Progress is picking up on the Suites

[Pete]

Looks like the early delays of fitting the UCS are now behind us, and Virgin engineers are reporting the turnaround time is down to just 10 days for fitting Suites (a big improvement over the time it took G-VTOP to get its refit). A340-600 may be even quicker, since there's no need to touch the PE & Economy cabins as they already have V:Port.

So, of the LHR 744s, the picture appears to be:

G-VTOP: Fitted with Suites + Odyssey
G-VROC: Fitted with Suites + V:Port
G-VAST: Fitted with Suites + Odyssey
G-VBIG: Going to Dublin on 15th Feb, will have Suites + V:Port by month end
G-VHOT: Going to Dublin at end of month, will have Suites + V:Port
G-VFAB: Rumour that its refit won't be until June, which may be because the 346s are scheduled before it, or that plan may have changed
G-VXLG & G-VWOW: No news on these aircraft yet

Suddenly everyone's chances of trying the Suite and V:Port are improving.

And RichardM, much as you love J2000, I'm a big fan of the UCS - but maybe that's because I can only sleep on my side, something not as easy in the J2000 on an angle.

Pix

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by pixuk
And RichardM, much as you love J2000, I'm a big fan of the UCS - but maybe that's because I can only sleep on my side, something not as easy in the J2000 on an angle.

Pix

Yeah but then I am so small, I can normally curl up into a ball and fall asleep under the seat in front!

Thanks,
Richard

Love to hear it, pixuk. With these suites, VS continues to make intercontinental travel really fun -- including the travel part.

Berkeley, California
Elite status on airlines: none whatsoever

Hi all,

Just for information

Just emailed VA about something else and they advised that

"At present we do not have the J2000 seat installed, by the time we had rolled this seat across the Heathrow fleet, we had started to revise the product. As a result a decision was made not to update the Gatwick fleet until the 'Suite' was rolled out. We aim to have refitted our Gatwick fleet with our new
Upper Class fully flat sleeper 'Suites' next year."

Cheers Jason

[Pete]

Yup, sadly the LGW aircraft are way down the pecking order again. At least, however, there is a commitment to update them and despite the stalled start, things are moving along. Once the Gatwick aircraft get Suites, there'll be more V:Port 747s in Gatwick than Heathrow

Pix

Are they fitting the LHR 744s before the A340-600? I'm flying UC JFK-LHR 45/46 in June and that flight shows up as 98% A340-600s.

[Pete]

As I understand, after G-VHOT at the end of this month, they'll be turning their attention to the 346s, so by June I'd guess you'd probably have a good chance. We'll have to wait and see the progress as it happens.

Pix

The VS45 is currently operated by a A340-300 and has been since december

[Pete]

Hey Declan,

Welcome. Glad you have joined us. Always good to have someone with the 'inside track'

Pix

[Bazz]

Hi Declan,

Welcome aboard, we look forward to your contributions!

ps. Don't feel obliged to give away any secrets.

Bazz
Still Flying

Just booked on VS045 Early April and its down as a non suite 747 400

Chris Parr

Are the older 744s getting the new seats and/or laptop power in Premium Economy, as well as the Upper refit?

While the old PE seats on the 744 are nice and comfy (I actually prefer them over the seats on G-VWOW), and have half-decent seat-back storage, I miss not having laptop power in PE.

Any ideas?

Cheers,
Mike

quote:Originally posted by pixuk
G-VAST: Fitted with Suites + Odyssey
G-VBIG: Going to Dublin on 15th Feb, will have Suites + V:Port by month end

VAST came back on the evening of the 6th Feb, and went back into service on the VS 3 on the 8th.

VBIG left for Dublin on the evening of the 7th after working inbound on the VS 8 from LAX.

So, it looks like things may even be running ahead of schedule!

Cheers,
Mike

Has G-VBIG got V.PORT anyway. I think it was refurbished a year or two ago.

Thanks

Hi vsdan,

I've been on G-VBIG a couple of times and it had vport.

Regards

TBS



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