Comments on: Virgin America for Business Travel - No Go

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:19:55 +0000

I’m a private pilot not ATP.

I don’t have anything against this airline. These comments were based on my own personal experience. I haven’t yet had occasion to try them again but I’ll update this post when I do.

By: East Coast flight attendant

East Coast flight attendant — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:48:14 +0000

Dear Scott…..if you used to be a pilot then by all means you know more than anyone (and myself) that the airline does paycuts before they raise ticket prices. How many times has US Airways done paycuts now on mainline (perfect example)? I am a flight attendant so I surely know how the payscale works out with airlines. Sure they will cut ends here and there if need be but where does the real fat get cut? The employees wallets! I personally know flight attendants at Virgin and thus far that isn’t even a discussion, let alone an issue.

By: Coach Designer Handbags

Coach Designer Handbags — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:08:05 +0000

Coach Designer Handbags

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By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:11:45 +0000

I definitely agree though I do wish them the best of luck. They are doing some innovative things and trying to make flying hip and fun, they just picked a really bad time in our economy to launch an airline startup.

By: john

john — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:48:08 +0000

SFO is a bad place to base an airline, especially as your hub, the summer fog and winter rain, is enough to kill any airline start up. this was a bad choice ask any seasoned flight attendant about sfo, and listen for the groans, sighs, and tears.

they should have based out of southern cal were the bells and whistle would have been more appealing. silicon valleys way to practical to be simply be wooed by all the bells and whistles. technology moves to fast. the maintenance and upgrade costs alone that customers will demand will be costly.

the techs cool, but thats not going to build an airline. and after you spend $150 on mini bar, food, and pay per view, how can you call that a discount airlines.

ever heard of pan am, braniff, ata, aloha, twa, etc….

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 05:53:50 +0000

Oh I see, we should just look the other way when an airline provides crappy service so as to not harm the industry. Airlines are like any other industry: they are subject to the same capitalistic advantages and disadvantages and weak businesses can and should fail. And by the way, I used to be a pilot - so I have some perspective on flying beyond the average joe. If the airlines are hurting, they should raise prices — flying is too cheap IMO — businesses will afford the increased rates and consumers will just save up and fly less frequently.

It’s my hope that virgin america turns out to be a great airline, and that the problems I mentioned in my post are related to startup/new operations.

By: Wilder

Wilder — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:36:57 +0000

I cant stand it when a reporter who travels alot considers him/herself an aviary professional… Perhaps you all should lay off the airline industry as 110 dollar per barrel of oil is already enough to force an air carrier into “closing their main cabin door”. The last thing they need is the negative comments of what one very eager blogger has to say. Blue Skys…

By: Marc

Marc — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:22:54 +0000

Just flew Virgin America direct (SFO to SAN) last night. Checked in 90 minutes early with one bag. My bag was lost and delivered to me from LAX this morning. Also, flight arrived 20 minutes late and left 20 minutes late. Bad first experience for me, but the other benefits are cool enough for me the give it one more try…

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:37:12 +0000

FYI, VirginAmerica.com’s internal corporate/intranet site linked to this blog post a few days ago. So, some or all of the comments here could be VA employees or PR people.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:54:08 +0000

Well as for delays, its kinda hit and miss, if an earilier flight is delayed it creates a domino effect for all the fights that plane is used for. So the “weather delay” could have been bad weather earilier in the day or if your plane was used on a transcon before your LAS trip and the east coast had bad weather. As for Pliots attire, i think the style makes them more approachable. Casual dress makes me forget they are flying “$50M airplane with 150 (lives) people on-board” and i’m thinking there goes just another guy/girl at work. Makes them more approachable. It is kinda intimidating when you see a pliot in full uniform in the cockpit, you don’t wanna just wave and say high cuz they look so professional and i fear intrupting them from whatever they are doing.