IFE & Cabin - A340-300 VS039

Hi there

I'm flying out to LHR - ORD in Saturday 18th May 2013 on VS039.

According to records on V-Flyer, it looks like the aircraft will be an A340-300 with VERA Reel IFE the-toolbox/inflight-entertainment

I have only ever travelled on Virgin aircraft that carry On Demand and Touch and from what I read Reel is rather dated. Can anyone shed any more information on what Reel is like? Any information is very much appreciated. (&photos)

Also, looking at photos online, there are no recent pictures of Economy cabins on the A343 - does anyone have any photo examples of what it looks like?

I'm quite concerned that the aircraft is going to be dated along with the IFE..

Really appreciate input.

Thanks. y)

[honey lamb]

Apart from G-VSUN which has VERA On Demand, all the other 343s have VERA Reel which is a loop system. You can't stop or rewind it and if you miss the beginning - well too bad ii)

If you can, come armed with some entertainment on your laptop, iPad or phone - or a good old-fashioned book

Firstly welcome to v- flyer,as per honey lamb said its pretty bad so arm yourself with your own entertainment

I agree with my fellow V-Flyers having recently had my first experience of an 343. Arm yourself with your own entertainment. Or pick the film you want to see most and watch that first.
In all my years flying VS I cant recall having flown on a VS plane that had REEL until this such occasion. It was like stepping back in time.

Jumping on the bandwagon, but it really is bad. In fairness, the Virgin service is still good, and the cabin is quite nice - especially if you are in the snooze zone. However, it does feel like stepping back in time.

But, at least you get some sort of choice. I flew internal in the US a year or so back (not on VX) and that was pretty bleak - one screen at the front of the cabin and one mid way back. ... So I guess it could be worse

Jumping on the bandwagon, but it really is bad. In fairness, the virgin service is still good, and the cabin is quite nice -especially if you are in the snooze zone. However, it does feel like stepping back in time.

But, at least you get some sort of choice. I flew internal in the US a year or so back (not on vx) and that was pretty bleak - one screen at the front of the cabin and one mid way back. ... S I guess it could be worse

I'm sure I have read TRs on this site where carriers across the Atlantic still feature single all cabin screens.

In the grand scheme of things, it's pretty minor really. As HL says, take a book. It won't freeze, need rebooting or feature annoying adverts.

VERA Reel was top notch when we started flying VS in 1997. I remember talking to a friend who had flown to LA at the same time as we did and was trying to persuade me that a single screen showing of 'Cheaper By The Dozen' was bearable. Five years later Air France still had single screen entertainment for the whole cabin.

Thank you all for your replies. I do love to fly, but part of that is the experience and every detail - right down to the IFE. I didn't realise at the time of booking that it would be this dated. It didn't state at time of booking - I only had their economy guides online to go by.

Oh well, you never know - it may be better than I expect!

Thanks again.