V-Flyer

Does anyone know when the Shanghai planes are due to be re fitted pls?

As long as it's an A346 there will be no refits. It's likely that as the B789 enters the fleet they'll replace the 346s with the new UCDS, but there are no plans to refit existing planes in the fleet now.

My wife just flew to PVG a few days ago and said the new VERA navigation looks good and was far easier. Thankfully no refit planned on the A346 and I hope they remain on PVG to the bitter end -lovely plane.

Yeah so did I, I could not really tell the difference. Stil not a touch screen

PVG is switching from A346 to A343 end of March as is DXB

http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/bre ... f-24dec12/

flyingfox wrote:PVG is switching from A346 to A343 end of March as is DXB

http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/bre ... f-24dec12/

Bad news ... I hope that is a mistake.

Flying Fox -- Thanks for the update, bads news though the A346 is a great plane --- incidentally are you Shanghai based, one of my favourite haunts in PuDong is ...... The Flying Fox!

Ha ha no not PVG based but will check out that place on the next visit

flyingfox wrote:PVG is switching from A346 to A343 end of March as is DXB

http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/bre ... f-24dec12/

I am booked to DXB in end of February, and have the a330 on the out bound (3 class I assume) and the a340-300 on the return two days later. Not overwhelmed with joy as the a340-600 is for sure my favorite...

Jensenma

McMaddog wrote:

flyingfox wrote:PVG is switching from A346 to A343 end of March as is DXB

http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/bre ... f-24dec12/

Bad news ... I hope that is a mistake.

Most of the times I have flown to DXB it has been the A343. I rather like the plane but then I have been lucky enough to get G-VSUN which has whatever V-Port is now called

Most of the times I have flown to DXB it has been the A343. I rather like the plane but then I have been lucky enough to get G-VSUN which has whatever V-Port is now called

Been 3 times in the past 3 months, all on A346, maybe I have just been lucky. What I like about the plane, is that it has all of UC in one part of the plane and not split. I have been on a couple of a343 and have been sitting in the smaller part of UC, and to me the service there seemed lesser than in the main part. But, might just be me.

On the A346 next week to HKG so will enjoy it...

Jensenma

jensenma wrote:Been 3 times in the past 3 months, all on A346, maybe I have just been lucky. What I like about the plane, is that it has all of UC in one part of the plane and not split. I have been on a couple of a343 and have been sitting in the smaller part of UC, and to me the service there seemed lesser than in the main part. But, might just be me.

On the A346 next week to HKG so will enjoy it...

Jensenma

That's what I hate most about the A346. It looks like a row of dormitory beds, especially if you are at the rear end of the cabin. It really does need a crossway

I am heading to Dubai middle of march and seem to have A330 both ways (3 class) Is this just because they are making the switch to A343 or could routesonline be wrong?

That explains it, I am returning on 21st of February.

I will make my own notes and make comparison of all three different types and with an open mind report back...

Happy new year!

"Ha ha no not PVG based but will check out that place on the next visit"

Start at the Flying Fox, head to Big Bamboo via foot massage at Head to Toe, and then to 1221 [best restaurant in Shanghai]

Trust me -- you will not be disappointed

enjoyingit wrote:I am heading to Dubai middle of march and seem to have A330 both ways (3 class) Is this just because they are making the switch to A343 or could routesonline be wrong?

Airline Route dot net takes it's feed from airlines' systems, so as of now it is correct.

honey lamb wrote:That's what I hate most about the A346. It looks like a row of dormitory beds, especially if you are at the rear end of the cabin. It really does need a crossway

Each to their own - for me it's a toss up between the nose of a 747 and a 346, yes the 747 is more private and has more space, but for me the 346 is the best looking interior cabin (and any 340 is leaps and bounds ahead of any 330 for UC seat and bed space).

I'm not surprised at the downsizing - the PVG flight is consistent in its lack of bums on seats - we just came back on the 251 yesterday, only 132 onboard.

Granted, slow time of year for Asian travel, BUT that's against a backdrop of every single 250/251 flight I took last year having between 140-170 onboard, even at peak business times.

I'm sure the freight really helps with the route, but it's more often a Ghost Ship than a Plane in my experience. While the A343 will stink if it's non AVOD, it's probably the right move from a profit standpoint.

In another thread Slinky mentions the use of tablets for NYC. Are they up to the job though for a 12 hour sector?

Not just 12 hours.

Quite often, the 251 hits 13+ hours. Swapping for a 343 *will* make the route slower than the 346 too. So, up to 14 hours to fill with one of the least modern IFE sytems in the sky... :w

The tablet pcs have the same content that you would find on Vera touch and are very popular with pax

virginboy747 wrote:The tablet pcs have the same content that you would find on Vera touch and are very popular with pax

Cheers VB, though it wasn't the content I was doubting, more the staying power of the battery = especially for the return PAX on the daytime VS251 longer (due to winds) flight.

I believe the 343 is only going on the PVG route 3 times a week. The other 4 are still 346. Perhaps it ties in with YVR and its 4 weekly utilization somehow???

The tablet pcs have power leads that plug into the laptop power outlets in J and W

virginboy747 wrote:The tablet pcs have power leads that plug into the laptop power outlets in J and W

Ah silly me - forgot all about that! Sounds OK then. Still, will miss the smoked grey colour scheme, chrome handles and blue-lit toilets.