V-Flyer

Hi guys - first time postee so be gentle.
Does anyone have any idea how long Virgin intends to lease thoses horrid 747-200s from Air Atlanta on the MAN-MCO route? Flew one with my grandkids (their first time in Florida) in May and it really was a tired old crate with various TVs inoperative, threadbare seats etc. Come to think of it the crew looked pretty tired too!!

Any ideas?

Welcome to V-Flyer Treelo.

This is a much discussed topic. People who fly out of Man on a regular basis are often quite scathing about the service they (sometimes) receive.

I am sure one of the MAN regulars can fill you in better than me, but I believe things are afoot to imptove the service and give a full UC service among other things.

If you don't want to wait for the replies, try using the search facility which is in small red writing at the top of your screen between 'Private messsages' and FAQ, or use this link

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/search.asp

Use search terms like MCO, Manchester or Club Orlando

Regards

Nick

PS Hope that was gentle enough:)

Thanks for that Nick.

I really felt quite embarrassed when my grandkids (and their parents) came with us crumplies to Flordia. We have travelled the route for some years, but it was a first-time experience for all of them and I had really 'bigged-up' Virgin for months previously. Suffice to say I was gobsmacked.

What happened to the menu cards, the miniatures of gin and tonic, the small bottles of wine with meals, the helpful and attentive flight attendants etc etc??

Let's hope your suggested improvements come on-line PDQ.

quote:Originally posted by Treelo

What happened to the menu cards, the miniatures of gin and tonic, the small bottles of wine with meals, the helpful and attentive flight attendants etc etc??

With everything except the staff, the answer can be summed up in one word 'economics'. The menu cards and drinks changes are not confined to the MAN routes, they are right across the board. It is a LOT cheaper to pour wine / spirits from bigger bottles than to hand out miniatures. The menu cards in economy were, I think, cost cutting as well.

I don't think any of the above are of major detriment to the flying experience.

The issue of 'helpful and attentive flight attendants' is not so easy. In my experience, they are as good as ever. However, if you were unlucky and didn't get staff of the usual VS standard, I hope this was just a blip.

I hope the MAN route gets better equipment soon, as it is a route that a lot of peple use - and they judge VS on their own experiences. They then pass these experiences on to family, friends, co-workers etc.

If the experiences are negative ones, then there is now an awful lot of competition for the B&S routes from innovative (copy cat?) charter airlines who seem to be competing strongly with VS on service / legroom and reliability - as well as price.

Nick

as a regular user of the same planes from gatwick to MCO I agree the planes are not as good as the 747's used for JFK or LAX etc but..

The main problem with the holiday routes is just that Florida flights are always busy..I'm fortunate in that im single so can stretch to PE

I realise with a family this is not always an option.

My advice would be to aviod the busier periods. Again I realise with familys you are often stuck with school holiday dates

the best flights I've had to orlando on virgin in economy have been mid week and not JUL/AUG thats really the best advise I can give.

The NOVA IFE system isnt the best but its better that whats on offer on a lot of other carriers flights

Virgin flight crew are the best in the business but again sometimes you'll have a bad flight. I only had one once and the excellent return flight more than made up for the outward leg.

but try other carriers and I guarantee you'll rush back to Virgin!

There seems to be hope on the horizon!

In the 2005 Virgin Hols brochure it says that Club Orlando will not be available after around May, but the full Upper Class service will. This implies that the routes will be operated by one of Virgin's own aircraft - I'd guess a LGW 747, although A340s could be used together with the much talked about new aircraft!

As for the rest of the things (drinks etc) as Nick says "economics".

Alex

the LGW planes are the same type as from Manchester..
They are being upgraded as part of the UCS rollout
maybe VS want have one standard UCS with bar, massage etc?
That makes sense as it standardises service across all routes.

Does anyone know if the refitted LGW planes will have a bar etc?

quote:the LGW planes are the same type as from Manchester

I though manchester were 747-200(old) and LGW are 747-400(newish cancelled alitalia order)

Are the manchester planes not 747-200s and gatwick 747-400s [?]

all i know is neither have bars or in flight massage[:(]

The simple answer to the question regarding Minatures, menu cards and wine bottles is 9/11.

These items were all changed after 9/11 to ensure Virgin Survived.

LGW 747-400 are olny 3 years old and the Ex Virgin Atlantic now Air Atlanta aircraft 747-200 are around 20 years old.

A London based aircraft will be moved to Manchester early next year!

3 LHR 747-400 will be re configured to 14/54/379 in time when Cuba and the Bahamas begin, the aircraft will also fly to as the third daily flight to Orlando and the 5th flight to Vegas.

quote:all i know is neither have bars or in flight massage

If you have ever had the misfortune to sit on the upper deck of a VS 747-200 when it was configured UC you would crawl over broken glass to get on any 747-400 even out of LGW with no bar or massage.

Fyfer is right

Currently 2 aircraft are based in MAN. Boeing 747 200s operated by Air Atlanta for VS:
G-VBEE - Honeypie, and G-VSSS Island Lady.

The LGW based 747s are all 400 series and will be revamped, with suites and a bar, albeit smaller than the LHR fleet.

Pix has a seating plan with the current proposal
http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1609

Interesting about LHR 747 from Declansmith.

Alex

So the LGW planes are way better!:)


surely virgin will be retiring these 200's soon if they are 20yrs old?

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig

quote:all i know is neither have bars or in flight massage

If you have ever had the misfortune to sit on the upper deck of a VS 747-200 when it was configured UC you would crawl over broken glass to get on any 747-400 even out of LGW with no bar or massage.

Chris,
I liked Club Orlando
see my piccys on line

Thanks for the many replies guys. Incidentally, I/we did travel out of school holidays andflew midweek so that argument doesn't hold up. It all boils down to the fact the the 747-200s are well past their sell by date and ought to be retired.

Hopefully the news from several posters of a LGW aeroplane moving up to the wilds of MAN will mean a pleasanter trip next time.

Some of the aircraft used at lhr until 4 years ago
boston belle/maiden voyager were even older, built early 70's

quote:Originally posted by declansmith
3 LHR 747-400 will be re configured to 14/54/379 in time when Cuba and the Bahamas begin, the aircraft will also fly to as the third daily flight to Orlando and the 5th flight to Vegas.

I assume this will be the three odyssey equipped LHR B744's, i.e. G-VTOP, G-VXLG and G-VAST?

will these planes then be based at Gatwick?

If so this will leaver LHR much shorter on capacity, so new planes must be expected around this time?

are there any a/c on definate order for virgin? (apart from the A380)

also, is there any expected date on the announcement of the order of new a/c?

According to another Virgin Fan forum the order will be announced very soon. No clues though as to what it may be!

Thank God for this post

I thought it was just me who was always moaning about the old 200's.

Jonathan

Ive flown the LGW fleet and the are like a Rolls Royce to the Manchester Skoda's (sorry dint try to offend any Skoda owners)just wanted to give the best comparison

The news that we are going to get the refitted LGW 747 is fantastic. I can go back to using this flight. My latest trip in July will be MAn to LHR, LHR to JFK (Suite):D:D:D and then JFK to TPA. A lot of messing around but I couldnt face the delays and the old aircraft again and if all goes to plan I shall get to TPA quicker than the old route.

Paul

Maybe I should fly manchester sometime..but then again;)
Are the 200's VS's oldest operastional aircraft?

Hoorah for the comments from PaulS and 748748 about the antiquated 200s and wine servings respectively. Me and the present Mrs Treelo HAVE tried other carriers as suggested on this forum, but prefer to go direct from MAN to MCO and, so far as I know, only VA do so. Their service is on a par with other carriers; the reason we came back (not 'rushed back' as suggested) was for the convenience of the direct flights.
Here's hoping the new aeroplanes will enhance the experience!!

I have gotta agree, I have two PE flights booked MAN - MCO November and April.
The only reason I am travelling on these old in need of refurbishment planes is the fact that it is the only direct flight to MCO.

I think you are always going to get good service from Virgin in upper class, but a friend who recently flew that route in economy stated that the service matched the state of the plane.

Comon Virgin, it is time to give us northerners the same treatment and planes as our southern cousins.

quote:Originally posted by rainbow

Comon Virgin, it is time to give us northerners the same treatment and planes as our southern cousins.

At least you northerners have a service! Us poor Midlanders have to travel 100's of miles to get a Virgin plane.
We will take your 747-200's if you don't want them! :D