nazgul From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2012, 46 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 months 6 days ago) and read 12574 times:
Hello
First of all, I don't want to start a debate but let's see what happens.
Anyway, I am a big fan of Virgin Atlantic Airways. They seem to get a bit of a hard time on here but from my own experience I would not like to see Virgin disappear. I am not a business traveller (so don't bring any revenue) but Virgin is always my choice when flying to the USA from the UK (LHR-LAX). I always find the service to be great and the crews are always lovely. I also think the A340-600s are pretty cool and modern looking when compared to competitors on the route.
So my question is, what will happen with VS in the future? Do you think a takeover is a good thing? What will happen to VS if they get taken over?
nazgul From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2012, 46 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 months 6 days ago) and read 12383 times:
I did read about that. I hope they don't lose anything through a merger though. VS and KL are the only European airlines that are a bit more like ME/Asian carriers to fly with (that's only my limited opinion though..)..
bongodog1964 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 3013 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (3 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 11892 times:
As you are "a big fan of Virgin Atlantic" you will be reassured by Richard Branson's statement that VS hasn't been taken over and will still exist in 5 years time.
All that has happened is that the ownership of the minority stake has passed fron SQ to DL. If DL manage to exert as much pressure from their 49% that SQ did, nothing will change at all. Alternately I'm sure that DL envisage a very close working relationship similar to that between BA and AA.
As to VS and KL being more like a ME/Asian carrier to fly with, The general consensus is that KLM is one of the poorer European airlines to fly with and VS is a little better. Certainly not on par with the best that Europe has to offer, and on a different planet to the next of the Asian carriers.
toobz From Finland, joined Jan 2010, 673 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 months 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 11184 times:
I have to disagree on the KL part. They are no EK for sure. No bling. However, I find their crew to be the most friendly and outgoing of ANY European airline. They are very talkative,friendly and always smiling. Very rare in europe lol. Their aircraft are always clean. I find them to be a pleasure to fly on.
avion660 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2007, 192 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 10852 times:
Quoting anstar (Reply 5): KL is far superior to BA in the economy offering on long haul.
Agreed. I've only flown about half a dozen long haul sectors with KL, and maybe 3 times as many with BA, but that's enough to know that KL are a reliable and good outfit.
Quoting toobz (Reply 4): I find their crew to be the most friendly and outgoing of ANY European airline. They are very talkative,friendly and always smiling. Very rare in europe lol. Their aircraft are always clean. I find them to be a pleasure to fly on.
nazgul From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2012, 46 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 10510 times:
In your opinion VS and KL may not be the best that Europe has to offer but I disagree and I do prefer them to Asian carriers - I couldn't give a hoot about the general consensus!
nazgul From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2012, 46 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 10411 times:
Just to point out I am not saying the Asian carries I have flown with are bad (only MH and TG - loved them), I also think American are good (again, lovely crew when I flew and LHR-MIA-VVI-MIA-LHR). I don't judge on IFE etc as It doen't really interest me, just on how I find the overall experience. KL and VS always come top for me that's all I'm saying.
And also, glad to hear that VS in it's current form will be sticking around.
rampart From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 2851 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (3 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 10385 times:
Quoting nazgul (Thread starter): I am not a business traveller (so don't bring any revenue)
Of course you bring revenue, otherwise airlines would not offer the fares they do to appeal to a wide variety of customers. And if they didn't want the likes of you, they'd fly, into the unprofitable sunset, only BBJs and ACJs. Separate thread ongoing about that, if you've not seen it. Some of the snobs and elites on A.net would disagree but, well, they're snobs and elites.
My one time on Virgin Atlantic was when they took me as a stranded passenger in LHR, doing the rebooking themselves, where my original airline (CO, as I remember) couldn't give a flip to helping a frequent flier. Virgin had an impressive service for Economy. I'd use them again, for sure.
parapente From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2006, 1310 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (3 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 10298 times:
As you are "a big fan of Virgin Atlantic" you will be reassured by Richard Branson's statement that VS hasn't been taken over and will still exist in 5 years time.
Like all - I mean all, of Richard's ventures it will be sold when he consideres the price is right. He is brilliant at "exit strategy" perhaps the best. He often- as he did with this one takes an early profit and covers all costs by selling a large stake in the company in question. Sometimes no doubt he wishes he held on (such as the recent sale of Virgin Media when he had already sold the vast majority) sometimes the reverse. But it is how you do in the end that counts.
He got a phenominal price when he initially sold the first 49% of VA. He is clearly prepared to hang out on this one as, in the end, 49% is no use to anybody and he knows it! His message about selling was not directed at Willie BTW it was directed at the new minority owners - as a "guide" price
I think he will be more than relaxed about loosing his "bet" - if the price is right.
goosebayguy From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2009, 220 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 7100 times:
I flew VS several times back in the 90's and enjoyed it. I flew to LAX sitting next to a band who were recordning something in 1994. I believe they mad it for a while though no idea who they were now! John Fashnau was on the same flight. What I do remember though was the free ice creams given out at just the right point in the flight not something BA had ever given me. On one flight we were all told that an FA in 1st class was having her last flight because next week she starts working on Coronation St. In the end I stopped flying because the seat pitch was too tight and they seem to be as expensive as BA whilst other airlines are so much cheaper.
toobz From Finland, joined Jan 2010, 673 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 months 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 5117 times:
I have a very good Dutch friend..he tells me that getting a job with KLM is very hard. Its one of the most respected companies in the Netherlands.
So to keep this on the OPs topic..lol. Like explained earlier DL bought SQs 49%. I truely believe that DL will utilize their partnership alot better than SQ. SQ has always done things their way, nothing wrong with that, and never utilized partnerships to the extent they could. I think they were very wise to sell their share. DL is very proactive when it comes to partners. I think DL and VS will see more benefits in the near future from this deal. DL needed a way into LHR and VS needs help to compete on the BA front. VS can offer connections a hell of a lot better in the US now.
AAMDanny From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2008, 315 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (3 months 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 4472 times:
I just hope that Delta will up the game in the cabin to match the VS J onboard soft product (not the seat, which are very simular, but the actual onboard offering)
I've tried both, and I found DL's to be nowhere near as good as VS. And I think it would only be fair if both are going to JV their services out of LHR to the US that the onboard service is matched.
bongodog1964 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 3013 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (3 months 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 4184 times:
Quoting toobz (Reply 13): I truely believe that DL will utilize their partnership alot better than SQ
The underlying factor is however that even with 49% DL are still the minority shareholder. Just as SQ were, they now find themselves with a lot of cash tied up, and the control of their investment entirely dependent on the decisions of Richard Branson. If he wants VS and DL to form a joint venture and work closely together they will, if he doesn't there's nothing DL can do about it apart from look for someone to buy their 49%.
toobz From Finland, joined Jan 2010, 673 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (3 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3868 times:
Bongo i agree. SRB is a smart biz man. I think he realizes perhaps he needs to change the way hes been doing business. Hes been doing things his way for quite some time and i think he is, or should be realizing, that BA is a big fish. He needs help. I think DL could provide him with that. Its all about connections these days and being able to market yourself.
bongodog1964 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 3013 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (3 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3490 times:
Quoting toobz (Reply 17): SRB is a smart biz man. I think he realizes perhaps he needs to change the way hes been doing business
SRB is all about branding, stick the Virgin label on and watch the money roll in. He also appears to "like being liked" by the very famous, one of our newspapers recently printed a double page of film stars etc holidaying on his private island Necker. Not paparazzi pictures, but ones taken personally by SRB and passed to the media.
Nephew now married to Kate Winslet, his children very close to the Royal family who all get to travel on VS and holiday on Necker.
I'm not sure he's got the drive or inclination to push VS forward any more. He's in a very comfortable place with far more money than he could ever spend, and might be more interested in things like Galactic space ships. As long as VS gives him plenty of media opportunities, and flights to his favoured destinations he might not care too much.
Hint: Starting a discussion here is not a good strategy for avoiding a debate.
Quoting anstar (Reply 5): Quoting bongodog1964 (Reply 3):
The general consensus is that KLM is one of the poorer European airlines to fly with and VS is a little better.
I'll disagree - KL is far superior to BA in the economy offering on long haul.
Quoting a3xx900 (Reply 12): Quoting bongodog1964 (Reply 3):
The general consensus is that KLM is one of the poorer European airlines to fly with
I have to disagree here - I'd take a Germany - USA flight on KL and stopover in AMS anytime over any other airline, even over nonstop services.
I also have to add my voice to the chorus of disapproval at labeling KL as deficient. I had my first taste of KL in December and I loved it. It was very good.
rwy04lga From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 2142 posts, RR: 7 Reply 21, posted (3 months 5 days ago) and read 1421 times:
Quoting aircanada014 (Reply 19): The last thing you want is 3star Delta merging with 4star Virgin. We don't want to see that. I do hope Virgin doesn't merge with Delta.
Delta doesn't have to merge with VS, they already own (almost) half. FYI...'we' isn't everybody.
The early bird gets the worm, BUT...the second mouse gets the cheese!
mayor From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 9176 posts, RR: 14 Reply 22, posted (3 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1306 times:
Quoting bongodog1964 (Reply 16): If he wants VS and DL to form a joint venture and work closely together they will, if he doesn't there's nothing DL can do about it apart from look for someone to buy their 49%.
Well, if SRB doesn't want it, somebody better tell those in charge at DL & VS, because they're already working towards an alliance, ala AA/BA.
"A committee is a group of the unprepared, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unnecessary"----Fred Allen
anstar From Netherlands, joined Nov 2003, 4845 posts, RR: 6 Reply 24, posted (3 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1197 times:
Quoting koruman (Reply 23): Why would anyone choose Virgin for LHR-LAX?
I did once, and its been Air NZ ever since!
Perhaps people who fly LHR-LAX also want to fly with the same airline for their other travels therefore ruling out NZ?
Anyway, plenty of kiwi's fly VS after flying in from AKL via PVG/SFO and LAX.
Presumably you choose NZ as you are one of their elite members and therefore will be able to get better upgrade opportunities and recognition which you wouldn't if you flew VS on that route.
Deltal1011man From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 8577 posts, RR: 8 Reply 25, posted (3 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1181 times:
Quoting bongodog1964 (Reply 16): The underlying factor is however that even with 49% DL are still the minority shareholder. Just as SQ were, they now find themselves with a lot of cash tied up, and the control of their investment entirely dependent on the decisions of Richard Branson. If he wants VS and DL to form a joint venture and work closely together they will, if he doesn't there's nothing DL can do about it apart from look for someone to buy their 49%.
minus the fact that a JV/codeshare etc. was built into the terms of Delta buying the 49%.
Again, technically your right, but 12 year old kids aren't running these airlines. Delta/Virgin will work together.
"Oh look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky! Look at the sUGAr falling out of the sky!" LM 1922-2011 Go Dawgs! G.A.T.A.
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