V-Flyer

Just logged in to 'My Booking' for November 16 LHR-SFO - I notice with dismay (especially as this is our first flight in years) that this will be the 300 not the 600.

Am I just unlucky for this date or this a seasonal thing?
(I see the more pleasant 600s are on yesterday's todays VS19).

Cheers

Last winter and this winter the SFO has been on the airbus. It alternates between 300 and 600 depending on the loads for that day.

I wouldn't be happy with this for such a long flight. v(

VS019 on the 16th Nov shows an A340-600. What does the seat map show?

locutus wrote:I wouldn't be happy with this for such a long flight. v(

What's the big difference? My other half flew to Shanghai on one on Christmas eve and didn't even notice it wasn't the usual A340-600 except that boarding and de-planing was faster than usual.

Thanks guys - just logged in again and seatmap def still showing as a 300

McMaddog wrote:

locutus wrote:I wouldn't be happy with this for such a long flight. v(

What's the big difference?

For me, it's mostly this...

the-toolbox/inflight-entertainment

I thought it was terrible when SFO moved to a A346 .

And funnily, my VS21 on Nov 29 has just changed to a 346 ...

Does it really make much of a difference if it's a 747 or A346?
Virgin mainly use their A346's on their longer routes (except JNB) and personally I prefer the A346's on longer flights e.g 10+ hours.

As already mentioned, it's the IFE that pulls down the 343's.

The other main issue I have with the 343's are the non-existent washrooms in the PE cabin.

Both my recent IAD flights where on 343's (G-VSEA) and the IFE (Odyssey) was rubbish. Nothing much to watch and very poor quality audio/video to the point where several channels where actually un-watchable.

mitchja wrote:The other main issue I have with the 343's are the non-existent washrooms in the PE cabin.

.....a bit like the 747s where they have the PE washroom behind the curtain in the economy cabin. It has a small plaque which says "premium econoomy only" on the side and is steadfastly ignored by all the economy passengers. I don't blame them for using it, but they must be disappointed not to find gold-plated taps and cowshed lotions

Yep, was due to the IFE I wasn't too thrilled. Ah well..

AndyK wrote:Yep, was due to the IFE I wasn't too thrilled. Ah well..

Unfortunately the answer now with VS is to take your own media player loaded with your favourite movies ... Odyssey is beyond terrible in quality and quantity, even V:Port is suffering on some aircraft. At a time when even AA is overtaking VS in leaps and bounds, it's getting embarrassingly bad.

slinky09 wrote:

AndyK wrote:Yep, was due to the IFE I wasn't too thrilled. Ah well..

Unfortunately the answer now with VS is to take your own media player loaded with your favourite movies ... Odyssey is beyond terrible in quality and quantity, even V:Port is suffering on some aircraft. At a time when even AA is overtaking VS in leaps and bounds, it's getting embarrassingly bad.

good point, well made.

It's making me consider by an ipad for just this reason. I really don't need one, but one the way over to NYC the other week when our IFE was completely bust I looked at those people with ipads and was jealous....

I've got three more VS flights before Christmas. What chance I have of the IFE working on all, any or none of them?!

Im on VS20 on the same day (so same aircraft) seat map showing A340-300, just hoping it will be G-VSUN!

Dave2009 wrote:Virgin mainly use their A346's on their longer routes (except JNB)

Not so. They do use the A346 on the JNB route and in fact have been using them continuously once the summer timetable came in. They will revert to 747s for the winter. In fact G-VBIG flew out tonight to JNB - the first of the 747s to fly out on the winter timetable.

If you look at the Which Aircraft section in the Toolbox above it will show you the aircraft for the last two months |:)

Hamster wrote:Im on VS20 on the same day (so same aircraft) seat map showing A340-300, just hoping it will be G-VSUN!

I will also be in 2A going out, I'll make sure I leave it tidy for you!

AndyK wrote:I will also be in 2A going out, I'll make sure I leave it tidy for you!

how very courteous of you

Hamster wrote:

AndyK wrote:I will also be in 2A going out, I'll make sure I leave it tidy for you!

how very courteous of you

Make sure you do or you will be named and shamed in the TR !

I actually preferred the cabin on the 300s in UC, bit smaller and broken out, and the mini-cabin at the back had some distinct advantages. IFE is what it is.

I'm on VS20 on the 15th, and currently showing a 600 (back on the 22nd, and that is showing a 600 as well).

I'm glad - originally I wanted to fly on the VS20 on the 16th, but no 'G's there, so had to make do with the 15th instead...

Out of interest when are the 747s used, I understand it's in the summer but what month is it likely to be.

Thanks

The VS19/20 service looks to have now switched from a 744 to a 346/343 from Nov 1st. It then switches back to a 744 in April I think.

Both my SFO flights in late Dec / early Jan are still showing as 346's.

Missy-Tank wrote:Out of interest when are the 747s used, I understand it's in the summer but what month is it likely to be.

Thanks

The summer/winter timetables change the same weekend that Daylight Savings change, so the 747s should come back into service on the last Sunday in March.

Keeping my fingers crossed here.

'My booking' still shows 300 both ways, however all flights this month so far have been 600s. Also if I do a 'dummy' booking on Expedia, shows as a 600..