V-Flyer

Looks like the end of an era is imminent..

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/1 ... next-april

Have I got my numbers wrong but they mention 'VS56' ??

Progress is remorseless, I guess, but I personally love the 747 and it's sad to see this fantastic airplane being phased out...

tontybear wrote:Have I got my numbers wrong but they mention 'VS56' ??

I thought the same, we are on the 14.00 to JFK next Tuesday & that is the VS45. Looking like our return flight (VS046) will be our last flight on a VS747, really pleased that we have managed to get 12A & K on both legs.

oldboy

Remember they'll operate the LGW/MAN/GLA holiday routes for a good few years to come.

All is not yet lost for bubble & nose fans.

I was sad to see the Comet go. I flew on it a couple of times to Malta in the 60's.
I was sad to see Concord go even though I didn't fly but used to set the clock by it going overhead when I lived in Weybridge in the 70's.
I will be very sad to see the 747 go. I love the layout even though I've not flow upstairs for many years now.
At least I have 6A & 6K booked from Gatwick next year.
Dick D

oldboy wrote:

tontybear wrote:Have I got my numbers wrong but they mention 'VS56' ??

I thought the same, we are on the 14.00 to JFK next Tuesday & that is the VS45. Looking like our return flight (VS046) will be our last flight on a VS747, really pleased that we have managed to get 12A & K on both legs.

oldboy

Feeling exactly the same oldboy
Flying back from Miami in January and my booking was amended to reflect the 744 ... Got 12A/K as well. Hopefully it will stay like that ! Happy to get a taste of the LHR 744 before it's removed.

Here's the actual comment on Airline Route that BT had badly copied the info from :

http://airlineroute.net/2015/05/18/vs-7 ... 16update1/

Based on latest schedule update as of mid-May 2015, Virgin Atlantic is tentatively scheduling last Boeing 747-400 operation at London Heathrow on 17APR16 (arrival at LHR on 18APR16). From 27MAR16 to 17APR16, planned Boeing 747-400 operation at London Heathrow as follow.

London Heathrow – Miami
VS005 LHR1235 – 1715MIA 744 D
VS006 MIA2150 – 1130+1LHR 744 D

London Heathrow – New York JFK
VS045 LHR1400 – 1640JFK 744 x23
VS046 JFK1930 – 0750+1LHR 744 x23

Further changes to planned summer 2016 schedule remain highly possible.

So it's still only tentative

V-Flyer trip??

gumshoe wrote:Remember they'll operate the LGW/MAN/GLA holiday routes for a good few years to come.

All is not yet lost for bubble & nose fans.

That's good to hear.

And BA still have 40 of them flying at LHR...

http://worldairlinenews.com/

The above article, as well as the one already linked, sounds misleading. Unless the plan has drastically changed, none of the articles mentions about the 'leisure' fleet staying for longer.

LHRrules wrote:And BA still have 40 of them flying at LHR...

Not sure what your point is, but I guess BA still need the capacity and aren't downsizing...

dickydotcom wrote:I will be very sad to see the 747 go. I love the layout even though I've not flow upstairs for many years now.

I'm with you Dicky, I will sorely miss the 747's. SFO has been my route for many years and the last flight back I took the VS42 on a A346. I was acutely aware of the narrower shoulder space on the suite, the dorm like layout and the smaller bar.

As someone who was fortunate enough to fly on Maiden Voyager as a kid, this is a sad day. Virgin should keep at least one 747 in the fleet. It's a majestic plane, and both awe-inspiring and beautiful.

zenithar wrote:As someone who was fortunate enough to fly on Maiden Voyager as a kid, this is a sad day. Virgin should keep at least one 747 in the fleet. It's a majestic plane, and both awe-inspiring and beautiful.

To keep some perspective on this, VS are only retiring 4 planes.

There's currently 5 in the LHR fleet, IIRC one is being transferred to LGW fleet and so Virgin will still be flying 8 747s for the foreseeable future, at least 2018.

VS075 wrote:http://worldairlinenews.com/

The above article, as well as the one already linked, sounds misleading. Unless the plan has drastically changed, none of the articles mentions about the 'leisure' fleet staying for longer.

Think they've missed out last revenue flight "from Heathrow".

As has been stated, the Gatwick fleet stay for a while - there's nothing to replace them (yet)

David