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Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 23 Jan 2017, 19:32
by Richie
As to where the bar is positioned in the upper class cabin has no bearing on who staffs it. Simply put virgin took too many cabin crew off the aircraft so there is nobody to staff it during busy times i.e. Dinner time.

And according to my source they aren't just removing the D seats (the suites are all intergal to each other), the entire upperclass cabin is being ripped out and entirely replaced with the same suite as the 787. They're also fitting overhead lockers in the centre to compensated for the loss of the wardrobe in the middle galley.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 23 Jan 2017, 19:45
by gumshoe
Indeed.

Pure speculation on my part but I still think the bar as we know it won't exist in the future. The space may remain but I think it'll become a lounge area where passengers can go and socialise and have food & drink brought to them from the galley if they want.

As you say there are no longer enough CC to staff it throughout the flight and with the continuing focus on cutting costs and the seemingly never-ending race to the bottom, it's an obvious target.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 23 Jan 2017, 20:05
by daviis


OMG ! I am so glad this thread popped back up to the top of the list again as after catching up I looked at our LHR to JFK flight on 9th December.

After the thread originally started I booked our 4 UC "G" seats in A3, 4, 5 & 6 as I figured if they changed the layout we'd be safe ...........NOT SO !!!!!

The new seat map layout is now showing and they'd moved us to A3, A6, G6 and K6 !!!! I now moved us back but how on earth did they ever think that might work and why would they have done that ???

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 24 Jan 2017, 17:52
by Richie
My source tells me there is defiantly a bar on the new A330 upper class cabin and to take it off would cause more headache than you think. The Bar is integral to the design of the Upperclass cabin and would require all 40+ aircraft to be retrofitted. It takes months to clear items to be used on an aircraft which is why they never finished fixing the problems in the current dreamsuite cabin, they just decided to scrap and refit. Including the bar.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 29 Jan 2017, 21:04
by mitchja
Only just spotted this on the VS website:

A330 updates

We’ve been making some exciting changes to our fleet, which will further improve your experience. One of the changes we’re making is the introduction of a new Upper Class Suite to our A330 fleet bringing the Upper Class cabins in line with the popular 787s.

We’ll be replacing the current suites with those found on the 787s. These will be fitted with our latest entertainment screens and will give you more storage space. What’s more, we’re also installing our award-winning mood lighting in the new cabins, including new displays of our spirits and glassware at the bar.

Changes to our Premium Economy class on the A330 include our fantastic Wander Wall, where you’ll be able to stretch your legs, and grab a drink or snack whenever they like.

Keep your eyes peeled for these upcoming changes, we’ll upgrade all our A330s over the next year or so.


Looks like the Premium Economy Wander Wall is also being installed in the A330's :)

Also confirming the Upper Class bar is staying.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 29 Jan 2017, 21:52
by SlimpyJones
And to think this forum erupted on what was only a rumour! Sounds like excellent changes, glad to see the Wander Wall making its way to the A330 :D

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 29 Jan 2017, 22:56
by vmike
Re the wander wall..i was on the Barbados flight A333(PE) in Aug and there was a facility where we could go to the front of the cabin and graze from a selection of sweets/crisps/snacks. I seem to recall it was advertised in the OB Menu but not sure.

Maybe it was for UC and i just bunked in :blush:

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 29 Jan 2017, 23:43
by mitchja
vmike wrote:
Maybe it was for UC and i just bunked in :blush:


No need to feel guilty as VS have offered this 'go help yourself' service in the Premium Economy galleys for some time now on all A/C that don't have a Wander Wall.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2017, 00:49
by vmike
Thankyou James.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2017, 02:47
by declansmith
New cabin looks great with overhead lockers so more space to stow your bags, premium economy wander wall to bring in line with 787 and bar positioned further back so customers wont be disturbed as much if you are sitting at the back of the cabin plus a TV screen just like the 787 too.

Makeover looks great and brings the A330 up a notch. Should be back around 18th Feb.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2017, 12:56
by mitchja
Thanks for the update Declansmith :)

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2017, 17:39
by Richie
I couldn't see a TV at the bar on the plan. Could be wrong.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 30 Jan 2017, 20:18
by SNOMO
Oh that sounds good then :-D

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 31 Jan 2017, 00:34
by getinjonathan
declansmith wrote:New cabin looks great with overhead lockers so more space to stow your bags, premium economy wander wall to bring in line with 787 and bar positioned further back so customers wont be disturbed as much if you are sitting at the back of the cabin plus a TV screen just like the 787 too.

Makeover looks great and brings the A330 up a notch. Should be back around 18th Feb.


Hey Declan - have you experienced it already?

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 31 Jan 2017, 04:18
by David
declansmith wrote:New cabin looks great with overhead lockers so more space to stow your bags, premium economy wander wall to bring in line with 787 and bar positioned further back so customers wont be disturbed as much if you are sitting at the back of the cabin plus a TV screen just like the 787 too.

Makeover looks great and brings the A330 up a notch. Should be back around 18th Feb.


Thanks declansmith. That's great news and fantastic to see investment in their fleet which will eventually bring a commonality to everything bar the 747 fleet which are due to be replaced and the remaining A340-600's which will eventually disappear

I'm assuming the A330's are now going to be around for quite a few years

David

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 31 Jan 2017, 17:23
by Richie
The first aircraft is still in China. Nobody has experienced it yet.

My source tells me the overhead lockers in the centre will be installed to replace the space lost due to the large cupboard in Premium being removed. The Bar is facing forward and the stools facing towards the back. There are 31 seats 10 on each side and 11 in the centre.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 31 Jan 2017, 17:24
by Richie
There was never any plans to get rid of the A330s. They have 12 year leases.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 02 Feb 2017, 13:27
by Joshl257
So just to confirm do we know for sure it's 31 In Upper Class 48 in Premium Economy and 185 in Economy. Would hate to lose any Premium Economy seats as the A330 has quite a high seat count.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 02 Feb 2017, 21:28
by Blitzen

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 02 Feb 2017, 23:06
by SlimpyJones
I don't think it was ever actually scheduled to be all done by end of March. It was either mentioned here or elsewhere that it was likely to take all year, with a pause in summer.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 03 Feb 2017, 11:03
by LucyLu
The seat plan for my trip to BGI in May is still showing 1-1-1 in UC in both directions. I know there have been changes on some flights back to 1-2-1. Does that mean we have got refitted planes scheduled on our flight or do you think it will change before we fly on 07-May/28-May?

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 03 Feb 2017, 11:20
by Darren Wheeler
SlimpyJones wrote:I don't think it was ever actually scheduled to be all done by end of March. It was either mentioned here or elsewhere that it was likely to take all year, with a pause in summer.


March 2018 is more likely.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 03 Feb 2017, 15:57
by Shirley Heights
LucyLu wrote:The seat plan for my trip to BGI in May is still showing 1-1-1 in UC in both directions. I know there have been changes on some flights back to 1-2-1. Does that mean we have got refitted planes scheduled on our flight or do you think it will change before we fly on 07-May/28-May?


LucyLu, I have also been wondering the same. I have flights booked to ANU in May and purposely booked seats 6A in hope that the aircraft configuration would be 1-1-1 (which is still showing as of today) as they would be more private. However, my preferred seats are actually 6K so if the config will still be 1-2-1, should I change to 6K now as these seats are still available?

I know seat numbers are not guaranteed, but it is quite confusing with no definitive date for any A330s new config to be completed.

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 03 Feb 2017, 17:33
by virginboy747
I believe the LGW aircraft will be the last two to be reconfigured so prob not until 2018

Re: A330 Refit Begins

PostPosted: 03 Feb 2017, 20:05
by HWVlover
virginboy747 wrote:I believe the LGW aircraft will be the last two to be reconfigured so prob not until 2018


Interestingly the article to which Blitzren provided a link says the opposite, predicting LGW and MAN will have the refitted 330s towards the end of March.

Time will tell. For the moment my LGW-UVF at the end of April still shows the new layout.