LHR-LAX fleet changes

Currently VS use A340-600/B747-400 on the LHR-LAX route. Why on earth are they changing to a A340-300?? That means they have their oldest fleet competing against BA's newest (BA are flying A380 on the route) - doesn't make sense to me n(

http://airlineroute.net/2013/12/16/vs-lax-s14/

From the above site:

21APR14 – 06MAY14 Daily (Except 27APR14)
21MAY14 – 13JUN14 Day x135
01JUL14 – 26AUG14 Day 26

This means that after 6th May it's only an A343 3 then 2 days p/w. Day 2 is Tuesday, day 6 is Saturday.

It could be for several reasons, A346's are being parked so less are available. Those that are remaining may need heavy maintenance checks, putting them out of service for a while.

On a more pessimistic note, VS simply may not have the loads to fill the larger aircraft. Under their JV, from next summer BA and AA with 2 x A380 + 1 x 77W featuring latest cabins etc will be very strong.

I wonder if there isn't the demand for 2 full flights a day as the dates listed seem to coincide with school term times.

Am I also right in thinking the 600s are the least fuel efficient of the fleet? Probably a consideration on one of the longest routes. Potentially a warm up to the Dreamliner arriving?

I think judging by their withdrawal on the Delhi services at short notice this winter Virgin are trying to fly the A346s as little as possible at the moment. It really looks like the new CEO is trying to stem outflow of cash wherever. It does make economic sense given that for 60-80 more pax the 346s burn almost twice the fuel of a 343/33 (9 tons/hr vs. 4-5 tons) I guess the 787s will see the 343s off in due course. And given his background - AA and United fly some really old 767/757 equipment on the Atlantic. If only VS had updated the IFE on the 3 "reel" 343s it wouldn't matter.

According to Airfleets, VS has 13 active A346's and 4 A343's = 17 in total.

The 787-9 order is for 16 aircraft + 8 options. I believe that entry into service is expected in Q3 next calendar year.

I guess it doesn't take a lot to work out that 787-9's will be replacing the A340 fleet just about like-for-like.

The 747 fleet is quite an interesting one. The LGW examples (that were nabbed when Alitalia cancelled) are relatively young and have new cabins, so I'd expect them to be around until 2020 at least. However some of the LHR ones are touching 20 years of age (VFAB and VHOT). I think we'll see the A380 order transferred to ~12 Airbus A350-1000's, to be delivered at he back end of this decade.

Come 2020 VS could have one of the most fuel efficient fleets in the sky with 10 A330's + ~16 787's + ~12 A350's.

Really disappointed to hear this news.

We have our first ever flight in upper class on 12 May 2014, to start our 3 week honeymoon, and now it looks like we won't have movies on demand to entertain us. VS23 currently showing as an A343 on 12/05/14.

Any chance they'll fit on demand to the A343's before then? Or change their minds about which plane it will be?

All this after the Upper class for our return flight sold out completely, really glad I paid out for upgradeable ticketa for now benefit to sit in Economy, and they decided to mess around with the seat selection and charges.

We're only in upper class using Tesco clubcard, so don't represent a big loss to VA, but I think we'll be saving for a Avios next time.

I very much doubt that an upgrade of REEL is likely
I'm in the same predicament for our return in jan from NRT. Remember that g-VSUN has Vera on demand so you have a one in four chance. On our flight out last week we got lucky and G-VSUN god shone on us. Even though she had already done one round trip to NRT she went back again :-0 immediately!!
So don't give up hope. Also I would get your tablet or iPhone loaded and ready(that's what I have done).

It does make economic sense given that for 60-80 more pax the 346s burn almost twice the fuel of a 343/33 (9 tons/hr vs. 4-5 tons) I guess the 787s will see the 343s off in due course. And given his background - AA and United fly some really old 767/757 equipment on the Atlantic. If only VS had updated the IFE on the 3 "reel" 343s it wouldn't matter.

That doesn't sound right, albeit that fuel burn has many variants but mostly depending on trip length. LH for example released the following numbers which provide a useful comparison to VS:

A330-300 4.10 liters per 100 PKM
A340-300 4.02
A340-600 4.21
B747-400 4.27

Whatever the reason, I worry VS is losing the plot at LAX. The lounge situation is dire, now putting the least desirable fleet type on some days etc. It should be a high yielding route for VS with its image and the entertainment industry, but it seems to be giving it up to BA at the moment.

Longer routes like LHR-LAX aren't so frequency-dependent so one can understand BA dropping one daily flight in favour of the A380. I know "will they/won't they" has been extensively debated with regard to VS and the A380 but IMO they are missing a trick if they don't take them because a lot of people will choose their airline based on this sort of thing - yes, folk don't care if they are on a 777 or an A330 but flying the biggest aircraft is a major draw (one VS used to build their good reputation!). The A380 hasn't worked for some airlines but IMO would be likely to work very well for a London-centric airline like VS, they could easily use (and fill) them to LAX, SFO, MIA and JFK, plus they would drive demand on routes like MCO. I know in my heart of hearts it's not going to happen but to me the A380 is the sort of thing that VS is supposed to be about and they have seriously lost their way.

It is very annoying! We just booked a trip to Hawaii and are doing the LAX-LHR leg on the a340-300...luckily only the return flight though. As frustrating as it is I think that most airlines tend to go through similar problems at some point. Naturally some planes in the fleet fall behind but have to be put up with to make their moneys worth. Same with Emirates' ageing A340s and BA with their 767s. Also I guess they have to go on some route if not LAX somewhere else, sadly it can't be helped and with the 340-300s leaving in roughly a year the IFE will just have to be put up with. iPad loaded...good to go

A shame. I was on 340-300's twice this year, once was V-Reel and it honestly might as well not have been there for how poor it was. Not what you want on one of VS's longer route.

Perhaps if they are having trouble filling a -600 they should look at the fares? I flew to LAX with Virgin on a well loaded 600 when they were charging £460 return. It's therefore hardly a suprise if they try and charge £300-£400 more that they cant fill the aircraft..

I am not so sure the IFE is as important as it used to be as I now see many pax using their own laptops and pads for entertainment - plus battery life no longer gives the limitations it used to.

Seat, service and food are the important things for me and I have found 300's and 600's offer the same.

I agree 380 is great but I would rather have a choice of flight times especially to NY.

It's not a big thing, but on the other hand, who doesn't have video on demand for 11 hour flights?

I hope that nearer the time we might be able to switch to the earlier flight which appears to be a 747, I'm not holding my breath though.

Is there any way of seeing which plane you will be on, and if so, how far ahead of the flight? I'm hoping that looking through the window at the gate isn't the only answer to this.

The status updates page in here can tell you the aircraft but only when VS release this. Sometimes this is made available on the morning I your flight. Sometimes the info appears as you take off. As changes can always happen the only way you can say I am definitely on (G-VSUN / any other plane) is to look out I the window at the gate.

I'm wondering whether it's time for VS to offer a true 1st class cabin on the JFK and LAX routes. And yet, somehow, not let it [further] dilute the existing UC service.

With FC, my personal opinion is that without a short-haul offering, miles earned are less flexible (or useful) than those earned with the competition. Therefore, I feel FC needs to be more competitive.

Just a thought. Or two.

Paul

Do anyone know which aircraft are flying on;

VS007 - 1ST May
vs008 - 19th May?

G-VAIR is the next 343 to leave the fleet in a couple of months - so it will be a 1 in 3 chance of Vport.

Do anyone know which aircraft are flying on;

VS007 - 1ST May
vs008 - 19th May?

Outbound listed as an A346, return a Boeing 747. Obviously not guaranteed though.

Hi all, I've got a flight to LAX in May on an A343, and the seat selection just opened.

I've picked 4k and 5k, and the cabin is free to choose from except for 1 other passenger. (Is there a better feeling than looking at a wide open UC seat selection screen?)

I just wandered if anyone could tell me how 4k and 5k line up with the windows? Do some seats have a window at a better angle to look out of? Or are they all the same?

We would prefer the K side for privacy, and only really need 1 seat aligned to the windows as my better half will be happy with the in flight 'entertainment'.

I plan to spend 12 hours, whiskey/lanson in hand, watching the world go by.

Unfortunately the UC suites aren't well designed for people who like to look out. The problem isn't so much the alignment of the windows but the angle of the seat, which means you effectively sit with your back to them.

So if you plan to watch the world go by for 12 hours, you'll arrive in LA with bad neck ache!

Putting the 343s on such a premium route is a bizarre decision. What will the entertainment types make of the ancient IFE?

From the above site:

21APR14 – 06MAY14 Daily (Except 27APR14)
21MAY14 – 13JUN14 Day x135
01JUL14 – 26AUG14 Day 26

This means that after 6th May it's only an A343 3 then 2 days p/w. Day 2 is Tuesday, day 6 is Saturday.

It could be for several reasons, A346's are being parked so less are available. Those that are remaining may need heavy maintenance checks, putting them out of service for a while.

On a more pessimistic note, VS simply may not have the loads to fill the larger aircraft. Under their JV, from next summer BA and AA with 2 x A380 + 1 x 77W featuring latest cabins etc will be very strong.

I'm flying out to LA on Friday June 6th (VS23), and returning on Wed 11th June (VS008), does that mean a 343 both ways??? n(

I'm flying out to LA on Friday June 6th (VS23), and returning on Wed 11th June (VS008), does that mean a 343 both ways??? n(

No, neither. Should be an A346 outbound and a 747 back. Always subject to change of course.

Does
"21MAY14 – 13JUN14 Day x135" mean except Monday, Wednesday and Friday?

Which Config of 747 is likely to be used these days (I'm flying out on the Friday 6/6 and back on the Wed 11/6).

Thanks!

The LHR 744s are all the same configuration. Split UC/Y upstairs and then J/W/Y downstairs.