Flyblu

[martina857]

They may well have tried their hardest but it was not good enough!! I now have to rebook my flights for the summer as I suspect do a lot of others.
I really should have known better than to book with an airline that had no planes ;-))

M

 

[patdavies]

I've nothing against Virgin and have travelled with them several times but a little competition often benefits consumers.

Virgin don't have a scheduled airline monopoly. There is a small outfit called British Airways who operate into Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

 

[Miffy2003]

Virgin don't have a scheduled airline monopoly. There is a small outfit called British Airways who operate into Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

Pat, yes I am aware of that and am flying with BA this summer to Orlando. I wasn't aware that BA offer quite the same number of flights from the UK to Florida that Virgin do but I may be wrong.

My point was that additional choice is a good thing for consumers.

 

[Frances999]

They may well have tried their hardest but it was not good enough!! I now have to rebook my flights for the summer as I suspect do a lot of others.

I feel for you, but I guess that is a risk you take when booking with such companies. I was in this kind of position with another flight company who were offering flights for £199 to Sandford. They, too delayed, delayed and delayed again their starting schedule. It seems like a pretty tough business to be in. I sure hope you cna still find some reasonably priced flights.

Virgin don't have a scheduled airline monopoly. There is a small outfit called British Airways who operate into Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

What an un-necessary post!

 

[Bexx]

Virgin don't have a scheduled airline monopoly. There is a small outfit called British Airways who operate into Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

It isn't quite so convenient to use BA if you can't get to London easily and cheaply. If you want to fly non-stop to Orlando from anywhere else it's would be great to have the choice other than Virgin or the rather cramped charter airlines.

 

[kevin harrison]

A company that will not let under 7's into Gold class deserved to fail. Orlando is one of the biggest destinations for families in the World, 1 million Brits visit yearly, how many potential customers were they turning away because of that policy?, 3 in Nottingham for a start, Virgin were glad to take my money......

 

[Frances999]

A company that will not let under 7's into Gold class deserved to fail. Orlando is one of the biggest destinations for families in the World, 1 million Brits visit yearly, how many potential customers were they turning away because of that policy?, 3 in Nottingham for a start, Virgin were glad to take my money......

Did they really put an age restriction on their premium class? That seems rediculous! As you say, particularly for Orlando flights!

 

[kevin harrison]

Did they really put an age restriction on their premium class? That seems rediculous! As you say, particularly for Orlando flights!

Yes they really did, the website is still up and running also..try and book adding a child and you get this message....

"Please note Gold Cabin Class is not available to children under 7 years old."

 

[Bexx]

A company that will not let under 7's into Gold class deserved to fail.

Obviously it would seem that such a policy is going to alienate some potential customers. But could you not have endured to sit in Silver Class with it's 38" seat pitch? Flywho's economy class was the equivalent of Virgin's Premium Economy without the supplement. Don't you think that some couples going to Disney might actually appreciate a cabin without small kids crying and playing up (and please bear in mind here that I'm a mother of two small children) I'm sorry, but I think that's a terrible remark to make, just because a company's policy doesn't accomodate you for a few years.

 

[martina857]

"But could you not have endured to sit in Silver Class with it's 38" seat pitch? Flywho's economy class was the equivalent of Virgin's Premium Economy without the supplement"

No it was not!!! It was just a figment of someones imagination )
Becky... They never even had a plane how can you defend them ? The business plan did not work, they have nothing at all. They are finished before they started, at least Freddie Laker managed to fly a few thousand people over to America before the big boys got him... this lot probably couldn't find their way down the local pub !!!

Geez I cannot believe I was so stupid!!

M

 

[terrynewpack]

Setting up an airline is not easy but here is a story about an 18 years old lad who has just done it. Can't get you to Florida yet but I wouldn't bank on him not doing it in the next few years.

Terry


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/4371945.stm


http://www.flyalpha1.com/

 

[Bexx]

Becky... They never even had a plane how can you defend them ?

I'm defending these people for trying. I won't belittle their efforts, whatever the outcome.

 

[kevin harrison]

but I think that's a terrible remark to make, just because a company's policy doesn't accomodate you for a few years.

It may sound terrible, but think what an idiotic buisiness decision that was, how many people may not have handed money over because of it??

We have handed Virgin £3000 for premium economy flights this year, Flyblu turned it down and you think they didn't deserve to fail with that mentality on the most popular family route?

38" seat was a fallacy also as no-one had actually flown with them, you can't judge them by a mock up cabin at an airshow.

 

[Hilary]

A company that will not let under 7's into Gold class deserved to fail.

I may not have liked it when my DDs were under 7, but I can certainly understand that some passengers would willingly pay extra to be guaranteed NOT to be sharing a long flight with young children close by. Not everyone travelling to Orlando does so with a young family.

Isn't choice a good thing? If you don't like one airline's policies, then choose another. Not everyone is looking for the same thing and it would be great to think there's something to suit everyone.

 

[chunkster20uk]

I think they deserve credit for trying, it is a shame that they have let customers down but we all know that they have to start taking bookings before they are fully operational otherwaise they are guarenteed to go bust.

I wouldn't be surprised to see another operation launched in Birmingham with a more traditional seating plan, soon.

On the topic of allowing certain ages in certain cabins, I am all for it. I personally would prefer it if there were decent age restrictions on the cabin types. On our Premium Economy flight there was a 3 year old girl and to her credit she was an angel, but I was dreading it because I know someone who flew Premium Economy and there were two young children who if they weren't screaming were running up and down the aisle.

 

[kevin harrison]

On the topic of allowing certain ages in certain cabins, I am all for it. I personally would prefer it if there were decent age restrictions on the cabin types. On our Premium Economy flight there was a 3 year old girl and to her credit she was an angel, but I was dreading it because I know someone who flew Premium Economy and there were two young children who if they weren't screaming were running up and down the aisle.

Maybe what should happen is all children under 7 should be put in the luggage hold. Perhaps that would be fairer to all the grown ups now they are not children any more?

If children are running up and down the aisle's, maybe the parents should be held responsable.

The major airlines know that if they carried out this policy - they would lose out on custom in a big way.

 

[Bexx]

We chose to have children - and now we know there are some places that we can't visit and some things we can't do, so easily, because of that. Some people chose not to or can't have kids, but still want to fly to Florida. Maybe they would appreciate a child free cabin?

The major airlines know that if they carried out this policy - they would lose out on custom in a big way.

Perhaps another sector of the market might appreciate such a policy, and custom might possibly be gained that way? Just a thought.

 

[martina857]

"Perhaps another sector of the market might appreciate such a policy, and custom might possibly be gained that way? Just a thought."

You know what it doesn't work !!! Take a look at a company called Flywho, they have just ceased trading because they tried it ) I have to say that anyone who flies to the childrens entertainment capital of the world and expects NOT to encounter children on the flight is either mad, dillusional un-educated or possibly all three!!!!!! Wake up and smell the coffee, these bozo's failed because they had a crap business plan, there were to many politically correct yes men telling them it was a good idea. I just wish I had not been sucked in myself, although I have now got my new flights sorted )

M

 

[Red-Snapper]

Maybe what should happen is all children under 7 should be put in the luggage hold. Perhaps that would be fairer to all the grown ups now they are not children any more?
.

Great idea !!

Seriously though why do parents want to pay a lot extra for a bigger seat their child either cant or doesnt want to sit in anyway ? Our last trip in PE included a family with 2 children who spent much of the time either running up and down the small "bubble" cabin or were in the loo every 2 mins - the parents ignored them apart from getting annoyed because the little girl switched the channel the mother was watching.

 

[kevin harrison]

"Perhaps another sector of the market might appreciate such a policy, and custom might possibly be gained that way? Just a thought."

You know what it doesn't work !!! Take a look at a company called Flywho, they have just ceased trading because they tried it ) I have to say that anyone who flies to the childrens entertainment capital of the world and expects NOT to encounter children on the flight is either mad, dillusional un-educated or possibly all three!!!!!!

M

Exactly. I'll be in PE on Sept 9th and my nearly 4 year old daughter will behave. We accept we won't be able to watch Movies or relax, but we will not impose her on other passengers peace and quiet. We will take new toys and colouring books and she always behaves. Simple really.

Incidentally, in economy adults are normally nosiy or someone is always getting up from there seat aand disturbing you. When you are 6"4" have you any idea how many times you have to get up in 9 hrs for other people?