MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31118 posts, RR: 74 Reply 1, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 7636 times:
Quoting Bananaboy (Thread starter): Is this the first scheduled link between the two countries?
British Airways flew to San Juan until 2001.
Although there is nonetheless currently a link between the two countries, because Puerto Rico is not a country, it's a commonwealth and part of the United States.
Bananaboy From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 1558 posts, RR: 26 Reply 2, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 7216 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 2): Although there is nonetheless currently a link between the two countries, because Puerto Rico is not a country, it's a commonwealth and part of the United States.
My bad. Thanks.
Mark
All my life, I've been kissing, your top lip 'cause your bottom one's missing
WA707atMSP From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 2042 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7053 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 2): Quoting Bananaboy (Thread starter):
Is this the first scheduled link between the two countries?
British Airways flew to San Juan until 2001.
BCal served SJU in the 1980s. I think BCal's flights stopped at SJU enroute to South America.
STT757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 16260 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 6609 times:
Great connection for folks from the BVI, last time I was in St.Thomas there were a bunch of British folks from the BVI who came over on the ferry taking an AA flight up to JFK to connect to LHR.
FlyASAGuy2005 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 6519 posts, RR: 11 Reply 6, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 6052 times:
Quoting Christopherwoo (Reply 5): I've heard that this is not happening . Its been denied by Virgin anyway.
Link to a press release?
CAM2:"Lightning coming out of that one." CAM1: "What?"
SurfandSnow From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 2588 posts, RR: 31 Reply 8, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 5494 times:
Seasonal, once a week service via Antigua? I mean, this doesn't seem like too much to jump up and down about to me. Though, I suppose if it does well, we could see additional frequencies or n/s service...
Flying in the middle seat of coach is much better than not flying at all!
LVHGEL From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2007, 211 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 5217 times:
It was locally announced by the Tourism Board Director last Saturday:
(Heard the report on Radio)
1) Weekly flight 747-400, Saturdays to coincide with Cruises departures.
2) Expect to begin service in November.
3) Aggressive Puerto Rico as a destination Marketing in UK, by Virgin Travel. (14 days packages, 7 days on the island, 7 day cruise)
IHMO it will be a seasonal flight from November up to April.
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 9077 posts, RR: 13 Reply 11, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 5052 times:
So it's a cruiseline charter flight and not a scheduled flight. Can one also just book to go to SJU alone (v.v.) without having a cruiseship journey from Puerto Rico or is the cruiseship package only offered?
Air Pullmantur also has cruiseship charters to AUA but these flights only carry cruiseship tourists as far as I know.
No, it is a scheduled flight, you can reserve without the need of a vacation package. (I have family in London and they plan to use this flight to visit). The vacation packages are designed to increase traffic, (eg fill the 747) and it is not a charter as per its definition.
EmiratesUK From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2005, 288 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 4886 times:
Quoting A388 (Reply 11): So it's a cruiseline charter flight and not a scheduled flight. Can one also just book to go to SJU alone (v.v.) without having a cruiseship journey from Puerto Rico or is the cruiseship package only offered?
If as reported the flight will operate via ANU then I guess it will be a scheduled flight as ANU is a scheduled flight and would carry the same flight number.
I cant see them combining a scheduled and charter service!!
No, it is a scheduled flight, you can reserve without the need of a vacation package. (I have family in London and they plan to use this flight to visit). The vacation packages are designed to increase traffic, (eg fill the 747) and it is not a charter as per its definition.
Thanks for the correction.
Quoting EmiratesUK (Reply 13): I cant see them combining a scheduled and charter service!!
I totally forgot about the ANU connection, my apologies. You are right but you can block seats to accomodate tour operators on a scheduled flight (if demand warrants it). In such a case it is indeed not a charterflight as a whole but you do combine scheduled passengers with charter passengers so to speak.
Willd From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2008, 194 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (4 years 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 4221 times:
From what I have heard cruise passengers (through Virgin Cruises) will make up some 80% of passengers on the flight. As with the VS flights to other destinations (such as TAB, GND, MCO etc) the public can book seats but x amount of the seats will be sold to Virgin Holidays/Virgin Cruises to sell.
Chepos From Puerto Rico, joined Dec 2000, 5969 posts, RR: 12 Reply 17, posted (4 years 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2827 times:
Nice addition to SJU, these flights are going to heavily depend on criuse passengers-if the cruise contract is pulled or anything happens there goes the flight.
In Puerto Rico IB is the main link to Europe, they are known by many and have been around for years. I remember back in the day SJU got LH, AF, BA and KLM, now we only get IB and soon VS. I love seeing the IB 340-300 at SJU.
Bananaboy From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 1558 posts, RR: 26 Reply 18, posted (4 years 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1811 times:
Quoting Chepos (Reply 17): Nice addition to SJU, these flights are going to heavily depend on criuse passengers-if the cruise contract is pulled or anything happens there goes the flight.
Agreed, but highly unlikely. Virgin Cruises sell huge amounts for Carnival.
Mark
All my life, I've been kissing, your top lip 'cause your bottom one's missing
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