Vueling

[White Heather]

The Friday flight changes to early afternoon at the end of May as I recall. Those flights seem to connect better with interlining flights out of BCN. I wouldn't think evening flights will connect with anything other than a night in a hotel!

 

[lbaspotter]

Vueling are using Airbus A319, EC-MIQ instead of the usual A320 on this evenings Barcelona service. Don't know if this is a good or bad sign regarding it's performance passenger wise..

 

[Aviador]

There is always a possibility it means nothing. BA swap and switch aircraft depending on availability. Obviously it does mean the aircraft can't have been operating full but it is still early in the season.

 

[andyc941]

Vueling used A319s on a few flights out of Manchester at the start.,but now are all A320.So wouldn't worry to much about it.

 

[Bigman]

Nothing wrong with A319's. I would rather have them than not have the service at all.

#Vueling

 

[leedsman]

Have just been looking at options to BCN and it seems flights with Vueling are now on sale throughout the winter and next summer. Nice to see it as a year round option.

 

[Aviador]

Thanks leedsman likewise with the Birmingham and Manchester flights to BCN so clearly Vueling means business from LBA.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

If one were to trawl back far enough in the Ryanair pages, I'm sure we could find the post where I stated that since Ryanair started flying to Barcelona, I had noticed an increase in Spanish tourists in Leeds. Obviously, Ryanair abandoned the route in favour of Manchester and the numbers subsided somewhat. Now Vueling are in town, I have noticed a big increase in Spanish tourists in Leeds again. LBA is so focused on outbound traffic that I feel that the inbound market is often not catered for very well. The Vueling flights from Barcelona are timed very well for Spanish passengers and I would not be surprised if they were contributing to a rise in inbounds to LBA.

 

[Aviador]

I've noticed that too. I'd say Leeds probably gets more Spanish tourists than from anywhere else and like you say Leeds doesn't focus enough on inbound traffic.
A tourist travelling to the UK using Manchester airport is likely to stay in Manchester and travel on days out from Manchester to places like York or Chester but they are unlikely to think to come to Leeds. On the other hand those coming to Leeds are likely to stay in Leeds and they are unlikely to go to Manchester favouring trips to York, Scarborough or the Dales.

 

[White Heather]

If one were to trawl back far enough in the Ryanair pages, I'm sure we could find the post where I stated that since Ryanair started flying to Barcelona, I had noticed an increase in Spanish tourists in Leeds. Obviously, Ryanair abandoned the route in favour of Manchester and the numbers subsided somewhat. Now Vueling are in town, I have noticed a big increase in Spanish tourists in Leeds again. LBA is so focused on outbound traffic that I feel that the inbound market is often not catered for very well. The Vueling flights from Barcelona are timed very well for Spanish passengers and I would not be surprised if they were contributing to a rise in inbounds to LBA.

I've noticed that too. I'd say Leeds probably gets more Spanish tourists than from anywhere else and like you say Leeds doesn't focus enough on inbound traffic.
A tourist travelling to the UK using Manchester airport is likely to stay in Manchester and travel on days out from Manchester to places like York or Chester but they are unlikely to think to come to Leeds. On the other hand those coming to Leeds are likely to stay in Leeds and they are unlikely to go to Manchester favouring trips to York, Scarborough or the Dales.

Not true guys. Tony Hallwood is extremely focused on inbound tourism and has been for some time - which is why we got Vueling and many other routes. Surely you don't think that our city routes are just so us Brits can visit the likes of Poland, Lithuania, Ireland and wherever? They are equally so that foreign tourists can fly directly into Leeds. If that were not the case I suspect half of the routes operated that are not 'bucket and spade' routes wouldn't exist at all.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I remember asking a while ago whether there was any official information on inbound numbers and couldn't seem to get a figure. I would be interested to see what it is and, when it comes to international routes, I would be surprised if it was any larger than 10-15%. At any rate, the point I was making is that the Vueling flights work particularly well for inbound tourism which can only have contributed to a rise in numbers which will, in turn, raise figures on public transport links. Considering the worldwide appeal of Yorkshire, I feel that LBA is underutilised and undermarketed when it comes to inbound tourism. Indeed, I remember flying EasyJet and reading the onboard magazine where an article on Yorkshire ended with information on flights to Manchester. Of course, it doesn't help when the likes of SAS - who put on a touristy schedule - disappear without really putting their heart into it. Regardless of what Tony Hallwood has to say, my impression is that inbound tourism at LBA is lower than it could be and, hopefully, Vueling is a step towards addressing it.

 

[Seasider]

Have just been looking at options to BCN and it seems flights with Vueling are now on sale throughout the winter and next summer. Nice to see it as a year round option.

When I looked 10 days ago the calendar showed fights Mon/Fri but when you clicked on a date there wasn't a flight. They start again at the end of March. Unless something has happened since then .....

 

[lbaspotter]

When I looked 10 days ago the calendar showed fights Mon/Fri but when you clicked on a date there wasn't a flight. They start again at the end of March. Unless something has happened since then .....

Vueling LBA-BCN flights now sale all winter 2016/17 season operating 2x weekly at the following times on both Mondays & Fridays

VY8794 = BCN 11:35 - LBA 13:15 / VY8795 = LBA 14:05 - BCN 17:30

 

[Seasider]

Vueling LBA-BCN flights now sale all winter 2016/17 season operating 2x weekly at the following times on both Mondays & Fridays

VY8794 = BCN 11:35 - LBA 13:15 / VY8795 = LBA 14:05 - BCN 17:30

I've just checked again and the flights are there, obviously work in progress.
Apologies to all.

 

[Bigman]

I wish they would decide what times they want to fly. Today's flight is now mid-afternoon. Must be confusing for the punters.

 

[lbaspotter]

I wish they would decide what times they want to fly. Today's flight is now mid-afternoon. Must be confusing for the punters.

Bigman think you'll find the Friday Vueling Barcelona flights have been scheduled to move to an afternoon departure ever since the service went live for bookings.

 

[lbaspotter]

Notice while in Leeds City center today lots of new adverts advertising Vueling's Leeds/Bradford - Barcelona route plus the 160 onward connections have started to appear on the side First Leeds double deck buses.

 

[Aviador]

It's the connections that will make or break this for Vueling. It's not the cheapest point to point airline from LBA and they have competition. Am I right in thinking the connections will show on the BA website also?

 

[Seasider]

Looking at the Veuling web site and the Friday flight moves to Saturday in October.

 

[lbaspotter]

Looking at the Veuling web site and the Friday flight moves to Saturday in October.

Yeah its for 2 weeks only on Saturday's 22nd & 29th of October 2016. Then reverts back to a Friday for the rest of the winter schedule