Every few years, an airline comes up with the bright idea to ship high rollers to Vegas on classed-up scheduled service. “They’re big spenders! They’ll want to fly on limited-service commercial airlines, rather than on private jets!” Every time it’s offered up, it fails. (MGM Grand Air, anyone?)
And yet, like a zombie, this idea keeps coming back, hungry for the brains (and dollars) of investors.
So, once again, and yet, for the first time, the Las Vegas Sun reports that a startup, LV Air, is planning to fly four Boeing 767s between New York JFK and Las Vegas.
Some of this is actually interesting and creative. For example:
• The airline promises “straight to the room” baggage service. When passengers check a suitcase in New York, they won’t have to lug it from the baggage carousel to the hotel. It will be waiting for them in their hotel rooms.
• At flight check-in, passengers will get hotel front desk service, including room keys and have access to a 24-hour concierge line.
Not bad. I assume there’s no luggage fee, either.
Other features are more creepy than interesting:
• Smart-phone recognition software will be programmed so that front desk, limousine staff and club hosts will know immediately when a guest is within 100 feet of the front desk or entrance.
And then there’s the just plain weird:
• Onboard safety briefings will given by recorded holographic images of Las Vegas celebrities. Smith said iconic celebrities, living or dead, could present messages with that technology.
I think every airline should offer Liberace-themed holographic in-flight announcements.
And the airline’s model for filling seats?:
Smith plans to contract with casino companies to buy seats on the planes and give them to their best customers. The airline would reciprocate by feeding casinos its database of new customers reached in the New York area.
It’s nice that someone is thinking outside the box, and is looking to improve service. But will this ever work? I suspect that between the competition from private aviation and from commercial airlines (and their loyalty programs), this startup is going to get its block knocked off. Color me skeptical. Am I missing something?
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