Virgin Awarded Love Field Gates

[humveedriver]

HVD, Do you know how many FAT will be above the 50% line on 1/15? From Richardson's email, DEC '14 vacancy bid ( for JAN '15) will be the first opportunity for FAT to bid LC and CP vacancy at SWA.

Enough? More than 100 for certain. As vacancies open up the first few classes will prob be all former trannie Captains. Then you will prob see a 4:1 mix of tran and OSW that bypassed. Something like that anyway. I was thinking there prob wouldn't be any classes come Jan 2015. Guess I need to read the new update.

* read it; company has two months to train the top tier former AT who can hold lance or pay them Capt pay (contractual). All AT eligible to bid for any vacancy in DEC bid for FEB vacancy. There will not be a Jan vacancy.

 

[HowardBorden]

Here we go then! It looks like there will be some fare wars going on at Love.

I'm more than a little interested in seeing what United is planning in October, I highly doubt it will remain a few RJ's to Houston.

 

[Ralph Cramden]

Here we go then! It looks like there will be some fare wars going on at Love.

I'm more than a little interested in seeing what United is planning in October, I highly doubt it will remain a few RJ's to Houston.

I think you are right on the UAL plan. They have been quiet about their DAL plans so far and are certainly capable of irrational action. Good thing they only have 2 gates, so they can't start a scortched earth go everywhere 12 times a day on top of VX and WN.

As to a fare war, maybe, but in reality I think we will appeal to the passengers that would have gone out to DFW for the first class and confirmed seats more than fight for your traditional traffic. While I am sure you will branch out once the Wright restrictions are lifted, you still have well established short haul markets that will demand service. Should be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[waveflyer]

No non revs in FC. It's been that way since the start. We will upgrade the top frequent flyers to FC in order to get non revs on in coach. 2 JS in front on all birds. All are welcome, just show at the gate and fill out the form. After company pilots it is first come, first served for all others. We do have a fair amount of company DFW commuters, but if DAL becomes a base that will change.

BTW, the no FC issue has never caused anyone to be left behind.

Yeah Ralph-
I don't have a first class seat to give you, so it's not my battle anymore.
But I, and also most of my friends at VA, think it's bullsh/t that nonrev's can't fly in first class when every other airline with a first class will.

Again- not my deal since I'm at SWA, but if I were at any of my previous carriers, I'd want a lot of reassurances virgin was putting constant pressure and making headway with mgmt to remove that sort of restriction before I'd ever want a VA employee in our first class.

Even SWA asks employees to sit in the rear of the airplane but will gladly let other airline employees up front.

As a side issue...JMO
Just like ups and fedex with international travel and prior to cass after 9/11, I get that it's not the pilots fault- but I do wish virgin guys would work on that one

The stated reason for that policy- "don't want to dilute the value of first class"- is pretty condescending to all your employees, but especially to the pilots and airlines who give you their first class anytime it's there

 

[waveflyer]

Wave: The primary offense was to not let Braniff back into Love those many years ago, not the WA. The WA restrictions that SWA had to live with were NOT the first restrictions that occurred at Love Field. See what I mean? Legacies were firstly restricted. Did anything like that ever happen In California? Or DC and NYC? Delta wants these gates so bad they'll even be happy sharing them! But they're being thrown out. That ever happen in CA?

BTW: Your boys here are really chest pounding over beat the crap out of VX. Me thinks they wouldn't be popping off like that about Delta

That's not subjective flop. Which came first?
Should braniff not be bound by the agreement it signed?

The question still remains-
Why didn't California restrict their smaller local airports when they built up LAX and SFO? Yet Texas did.
That's the crux of the situation isn't it?
Or maybe the Texas market couldn't afford these big hub airports without artificial assistance, where the California markets just let things evolve as they could be afforded?
Maybe?
Maybe one way is right and one is waaayy too socialistic?

Hey, I'm not with you on being complacent about VA-
I hope none of us take them for granted

 

[HowardBorden]

I think you are right on the UAL plan. They have been quiet about their DAL plans so far and are certainly capable of irrational action. Good thing they only have 2 gates, so they can't start a scortched earth go everywhere 12 times a day on top of VX and WN.

As to a fare war, maybe, but in reality I think we will appeal to the passengers that would have gone out to DFW for the first class and confirmed seats more than fight for your traditional traffic. While I am sure you will branch out once the Wright restrictions are lifted, you still have well established short haul markets that will demand service. Should be interesting to see how it plays out.

I disagree about the fare war. I am betting that SWA will mirror all Virgin flights with a cheaper alternative. Will that net every traveler out of Love, of course not, but it will put price pressure on making the choice.

 

[humveedriver]

I disagree about the fare war. I am betting that SWA will mirror all Virgin flights with a cheaper alternative. Will that net every traveler out of Love, of course not, but it will put price pressure on making the choice.

I've heard of this. It's called the "Virgin America Effect". They enter a new market and drive prices down.

Relax. I'm just having fun.

 

[HowardBorden]

I've heard of this. It's called the "Virgin America Effect". They enter a new market and drive prices down.

Relax. I'm just having fun.

Touche.

 

[Ralph Cramden]

Yeah Ralph-
I don't have a first class seat to give you, so it's not my battle anymore.
But I, and also most of my friends at VA, think it's bullsh/t that nonrev's can't fly in first class when every other airline with a first class will.

Again- not my deal since I'm at SWA, but if I were at any of my previous carriers, I'd want a lot of reassurances virgin was putting constant pressure and making headway with mgmt to remove that sort of restriction before I'd ever want a VA employee in our first class.

Even SWA asks employees to sit in the rear of the airplane but will gladly let other airline employees up front.

As a side issue...JMO
Just like ups and fedex with international travel and prior to cass after 9/11, I get that it's not the pilots fault- but I do wish virgin guys would work on that one

The stated reason for that policy- "don't want to dilute the value of fie rst class"- is pretty condescending to all your employees, but especially to the pilots and airlines who give you their first class anytime it's there

No arguement from me on this one Wave. But have you non revved on UAL anytime in the last decade? Ages ago their FC was exclusively paid FC and non revs, now they have a system of rewarding their mileage plus members and the upgrade list on the gate boards is usually 3 or 4 times the capacity of FC. I ride them quite often and never see any UA folks in FC anymore. As a VX driver I am lucky to get a ride in a rear middle, or up front on the ironing board.

You won't get FC at Virgin as it's always full, but you will get fed and comped movies. We treat non revs very well and welcome all. I've taken the extra flight attendant seat to get an OAL guy home. Always happy to do it, we all need to get to work & home as stress free as possible.

Another thing you won't see at VX is an OAL JS priority list. It is first come, first served, so you won't get beat out at the last minute by some guy from AA. Even internally we have first guy at the gate gets the first cockpit JS, senior guy at door close gets the second JS. This gives the junior guys a fair shot and still respects seniority. It has worked well for us.

 

[waveflyer]

I actually got first class on Ual 2 of the last 3 times. But I do know what you mean- probably a lucky streak bc I've certainly seen less availability industry wide. But all 3 were within the last year. Now that's legacy Ual- I've heard that continental is another weird airline that charges their employees a pretty good amount to sit first, and their pilots will send jump seaters to coach just bc they didn't pay- that has happened to me, but admittedly not since the merger.

I don't doubt that FC is usually full- and if it is for whatever reason- so be it- and it's still a good- albeit cramped, ride in coach. Better than ours for sure- so again not my battle-

But as a policy, is a step backward from industry standard. And doesn't the to your face "you just said that me sitting up there devalues first class??" Bother you??

I very much wish SWA would offer a first class-
As a business practice I wish they would-