Covid 19 Thoughts on the likely actions in the weeks to come

Another change for September flights here :

VS 156 (LHR - LAS) bought forward to 14:00 from 17:00;
VS024 (LAX - LHR) bought forward to 19:50 from 22:55.

No equipment changes at the moment ....

There seems to be some time and aircraft changes happening to the MAN-MCO and LHR-MCO flights. They seem to be removing the A332s and swapping them with A333s and B789s. Frequencies still remain 12 weekly from MAN and 17 from LHR in the summer season (if any flights go). Hopefully there will be more clarity over the next couple of weeks.

Yes my flights to Atlanta from Manchester and back have changed too for the end of July.

[mitchja]

Yes my flights to Atlanta from Manchester and back have changed too for the end of July.

Interesting as my MAN>ATL flights for December have not changed so far!

The VS127/VS128 times have also changed slightly. VS127 get's into JFK 5 mins later now and VS128 now departs 20 mins earlier at 19:10 instead of 19:30.

Some more updates:
LHR-MCO - 17 weekly mix of A333 & 789s (currently being changed) 332s still showing on some flights.
GLA-MCO - 2 weekly A333 (this may change)
MAN-MCO 12 weekly - in the process of being changed (looking like all A333s)
MAN-ATL daily A333
MAN-JFK daily 789
MAN-BGI 3 weekly 789
MAN-LAX 3 weekly A333
MAN-ISB 4 weekly 789 from June, A350 until end of May.

If travel resumes as planned MAN should have the following aircraft based here (subject to change):
4 A333s and 2 789s.

If anyone is flying economy....VS seem to have sneakily introduced a seat booking charge if you wanted to sit in the front section economy cabin - £30 for seat that was free to reserve only yesterday! Cheeky!

Details of the change:

What's Changed?
The departure and/or arrival time of your flight
Flight Number 109 Departure Date Friday, 16 July 2021
From MANCHESTER Departure Time 12:05
To ATLANTA Arrival Date Friday, 16 July 2021
Operated By VS (VIRGIN ATLANTIC) Arrival Time 16:20


What's Changed?
The departure and/or arrival time of your flight
Flight Number 110 Departure Date Saturday, 31 July 2021
From ATLANTA Departure Time 19:35
To MANCHESTER Arrival Date Sunday, 01 August 2021
Operated By VS (VIRGIN ATLANTIC) Arrival Time 08:40


The aircraft on the 31st has also changed to a Dreamliner from a 330-300 but no change on aircraft on the 16th still a a330-300.

Both VA8 and VA7 have changed on our September flights.

VA8 (LAX-LHR) from 4:10 PM - 3: 10 PM
VA7 (LHR-LAX) from 11:00 AM - 10:00 AM

VA8 changed to the 787 as well so now both flights are the 787. While it might be a little worn, I'm happy to have the couple extra inches in PE on that long flight.

My LHR-BGI flights have changed..... 12/08 was 1235 now 1025, return on 25/08 was 1820 now 1715
equipment remains A333 for now

My flights have also been changed (18/7 returning 1/8):

VS75 (MAN-MCO) from 10:30AM - 10:05AM, arrival unchanged.
VS74 (MCO-MAN) from 7:10PM - 7:00PM, arrival 8:15AM - 8:25AM.

Seems the A333 is slightly slower than the A332? Nonetheless, I’ll be happy to have the better UC cabin!

My LHR-BGI flights have changed..... 12/08 was 1235 now 1025, return on 25/08 was 1820 now 1715
equipment remains A333 for now....although it shows on the website that my flight is operated by another airline!!

If anyone is flying economy....VS seem to have sneakily introduced a seat booking charge if you wanted to sit in the front section economy cabin - £30 for seat that was free to reserve only yesterday! Cheeky!

I certainly did notice this!

I'm pretty annoyed as I was in 27H & K for my MCO flight in September and they've moved me all the way back to 63A & C all the way at the back of the plane and 2 rows from the toilets.

Does anyone see that there could be any benefit in me calling the Flying Club to see if they would move me further up front for free as they changed my booked seats?

If anyone is flying economy....VS seem to have sneakily introduced a seat booking charge if you wanted to sit in the front section economy cabin - £30 for seat that was free to reserve only yesterday! Cheeky!

I certainly did notice this!

I'm pretty annoyed as I was in 27H & K for my MCO flight in September and they've moved me all the way back to 63A & C all the way at the back of the plane and 2 rows from the toilets.

Does anyone see that there could be any benefit in me calling the Flying Club to see if they would move me further up front for free as they changed my booked seats?

It seems to be a new "preferred" seating system introduced from March 15th. They have a section on their website (not well promoted, as expected )

It's worth a shout to them as they do say if you booked before 15th March the charge does not apply.

Alot of flight sched changes in the last 24hrs, I have an open ticket and was about to rebook LHR- BGi 18th June in premium, flight changed from a330 to dreamliner , less premium seating hence price increased by over £400. Not happy !!

My LHR-BGI flights have changed..... 12/08 was 1235 now 1025, return on 25/08 was 1820 now 1715
equipment remains A333 for now....although it shows on the website that my flight is operated by another airline!!

Virgin operate two ‘different’ airlines. I forget the reason, but one of them has tended to operate Caribbean routes. This is likely to be why. The service/aircraft etc. are all identical.

It shouldn’t make any difference from a booking and seat map POV, there’s something else going on as I have a Miami flight which is showing this error
message!

Further schedule changes my end two on four flights for me, nothing that affects anything now following the raft of changes last weekend but wish they had been done all together!

It shouldn’t make any difference from a booking and seat map POV, there’s something else going on as I have a Miami flight which is showing this error
message!

Further schedule changes my end two on four flights for me, nothing that affects anything now following the raft of changes last weekend but wish they had been done all together!

I’ve just received info from an anonymous source that the MAN-ATL flights will also be switched to B789s and that there will be at least 3 789s based at Manchester over the summer.

[mitchja]

I initially got the same 'operated by another airline' error message and no seat maps on one of my bookings earlier today but after an hour or so the seat maps came back again exactly as they where previously.

Interestingly, I've also got 2 x LHR>SFO bookings and the one in early June isn't showing a schedule change like my other one in Sept is! The June one is still available to book, but it's not looking promising for that one!

My May outbound was cancelled a few weeks ago but it looks like the inbound is still active - I'm guessing this will change shortly but should I be concerned ? I haven't contacted VS yet as its still a few weeks away.

thanks

David

If anyone is flying economy....VS seem to have sneakily introduced a seat booking charge if you wanted to sit in the front section economy cabin - £30 for seat that was free to reserve only yesterday! Cheeky!

I certainly did notice this!

I'm pretty annoyed as I was in 27H & K for my MCO flight in September and they've moved me all the way back to 63A & C all the way at the back of the plane and 2 rows from the toilets.

Does anyone see that there could be any benefit in me calling the Flying Club to see if they would move me further up front for free as they changed my booked seats?

It seems to be a new "preferred" seating system introduced from March 15th. They have a section on their website (not well promoted, as expected )

It's worth a shout to them as they do say if you booked before 15th March the charge does not apply.

I had a hell of a job trying to get through and had to give up after 2 hours on hold (what is up with just having those 4 songs for the hold music?)
I managed to get through this morning after a mere 45min wait and spoke to an agent who happily moved my seat allocation with no charge. I have a feeling that they're expecting a few to call and a few to accept/pay.

The agent also noted that they'd been so busy due to Pakistan's status so lots of people trying to reschedule and refund flights.

We'd booked to go out premium on the dreamliner for the wider seats and come back upper in the big bus for the suites, but after the changes we're in premium on the A350 and upper on the 787, oh well, first world problems. Strangely though the bookings page is still showing the original (well not original, last weekend) flight times and aircraft types despite having been changed on existing bookings. Most strange.

Has anyone still got an A330-200 showing up on their booking? There is a rumour going round that these will not be flying passengers again for Virgin.

Still showing MCO flights with 332s from both LHR and MCO, but I strongly suspect that you’re right and the 332s won’t return.

Just speculation for later today, but we know the Travel Taskforce is due to report back today in the BJ speech later.

Traffic Light system is being purported in the news this morning.

I am hoping the US and Caribbean will be on the “Green” list!