Nova/Odyssey refit

When/if the LGW 747's are refitted does anybody know weather they will get V-port or the new system fitted to the A330's? And will the LHR fleet be retrofitted with the new system?

[Neil]

There hasn't been any confirmation or rumours about this. You would imagine that the LGW fleet would get the new IFE.

I can't see the LHR fleet been upgraded anytime soon though, V-Port is still a good system and the cost to replace would just be too high to make sense.

LGW fleet will be getting the new IFE system

There hasn't been any confirmation or rumours about this. You would imagine that the LGW fleet would get the new IFE.

I can't see the LHR fleet been upgraded anytime soon though, V-Port is still a good system and the cost to replace would just be too high to make sense.

Why shouldn't we press / demand for the new system? Customer power and all that - you're too passive Neil (and VS defensive) .

When the new UCS comes next year, it presents a good chance to standardize the IFE.

[mitchja]

When the new UCS comes next year, it presents a good chance to standardize the IFE.

...what like the VS livery you mean How many are there now, 5?

LGW fleet will be getting the new IFE system

Well that's good, any info on how big UC screen will be, or what controller will be used?

When the new UCS comes next year, it presents a good chance to standardize the IFE.

That is if they do come next year! Haven't heard much recently
There were plans for a new amenity pack last year but that never happened and haven't heard anything else about them.

[Neil]

Why shouldn't we press / demand for the new system? Customer power and all that - you're too passive Neil (and VS defensive) .

When the new UCS comes next year, it presents a good chance to standardize the IFE.

Realist is the word I would use

Of course it would be great to have the new IFE rolled out across the whole fleet, but experience shows that is highly unlikely to happen. I'd be delighted to be proved wrong, but for now I would settle with some confirmed timelines for the LGW refits, which will put the whole fleet on some sort of level playing field.

[Nottingham Nick]

In this day of iPad, DS, PSP etc. etc. Is the IFE really the major part of the travel experience that it was a few years ago?

Would sooner they spent the money on better food and deep cleans.

Nick

We have all been spoilt rotten !

There was a time that overhead TVs all showing the SAME film was regarded as cutting edge !

You have to say though that inner cabin wise, furnishings, seating and ife virgin are now being left in the dust when it comes to the competition. I used to be very pro virgin however that was before I had flown with anyone else.

I have since flown with Singapore air and Emirates on a couple of flights and I have to say the difference is incredible in terms of comfort and entertainment. You have to say the thing is when these airlines do roll out a new system, such as Emirates with their Ice system (best IFE system I've ever used, so much choice and so easy to use as well as being a nice big screen even in economy) and Singapore with their Krisworld (almost as good) they do tend to roll it out over the whole fleet. This has been good for them as there is not so many mixed reviews some bad some good depending on what plane you get.

If virgin are rolling out this new IFE it would be best if they rolled it out on every plane and finally end the age old problem of the Virgin Atlantic customer, what plane will I get? I hope I don't get Nova, lol

They have a lot of catching up to do with these kind of things and to be honest I'm surprised they've been left so far behind, a company that prides itself on breaking barriers I mean.

In this day of iPad, DS, PSP etc. etc. Is the IFE really the major part of the travel experience that it was a few years ago?

I think that's a key point, though there still may be a demand to provide (a) inseat power and (b) an interface to a backseat screen. The "cutting edge" may be to just provide these rather than the content....

I disagree with that in a way, I mean take my iPad, i'll bring it on my flight sure, but if the IFE is good I would rather use that, just because i's going to have stuff on it I haven't seen/used/played before.

Your iPad is usually full of stuff you've watched plenty of times. I'm certainly not going to download 20-30 quids worth of tv episodes and movies just to take on a flight so i've got something new to watch, .and that's where the IFE niche lies.

I disagree with that in a way, I mean take my iPad, i'll bring it on my flight sure, but if the IFE is good I would rather use that, just because i's going to have stuff on it I haven't seen/used/played before.

Your iPad is usually full of stuff you've watched plenty of times. I'm certainly not going to download 20-30 quids worth of tv episodes and movies just to take on a flight so i've got something new to watch, .and that's where the IFE niche lies.

Granted for the moment, but I think that the growth in storage mechanisms and the acceleration of content availability in terms of both time and price (how quickly are things now available on download / DVD and how fast does the price fall when they do) means that the content itself will decrease in importance. In this case ultimately what is the value add of the IFE....should the investment be in access rather than content?

Just a quicky that I picked up from the VS Facebook page, in reply to a complaint regarding the IFE the VS reply was this:

Our most up to date system is V:Port, which has the controls just below the TV screen - we are looking to re-fit the entire fleet with this.
Howard

Really? Are they seriously thinking about installing V:Port during these refits where people will now be expecting the latest Panasonic EX2 system?

Just a quicky that I picked up from the VS Facebook page, in reply to a complaint regarding the IFE the VS reply was this:

Our most up to date system is V:Port, which has the controls just below the TV screen - we are looking to re-fit the entire fleet with this.
Howard

Really? Are they seriously thinking about installing V:Port during these refits where people will now be expecting the latest Panasonic EX2 system?

ANother example of VS right hand not talking to left. If this was posted after the new 330's arrived then the information is hugely out of date. "Virgin Loves" or whatever it is called is the latest system as on the 330s.

[Neil]

New system is called JAM.

New system is called JAM.

Beat me to it Neil.

Unfortunately, as much I would love for it to be out of date information the response was only posted 8 hours ago. Now unless the LHR fleet are to replace the LGW / MAN fleet with their V:Port systems and LGW aircraft could be fitted with JAM and operated out of LHR?

Hopefully not, I don't want to join that 'Nobody cares about the LGW/MAN fleet' brigade...

Unfortunately, as much I would love for it to be out of date information the response was only posted 8 hours ago.

And that's why it's incorrect... they stated the latest system was V:Port, but it is infact JAM (ex2)!

It'll be ex2 installed during the refits.. would actually cost more to source and install a V:Port system as it's so (comparatively) out of date!

New system is called JAM.

is that because its a big sticky mess?

[Neil]

New system is called JAM.

is that because its a big sticky mess?

Quite the opposite actually - it is fantastic.

New system is called JAM.

is that because its a big sticky mess?

Quite the opposite actually - it is fantastic.

give it a few months of the screens not been cleaned properly!

Quite the opposite actually - it is fantastic.

Speaking of which Neil, where is the TR?

Quite the opposite actually - it is fantastic.

Speaking of which Neil, where is the TR?

Yes my thoughts exactly! Surely as one of the first to get on the 330 Neil we should be seeing pictures and a great write up

[Neil]

It is actually over half written - might try and finish it tomorrow!