Bye bye Virgin America

[seaboy4hire]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/04/05/business/dealbook/alaska-airlines-parent-to-buy-virgin-america-for-2-6-billion-in-cash.html?referer=https://www.google.com/

 

Although there isn't a lot of over lap and it strengthens Alaskas grip in California especially Sfo I m afraid they're going to gut Virgins great product

 

Hugs,

Greg

[samandtham]

I hope that the quality of Virgin Airlines's service only goes up. Of all the domestic carriers, I gladly would give my business to Virgin because they are awesome in every sense of the word.

[+ azdr0710]

Alaska has a good, solid rep and Virgin certainly has that almost-edgy rep.....I'm sure Alaska knows all this and will keep it in mind.....loyal customers on both sides

[body2body]

I fly to visit my Sister in Ft. Lauderdale. Until Virgin America began their LAX- FLL route, my only non stop option was an AA red eye that got you into FLL at 6am. American offered no frills screaming baby service in antique 757s. It was such a relief when VX arrived on the scene with their new planes, nice interiors and IFE, and a civilized flight schedule. I hope that Alaska doesn't downgrade the product.

[stop]

its funny I flew Virgin one time round trip from LAX to JFK and it was one of the worst experiences I have had with an airline. I know that I am in the minority but I didn't enjoy my experience. That said, I think that Virgin America had a good product for some and I think for those that flew it regularly it was a great airline. Alaska is a nice no frills airline, they are no SWA but they are better than Frontier and some of the other low cost ones. It is unfortunate that this merger happened for the Virgin travelers because Alaska and Virgin's business models are not compatible. I seriously doubt that Alaska is trying to compete with United, US/American and Delta so that means they want to compete with SWA. While it will be nice to have an alternative in the low frills market that really wasn't the market Virgin was in.

[+ purplekow]

I have a Virgin American FLight to PAlm Springs Guess it will be my last. Always got great service.

[MikeBiDude]

its funny I flew Virgin one time round trip from LAX to JFK and it was one of the worst experiences I have had with an airline. I know that I am in the minority but I didn't enjoy my experience. That said, I think that Virgin America had a good product for some and I think for those that flew it regularly it was a great airline. Alaska is a nice no frills airline, they are no SWA but they are better than Frontier and some of the other low cost ones. It is unfortunate that this merger happened for the Virgin travelers because Alaska and Virgin's business models are not compatible. I seriously doubt that Alaska is trying to compete with United, US/American and Delta so that means they want to compete with SWA. While it will be nice to have an alternative in the low frills market that really wasn't the market Virgin was in.

Alaska seems easiest for me for using travel points? I have one of their credit cards, it's a semi-business card (I'm sole proprietor) and the points add up fast.

 

I go from LAX to Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, Alaska does a good job handling those routes.

 

All the above said, darn if the points aren't getting harder and more expensive to use.

[stop]

Alaska seems easiest for me for using travel points? I have one of their credit cards, it's a semi-business card (I'm sole proprietor) and the points add up fast.

 

I go from LAX to Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, Alaska does a good job handling those routes.

 

All the above said, darn if the points aren't getting harder and more expensive to use.

 

you should look into the dollar to point to flight conversion rate. Everything I have read indicates that the flight mileage cards are not the best dollar to pay off ratio. (neither is the cash back) From what I have read its better to get a regular card and rack up points and buy a ticket with the points vs. using the points on an airline card. I know nothing about Alaska's card or dollar to point ratio, but I do know that the United card ratio is very poor and one of the worst ratios there is.

[bigvalboy]

I fly to visit my Sister in Ft. Lauderdale. Until Virgin America began their LAX- FLL route, my only non stop option was an AA red eye that got you into FLL at 6am. American offered no frills screaming baby service in antique 757s. .

 

LOL...I've taken that red eye out of LAX to FLL. It was down right basic. I was transporting the hound, and Virgin couldn't accommodate her, so AA was my only choice. Imagine my surprise when an hour into the flight all the lights were turned out, so I went back to the rear of the cabin and asked the flight attendants when they were going to be serving dinner. I got the same reaction that Jennifer Aniston got in the Air Emirates commercial when she asks where the showers are. The good news is the hound arrived safe and sound, and the guys handling her, couldn't have been nicer.

 

I guess we'll see how Alaska handles all of this. Despite Virgin's reputation, they barely turned a profit, so let's hope that Alaska will be happy with gate space and leave the rest alone.

[craigville beach]

I fly Virgin from Boston to LAX and back fairly often. I prefer it over Southwest and most certainly over AA. AA flies the oldest jets in the sky. I have never had any problems. I have also flown Boston to London on the European Virgin airline. While not the same ownership structure I have had good luck with them also .

[+ azdr0710]

somehow, I don't sense stodgy Alaska will adopt Virgin's safety video after the merger...

 

now with 11.4 million views!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyfiPIHsIg

[stop]

somehow, I don't sense stodgy Alaska will adopt Virgin's safety video after the merger...

 

now with 11.4 million views!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyfiPIHsIg

 

thanks for sharing this Azdr0710 I had not seen this previously, pretty impressive. I don't know that I would call Alaska stodgy but they are definitely no frills.

 

I will say though that the best emergency bit I have even seen was on a SWA flight from LA to Oakland. They fly multiple times a day and about 3/4 are business folks on the early morning ones. Right before taxi a flight attendant popped out of one of the overhead compartments in the front of the airplane and started doing the bit and then half way through one popped out of an overhead towards the middle of the plane. They were really funny and let me tell you they woke the entire plane up. I have never seen a 6 AM flight with that many people wide awake.

[marylander1940]

No more publicity stunts by Sir Richard Branson

 

[jimboivyo]

just because virgin america is being bought doesn't mean virgin atlantic won't still exist. folks here are confusing the two

 

branson will continue his ownership of atlantic and australia

[stop]

just because virgin america is being bought doesn't mean virgin atlantic won't still exist. folks here are confusing the two

 

branson will continue his ownership of atlantic and australia

 

i think up until the last post all of the posts were about Virgin America

[gallahadesquire]

completely off topic: Jetblue is now flying their Mint service, BOS-LAX and BOS-SFO, although I really should double check this.

 

VA's First class hard product is not enticing, i.e. those seats are incredibly uncomfortable. I did Delta via ATL (an inevitability) BOS-ATL-SEA and back, and their "recliners" are among the worst seats available. but I go on.

 

Undoubtedly, VA's service will degrade into Alaska's.

[nycguy]

I find the airline business fascinating as I cannot think of any other industry where it is more difficult to make money. There is the old joke of "How do you become a millionaire? You start with a billion dollars and start an airline." It is capital intensive, labor intensive and subject to wildly fluctuating fuel costs. There is a long list of defunct airlines that could not navigate the costs associated with the industry. I believe every legacy airline has had to use the bankruptcy laws to survive, sometimes multiple times. The airline industry has always been either boom or bust with many more bust cycles than boom cycles.

 

As a passenger, I hate the consolidations, the reductions in service and frequency of flights, squeezing in more and more seats and charging extra fees for anything and everything. I remember when virtually every coast to coast flight was on a wide body 747, DC10 or L1011 and passengers were given a menu from which to choose their entrée. Now those flights are often on narrow body 737s with peanuts and a beverage.

 

From a business perspective, though, in order to survive and make money on a consistent basis the airlines have had little choice to do other than what they are doing. Management of some airline companies will figure out the right balance. The management of other airline companies will not and the company will become another footnote in the list of airline companies that used to exist.

[+ Lance_Navarro]

I'm super excited about this cause I have status on American and it's One World affiliates. I do hope they don't strip the airline of its unique qualities though. I don't think they will though, I'm sure they know it's customer enjoys that about it.

[+ dutchmuch]

i think up until the last post all of the posts were about Virgin America

 

I think the guy that purports to fly Private Jets is confused.

[+ Axiom2001]

I hope that the quality of Virgin Airlines's service only goes up. Of all the domestic carriers, I gladly would give my business to Virgin because they are awesome in every sense of the word.

 

A few years ago when I was onward to Europe via Virgin America/Virgin Atlantic, I'd left my passport at home in California and could not make the journey. VAmerica was quite gracious in allowing me to return to California from New York's JFK and did not charge me for having to change plans and ticketing; I even received an upgrade and points which I used for a future trip abroad. I do hope that whatever changes which have occurred will enhance business and service instead of diminishing!