V-Flyer

Hi all
MMB is showing the current status of the aircraft type for my flight from NRT-LHR early in the new year as an A322? this must be a glitch?
It has normally been showing an A346 which I am sort of hoping for because of IFE.
It has once shown a 747. However I have never flown on a vs 747 to NRT.

Wow, yeh that sounds like a glitch to me. Usually served by the A346, least that is the one I have been on in the past.

Never seen the 747 hop over to NRT - if only once, perhaps they had no choice on the day.

thanks joeyc
lol phew thats what i thought but wanted to check.
I assume a 747 has greater capacity than a 346 and the NRT route is perhaps not as busy?
However i wonder if they took more bookings would they then think about a 747?

It is unlikely that they would run a B747 on that route just because it was busy that day.

It is probable that the A346 that was going to be doing the route had a bit of a tech problem and had to be grounded. Playing a bit of musical chairs with some of the flights may have given them a B747 to send that way.

Then again perhaps one of the LGW or MAN fleet had to fill in on a tech day for an A346 that needed a rest...

Sorry gfonk, just guessing

Thanks again Joeyc
Your guess will definitely be better than mine.
as long as the A343s dont return to the route in December/January I am a happy man. The IFE on those is like stepping back in time. Wow we do demand a lot!!

Ok, just checked the aircraft tool and a 747 has never done the NRT run.... You will likely be on an A343 or an A346 .....

The manage my booking information is probs just having a confusing day

thanks joeyc
well thanks to V-Flyer i will now be able to find out what im going to be on and prepare IFE accordingly.

747 won't do any of the Asian routes as none of the local crews are trained on that aircraft.

wwings wrote:747 won't do any of the Asian routes as none of the local crews are trained on that aircraft.

oh? thats interesting. It seems to me that the route is quite often busy though. Wonder if VS will ever consider 747s on asia routes?

NRT was originally on a 747-200 before changing to an a340-300 in the 90's then on to a 340-600 in the 00's. the schedule shows it as staying on a 346 for the winter '13 and summer '14 schedule.
HKG went on a 747-400 after 9/11 due to low demand to the US so aircraft better utilised on HKG route where demand was still high bit then switched back to an airbus when transatlantic loads improved
DEL was also originally on a 747-200 until it switched to an airbus.

virginboy747 wrote:NRT was originally on a 747-200 before changing to an a340-300 in the 90's then on to a 340-600 in the 00's. the schedule shows it as staying on a 346 for the winter '13 and summer '14 schedule.
HKG went on a 747-400 after 9/11 due to low demand to the US so aircraft better utilised on HKG route where demand was still high bit then switched back to an airbus when transatlantic loads improved
DEL was also originally on a 747-200 until it switched to an airbus.

That's great thanks virginboy747
Ah good to hear about the winter schedule. I tried to look it up but no luck
Anyway thanks for the info

virginboy747 wrote:HKG went on a 747-400 after 9/11 due to low demand to the US so aircraft better utilised on HKG route where demand was still high bit then switched back to an airbus when transatlantic loads improved

Indeed I have flown 744 into HKG.

I dont think A320 will fly as far as Japan ??

JCBR wrote:I dont think A320 will fly as far as Japan ??

im going to guess probably not, due to their size. But hoping someone will know for sure.

gfonk wrote:

JCBR wrote:I dont think A320 will fly as far as Japan ??

im going to guess probably not, due to their size. But hoping someone will know for sure.

Without getting too accurate, the A320 should get to about half way.

sky0000547 wrote:Without getting too accurate, the A320 should get to about half way.

Wow
Must be to do with fuel capacity?

It's not designed for that sort of mission - with a full passenger load, much more than four and a half to five hours is pushing it. Empty, probably about seven hours. But LHR-NRT? No chance.

Sarastro wrote:It's not designed for that sort of mission - with a full passenger load, much more than four and a half to five hours is pushing it. Empty, probably about seven hours. But LHR-NRT? No chance.

Ah I see
Like joeyc said MMB must have just been having a moment of madness/confusion

virginboy747 wrote:... the schedule shows it as staying on a 346 for the winter '13 and summer '14 schedule.

I just checked my MMB and its showing a 343 for the inbound 2nd week of Jan 14 :0 ?|
do you think this could also be a MMB glitch? as it has consistently been showing 346s?

If there are low loads it could go on a 343 some days

virginboy747 wrote:If there are low loads it could go on a 343 some days

Thanks
Which 343 has Vera on demand again?

gfonk wrote:

virginboy747 wrote:If there are low loads it could go on a 343 some days

Thanks
Which 343 has Vera on demand again?

G-VSUN

Thanks honeylamb