V-Flyer

Hi
Does anybody know when the aircraft at Gatwick are going to have the new Premium Economy seats fitted?

Regards

PAUL1215

'Not at the moment' I think would be the answer....

Peter

Hi Paul - welcome!

Upgrades to the LGW/MAN 747 fleet is due to start later this year into 2012.

Luke

PeterStansfield wrote:'Not at the moment' I think would be the answer....

Peter

Not quite true, as mentioned already, the LGW fleet are due to start their refits later this year, although no official date has been confirmed yet.

With the two new A330's entering the fleet in April/May, and only MAN-LAS as a new route, it will ease pressure on the tightly run LGW fleet and allow them to go away for refits.

I've been referring to the 'Toolbox' - Which Aircraft section for the past week after someone mentioned that Virgin are now mostly using the LHR 747 Config-3 aircraft on the
LGW-MCO VS 27 route.

On a LHR 747, there are 54 UC seats & 62 PE seats. However on the LGW 747 config 1 or 2 there are just 14 UC seats & 58 PE's.

My aircraft from LGW on Friday 15th April is still showing as a LGW config-1, with the PE in the bubble so I assume they are selling just 14 upper class seats.

I've been wondering what they do with the extra available 30 UC seats when they change the aircraft, at the last moment, over to a LHR 747. Just out of interest has anyone got any information on this query?

If the ac is near fully loaded PE PAX will get upgraded to an UC seat. They will however be segregated from true UC ticket holders and will only receive PE food and beverage service.

Firstly, they are likely to be using the LHR config on this flight/route currently because the loads are light. The LHR config has a lot less seats overall. It is very unusual for an LHR config a/c to operate the MCO flights, I can't remember it happening like this for a while, things will be back to normal from April when the busy season starts.

On occasions like this and depending on the loads, then they would just bump pax up to the next cabin. So some PE pax would be bumped to UC and some Y pax to PE. This would be done in a set order and would depend on things like FF status, fare code etc etc.

Of course Virgin want to move as few pax as possible, which links back to my original point, and is why they only use this a/c type during the quieter season when the loads are light.

Neil

McMaddog wrote:If the ac is near fully loaded PE PAX will get upgraded to an UC seat. They will however be segregated from true UC ticket holders and will only receive PE food and beverage service.

WOuldnt complain, and I doubt your segregated that much as you'd still be able to access the bar as its near the back

Interesting thought tho

Platinum Leo

Thanks for the replies - that's interesting. I would have thought this week would have been quite busy on the Orlando route though as its the half-term hols.
I was thinking that perhaps they were using the LHR 747's whilst they were taking some of the LGW ones for the refit.

Many thanks for your replies

Paul1215

Neil wrote:Firstly, they are likely to be using the LHR config on this flight/route currently because the loads are light. The LHR config has a lot less seats overall. It is very unusual for an LHR config a/c to operate the MCO flights, I can't remember it happening like this for a while, things will be back to normal from April when the busy season starts.

On occasions like this and depending on the loads, then they would just bump pax up to the next cabin. So some PE pax would be bumped to UC and some Y pax to PE. This would be done in a set order and would depend on things like FF status, fare code etc etc.

Of course Virgin want to move as few pax as possible, which links back to my original point, and is why they only use this a/c type during the quieter season when the loads are light.

Neil

Must admit i was suprised to see VFAB parked up next to us in MCO last June. Although im guessing the original 027 went tech as the 028 was still sat on the gate when us on the 016 departed - a good 40 odd minutes late ourself.

I have bought eight upper class tickets for Vs 65 / 66 in July for family holiday. I would be aggrieved if aging spent this amount of money, if a LHR 747 was substituted and 40 PE passengers got free UC seats. I appreciate they would not get the UC service but hey it the bed you pay for in UC not the difference in food.

I few years ago my wife and I returned from BGI on a LHR config 747 and were lucky enough to get an op-up from PE to UC and received the full UC service and were not segregated from other UC passengers. I don't know if there has been a change in policy since.

This thread is over a year old now so the points discussed in it could well be out of date now.

I jsut spoke to a virgin rep at flying club and asked about these refits. he said they have already started and are due to the first one to enter in April not start refitting in april?
dont know if anyone from virgin can verify this at all?

nholman wrote:I jsut spoke to a virgin rep at flying club and asked about these refits. he said they have already started and are due to the first one to enter in April not start refitting in april?
dont know if anyone from virgin can verify this at all?

That is correct, the first refitted a/c is due back in to operation mid April time, with the rest following between May and October.

Thanks,
Neil

Flightglobal are reporting that G-VROM will be returning to the UK on 17/3 presumably for refit prior to re-entry into service. link I guess we'll know for sure if she quickly hot foots it over to HKG!

So there are 2 new A330's coming into service in april also? Was there an announcement for this that i can read anywhere at all?

nholman wrote:So there are 2 new A330's coming into service in april also? Was there an announcement for this that i can read anywhere at all?

There's 1 new one arriving in April but it'll be based at LHR configured with the new Upper Class Dream Suite! From the 14th of April operating initially on the VS3 to JFK!

So that could mean a LHR 747 being bought into the MAN/LGW - MCO route so one can go off for a refit?

Is there another A330 planned to come into the MCO route at all before the summer?

nholman wrote:So that could mean a LHR 747 being bought into the MAN/LGW - MCO route so one can go off for a refit?

I suspect not, as the first LGW/MAN VS 744 to get refitted is G-VROM, which is currently leased to another airline (AeroSur) and not in use by VS.

As soon as G-VROM comes back to VS, she's getting refitted/repainted. Once G-VROM is back in service, VS will be 1 extra LGW/MAN 744 up anyway so I guess the next 744 will just go to be refitted.

All the new 330s entering the fleet this year will be based out of LHR

McMaddog wrote:Flightglobal are reporting that G-VROM will be returning to the UK on 17/3 presumably for refit prior to re-entry into service. link I guess we'll know for sure if she quickly hot foots it over to HKG!

She's on her way home link

Good we've missed barbarella

hi everyone

am flying economy LGW-LAS in Sept 2012 on Boeing 747-400 Vers. 2, do we hope that a/c on this route maybe ready by then?