V-Flyer

97 J seats on that thing, however, I doubt the one middle seat in each row on the upper deck will be popular: http://www.thebasource.com/britishairways380seatmap.html

simonallardice wrote:97 J seats on that thing, however, I doubt the one middle seat in each row on the upper deck will be popular: http://www.thebasource.com/britishairways380seatmap.html

Agreed. That looks a pretty ugly arrangement.

Still tripping over legs too

And why the odd middle row of 3 seats in the lower economy cabin?

Darren Wheeler wrote:And why the odd middle row of 3 seats in the lower economy cabin?

Apparently it's where the escape hatch is located for the crew rest area.

I know VS has rather lost its tag as an innovator, but that A380 has absolutely zero imagination or new features.

Gpik wrote:

Darren Wheeler wrote:And why the odd middle row of 3 seats in the lower economy cabin?

Apparently it's where the escape hatch is located for the crew rest area.

Ahh, so if you see a head pop up there in a flight it's probably a good time to start worrying...

I'm assuming the red/amber/green colour coding of seats suggests a view on whether they are good or bad - but any idea what magenta means??

ratechaser wrote:I'm assuming the red/amber/green colour coding of seats suggests a view on whether they are good or bad - but any idea what magenta means??

I suspect it is bassinet positions.

clarkeysntfc wrote:I know VS has rather lost its tag as an innovator, but that A380 has absolutely zero imagination or new features.

It's true they don't seem to have put in a bar or anything fancy like that, but I guess that this is not really the image they are trying to promote. The new planes will have the new First, the new WT+, and a refreshed CW (apparently) -- that's a pretty solid proposition.

To be honest, I am quite enthusiastic about it. I like the plane -- it is a relatively clean and efficient way to transport huge numbers of people on certain types of routes. And (in very general terms) new planes are good things -- they tend to be more pleasant for passengers, especially in the cheaper cabins. My guess is that the passenger experience in Y on a BA 380 will very rapidly eclipse the equivalent on a VS 747.

I will reserve judgement into more information is available. As we have a teenage daughter the three across in club would work for us. I haven't tried a 380 yet and I would certainly take up th opportunity if the aircraft was on a route I wanted to travel.

Btw this isn't an official map, only based on what a BA staffer put on flyertalk, they made their own little seat map. I doubt there will be anything major like bars. Airfrance has a pointless "digital gallery", why?

There will be updated First and club seats, so will make the a380 "better".

Atleast they are getting them and haven't sold their place in the waiting list

Hamster wrote:Atleast they are getting them and haven't sold their place in the waiting list

To be fair to VS, which routes have they currently got that require an A380?

Perhaps in the future when Skynet launches and VS is the official carrier but until then... ii)

Interesting layout, do not think I would like to be facing backwards in the middle blocks of Business though... looks like it could get a bit claustrophobic n(

joeyc wrote:To be fair to VS, which routes have they currently got that require an A380?

Could LAX work? SFO? HKG? MCO?

Suspect it's all a bit academic, really.

NYC might be worth a A380

But yes very academic !

at240 wrote:

joeyc wrote:To be fair to VS, which routes have they currently got that require an A380?

Could LAX work? SFO? HKG? MCO?

Suspect it's all a bit academic, really.

Agreed academic, but SFO would almost certainly support one, but where you need one you really need 2 or 3....alas, it's just not to be in VS colours.

at240 wrote:

joeyc wrote:To be fair to VS, which routes have they currently got that require an A380?

Could LAX work? SFO? HKG? MCO?

Suspect it's all a bit academic, really.

Agreed academic, but SFO would almost certainly support one, but where you need one you really need 2 or 3....alas, it's just not to be in VS colours.

at240 wrote:Could LAX work? SFO? HKG? MCO?

Suspect it's all a bit academic, really.

Huh, will agree with ya on HKG and SFO actually, they could do be worth it.. is it a load or a slot issue to not permit 2 VS flights to each? Jury may have to be out on that one.

tontybear wrote:NYC might be worth a A380

Do you not think that that the multiple NYC flights allow for people on varied schedules to fly VS... if they plumped in an A380, the loads would fit on far fewer flights and less choice in schedule for us consumers. n(

Whilst perhaps academic, still interesting to hypothesise as to what could have been.

joeyc wrote:

tontybear wrote:NYC might be worth a A380

Do you not think that that the multiple NYC flights allow for people on varied schedules to fly VS... if they plumped in an A380, the loads would fit on far fewer flights and less choice in schedule for us consumers. n(

Yes thats always a possibility but whilst that might reduce choice on the NYC route it would free up slots at LHR leading to the possibilty of new routes or increased flights to an alternative existing route.

I think everyone is missing the real opportunity v. problem with the A380. With high loads and yields, it's one of the most economical (for an airline) plane to fly. But it needs those high loads and yields for a large part of a year to make a profit. You have to question whether VS has the routes for it to operate profitably on throughout the year - and none would sustain an A380 year round (then consider how to utilize it best, sitting on the ground costs money).

I agree, SFO for part of the year, MCO for part of the year, perhaps HKG too, and NYC - all for part time not full time. Now work out how to utilize the plane across these part time routes so that it's in the air most of the time, then scratch your head.

This is what I understand VS is scratching their heads about - it's a fantastic plane, I love flying on them ... but BA has a much bigger route network and can plan to utilize it to the max. Can VS?

slinky09 wrote:Can VS?

I very, very much doubt we'll see an A380 in VS colours.

In my view, the only way we'll see it is if VS can become part of a major alliance such as Star, and start hoovering up connecting passenger traffic from other carriers.

slinky09 wrote:I think everyone is missing the real opportunity v. problem with the A380. With high loads and yields, it's one of the most economical (for an airline) plane to fly. But it needs those high loads and yields for a large part of a year to make a profit. You have to question whether VS has the routes for it to operate profitably on throughout the year - and none would sustain an A380 year round (then consider how to utilize it best, sitting on the ground costs money).

I agree, SFO for part of the year, MCO for part of the year, perhaps HKG too, and NYC - all for part time not full time. Now work out how to utilize the plane across these part time routes so that it's in the air most of the time, then scratch your head.

This is what I understand VS is scratching their heads about - it's a fantastic plane, I love flying on them ... but BA has a much bigger route network and can plan to utilize it to the max. Can VS?

Nail on the head I would say Slinky, I can see the A350 doing really well for VS. I've still yet to set foot on an A380