VS015 (Saturday 12th December)

I see the VS015 was just over 7 hours late leaving LGW today - finally departed at 2008 this evening. Quite some noise by those affected on both sides of the 'pond' on social media..

Seems the original aircraft scheduled to operate the flight went tech and with G-VAST on scheduled maintenance time too the duty fell to G-VXLG which had only arrived in from China a few hours earlier after a few weeks in Xiamen.

Jon

Ouch! I bet there are a lot of unhappy passengers over the Atlantic on the VS15 at the moment - and also a lot of unhappy ones at MCO waiting for an 01:45 departure on the VS16. What are the odds that Virgin will make no mention of EU261 when offering food vouchers for the delay?

I can't see there being much normal scheduled traffic departing from Airside 4 after 11pm, so would anywhere in the satellite terminal even be open to spend your vouchers. Would much be open in the main terminal either? I guess the answer to both is "probably not".

The thing that would annoy me the most if I was on the VS16 would be having no access to bathroom facilities during the delay so you can shower. It's been hot and slightly humid in Orlando today and we've done nothing particularly active - but we felt grubby when we got in late afternoon. A quick shower and you feel a different person. Most people on the VS16 will be knackered by the time it departs, feel grubby - and this is before they spend 8hrs or so in a pressurised aluminium can with 31" seat pitch. I just hope they don't take out their frustrations on the cabin crew.

Have just been reading some of the Twitter conversations about this delay. There is one where a bloke is trying to blag an upgrade as compensation for the delay. I think Virgin have told him a bit of a porkie - claiming the replacement aircraft has fewer seats on the upper deck than the original aircraft.

Hmm... I thought all the leisure fleet of 747's were 20 PE & 33 Y seats upstairs? Or am I mistaken?

Have just been reading some of the Twitter conversations about this delay. There is one where a bloke is trying to blag an upgrade as compensation for the delay. I think Virgin have told him a bit of a porkie - claiming the replacement aircraft has fewer seats on the upper deck than the original aircraft.

Hmm... I thought all the leisure fleet of 747's were 20 PE & 33 Y seats upstairs? Or am I mistaken?

I saw that particular exchange too. Before it was publicly known that G-VXLG would be operating the aircraft I did think maybe an LHR aircraft had been brought across to fill the gap which would have supported the statement in that specific reply but it wasn't....

Maybe whilst out in Xiamen it has had some work done on the upper deck and it's all W now upstairs!!!......or more likely that confusion has led to the information in the response.

It's a fair point that at 1508 (Florida time) when the aircraft had finally left the UK (as was mentioned over on Twitter) why VS didn't advise of the delay earlier...as folk might well have left for th airport and face a huge delay with nothing they can do. Naturally, VS can't really do anything about that as the flight could just have been cancelled, which I am sure would have been seriously considered and the aircraft needed to be on her way before they could confirm the departure time home.

.....the MAN passengers should also feel very lucky tonight as one of the two flights back to MAN could easily have absorbed the delay!

I'd be interested to know what happens as the Delta Sky club closes at 2030 so UC and Au passengers are more likely on their own after that time, as for outlets that are open to use the 'meal vouchers' the choice in Airside 4 will be really limited or non-existent for that length of delay.

I agree not a flight I would want to be on as crew - totally whacked passengers who are agitated but hopefully everyone will just get their heads down as best they can and get home to the UK without any further delay. The last thing anyone wants is a diversion now due to anti-social behaviour on board.

Jon

Lack of shower facilities is the biggest issue at MCO that I have come across

Lack of shower facilities is the biggest issue at MCO that I have come across

I appreciate people may not want to pay $99 just for a shower, but you can get a day room at the Hyatt Regency which is right above the security gate. Not something I've done, but I'm considering it as I have a long drive to the airport.
Dick D

Lack of shower facilities is the biggest issue at MCO that I have come across

I appreciate people may not want to pay $99 just for a shower, but you can get a day room at the Hyatt Regency which is right above the security gate. Not something I've done, but I'm considering it as I have a long drive to the airport.
Dick D

I am aware of the day rooms at the Hyatt Regency, but am of the view that $99 for a shower is a bit steep. Not as bad if you are travelling as a family so the per-head cost comes down. We are looking at the cheaper option of Aquatica for Thursday. The park closes at 5pm, so if they will still let us in at 4pm (we will inquire about last admission time when there tomorrow), we'll do that purely to shower and change.

TBH, I don't think the day rooms would have been much use to the pax on the delayed VS16, as don't they have to be vacated by 6pm? After that the Hyatt would want the walk-up night rate, which would make for an even more expensive shower.

Also agree with Jon that the Manchester passengers should count their lucky stars that no aircraft swap was planned in MCO yesterday. It could *VERY* easily have been the VS76 or 74 has a swap been planned, as these cannot be un-done as the aircraft have to go to LGW for maintenance checks.

I understand the frustrations delays can cause some people but I am the only one who wouldn't mind a long delay to cash in on EU261? I've always found VS quite good at notifying me of delays but I tend to leave the airport until the last moment. Still, there's nothing stopping people going back landside and catching a cab to the nearest Yard House.

I understand the frustrations delays can cause some people but I am the only one who wouldn't mind a long delay to cash in on EU261? I've always found VS quite good at notifying me of delays but I tend to leave the airport until the last moment. Still, there's nothing stopping people going back landside and catching a cab to the nearest Yard House.

I dunno, you just want to get home once your holiday is over. I've had a delay of a good few hours - luckily I had access to the UC lounge - would have hated it if I had an E ticket & probably would have kicked off. Especially as every shop in the airport will be closed. Must be a nightmare for any young families.

I also had the misfortune of missing my train which was pre-booked (I left 6+ hours from landing to train time), not being able to use revivals, etc. - so ended up spending £250 on new train tickets. Compensation soons gets siphoned off.
Also, it seemed any US citizen PAX got moved to other flights, as their compensation rules are a lot more compensating than ours.

I am still weighing up a court challenge for train reimbursement, as my delay was because of flight attendants rest entitlement. Completely avoidable as it was a staffing issue & not a plane issue.