When does an aircraft get allocated?

I was wondering how far out an aircraft gets potentially allocated for a particular flight?

For example i am on VS27 this Friday, when would an aircraft gets assigned for it.

Understanding things may change due to problems, like the 23hr delay to G-VLIP last week.

And there is not a particular flight pattern to say where its will be in the days coming up to it.

Thanks

[Nottingham Nick]

The scheduling of aircraft is quite a complex and flexible system.
There are those on the board who know a lot more about it than me, but it is clear that VS have a good idea of which aircraft is supposed to be flying a particular route well in advance.

The problems start when one aircraft goes tech or is delayed - the domino effect can then kick in. Sometimes they can get away with switching only one or two aircraft - but sometimes it means more.

The factor in - charters, government flights and unusual sales patterns, and the schedule is altered again.

You will always be able to get a good idea of the type of aircraft that you are due to fly on from the 'manage my bookings' section of the VS website, but that is always subject to change, and you are never sure which aircraft you will be on until it arrives at stand or, in the case of outstations, when the outbound aircraft takes off from the UK.

Nick

And in the case of MCO just because a certain aircraft it operating the flight out, doesnt always mean it will do the same flight back!

For my flight home last month VAST was operating the 015 outbound and yet VROS was operating the 016 home even though that came in from MAN earlier in the day.

And in the case of MCO just because a certain aircraft it operating the flight out, doesnt always mean it will do the same flight back!

For my flight home last month VAST was operating the 015 outbound and yet VROS was operating the 016 home even though that came in from MAN earlier in the day.

Yes this does happen at MCO as there is more than one flight in / out a day and they use the time for cleaning etc

But for somewhere like SFO, BOS or ORD where there is only one flight a day the flight in then turns around and becomes the outbound.

And in the case of MCO just because a certain aircraft it operating the flight out, doesnt always mean it will do the same flight back!

For my flight home last month VAST was operating the 015 outbound and yet VROS was operating the 016 home even though that came in from MAN earlier in the day.

Yes this does happen at MCO as there is more than one flight in / out a day and they use the time for cleaning etc

But for somewhere like SFO, BOS or ORD where there is only one flight a day the flight in then turns around and becomes the outbound.

Well yeah... unless something major happens! Seem to remember an A346 having a tailstrike in IAD a few years back and VS having to send another plane out as the original one was too damaged to fly.

Thanks for replies.

Well if anyone has links to VS ops, and they have any idea which aircraft "should" be operating VS27 13TH AUG i would only be too pleased to know. Understanding things often change.
Thanks

[Nottingham Nick]

Ever since the World Trade Center atrocities on Sept 11th 2001, airlines (including VS) have been reluctant to release details of the exact plane they plan to have flying a particular route on a given date.

Whether this policy is right or wrong is a whole separate debate.

As it is nearly 10 years since that sad day, the policy may be relaxed now, but we have got used to not knowing the exact aircraft until the day of the flight.

Nick

[honey lamb]

Thanks for replies.

Well if anyone has links to VS ops, and they have any idea which aircraft "should" be operating VS27 13TH AUG i would only be too pleased to know. Understanding things often change.
Thanks

I seem to remember that in the past (and I'm talking about more than 3 years ago) a member from VS ops knew a couple of weeks before the flight which aircraft was allocated for flights during that period and sometimes might post that information. However there was a tightening up on that for security reasons and this information is no longer given so far in advance so the only way you will have any indication beforehand is:

a) to monitor aircraft movements via the Toolbox. The Schedules calendar gives an idea of a pattern of aircraft movements

b) to look at the Status Updates in the Toolbox

and the most accurate of all

c) to look out of the window at the aircraft at the gate.

The last one is the only real way you will know. Twice I have been told through various media which aircraft I would be on only to have it changed at the last moment either because the allocated one has gone tech or the incoming aircraft for that flight has been delayed.