V-Flyer

i am flying to MCO on the 23rd Aug and was looking forward to the new airbus operating on this route purely for the entertainment system. Looking online it seems the the outward bound is on a 74 (upper pe, main front uc then pe , e . ) does this mean the 74 with be one of the older aircraft with the poorer entertainment system I have already been online making a list of the films I wanted to see...

Hi,

The 747's are being refurbished currently and the refurbished ones will have the new JAM system. If not, then then I'm afraid you will have one of the older entertainment systems with movies showing on a loop, rather than on demand.

I flew from Manchester to Orlando 3 years ago and had the old system, it is not a patch on the new system. Having said that, there will still be a good range of films and TV channels so you will still have enough to pass the time, so don't worry too much about it. Enjoy Florida!

Thanks for that, I'm still going to be disappointed, it was one of the reasons we stopped flying Virgin from MAN as the planes always looked tired and the loop system. Guess we should have carried on with BA from Gatwick. I always get the feeling with the MAN-MCO route that virgin aren't as bothered as many pax are on a package holiday and it's purely a holiday destination rather than business route !

Hi, am goin out to orlando the day after you lol i noticed that they are using the 747 all that week but the a330 the week befor and after, dont know why they changed it.

Maybe one of the A330's is due for maintenance so they have to rotate the fleet around slightly.

Louiseebell wrote:Thanks for that, I'm still going to be disappointed, it was one of the reasons we stopped flying Virgin from MAN as the planes always looked tired and the loop system. Guess we should have carried on with BA from Gatwick. I always get the feeling with the MAN-MCO route that virgin aren't as bothered as many pax are on a package holiday and it's purely a holiday destination rather than business route !

You could have maybe had a point about that a couple of years ago, but the whole LGW/MAN fleet is getting a multi million pound make over this year, with the latest seats/IFE (that is only on LGW/MAN a/c current, so even better than the LHR ones). Of course by the time you fly there will only be a 3 in 7 chance you might get one of these a/c, but still a chance.

Also, LGW and MAN share a fleet of a/c, so they can't just discriminate against MAN.

Guess it must be then, never mind we might get one the re fit planes while the a330 is away,

Neil
It might be worth looking at how many times the 2 refurbished planes have flown out of MAN.

diamon4 wrote:Neil
It might be worth looking at how many times the 2 refurbished planes have flown out of MAN.

I am aware of that already. As I said, G-VROM has done a few flights and G-VAST hasn't done any yet. It is all to do with the rotations of the fleet at MCO and LAS, which is where the MAN/LGW a/c swap around.

Right now they can still be slightly selective with the routes based on loads but as the number of refitted a/c enter the fleet that isn't going to be possible, so obviously it will increase.

I know it's just one of those things but they advertise the new aircraft with all the bell and whistle and then you actually get round to checking out your flight it just happens to have changed, I must just be unlucky as this is the third time it has happened to me out of 4 man flights... First time it was a leased aircraft replacing their 74 with an aircraft with no seat back tv,s the time after I went pe and all the entertainment system was not working upstairs with no alternative offered... I think I'm not ment to travel this route. I've been spoilt in recent times with emirates entertainment system :#

The main thing I didn't like about the older 747 was the seating, nowhere near as comfortable as the planes from LHR.

I hope your flight is on a refurbished 747

Louise you must be on same flights as me every time i been from man not had the tvs working once yet.

Wow thank goodness it's just not me mabbybmw.... Please tell me your not flying on the 23/08 man to mco otherwise I'll buy a few books to keep me occupied this time )

Am goin on the 24/8 lol

Hot lips has gone man -mco today if they stick with that all week I'll be happy as she has been refurbished!!!! Fingers crossed.

Louiseebell wrote:Hot lips has gone man -mco today if they stick with that all week I'll be happy as she has been refurbished!!!! Fingers crossed.

It won't do that flight all week

Neil wrote:

Louiseebell wrote:Thanks for that, I'm still going to be disappointed, it was one of the reasons we stopped flying Virgin from MAN as the planes always looked tired and the loop system. Guess we should have carried on with BA from Gatwick. I always get the feeling with the MAN-MCO route that virgin aren't as bothered as many pax are on a package holiday and it's purely a holiday destination rather than business route !

You could have maybe had a point about that a couple of years ago, but the whole LGW/MAN fleet is getting a multi million pound make over this year, with the latest seats/IFE (that is only on LGW/MAN a/c current, so even better than the LHR ones). Of course by the time you fly there will only be a 3 in 7 chance you might get one of these a/c, but still a chance.

Also, LGW and MAN share a fleet of a/c, so they can't just discriminate against MAN.

To be fair to the Op & many people on an annual holiday, once is enough, you don't care if the frequency chance is unlucky- you've paid for virgin on their heavily advertised product and don't get it... given its been advertised for close on years now, people will vote with their feet for their trip next year..
Not so bad if its only a more modern cabin, but knackered seats, IFE's that don't work productively etc etc is mighty upsetting and pax couldn't give a hoot if the new planes flying tomorrow, no use to them..
I do tend to side with the fact the roll out could of been more productive...given the state they've let the 747's get into..