Vueling

[ethanegcc]

Vueling Winter 2017 Schedule
Not very exciting - BCN currently loaded at 4 weekly 321, rather than 5 weekly 320 this year - so probably an increase but not sure.

Everything else remains the same - AMS is the highest frequency route from MAN at 6x weekly.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Looks like the proposed 6x weekly MAN-AMS schedule is not going ahead.

My own AMS-MAN booking has been cancelled. They've re-routed me AMS-BCN-MAN (accepted, of course!).

 

[Land23R]

It always seemed a bit of a strange schedule. I think I reckoned that was at least 60,000 seats over the summer, so unfortunately another reduction in the summer capacity. flybe also appear to be down to 4 x daily on AMS. Didn't it start as 6 x daily and then reduced to 5 x daily?

Considering there were expectations of a Vueling base at one time, it's very disappointing.

ORY might have been a better bet, which BHX has and apparently is still bookable.

 

[Jerry]

AMS is a very competitive route and maybe the flights weren't selling like Vueling had hoped they would.
There are about 14 flights a day from MAN to AMS.

 

[Land23R]

AMS is a very competitive route and maybe the flights weren't selling like Vueling had hoped they would.

Very likely Jerry.

I mentioned ORY, because, like AMS, CDG is also served by 3 carriers from MAN (AF/flybe, EZY) and I believe RYR still fly to Beauvais, but ORY is the other side of Paris, so in part could meet a wider market. Doesn't it also have different connecting options?

 

[ethanegcc]

Yes, Land23R, very much so to the Caribbean. I believe a HOP route or Transavia route would work well to ORY (so could connect with AF long-haul options more seamlessly)

 

[Jerry]

Very likely Jerry.

I mentioned ORY, because, like AMS, CDG is also served by 3 carriers from MAN (AF/flybe, EZY) and I believe RYR still fly to Beauvais, but ORY is the other side of Paris, so in part could meet a wider market. Doesn't it also have different connecting options?

I do know that the Vueling base at ORY is larger than the AMS base and has more connections in Vuelings network but as for long haul the HOP! would be a better option for that.

 

[ethanegcc]

I think Vueling could do a lot more at MAN if they were a bit more adventurous instead of AMS, ALC, BCN etc. Why not try FLR/SVQ etc.

 

[Jerry]

I'm surprised Vueling hasn't looked at more Canary island options for the UK. LPA, TFS, ACE and FUE are all popular all year round holiday destinations.

 

[Land23R]

AMS is a very competitive route and maybe the flights weren't selling like Vueling had hoped they would.
There are about 14 flights a day from MAN to AMS.

That last point is very valid. Although Paris CDG also has 3 carriers from MAN, I think they only add up to 7 or 8 flights, but I imagine there are probably significantly less tansfer pax than at AMS. Not sure how total pax on the 2 routes match up though.

 

[Borneobob]

Maybe they should be looking more at some of routes that are on there network but not currently served from MAN. We now have Granada, Seville and hopefully will soon have Florence announced, which are all destinations they serve, and I thought they may have tried?
Maybe as mentioned Orly would have been a much better choice than Amsterdam, and Jerez to complete the southern Spanish destinations.

 

[ethanegcc]

Jerez would be nice but if Vueling aren't adventurous enough to try Florence, what is the hope of more obscure (and needed) destinations?

 

[Borneobob]

Surely they realise that they would fair better from MAN with routes to the Iberian peninsula and associated islands, especially with all the expatriate traffic that allows these routes to flourish in the winter.
We visit southern Spain quite frequently, and often in the quieter winter months down to Malaga. The flights are generally very full with many people complaining about the long onward drives they have down to the southern coast or up to Almeria.
If Vueling built up their network from MAN to these routes I think there would be so much more awareness of them as a budget airline amongst the general public.

 

[Jerry]

They would have to increase their aircraft at places like Florence and I don't think they have aircraft based at places like Jerez and Almeria. If MAN is ever to get Vueling flights to destinations like that then it would probably through a base. Though destinations like Malaga or PMI would be easier as they are bigger bases. Quite surprised they don't do those routes.

 

[jfy1999]

The word on another forum is MAN-AMS is still on, just postponed until 29 October as it stands due to slot capacity issues at Schiphol which is practically full up this summer.

 

[Jerry]

The word on another forum is MAN-AMS is still on, just postponed until 29 October as it stands due to slot capacity issues at Schiphol which is practically full up this summer.

I just had a look on skyscanner and it's bookable in June.

 

[ethanegcc]

On google flights, bookable from October 29th.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

The Vueling website is accepting MAN-AMS-MAN reservations for summer, but if you look closely they're all one-stop via BCN and are very highly-priced. The MAN-AMS journey requires a nightstop in AMS too.

 

[User001]

Vueling pulling all routes barring Barcelona from Manchester this winter.

Strong rumours that the BA Cityflyer base will continue into the winter offering Rome and Alicante so could well be a case of shuffling the deckchairs within IAG for the case of MAN.

For posterity, EDI-FCO as well as BHX-ALC/TFS/AGP all appear to be gone too.

 

[Aceshigh]

Brand awareness was the cry...... about 2 months ago !

Mr and Mrs Joe Public have no doubt heard of BA although I suspect Vueling doesn't roll off the tongue.

"Oh yes, we've booked British Airways"

"Oh yes we've booked er' someone called er Vueling"

Which would you find first and which would you book with ?

I think the penny has finally dropped with BA "High Command" that they can generate more mileage with the BA name.

.....as for "Level" ?

Again would a hybrid name incorporating elements of BA Brand awareness have been even more successful?