My thoughts on the proposed new LGW upper deck layout.

Hi all

A question occurred to me on the proposed new split W/Y upstairs.... What about the first Y row?

Say for instance if it is

WW WW
WW WW
WW WW
WW WW
WW WW
YYY YYY
YYY YYY
YYY YYY
YYY YYY
YYY YYY
YYY YYY

One of people's main complaints I read is when the person in front has the audacity to recline their reclining seat, thus reducing your available space, which of course you can reclaim by reclining your own seat.

Now, given that the PE seats have more recline etc than Economy, does this mean the people in the front row of economy will lose more space than anyone else?

Well currently there is a space between the front half of PE and the back half so the recline isn't an issue.

If the proposed seat map was a PE/Y split, then I'd imagine there would be some form of divide between the 2 cabins like the UC/Y split on the LHR 744.

This picture shows the current UC/Y divide: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Virgin-A ... 5b282e1345

Won't there be an exit row between the two sections?
Is that what the new layout is going to be on the refurbished aircraft? Does anyone have a full seat map?

Yes the front half will still be w then the gap where the doors are and the rear half will be y

Yes the front half will still be w then the gap where the doors are and the rear half will be y

Oooo I didn't know that, thank you.

Ah, so that may make the last row of W the most desirable, depending on how close the bulkhead is, and whether it interferes with the recline.

If its the same as the current PE last seat layout, then its fine as they are our favourite seats, no one behind so you can recline without feeling you are annoying the people behind, and a nice little storage unit by the window seat.

If its the same as the current PE last seat layout, then its fine as they are our favourite seats, no one behind so you can recline without feeling you are annoying the people behind, and a nice little storage unit by the window seat.

Yes back row of the bubble is good.

Edit: never mind

Only a small point I know, but its bad enough for UC pax on the MCO route get to wait toi diembark after the PE and Econ rows by the exit, now if you are in PE upstairs, what are the chances of getting off before economy? will this laso effect the UC Pax?

[Neil]

Only a small point I know, but its bad enough for UC pax on the MCO route get to wait toi diembark after the PE and Econ rows by the exit, now if you are in PE upstairs, what are the chances of getting off before economy? will this laso effect the UC Pax?

I don't see that it will change the current procedure at all, and in reality it will be pretty much the same as it is now.

The will let the downstairs PE and UC cabin off first, then let the upper deck so obviously the Y pax up there will get off before the front PE half.

Currently, the first pax off the a/c are actually Y pax from the mini cabin in front of L2, so it will actually mean a higher % of PE pax off before any Y pax on the new config, and those PE pax at the front of the upper deck, will still be the last of the 'priority' lot to leave the a/c, like they are now.

Am I imagining it when I think that it always used to be upper deck first ?

Am I imagining it when I think that it always used to be upper deck first ?

Think you are correct but that was with the "old" fleet of 747-200's.

Premium was at the nose of the plane ( where upper is now ) and upper or club Orlando seats were up stairs so I would assume upstairs were off first. (if my memory serves me correctly)


David

every flight i have taken the upper deck Pe is off first

every flight i have taken the upper deck Pe is off first

Me too, on my last two flights on a LGW/MAN 747 (MCO & LAS) they only held back the downstairs Y section resulting in a lot of the upstairs PE passengers getting off before UC.

-Steve

[Neil]

every flight i have taken the upper deck Pe is off first

Me too, on my last two flights on a LGW/MAN 747 (MCO & LAS) they only held back the downstairs Y section resulting in a lot of the upstairs PE passengers getting off before UC.

-Steve

I have never had that happen in all my years and many flights to MCO. Whether flying UC, in the bubble or Y, it has always been front part of a/c, upper deck and then Y.

On all my flights to MCO (in UC) they have always just held back the main economy cabin behind door L2. So yes, in my experience, PE pax from upstairs have definately been off the aircraft before UC pax.

On my last MCO flight, the PA announcement after landing advised that the front of the aircraft and upper deck would disembark first, followed by the main economy cabin.

The cabins between the 1 & 2 doors are often used for pax. needing assistance - so they often are waiting with their families until last - apart from the "miracle" flight cures.

Not always easy to get through if they stand up though, so upper deck can often get off first.

every flight i have taken the upper deck Pe is off first

Me too, on my last two flights on a LGW/MAN 747 (MCO & LAS) they only held back the downstairs Y section resulting in a lot of the upstairs PE passengers getting off before UC.

-Steve

I have never had that happen in all my years and many flights to MCO. Whether flying UC, in the bubble or Y, it has always been front part of a/c, upper deck and then Y.

On my return into Gatwick a couple of weeks ago, as we came down the stairs they were holding back the main economy to my left but we filed in with passengers still departing from the right, which would be a combination of PE and UC from the front part of the plane. I'm sure that's how it was the last time I landed at MCO too.

On another thread, mitchja provided the following link;
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourfleet/index.jsp?type=16

Looks like it won't be a bulkhead / curtain type affair, because on the upper deck the only toilets are at the front, therefore the economy passengers will need to pass through premium anyway to get to the loo.

On another thread, mitchja provided the following link;
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/allaboutus/ourfleet/index.jsp?type=16

Looks like it won't be a bulkhead / curtain type affair, because on the upper deck the only toilets are at the front, therefore the economy passengers will need to pass through premium anyway to get to the loo.

I doubt it, the upper deck Y config is the same as the LHR fleet so I would assume that the rear lav would be added as it was for the LHR fleet. The original config 4 seat map on vs.com did not show the rear lav either.

I've heard that the toilet will be added and I've heard it won't guess we will need to wait a few more weeks until the aircraft is back from HKG.

every flight i have taken the upper deck Pe is off first

Me too, on my last two flights on a LGW/MAN 747 (MCO & LAS) they only held back the downstairs Y section resulting in a lot of the upstairs PE passengers getting off before UC.

-Steve

I have never had that happen in all my years and many flights to MCO. Whether flying UC, in the bubble or Y, it has always been front part of a/c, upper deck and then Y.

every UC flight I have taken to MCO it is always Pe/Econ and a mix if UC and upstairs getting off, hardly the priority exiting for UC pax, the only ones off after us (as we normally have seats in row 6 & 7, is the main cabin. Goes well with the lack of UC entrance at gatwick departure lounge

I have now seen the new configuration on the VA website and it think they have devalued the reasons for PE being in the top deck. A lot more people, will be noisier, the only toilets are at the front of the cabin, so front PE pax will have queuing outside their seats, more through cabin movement, with people leaning on the PE seat backs, using the emergancy exiot rows to stretch out of the uncomfortable Econ seats.
To me the larger PE downstairs cabin will be a better place to be in PE, but I bet with this larger PE cabin. the amount of pE using the UC toilets will also increase

[Neil]

To me the larger PE downstairs cabin will be a better place to be in PE, but I bet with this larger PE cabin. the amount of pE using the UC toilets will also increase

I fully agree that on the new config the downstairs PE cabin is going to be the better place to be. In fact, I think it will be a really nice cabin.

To me the larger PE downstairs cabin will be a better place to be in PE, but I bet with this larger PE cabin. the amount of pE using the UC toilets will also increase

I fully agree that on the new config the downstairs PE cabin is going to be the better place to be. In fact, I think it will be a really nice cabin.

I agree as well; the lower cabin looks the better bet; let's hope we get some trs