Unclear on post refit LGW/LHR 747s

So currently they run with a small UC, PE in the bubble with some downstairs.

The LHR has large UC, with part in bubble with Y, and part downstairs, PE all downstairs.

Post refit, they'll be upgrading the IFE, but are they changing the seat config? Will the bubble be gone now for PE? Will there be much more UC availability for LGW/LHR flights?

I'll miss PE in the bubble, and I don't think UC will become cheaper if thats that case...

[Neil]

The new config hasn't been announced yet, so nobody knows what us going to happen. It is likely to be very similar to the current config, probably with some more PE seats which are popular on the B&S routes the MAN/LGW operate to. I can't see a big increase in UC, the demand isn't huge compared to the more business routes that LHR a/c operate to.

Currently on a LHR 747 there are 54 UC / 52 PE / 238 Y seats

On an LGW config it is 14UC / 58 PE / 352 Y seats

(above based on seat guru)

This is mainly down the the routes the planes serve with (*** sweeping generalisation alert***) the LGW fleet being more 'bucket and spade' destinations with lots of families and a lot less demand for UC than the more 'business' orientated LHR routes.

A refit is more about just changing the seats and layout of cabins. It is easy for us to say 'make the LGW UC cabin bigger' but there will be physical contraints of the plane such as the placement of the exits, galleys and the toilets that will make extending one cabin class very difficult.

As for UC becoming cheaper - well I won't hold my breath on that one ! Though with a larger number of seats to sell there would be the posibilty of more sale fares for UC on the B&S routes.

[mitchja]

A refit is more about just changing the seats and layout of cabins. It is easy for us to say 'make the LGW UC cabin bigger' but there will be physical contraints of the plane such as the placement of the exits, galleys and the toilets that will make extending one cabin class very difficult.

It is easier on the 744's and 346's to reconfigure cabins as everything in the cabin is modular including galleys and washrooms so these can be added/removed or just moved (VS moved the forward J washroom across to the other side of the cabin early on in the 346's cycle). Obvioulsy the exits are fixed though. The only VS A/C that don't have modular cabins are the 343's so the cabin config cannot be changed much on these A/C.

Currently on a LHR 747 there are 54 UC / 52 PE / 238 Y seats

Tut tut TB. The LHR 744s have 44UC / 62 PE and 261ish Y.

Currently on a LHR 747 there are 54 UC / 52 PE / 238 Y seats

Tut tut TB. The LHR 744s have 44UC / 62 PE and 261ish Y.

Well M'lud in my defence I was going on the seatguru figures and map (which I just noticed is the old bubble config with all UC up there and not the split config)

Tonty's defence exhbit #1