VX Rolls Out Water-Bottle Refill Stations

[CaptJax]

Superb Idea: Virgin America Rolls Out Water-Bottle Refill Stations

Call this common sense marketed well. Virgin America has installed "hydration stations" at San Francisco International Airport's "green" terminal. Normally, after the TSA pats you down, X-rays your undies, and confiscates your Poland Spring, you have to shell out $4 or so for monopoly-priced airport water. Not any more—well, not at SFO, anyway.

Sure, you can bring your empty water bottle through security and fill it up at a water fountain at just about any airport (well, not any airport). And SFO has had "hydration stations" for a while now. But now Virgin is jumping in with an endorsement, branding refills as the smarter way to travel, and even pushing water bottles with the company logo. This is Virgin doing what Virgin does best, and making something that's been around seem cooler—the eco-friendly version of on-board lounge music and purple mood lighting.

The praise that Virgin is getting for its clever marketing of SFO's existing offering is important. Other airports won't step up and provide refill stations until customers demand it. Already, fans are leaving hundreds of positive comments on Facebook about Virgin's effort—hopefully they'll push for this to become a national trend.

 

[weasel_lips]

Move this crap over to the regional section.

Sounds a lot like a water fountain... How innovative!

 

[HDA]

Move this crap over to the regional section.

Sounds a lot like a water fountain... How innovative!

United/American/USAir=Water Fountains

Virgin America=Hydration Station

Your blindness is funny. At least VA is trying to be innovative. Hopefully they will turn things around....from what ive seen and heard they blow "water fountain" carriers out of the water.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

This is nothing but smoke and mirrors, just like your W2

 

[hoover84]

Great idea!!! People pour out their water in the trash cans at the TSA checkpoint. How long before some old lady slips and falls from the wet floor?

 

[Kharma Police]

United/American/USAir=Water Fountains

Virgin America=Hydration Station

Your blindness is funny. At least VA is trying to be innovative. Hopefully they will turn things around....from what ive seen and heard they blow "water fountain" carriers out of the water.

Smart marketing shtick that doesn't cost them a lot of money and will create lots of buzz. The Green conscious consumers especially in the Bay Area will eat it up.

 

[weasel_lips]

If "they" are so "smart" they would have never invested their money in that money pit called virgin america in the first place. I am amazed the private investors keep pissing away millions on that place.

 

[Tomct]

If "they" are so "smart" they would have never invested their money in that money pit called virgin america in the first place. I am amazed the private investors keep pissing away millions on that place.

Probably an indication that their reports are not totally accurate. Being private, they can basically report anything as far as financials and can write off debt and depreciation years down the road. That will actually show a loss today and a huge profit the next day type scenario. Ever heard of the "Rope a Dope??"

Dope=Majors thinking they are going down, when in reality, they are about to show huge profits prior to the IPO coming out??

 

[Frank Lorenzo]

The refill stations are a response to a successful trial run with flight crews.

Kool-Aid refill stations were placed in VA flight ops rooms. After seeing the VA pilots flying for several years at substandard wages without question, the test was deemed a raging success and the water cooler idea was borne.

Matching luggage anyone?

 

[Mookie]

So I guess now the bathrooms in their terminals are going to be called "Waste Recycling Stations." I may have to saunter over to their terminals just so I can be part of the "Greening" of the planet..

Mookie

 

[DASHDRIVER]

You gotta give the pr department some credit. Always keeping the name in the press through crazy cheap means. Little free press releases like this get a lot of circulation on the west coast. Making money or not its good stragety.

 

[Fins Up]

I think the refill stations are actually for the pilots, a la Skybus.

 

[weasel_lips]

Probably an indication that their reports are not totally accurate. Being private, they can basically report anything as far as financials and can write off debt and depreciation years down the road. That will actually show a loss today and a huge profit the next day type scenario. Ever heard of the "Rope a Dope??"

Dope=Majors thinking they are going down, when in reality, they are about to show huge profits prior to the IPO coming out??

So they are filing false reports with the DOT?

Elvis is still alive too!

 

[Tomct]

So they are filing false reports with the DOT?

Elvis is still alive too!

Actually writing off depreciation and showing losses is what a lot of new companies do prior to showing big profits. It allows them to really turn and burn a big push to an IPO. That's what I have been told by a few different CPA's, so, we will see. It would definitely prevent the IPO from falling flat on its face a la Spirit?

 

[waveflyer]

Unfortunately, all you guys know that VA isn't the lowest paid, right?

Good ole USAPA TOPS OUT AT $125/hr w/ work rules that make Mesa look like Fedex.
And I've said it all along- all legacy pilots who outsource so much don't have any excuse for digging on VA rates. Their initial pay is designed to attract enough RJ capts to prime their hiring.
All you socialists need to fix your outsourcing before you dig on VA- bc that's doing way more to keep the industry down than anything else, BY FAR.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Think it over, wavey. USAir pilots could have a much larger rate IF they would just accept the arbitrator's agreement and move on. However, they're willing to pee away a ton of personal cash for their DoH dream.

And, remember, it was all because of a non-Union carrier's low rates that the legacy pilots got screwed in bankruptcy court in the first place.

So don't compare apples to oranges, slick.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Actually writing off depreciation and showing losses is what a lot of new companies do prior to showing big profits. It allows them to really turn and burn a big push to an IPO. That's what I have been told by a few different CPA's, so, we will see. It would definitely prevent the IPO from falling flat on its face a la Spirit?

If VX is getting IPOed it is because Branson wants out of the game, and they are looking to take their money and run. The Hedge Fund at NKS was doing the same thing. This way it allows them the ability to insulate themselves when the walls coming down.

Branson is shopping hard for a buyer if VA. He has been interested in trying VX to the deal. A IPO would be a clear indication that he realizes that he can not package them together.

 

[DASHDRIVER]

Actually, the intent was to go public at VX from day one. In fact they they wanted to do it sooner. But high oil prices and the '08 slowdown has delayed that. New estimates are putting IPO in two to three years.

 

[Tomct]

If VX is getting IPOed it is because Branson wants out of the game, and they are looking to take their money and run. The Hedge Fund at NKS was doing the same thing. This way it allows them the ability to insulate themselves when the walls coming down.

Branson is shopping hard for a buyer if VA. He has been interested in trying VX to the deal. A IPO would be a clear indication that he realizes that he can not package them together.

The only reason that he is shopping VA (Atlantic) is because he is trying to get Singapore to sell their 49% in the company. They are killing his other airlines with their "Anti-Pacific" rules. He has already said that he will always keep the controlling interest in the company. The IPO stuff is just the game they play, he has no desire to sell and if the original investors want out (which they do not) there are plenty standing in the wings to take their place. It's all good meng. ;-)

 

[weasel_lips]

Yes, they are just begging for their turn to throw millions into the money pit!