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NYC to LHR - Where have all the A330 gone?
Posted:
23 Nov 2016, 18:57by ebeth_
Finally I've bagged enough points for a trip on Upper Class before "the changes" to Flying Club begin. I've booked my flight, but to my dismay both legs are on an A340. My previous experience with this aircraft in PE and Y has not been great; the interiors have felt creaky and the IFE is unreliable.
What happened to all the A330s that used to run on the NYC to LHR route? Can we expect Virgin to run their oldest and least up-to-date aircraft on one of their busiest routes for the foreseeable future?
Re: NYC to LHR - Where have all the A330 gone?
Posted:
23 Nov 2016, 20:09by tugpilot
Two possible reasons
The A330s are being converted to the new UCS
Can't remember why but think that BA believe that the 747 is still ideal for NYLON. So that's the competition,. The route needs a high capacity aircraft and being short is not as sensitive to fuel prices being relatively short. VS has no LHR 747s so the 340 is the next best they have.
The IFE is old but not particularly unreliable - main drawback is the lack of touchscreen. In other respects the 340 is still good- good UCS, good ride and quieter then the 787, certainly in UC. Those that remain are 10 years old or less=half way though design life and will be replaced by the 350s.
Re: NYC to LHR - Where have all the A330 gone?
Posted:
23 Nov 2016, 21:32by Smid
I'd take a A346 over an A330 any day of the week, especially in Upper.
Sure you have to press buttons for the IFE, but its got a decent bar and the suite is good. Maybe once the A330's are refurbed, perhaps, but flown in an A330 before, and it would make me take BA over a A330...
Re: NYC to LHR - Where have all the A330 gone?
Posted:
24 Nov 2016, 11:13by cheesebag
I did SFO in upper on a 346 with no problems... great aircraft
Re: NYC to LHR - Where have all the A330 gone?
Posted:
24 Nov 2016, 11:59by Donkeh
I did JFK - LHR on November 11th on a 330.
Re: NYC to LHR - Where have all the A330 gone?
Posted:
24 Nov 2016, 12:51by Sealink
I prefer the A330 and am on one to New York in January
Re: NYC to LHR - Where have all the A330 gone?
Posted:
24 Nov 2016, 13:05by slinky09
Smid wrote:I'd take a A346 over an A330 any day of the week, especially in Upper.
Sure you have to press buttons for the IFE, but its got a decent bar and the suite is good. Maybe once the A330's are refurbed, perhaps, but flown in an A330 before, and it would make me take BA over a A330...
Me too.
Re: NYC to LHR - Where have all the A330 gone?
Posted:
24 Nov 2016, 18:23by ebeth_
Thanks all for your feedback! I feel a fair bit more comfortable knowing that many of you prefer the A340 over the A330 in Upper Class. I had a bad experience in Y on an A340 where the IFE kept crashing, but recognize that was probably just a bit of bad luck (and not very bad at that!)