A350 lhr-las routes?

Hey all,

Flew to lax in march on the lovely airbus in UC which was a great update to the tired 787s and 747s but sadly coming home we flew from vegas on the 787.

I wanted to know if there’s any info on them changing the vegas route to a350s? I can’t justify the price to go on the 787s now when other planes and airlines offer better!
I’d rather hold out and wait until a change on planes is possible

[mitchja]

The MAN>LAS flight uses an A350. That only op's 4 days a week though and only over the summer season.

The MAN>LAS flight uses an A350. That only op's 4 days a week though and only over the summer season.

I saw they offer this on the man route but why not have a good plane like that for the usual lhr route? Makes no sense to release an a350 for that route rather than swap it to a lhr route and give man the 787?

I’d rather use BA as they offer a newish plane on the lhr route but I do like the service I’ve had from virgin over the years. My other option would be to fly to lax and drive to vegas but it’s a long drive

[mitchja]

It's because the A350's VS are using only has 16 x J seats from MAN which doesn't have as much demand for business class as LHR departures have.

MAN based flight deck and cabin crew are also more than likely also not trained to work on the B789 A/C either.

I cant see VS changing much from LHR to be honest. Rumours are MAN will be getting more A350's next year for all their departures apart from the VS109 to ATL which is staying as it's usual A333 A/C.

VS (or any other airline for that matter) don't roster A/C based on age or seat type. All they are interested in using the most suitable A/C based on things such as distance, pax & cargo loads as well as having enough staff who are trained to op those specific A/C types.

Vegas will likely stay 787 I think. It’s the right size aircraft for the route based on average daily loads, and VS have to take into account the hot & high performance of the A350 too. The 350 is sometimes weight limited on LAX which is a route of similar length, lower departure heats and at sea level - unlike Vegas.

That being said, VS have used the 350 from LHR for the route, recently for CES in January and I believe when the F1 was on too. Naturally that was done because the capacity of the 787 was simply not enough.

Vegas will likely stay 787 I think. It’s the right size aircraft for the route based on average daily loads, and VS have to take into account the hot & high performance of the A350 too. The 350 is sometimes weight limited on LAX which is a route of similar length, lower departure heats and at sea level - unlike Vegas.

That being said, VS have used the 350 from LHR for the route, recently for CES in January and I believe when the F1 was on too. Naturally that was done because the capacity of the 787 was simply not enough.

I feel like they need to upgrade them at least so they’re up to the par of other companies and worth the price they expect. They’re looking tired now and not enjoyable like the airbus.

Vegas will likely stay 787 I think. It’s the right size aircraft for the route based on average daily loads, and VS have to take into account the hot & high performance of the A350 too. The 350 is sometimes weight limited on LAX which is a route of similar length, lower departure heats and at sea level - unlike Vegas.

That being said, VS have used the 350 from LHR for the route, recently for CES in January and I believe when the F1 was on too. Naturally that was done because the capacity of the 787 was simply not enough.

I feel like they need to upgrade them at least so they’re up to the par of other companies and worth the price they expect. They’re looking tired now and not enjoyable like the airbus.

Personally, I hate the Airbus. But that’s personal preference.

If the 787s stay in the fleet long term. I can see them getting a refit with the A330-900Neo seat. But that’s pure speculation on my part.

Vegas will likely stay 787 I think. It’s the right size aircraft for the route based on average daily loads, and VS have to take into account the hot & high performance of the A350 too. The 350 is sometimes weight limited on LAX which is a route of similar length, lower departure heats and at sea level - unlike Vegas.

That being said, VS have used the 350 from LHR for the route, recently for CES in January and I believe when the F1 was on too. Naturally that was done because the capacity of the 787 was simply not enough.

I feel like they need to upgrade them at least so they’re up to the par of other companies and worth the price they expect. They’re looking tired now and not enjoyable like the airbus.

Personally, I hate the Airbus. But that’s personal preference.

If the 787s stay in the fleet long term. I can see them getting a refit with the A330-900Neo seat. But that’s pure speculation on my part.

I enjoyed the airbus on the lax trip and was a better experience compared to the 787s. I do feel like they need an upgrade with new seating and more privacy like BA have, I’d like the fully closing door option for when sleeping to feel all enclosed but the money they want to charge on a 787 isn’t worth it with the tired looking planes
I was hoping they’d have something on place for 2025 to vegas but who knows.