V-Flyer

It's been a couple of years since I last flew this route - does anyone know if they ever upgraded the PE seats upstairs to be the new more modern purple leather ones? Or are the LGW fleet still flying the old red fabric seats? I know last time I flew they had the older seats upstairs and they were getting very dog-eared and uncomfortable

For that matter, were the downstairs PE seats upgraded either?

Thanks.
Chris.

Still the same old seats. The Gatwick fleet is to get smartened up soon but not done yet.

Keep your fingers crossed that you are lucky enough to get a Heathrow 747 helping out on the route y)

Wow that really sucks. I wonder why they're not doing them? They rolled out the better seats everywhere else years ago.
Are the downstairs PE seats new or are they still the old ones too?

The downstairs seats are not the new seats either. The LGW fleet is due to start their re-fits later this year.

Neil

Ho hum. Well - thanks for the heads-up. Might have to fly someone else this time. I've been waiting since 2007 for them to upgrade the LGW fleet and they're really dragging their heels. Those aircraft doing the Vegas run really give Virgin a black eye in terms of comfort and cleanliness. They're like the ghetto-747s of the fleet now

I agree with you. We must have flown VS over 20 times on that route, but have not done so for the last 4 years and have no intention of dong so in the near future. I would rather fly AA and connect or fly BA then fly in the rust buckets out of LGW.

Hi Chris,

Flew that route last week, and I can confirm, as all else have said it's the old config, the only positive note, is that some of the planes have the slightly newer IFS - Odessey I think, which is far superior (i.e. it works) compared to the older offering.

one thing worth noting is that on the outbound flight to LAS, they put everyone upstairs, and left the the downstairs PE, completely empty, which I only discovered on a tour round the plane to stretch my legs.

Shame. They're pricey this year too. BA are undercutting them on their world traveler cabins from DFW by $400 a seat.

Fair enough, the LGW 744s are getting very tatty but calling them "rustbuckets" is a bit strong...that implies that they are falling to bits structurally...which they aren't.

lozza wrote:Fair enough, the LGW 744s are getting very tatty but calling them "rustbuckets" is a bit strong...that implies that they are falling to bits structurally...which they aren't.

I agree, in terms of a/c age they are still a very young fleet.

It is actually really only the PE section that is outdated, and is showing the most signs of wear and tear. Of course, the IFE needs and update but seating wise both J & Y are doing okay.

I am going to come to the defence of Virgin and PE on the LGW aircraft. I am buying into the whole product, and when you take it all in I think it is holding up.

The seats are tired but I have found them spaceous. Travelling in the bubble is a bonus as it's quieter and generally two staff for 38 customers.

Most importanlty, the cabin crew make it an enjoyable experience.

When you get a good priced PE ticket given the failings of the cabin seats it is still a decent product.

I think the main issue is the IFE.

The PE seats are still very comfy even if they are showing their age. It is the IFE that is hopelessly out of date. But I suppose you can't change one without doing the other, particularly in the current economic climate. I'll be taking my Macbook with me in March just in case!

TheHarps wrote:I am going to come to the defence of Virgin and PE on the LGW aircraft. I am buying into the whole product, and when you take it all in I think it is holding up.

The seats are tired but I have found them spaceous. Travelling in the bubble is a bonus as it's quieter and generally two staff for 38 customers.

Most importanlty, the cabin crew make it an enjoyable experience.

When you get a good priced PE ticket given the failings of the cabin seats it is still a decent product.

Well said - I like some others on here, also think that the older seats are actually more comfortable than the newer purple ones.....

Can't be bothered with IFE anyway, IPOD, portable DVD and DS and we're all good!

As a package, I think the product is still good value for money.

Last time I flew the PE seats were - well - 'lumpy' is the best way to describe them. I found the seat base too short and the lumbar support (which I think is not adjustable) was stuck so far out that it made the seat seem even shorter. The IFE was very tired with the screen suffering from UV-induced hazing and interference. I couldn't plug my charger in because they have a proprietary power port.
Agreed the bubble is nice because of the side-to-side space and the quiet atmosphere but the seat pitch still seems really short for PE. I think as I'm paying for the whole product, these old seats and IFE definitely let it down and because that's where 99% of the product is experienced, that's why I'm sad they've not updated it.

It's your money and your choice, of course.

Whatever you decide to do, hope the trip goes well for you.

My experience of PE seats in a 747 bubble is that they were comfy if a little tired looking.

The bubble ambience definitely adds something and I think the same seat downstairs in PE might have given a different impression.

I agree with Concorde RIP. The old seats are more comfy IMHO as you get leg support whereas you don't on the new seats. Having said that, they could certainly do with being refreshed.

Dave

Literally just come off an flight in P/E on a LGW/MAN 747.

Got to admit, even though I was determined to hate this flight and not enjoy it, that the P/E section upstairs was actually in remarkably good condition.

There wasn't many scrapes and the seats looked in good condition.

The IFE however was a different matter.

David