VS085 always late!

does anyone know why the vs085 out of Manchester on the sunday service is always late taking off?

today it was over 2 hours late, last week was over 5 hours late, the week before that was 40 minute late, its not been on time for over 3 months.

I'm starting to get nervous about my pending in November, and suspect my holiday is not going to get off to a good start.

are virgin always this poor?

[Neil]

Excluding today, during August it has left on time twice (on time = within 15mins of scheduled departure time), been less than 30mins late twice and had one big delay. July looks fairly decent also.

VS do run their fleet tight, and especially at somewhere like MAN where the outbound flights are waiting for specific inbound a/c to operate the flight, so any delay can't really be avoided if an inbound a/c is late. At somewhere like LHR/LGW which are main hubs, there are more a/c available so that things can be swapped around if delays happen, but they just don't have that option at places like MAN.

Neil, I think the OP has a point, and this comes up time and time again ... VS may run a tight fleet, and a problem in one place magnifies into a problem elsewhere, but for the occasional passenger, it looks poor. So if you're flying out and have tight connections to hotels, onward flights, cars etc. It can be an issue ... but you know all this!

Today's late departure was caused by Hot Lips going tech over in MCO last night - that said, VS85 does seem to have had a run of delays recently I agree.

However, today good old Tinkerbelle travelled up from LHR to operate the VS85 so at least V-port and quite a few upgrades I would imagaine however those in PE looking for the bubble will have been disappointed.

Jon

are virgin always this poor?

Not all delays are the fault of VS.

As Neil said if the inbound is delayed then the outbound will be delayed too but VS will try and catch up time but it takes time to offload passengers, luggage and rubbish and then load luggage and the food and board the pax etc for your flight. BUT the reason for the inboud delay might have ben totally outside of VS's control.

If a pax checks-in then decides not the fly that can delay the flight too as they cannot travel with that persons luggage and it takes time to remove.

Also it may be the destination airport that causes the delay. If there is a problem at LAS then the authorities there may not authorise any more flights into it save those that have already taken off.

But exageraating the delays dosen't help either.

According to VS flight status, todays VS85 was due to take off at 12:35 but took off at 13:59. That's a delay of 1 hr 24 mins NOT the 'over 2 hours' you posted. It is estimated to arrive only 21 minutes late which surely what matters.

Last sunday it was 4 1/2 hours late and not 'over 5 hours'

However, today good old Tinkerbelle travelled up from LHR to operate the VS85 so at least V-port and quite a few upgrades I would imagaine however those in PE looking for the bubble will have been disappointed.

Give me the new PE seats and V-Port over the upper deck anyday! y)

[Neil]

Neil, I think the OP has a point, and this comes up time and time again ... VS may run a tight fleet, and a problem in one place magnifies into a problem elsewhere, but for the occasional passenger, it looks poor. So if you're flying out and have tight connections to hotels, onward flights, cars etc. It can be an issue ... but you know all this!

I don't disagree and a leisure only pax myself, I know how frustrating delays can be.

The OP was suggesting the VS085 is always late so I was trying to show that isnt quite true whilst also offering a reason (but not an excuse) why it happens.

[Neil]

However, today good old Tinkerbelle travelled up from LHR to operate the VS85 so at least V-port and quite a few upgrades I would imagaine however those in PE looking for the bubble will have been disappointed.

Give me the new PE seats and V-Port over the upper deck anyday! y)

Hmmmm, I'm not sure myself. I rarely use the IFE and on both occasions I've flown in the purple leather PE seats I haven't found them that comfy.

However, today good old Tinkerbelle travelled up from LHR to operate the VS85 so at least V-port and quite a few upgrades I would imagaine however those in PE looking for the bubble will have been disappointed.

Give me the new PE seats and V-Port over the upper deck anyday! y)

Hmmmm, I'm not sure myself. I rarely use the IFE and on both occasions I've flown in the purple leather PE seats I haven't found them that comfy.

my votes wth Neil an against the lovely Tinks I am afraid. A seat in the bubble outranks IFE every time. Just delayed my return trip in 2 weeks time by a day just to get a 747 over a 330