NEWBIE (completely hooked) IS THIS A GOOD START?

[Flybynight747]

Hello there fellow Airline operators.

I'm just after guidence, I HAVE also read the WIKI.

Apologies if this has been asked elsewhere.

I joined the game yesterday (Im in a PVT WORLD) Name is Flybynight747

After some pretty disastrous gate renting, I thought 2 frequencies meant you needed 2 gates IN SINGAPORE at 300.000 EACH.
Then added another by mkistake, add to this HKG with 300.000 gate costs and well...... Aint I the Muppet. (I can hear you laughing)

But I refused to be beaten and have cracked on.

I'm a small operator, don't want to conquer the World (just not be last in my group)
I operate 1 A320-200, run on 5 routes. Hours are absolutely maxed out.

my DOC is 427K

Is this a good start do you think from your experience? (despite the awful gate process, self inflicted?)

Please understand, I'm not asking this for derisory or indeed compliment, I just want to know if it's a reasonable start?

Thanks in advance.

happy flying all. FBN

[Cheung Airlines]

That is not bad  afterall, youre in HKG   

[Flybynight747]

Thanks for that, my litlte airline has done quite well through the night (logged in and have jumped 3 places up the rankings!!)

Will keep you posted.

There are some MAJOR players in my World, the top 10 all have a minimum Value of over 10 BILLION!

Fly HI all.

[Flybynight747]

(I LOVE THIS GAME)
Despite peeps being in my World who are streets ahead (I just wanna finish in the top 20) I have another question.

I'm  a shorthaul operater, biggest A/C is a A320.

I read the WIKI, Know my own limits as a shorthaul airline etc.

I would like to start some longhaul with an AIRBUS A319LR as an experiment

Because I do not wanna rule the 'World' Is this a viable option?

I am wondering how you have added LH (long haul) to your operation.

Is this a justified way of adding extra slots?

[pseudoswede]

Read this --> http://stephenm.org/smfforum/index.php?topic=10272.0

Then reply again.

Props to you for reading the Wiki, but we can't answer anything until we have more details.

[Flybynight747]

I understand that.
Was just wondering if the A319 LR was actuarlly worth it's price tag.

[rayD23]

It's actually worth it,but it's just too small.(I mean the pax capacity)  But bigger aircrafts like an A330/ Boeing767 serving 0.5 frequencies gives you more income. Again depending on how many competitors are flying that route and your strategy. Good Luck!

[pseudoswede]

I understand that.
Was just wondering if the A319 LR was actuarlly worth it's price tag.

Once again, we don't know anything about your operations. Not a single person will be able to make an informed opinion until we know details.

[CHR]

An A319 LR should be able to make a profit from a base like Hong Kong doing two 0.5 frequency routes long haul. It naturally won't make as much money as a short haul A319, but I wouldn't worry about it actually making a loss like some of the big heavies might. A319 LRs are good to allow you to have some long haul without the expensive price.

Ultimately, if you are approaching the game solely with the view of making money, then long haul is hardly ever worth it. However, if you want to make some routes to interesting places, these are quite good aircraft.

[Flybynight747]

Thankyou all for your comments and advice.

Here are my details.
AIRLINE NAME - JAY AIR
AIRLINE ID - 30312
WORLD  ID -  #640
YEAR         - 2004
BASES       - HKG CAN BKK
DOC          - 7.181.625

[Cheung Airlines]

well.. I'll suggest buying Tu 334-100 for your airlines if you want your DOC to grow fast,  Really fast.

[Flybynight747]

I did look into that A/C

I went for the EMB ERJ 190ER instead.

More seats, slightly longer range, faster and less crew
Retails at 6M more than the TU-334-100

[tintinfan]

Also as you are a starter, look into airplanes with less fuel usage, it helps alot.

[kcclieou]

An A319 LR should be able to make a profit from a base like Hong Kong doing two 0.5 frequency routes long haul. It naturally won't make as much money as a short haul A319, but I wouldn't worry about it actually making a loss like some of the big heavies might. A319 LRs are good to allow you to have some long haul without the expensive price.

Ultimately, if you are approaching the game solely with the view of making money, then long haul is hardly ever worth it. However, if you want to make some routes to interesting places, these are quite good aircraft.

It is not true that an A319LR cannot make as much as an A319. I own 28 A319LRs in one of the private worlds; some of which are based in Atlanta, Chicago or JFK and are used to fly to secondary destinations in Europe (between 10 and 20 million passengers), while others are based in Salt Lake City, Portland and Memphis (which are of course secondary airports in North America; if you wonder why I have hubs in these places, that's because of a regulation of that private world restricting the number of hubs with gate value above $200,000). Almost all of these LRs make between $300,000 and $400,000 each day, roughly the same as the majority of the 110 A319s that I own. In other words, A319LRs make even secondary long-hauls work perfectly well.

However, it has to be noted that if someone else uses a widebody on the same route, the profitability of the A319LR would dramatically be lowered.

[Flybynight747]

Thanks everyone, all this info+advice is great.

One thing I really enjoy about this game and forum, is everyone is so friendly and happy to share some top tips.

Hopefully, I will be able to do the same for another enthusiastic newbie too!

As it has always been my intention to have FUN with this game, not to be No1 (I think that would just take too much time, respect to those that do) I have taken the plunge..........

Ordered an A330-200 

Should open up a whole new game experience and I am pretty excited about it too.

Will keep you posted. Fly Hi all.

Jay