 Poster: A snowHead
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@Bergmeister, I guess it refers to the fuel rather than the alcohol, but basically leasing a crewed, maintained aircraft rather than just leasing the plane and having to source pilots and mechanics etc separately.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The more Gucci term for wet lease is ACMI. aircraft, crew maintenance and insurance. The lessee normally pays for the fuel and airport costs.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Powdair looks interesting but so many of the flights are not on a Saturday and indeed none from the airports convenient to me south of London are on this day. If I book early I can get a car and 4 flights to Geneva at sensible times for about £250 all in less than powdair before the transfer cost. So I will do the 2 hour each way trip for that ! Makes much more sense if buying 1 or 2 tickets or you need a very large car which attracts silly premiums. Any way I wish them success as if they survive then I'm sure the options will get better. This season I had booked before their price list was released but I think my decision would have been the same nonetheless for now.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I hope once Powdair are established they can offer better options from Manchester. Flights currently are Thursday and Saturday only, so no chance of long weekend trips.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
so many of the flights are not on a Saturday
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One of the major attractions of Powdair is that they make the long weekends do-able. I shall still have friends who will use Geneva, they like the train ride etc, but for my son to come out for weekends its looking good.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just got this email from Powdair, we have flights booked in January 
An important powdair update...
Since the powdair journey commenced two years ago, we've done our very best to be open and honest about the prospects and opportunities of our fledgling airline. After all, new airlines don't launch every day and we've faced many expected and unexpected challenges along the way.
What's the point of powdair? Opening up the incredible Swiss Valais region to skiers, snowboarders and year-round mountain lovers across Europe is our mission. Significantly reduced journey times direct to Sion rather than Geneva, improved transfer connections to resort, more time on holiday and for second home owners, better access to your investment, is the end result. But that's not where this journey ends.
This morning our key financial backer walked away from the powdair journey for personal reasons.
We're faced now with two options. We either postpone starting powdair this winter – in which case, those of you who've already booked flights would be guaranteed a full refund.
Or,
We offer the airline to you, our army of passionate powdair supporters, in the hope that you'd like to own a stake in powdair and benefit in our future shared success.
In a nutshell...
Over 5,000 people have already booked flights with us for this season
More than 85 of you have signed up as Season Pass holders, already buying between 10 and a whopping 80 tickets each to fly with us this season!
We’ve already been awarded Best Start-up Business in the World Snow Awards
We’re officially partnered with 17 resorts in the Valais and Portes du Soleil, including Verbier, Crans Montana, Nendaz, Anzere, Thyon 4 Vallées, Morzine, Champéry, Avoriaz, Châtel and Les Gets – and already have a raft of events and marketing activity planned with them
We’re working with hundreds of Valais, British and Belgian businesses – big and small - to ensure that both they and our powdair passengers benefit from everything we do
Without funding, we're now facing the situation of needing to postpone the start of our flight schedule for this winter season*, which is currently set to commence on 11th December 2017. However, with your support we can still make powdair a success and take off as planned this winter. At this late stage, community ownership is realistically the only way we'll be able to make powdair operational this winter.
If you would like to invest in us, please email investors@powdair.ski immediately for further information.**
A word from Sean Pettit, our Chief Financial Officer:
"Just as the powdair operation begins to snowball, today's setback is both unexpected and potentially disastrous for our airline, booked passengers and resort partners. Operational systems and strategies are already in place, whilst ticket sales are very strong and exceeding expectations. powdair is ready to go, but we now desperately need investment. I'd personally like to hear from anyone interested in owning either a small or large part of our airline."
Please bear in mind that we're a very small team working with limited resources and we need to secure at least £3 million to operate this season and at least £1 million by the end of this week in order to operate a reduced but efficient flight schedule this season.
The powdair Team
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Oops - basically a plea for a sugar daddy whose trips to Verbier have suddenly been scuppered. Financial backer obviously didn't like bookings to date.
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Shame really, but not untypical. Our local airline (Skywork, who flew London City to Bern) had severe difficulties last month which actually led to the withdrawal of its operating licence. Things are now running again, but it just shows how difficult this business is at the moment.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Their current timetable shows 112 legs per week for a season of around 17 weeks - that is 1900 or so flights. Assuming the 5000 that have booked have chosen a return that is 10000 seats booked. Assuming my maths is right (and not many people have booked more than one return) that is not many bums on seats per flight (or if you prefer load factor).
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@chocksaway, grief......
I got the email too
They worked unbelievably hard, and if that much hard work doesn't result in something viable....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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That's a shame. Hope they are able to get something in place for this season so that more skiers get to know about them and see Sion as an alternative to Geneva.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I must admit I thought on the face of it was a slightly shaky business plan.
Is the inbound traffic likely into Sion heavy enough to make it workable? At ~ 2+ x Geneva prices?
Given the general interconnectedness of Swiss transport and ski resorts, that extra ? 2h00 from Geneva is pretty painless, especially if there’s a bar onboard 
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Sad news 😢
Although a mate who was a driver for an upmarket chalet where the guests came by private jet said Sion Flights often diverted due to weather so not a reliable place to fly too....
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You know it makes sense.
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Does anyone know if refunds are guarenteed? I have 3 flights with them booked and paid for, consequently I am a bit worried. 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Funny, their website doesn't mention anything (obvious) about this turn of events and flights still seems to be bookable???
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Poster: A snowHead
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Removed double post
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Seahoob wrote: |
| Does anyone know if refunds are guarenteed? I have 3 flights with them booked and paid for, consequently I am a bit worried. |
Well they've said they will refund, but if they don't you'll be covered if you paid by credit card.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Pretty bad that there's nothing on their website about this to be honest. Appreciate that they need to remain optimistic, but to continue to offer flights in the current circumstances seems a little cavalier.
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
Still cool that this guy has time to be CFO of an almost startup airline as well as throwing down
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That did make me chuckle too
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@telford_mike, ...website is there but you can't book anything as far as I can see....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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When I looked at their website last night you could search and get a flight price to Sion for a date in 2018. Didnt go any further than second screen.
Has it changed today?
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I just got a price for London City to Sion no problem at all.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Every combo I have just tried comes up with Itinerary not possible. They have a twitter link to the text of the e mail @Seahoob, received. Rumours on the aviation forums seem to suggest a lot of interest in the crowdfunding.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Maybe Admin will make a strategic investment 
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You know it makes sense.
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@Dave of the Marmottes, oops sorry it was a nice chuckly 'see' not a horrible 'told you so' 'see' - tone of voice is so difficult on t'web. It was just meant like the two photos they always put in Private Eye but with the names transposed...
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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First weeks flights cancelled, decision on 1 Dec re the rest of the season.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Shame, had a nice chat with the guys from Powdair at the Ski show - and their freebie stickers were nice vinyl cut jobbies which look like they'll be sticking around longer than the company...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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From their twitter feed they are offering pledges where you invest so much and receive discounts or free flights for the next 5 years. Completely unsecured. But they are aiming at accom providers (ie you pledge and sell packages to your guests) and city hedge funds. High stakes indeed.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The fat lady has sung. It's over for this season according to their FB Page and website. But they are saying they will be back with their own aircraft for next season.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| chocksaway wrote: |
| The fat lady has sung. It's over for this season according to their FB Page and website. But they are saying they will be back with their own aircraft for next season. |
And it’s back in the Times today on page 4 … I’m so glad I didn’t book with those chancers
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Has anyone heard anything about Powdair for this season?
Not much showing from a quick web search.
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There was a few rumours about in the aviation world a fortnight ago, if they are going to make a go of it then it will have to be soon for this season.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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They were too late in their launch last year and it went up the swanny, so I don't see much hope for this year. It was an unviable business model - there just aren't enough people wanting to fly to Sion.
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According to Planetski they're trying again this year but as part of Valais Prive.
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FAQ
