V-Flyer

Hi Team!

Flying to LA upper at the end of the month and flying back from San Fran, upper. I have A340 out there and 747 on way home. Can anyone give any advice as to which aircraft are in the best condition, obviously want to best aircraft although there is no way I have any say, but a boy can wish!

it all comes down to personal preference.

I'm not a 'must be on X aircraft type' person. As long as I get there in comfort and am well fed, plied with alcohol and the IFE works then I'm a happy bear.

Each aircraft has its own set of adherents who will fight to the death that 'their' plane is best.

However, on the 747 try and get a seat in the A-zone at the very front of the main deck.

I just wondered if lady bird was in a better condition then bubbles, if Cosmic Girls IFE always breaks.... Are there any planes that you would not want apart from those without AVOD.

Well given that you don't get a choice I think it's a moot question.

Lets say that plane X is a little older than the others and the IFE less reliable (not sure how you would know that anyway) what would you do if when you get to the jet-way you find that you are on plane X?

Refuse to board?

A similar question people often ask what is the 'best' flight to get to NYC given there are 3 aircraft types on the route. My advice has always been to take the plane that suits your arrival at LHR and NYC plans rather than being on a particular plane as they do change them about.

Hmmm... Not sure I posted for this type of response, just a little bit of fun that's all.

-

LHR 747's have vport don't they and I deffo will not get a newly refurbed with JAM as they fly out of LGW...

Rustigearbox2 wrote:The A340s will be neater an will have the V:PORT AVOD IFE which is nice for a long flight. They wills also be newer.
If you get a refurbished 747 it will have the new UC suites and JAM AVOD IFE(JAM is the next IFE up from VPORT)

However if you get a non refurb you probably wont get an on demand IFE and the interior wont be as looked after and as neat as the the a340.

Sorry to say but the information above is not correct.

As you are flying to/from LHR then you would get a LHR 747 that are not part of the refurbishments (it is only the LGW fleet and they aren't getting the new UCS on them in any case). Saying that, the LHR 747's have exactly the same IFE as the LHR A346's (V-Port), which is fully on demand. Also, the rest of the on board product is exactly the same, seats, level of service etc so that.

Back to the original question by the OP, I think Tonty makes a good and valid point, there is absolutely nothing we can do to determine which actual a/c we fly on so it is a little pointless worrying about it.

Yes, we can choose the a/c type that is *currently* scheduled to operate a specific flight on a specific date, but that could (and does) easily change beforehand. I'm sure each a/c have their own little unique features where the IFE on BIG has broken down more than the IFE on WOW, but that information is just not available for us, so it's hard to offer opinions on that basis.

Neil and Tonty, I agree with you about choosing the flight time to suit you as aircraft can change. But the OP has already booked their flights and wasn't asking for recommendations on if they should change flight.

How I read it, is just quite an old question on here. B747 or A340. Their next post goes further asking about specific aircraft, so if one was seen better than the others it can bring a bit of joy when you see it at the gate. For example, if you are on an a343 flight and G-VSUN arrives.

I could be wrong. What reason did you ask for RMB?

As mentioned previously, it was just a bit of fun.

I know what aircraft type I most likely to get and I know that plans can change last minute for wherever reason. I know in both cases I am likely to get Vport but I have read in past posts that some aircrafts Upper Suites are in worse shape then others and some aircrafts are more prone to IFE failures.

Was hoping for comments like 'went on Bubbles last month, seats are in need of replacement, they are looking a little tatty'

I know that I can't 'pick' my aircraft and have no control over what aircraft gets allocated to a route that day but I was trying to establish if there were certain aircraft to hope for.

If it is deemed that this post is pointless then do not response and let the post die a death.

On the 747, isn't the UC Bed on the upper deck slightly longer than the ones in the A zone?

I always when booking look at the type of plane and try to avoid certain types but know its a chance you take.
Booked a trip via CDG on AF to try the A380 and got a 777 and booked a trip at Easter from LAX to IAD on UA and chose the 777 and now its a 757.
My choices aren't that good!

Craigrlewis wrote:I always when booking look at the type of plane and try to avoid certain types but know its a chance you take.
Booked a trip via CDG on AF to try the A380 and got a 777 and booked a trip at Easter from LAX to IAD on UA and chose the 777 and now its a 757.
My choices aren't that good!

I hope for your sake that you aren't a gambling man

RIP

In terms of the 747s, last time I travelled on them, Mustang Sally was in better internal condition than Tinkerbelle, who was in turn in better condition than Tubular Belle.

I know you are just kidding, but I am not sure if even this is helpful to you, because a good clean can transform the interiors.

In terms of the 346s, I've never noticed much of a difference, and bear in mind that if one seat is a bit ropey, the other 30 or so may be spotless (but you'll never see them up close).

at240 wrote:
Mustang Sally was in better internal condition than Tinkerbelle,

:0 :0 :0 :0 :0 :0 :0 :0

xx(

Then I shall pray for Mustang Sally (not literally) ... This is not to be confused with me 'picking' MS to travel on, should anyone be wondering!

Poor Tinkerbell!!

Tinkerbelle wrote:

at240 wrote:Mustang Sally was in better internal condition than Tinkerbelle,

:0 :0 :0 :0 :0 :0 :0 :0

xx(

I am so sorry, Tinkerbelle, I forgot how that might read!

Mind you, remember that the OP is off to LA -- they can work wonders there. ):

OK, my take on this.

The LGW fleet - I so rarely fly ex-LGW so the plane is irrelevant to me. It's the crew that makes it.

The LHR 346 series - I'm not a great fan of this aircraft in the UC cabin because of its dormitory-like appearance

The LHR 747 series - love 'em all but I have a particular fondness for Tinkerbell (natch! ), Mustang Sally because of the film "The Commitments ", Cosmic Girl because we flew in her shortly after her entry into the fleet and Tubular Bell because I have flown her a lot. In fact poor old G-VFAB, Lady Penelope, doesn't rate with me at all

Of the A343 series, I have been lucky enough to score G-VSUN on a few flights but unfortunate enough to score the two remaining aircraft in the fleet on 3 out of 4 flights prior to their conversion to the UC suites. Having said that, I have a fondness for the A343 as it was the first aircraft I flew on VS albeit in Economy and I just loved the flight. I also like the compactness of the UC cabin compared to that of the A346 and that makes up for the lack of V-PORT

Honey Lamb all good points thanks!

I have been on Lady P in PE and I thought she was wonderful in fact the only 747 I've been on most other flights it's been A346 and I love those AC but never in upper.

I was unfortunately given a A343 on my way back from Washington and I hated the IFE can't have been G-VSUN.

All this talk makes for a very happy RIPMadsButts!!!

Thank you

On a similar note I'm looking at either VS4 or 46 on 01/01/13. They leave within an hour of each other with the 4 showing as a 333 and the 46 as a 744.

We'll be in PE but may upgrade to UC if a suitable fare appears. Any comments on 333 vs 744?

Thanks

I'd go with the VS4. New IFE, and a smaller PE cabin. Plus the new UC if you upgrade.

We've been in PE on a 747 on the VS46, and the service took a long time because of there being more seats for the 2 CC in PE to look after than on the Airbus fleet.

In PE? The A333 by a country mile.
In UC? More controversial. Probably the 747 but I think the A333 is better than its reputation.

Clarkeysntfc/at240, Thanks a bunch.
VS4 it is!