting a300s, they're getting a319s and a320s. And yes there is a big difference between these aircraft.

I think They will fly to SFO, EWR, JFK, SEA, BOS, DFW, FLL, MIA, DEN, ORD, and possible LAX and some airports in the midwest.

I think they will have a 2 class layout because no LCC currently offers a good business class and I think Virgin America could definitely grab that market. So I am guessing 12 F and 138 Y, the standard a320 layout for 2 classes with 32in pitch in Y and 36 inch pitch in F.

[HighFlyer]

Isnt Virgin America going to be based in SFO?

If so, im guessing a definate SFO-JFK/EWR run to cover the East/West connection.

Id also hedge bets on SFO-LAS & SFO-LAX (could easily be paired with the VS flights on the online booking pages in place of HP) nad id imagine pairings with ORD/MIA and other main connection points.

ok in that case i think
22 F
111 Y
just another wild guess:D
i wonder if thet'll have IFE?[:?]

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Isnt Virgin America going to be based in SFO?

Hi Sarah,
Yes, that's what they are saying now. Hmmm...I wonder whether the CH at SFO will accept VS UC and AU cardholders? Perhaps a moot point if VS-USA is at a different terminal or concourse.

Chuck-

164Y is my first choice (all 1 class). But there is a possibility they will go for
12F
138Y

Shame it looks like no VS Points, but I shall certainly give them a go anyways.

Paul

for their A319s = 8F and 121Y 36 inch in Buisness &
A320s = 12F and 148Y 32 inch in economy

I think that they might have PTVs in both classes.
Their routes: SFO to EWR, JFK,MIA,ORD,MCO,DFW,BOS,IAD,MSY,LAS,DEN,PBI, IAH.

They could call their buisnes class "Silver Plus" class and their economy "Pacifica" Class

[mcmbenjamin]

Oh I will go out on a limb and say the will have two hubs; SFO and IAD.
At IAD the VS CH is in the B terminal at will be used for the VAmerica Gold Velocity members and Patriot Class people. They will interline with VS so times when IAD is empty, it can offer connections to more B&S routes (MCO, MIA) and SFO on VAmerica.

Further VS will start a IAD-MAN route to connect with SIA's services to SIN via ZRH IIRC. The VS aircraft that operates the MAN-IAD segment will be leased to VAmerica a la Braniff/BA/AF Concorde and will operate a IAD-SFO segment (to stick it is UAL, and to connect the east coast to SIA's west coast operations) then operate the SFO-LHR segment.

I think I went for broke but hey, it could happen.

Benjamin

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Oh I will go out on a limb and say the will have two hubs; SFO and IAD.
At IAD the VS CH is in the B terminal at will be used for the VAmerica Gold Velocity members and Patriot Class people. They will interline with VS so times when IAD is empty, it can offer connections to more B&S routes (MCO, MIA) and SFO on VAmerica.

Further VS will start a IAD-MAN route to connect with SIA's services to SIN via ZRH IIRC. The VS aircraft that operates the MAN-IAD segment will be leased to VAmerica a la Braniff/BA/AF Concorde and will operate a IAD-SFO segment (to stick it is UAL, and to connect the east coast to SIA's west coast operations) then operate the SFO-LHR segment.

I think I went for broke but hey, it could happen.

Benjamin

Hmmm, Benjamin. This all sounds excellent to me. Perhaps you have an inkling of how this is going to turn out, eh?[^]

Best regards,
Chuck-

Hmmm indeed... That sounds like a bit more than just a guess Benjamin. [:?]

Regards

John

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Oh I will go out on a limb and say the will have two hubs; SFO and IAD.
At IAD the VS CH is in the B terminal at will be used for the VAmerica Gold Velocity members and Patriot Class people. They will interline with VS so times when IAD is empty, it can offer connections to more B&S routes (MCO, MIA) and SFO on VAmerica.

Further VS will start a IAD-MAN route to connect with SIA's services to SIN via ZRH IIRC. The VS aircraft that operates the MAN-IAD segment will be leased to VAmerica a la Braniff/BA/AF Concorde and will operate a IAD-SFO segment (to stick it is UAL, and to connect the east coast to SIA's west coast operations) then operate the SFO-LHR segment.

I think I went for broke but hey, it could happen.

Benjamin

I kind of agree, except replace IAD with EWR. MWAAHHA [y][:w][}:)]

[mcmbenjamin]

ChuckC, JAT74L and VS-EWR: AOnly my wish. I do hope Indy does get bought by VAmerica though. The leasing thing would make transcon agaisnt UAL a good race.

Now, put on your seat belts guys and gals. SRB said on this SYD/HKG tour that he plans to start a Australia-USA route under VBlue (or other new carrier) by 2008 IIRC. So VS LHR-IAD VA IAD-SFO VB SFO-SYD, where VS= Virgin Atlantic VA=Virgin America VB=Virgin Blue.

The issue on the crews. Use contract crews a la Virgin Blue, with ICAO certs, FAA radiotelephone, whatever else is needed.

And if you work for the Virgin Group and need a planner, my email is [email protected]

Ben

Originally posted by ChuckC
Perhaps a moot point if VS-USA is at a different terminal or concourse.

Definitely a moot point I'm afraid - there are 2 separate terminals at SFO, domestic & international - highly unlikely that the Virgin America operation will be based in the international terminal

As to routes...I think the following would be good to start with from either SFO or JFK (and naturally a route between SFO & JFK!):
SMF/SLC/LAS/LAX/MCO/MIA/ORD/IAD/ATL/DFW/MSY

Probably 20 seats up front 2-2, rest Y - that seems to be about the standard over there...

Cheers

Michael

[mcmbenjamin]

Ok, so will the J seats be UC (old or new), a new concept or normal US first/bus seats?

Benjamin

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Ok, so will the J seats be UC (old or new), a new concept or normal US first/bus seats?

Benjamin

Virgin America will be an LCC so I wouldn't expect anything that fancy.

[ChuckC]

Any other guesses? Announcements could come soon, so get it on the fun and maybe win a prize!

Chuck-

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by VS-EWR

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Ok, so will the J seats be UC (old or new), a new concept or normal US first/bus seats?

Benjamin

Virgin America will be an LCC so I wouldn't expect anything that fancy.

I dont know about that,they have said they will be a different type of LLC,so maybe some old recaro's will come out of storage,like These

Just as a guess im think 12 seats in a J type cabin,then the rest in a coach.

[ChuckC]

Jetwet1,
Now, when you say 12 seats in a "J" configuration, what are you thinking? For example, do you think the the 12 seats will be in a larger than typical A320 cabin?

Chuck-

[Scrooge]

when I say J,I mean as in US J ..kind of alng the lines of HP's 1st product,but with better seats.

[ChuckC]

Okay, good. That's what I thought you meant. For some reason though I am sitting here thinking that perhaps VS-A will come out with a revolutionary product in "J".

Chuck-

[Scrooge]

such as the UCS?

Wouldn't it make sense for Virgin America to tap into the existing VS routes therefore I would expect to see hubs at BOS, EWR, JFK, IAD, MCO, MIA, LAS, SFO, LAX (I have probably missed 1 or 2 which I will await correction on). I personally would like to see connections to the major cities BA and others serve direct; SEA, YYZ etc. Also just because of the size I would also like to see connections to DFW and ORD.

Paul

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by jetwet1
such as the UCS?

Maybe not that revolutionary, but wouldn't it be so cool if say they brought out those swivel "F" seats that Pan Am and Braniff and a few others used? Can you imagine the parties?[^]

Guess what I'm saying is that VS-A could score big by being a bit like Southwest, putting the VS flair into an otherwise stodgy American airline.

Chuck-

[Pete]

... and I think that's the point.

For Virgin America to win market share in such a competitive market place they'd have either be (a) cheaper than the other guy, or (b) offer more than the other guy, but for a similar price.

Option (a) would seem like a bad plan, since prices are already stupid-cheap, and there's more seats than passengers. Option (a) would appear to be a quick way to lose money. Option (b), however, would be more appropriate for Virgin. Think about Upper Class; that is exactly what they did back at launch - lot's of extra frills at a Business Class price.

I would expect Virgin America to break the LLC mold totally. Why does a competitively-priced option have to look like everybody else? Making any assumption about how the config would work based on how JetBlue, Southwest or even AA do things is starting from the wrong place. I think we all realise that whilst the domestic US market is in tatters anyway, there isn't room for another me-too airline. Virgin America will have to do thing differently; and knowing Virgin, I'm pretty sure they will.

Pete