Possible New Virgin Route to Tampa

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Potentially good news. Always nice to have another route available and also even better to have competition on those routes i.e. BA v VA.

[fredflintstone]

Probably the only one who does not see it as good news.

More international flights leads to longer immigration lines.
2 flights from London, 1 from Frankfurt, 1 from Zurich and a handful of other international destinations starting (cuba, jamaica, mexico, canada) and before you know it, it's no longer a nice airport to go through.

[DisneyYoda]

Originally Posted by fredflintstone

Probably the only one who does not see it as good news.

More international flights leads to longer immigration lines.
2 flights from London, 1 from Frankfurt, 1 from Zurich and a handful of other international destinations starting (cuba, jamaica, mexico, canada) and before you know it, it's no longer a nice airport to go through.

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Sounds like this is for existing slots though so wouldn't make a difference?

[Welshjim22]

Originally Posted by fredflintstone

Probably the only one who does not see it as good news.

More international flights leads to longer immigration lines.
2 flights from London, 1 from Frankfurt, 1 from Zurich and a handful of other international destinations starting (cuba, jamaica, mexico, canada) and before you know it, it's no longer a nice airport to go through.

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See that's not actually true. You see if they have limited flights they have limited staff, because they can't justify the cost of more. You couldn't justify lots of Immigrations officers on full shift at TPA if only two flights a day landed. The best point is where they get busy enough for enough full-time staff to cope with some flexibility but not to busy that they are stretched.

[fredflintstone]

Originally Posted by Welshjim22

See that's not actually true. You see if they have limited flights they have limited staff, because they can't justify the cost of more. You couldn't justify lots of Immigrations officers on full shift at TPA if only two flights a day landed. The best point is where they get busy enough for enough full-time staff to cope with some flexibility but not to busy that they are stretched.

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By that reasoning MCO would never have long immigration lines and it does.
It has worked before because TPA staggered arrival times, but this may not be possible in future. They have gone from 3 international flights to over 8 international destinations this year already. Until the airport extension is completed in 2026 I'm not sure if they can get a larger immigaration hall, because the current one is small.

[zokaluse]

That would be good. We're doing Orlando then Anna Marie Island or another beach area that way and was going to fly back from sarasota but with a change in ATL or JFK so a direct to Heathrow from Tampa would be great!

[act1980]

Does anyone know what aircraft they'll be using?

[stanleycamel]

Originally Posted by act1980

Does anyone know what aircraft they'll be using?

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Four flights a week will begin on 3 November, moving to daily from 28 November. Return economy fares will start at £436, with premium economy from £937 and Upper Class from £2,256.

Flights will leave Heathrow at 13.25, arriving 18.35. The return departs at 20.50, arriving 10.15 the next day.

Loading on to GDS 13th July apparently and no announcement yet of aircraft type to be used.

[bighal]

Originally Posted by stanleycamel

Four flights a week will begin on 3 November, moving to daily from 28 November. Return economy fares will start at £436, with premium economy from £937 and Upper Class from £2,256.

Flights will leave Heathrow at 13.25, arriving 18.35. The return departs at 20.50, arriving 10.15 the next day.

Loading on to GDS 13th July apparently and no announcement yet of aircraft type to be used.

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It has been reported it will be an A330...

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by bighal

It has been reported it will be an A330...

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I hope so - the beds in Upper are so much more comfortable than the A350 in my experience (plus the bar is more fun than the loft (well maybe not always to those that have seen my videos lol)