V-Flyer

So it has finally arrived, to start flying passengers to Orlando and Mexico. ): Virgin will have to up its game to keep customers from these routes, that normally fly econ with them. n(

Lucydog wrote:So it has finally arrived, to start flying passengers to Orlando and Mexico. ): Virgin will have to up its game to keep customers from these routes, that normally fly econ with them. n(

And PE for that matter, heard good things about their plus product...
VS have been exploiting MAN pax for too long with inflated price vs product...'bout time some real competion, hope the cool bag for the batteries works as planned...

East Midlands to Sanford and on to St Augustine sounds good to me!

I had a look at their Orlando service from Glasgow for this years holiday, the price was more expensive than Virgin and then you had to add on extra for the baggage allowance, food, drink and they had a cheek to charge a premium for their 787 service (wonder if they'll refund that to all the poor mugs now getting 9 across seating in a A330). And it flys into Sandford which isn't great.

Nope I'm happy with the current Virgin product but some competition may help raise their game.

It's a shame that Thomson and BA are going 9 abreast in economy on their 787's, against the manufacturers recommendation of 8 across. I fear VS will follow suit.

northernhenry wrote:

Lucydog wrote:So it has finally arrived, to start flying passengers to Orlando and Mexico. ): Virgin will have to up its game to keep customers from these routes, that normally fly econ with them. n(

And PE for that matter, heard good things about their plus product...
VS have been exploiting MAN pax for too long with inflated price vs product...'bout time some real competion, hope the cool bag for the batteries works as planned...

I think Thomson charging more for flights on the Dreamliner rather than other aircraft is taking the mick!

clarkeysntfc wrote:It's a shame that Thomson and BA are going 9 abreast in economy on their 787's, against the manufacturers recommendation of 8 across. I fear VS will follow suit.

Airlines never follow the rec, they always squeeze more in. It's why the claims of 'most spacious cabin ever' with each new aircraft should largely be taken with a pinch of salt.

They are the first to start shipping us across the Atlantic, So they can charge high rates to impress us with the new large windows and see through roof etc v(. Virgin need to find a way of keeping us satisfied, or we may trade them in for the new model. What year are we getting ours, ! 2020. haha.

See through roof? You mean the boeing sky interior, which is essentially blue mood lighting, they have it on the new 739's...it's nice.

Neil wrote:

northernhenry wrote:

Lucydog wrote:So it has finally arrived, to start flying passengers to Orlando and Mexico. ): Virgin will have to up its game to keep customers from these routes, that normally fly econ with them. n(

And PE for that matter, heard good things about their plus product...
VS have been exploiting MAN pax for too long with inflated price vs product...'bout time some real competion, hope the cool bag for the batteries works as planned...

I think Thomson charging more for flights on the Dreamliner rather than other aircraft is taking the mick!

SQ did that when they first introduced the A380!

Flying Thomson instead of virgin I don't think so.

VS is getting the larger 787-9 which hasn't even flown yet, I believe.

I think that 95%+ of people who fly have no idea what plane they're on nowadays if it's a two engines under the week kinda plane. 95%+ will make their decision based on price / habit. Whether Thomson has a 787 or not will only really matter to very few, including a few of us geeks here.

As for the 787 itself, unlike the 380 I'm in no hurry to fly it - look just like everything else and what with its teething and all ...

As for pricing the VS product, if VS fills em them it's probably pricing just right.

Slightly OT but I wonder where VS will send its 787-9's? I'd imagine the routes to Vancouver, Cape Town, Shanghai, Tokyo, HKG/Sydney are prime candidates.

Having recently flown on Thomson metal, I won't be doing that in a hurry again.

You can't compare VS crew with TOM crew, VS is in a different league and worth the premium - based on my personal experience.

As an aside, the TOM crew are not fans of their new 'Dreamliner' uniform - they have given themselves a nickname of 't**ts in hats!*.

It is being tested here in Newquay .... I have a pic or two to post

flight radar - [
IMG_0840 by Itstheharps, on Flickr][/img]

The Plane itself -


thomson dreamliner by Itstheharps, on Flickr

last one (honest)


Landing by Itstheharps, on Flickr

It all looks very nice and new etc, ): But it will never rival our comfy settee feeling 747s.Let them push that product to the people who look for a bargain.We can all get on with lots of yummy 747s from manchester etc and good crew. ^)

I saw the aircraft today after arriving at Manchester sitting in the Manchester sun.....she looked fantastic.

I did read yesterday that she would be operating a flight down to Newquay today but not sure the significance, before she takes up duties on short haul routes....I also seem to think the second 787 for Thomson arrived today too but not sure where. I am guessing LGW?

Jon

I understand TOM will be using the Dreamliner on a number of short haul flights as a trial - not sure which routes, will be at random so passengers will get a nice surprise.

Second one arrived 7.10 this morning at Manchester

clarkeysntfc wrote:VS is getting the larger 787-9 which hasn't even flown yet, I believe.

Yep, Air NZ get the 787-9 first followed by VS. So VS will be the first European carrier to operate the larger model.

clarkeysntfc wrote:Slightly OT but I wonder where VS will send its 787-9's? I'd imagine the routes to Vancouver, Cape Town, Shanghai, Tokyo, HKG/Sydney are prime candidates.

Yeah, I think you're right.

Apparenty, they'll switch to Tokyo Haneda and use the dreamliner in 2014 so not long to wait. I believe they announced that last year. Shanghai and Sydney were also mentioned. But considering they said last year that the dreamliners were due September next year, and Boeing says they are still on schedule, I think it's not going to be long.

The sooner those A343s go the better! 8D