Comments on: Virgin America Encourages People to Spend On Its Planes with IFE Enhancements

By: Etihad Wins Award for Single Best Inflight Entertainment Achievement But Other Finalists Deserve the Spotlight as Well - >> The Cranky Flier

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:46:07 +0000

[...] Virgin America submitted its open tab functionality this year. I love this functionality, as I wrote before. In short, instead of having to swipe your card every time you want to buy something, this allows [...]

By: Luis from www.charterprivatejetnow.com

Luis from www.charterprivatejetnow.com — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:11:42 +0000

Flying Casinos and shopping malls, now that would be a new way to make money. But would that income be tax free? as no one owns the airspace

By: Arcanum

Arcanum — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:01:13 +0000

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the merchant have to pay a transaction fee to the credit card company every time a customer pays by card? I would think the open bar tab is just a way to save on transaction fees by consolidating all the purchases into one.

By: Noomi

Noomi — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:34:34 +0000

“the next time you need a toilet paper iPod holder or wine glass holder necklace”

LOL!! yeah no kidding, skymall is filled with so much crap that I find myself giggling alone every time I flip thru the pages during a flight…

On another note, I flew with Virgin ONCE, quickly realized that nothing in their “amazing in flight media selection” was free. I never paid on Air Canada flights so I was pretty disappointed.

Noomi

By: CF

CF — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:29:36 +0000

When the new ownership structure was put into place, the new owners were not given the same sweetheart deal that the original ones had. They do not have a guaranteed return any longer.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:33:26 +0000

Once again, they claim to have raised revenue and have to come up with at least $40 million a year every year until the year 2016 JUST TO PAY FOR THE PLANES.

Please help me understand where the money is coming from. Amazon doesn’t have to buy new aircraft or deal with passengers or fuel prices as I understand.

I like their product. I think it’s the best out there. Besides Branson’s limited he can give (cause of the ownership thing) and Investor’s likely to cash out with at least a 105% return where are the numbers.

Just explain to me, and help me understand what I said is wrong. Not a naysayer just a realist.

By: Jody

Jody — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:01:37 +0000

Yo Donnie,

Chill out. When starting a business your company may not turn a profit the first year or even 5. Virgin America’s Business plan is obviously long term. In a market as embattled as the airline market is it surprising that they’re not yet turning a profit?

Amazon took 5 years to turn a concept into a product and now its MASSIVE. Nay sayers like you would have said exactly what you just said about their start up costs 3 years in.

By: JamesK

JamesK — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:05:29 +0000

I just had to send that link to Stephanie Miller, who with her broken foot is having a hard time supporting her box wine habit (“it’s not a drinking problem, it’s a drinking solution!”).

Nate, yes they are. I am apparently entitled to a small discount, but I’ve never felt the urge. I guess SkyMall and the airline imagine droves of airline employees gleefully filling out the order forms, thereby encouraging regular passengers to do the same. Wine glass neck holders for all!

By: CF

CF — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:47:25 +0000

I also had another one from 2008:
http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/21/trip-report-flying-virgin-america/

I’ve only flown them on short haul, so I haven’t really gotten the full level of service, but everything I hear is that’s good.

By: MeanMeosh

MeanMeosh — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:44:43 +0000

That would be cool – except online gambling is, like, illegal around these parts.