Repositioning Flights

Hi there,

I was looking at the flight history pages for different aircraft and am a bit confused. One aircraft apparently did LHR-JNB, repositioned to JFK and then did JFK-LHR. This seems a bit strange to me because does't it mean that another aircraft had to reposition to JNB for the return JNB-LHR flight.

So my question is why? Wouldn't it make sense to use the same aircraft on the return leg - it has to be a hell of a lot cheaper than this method for VS! At LHR you often see several VS planes sitting on the tarmac so it is not like they are short of planes that they need to juggle them like this.

[Pete]

Hi 747sardine,

Some possibilities;

1. The data is missing the return flight, (if it didn't happen next day, this would probably be the case). Sadly we don't get 100% of the flight data.

2. If an aircraft in one airport goes tech and can't be used, VS will need to get another aircraft there asap.

3. Not in the case of a JNB-JFK flight, but because of schedules, sometimes it is just positioning (such as moving an aircraft to Port Harcourt for a non-daliy flight, or shifting an aircraft from LHR-LGW).

Pix

[Decker]

quote:Originally posted by pixuk

3. Not in the case of a JNB-JFK flight, but because of schedules, sometimes it is just positioning (such as moving an aircraft to Port Harcourt for a non-daliy flight, or shifting an aircraft from LHR-LGW).

and more importantly how do you get seats on these repositioning flights - especially the regular ones? Presumably done at antisocial hours so probably cheap and empty... seem to recall something in the Travel Detective about this...

As an aside, the company I work for used to do aircraft scheduling optimisation software, maybe VS needs it!

I think it would be quite hard to get seats on those flights because it would require VS negotiating freedom rights on those routes which may not include the UK, eg JNB-JFK (if that was a real reposition).

[Pete]

I don't think there's any way you can get on them as a passenger, but they do have flight numbers

For example;

VS623P LHR - LGW (Assumed positioning for the Port Harcourt flight)
VS807P LHR - LGW
VS624P LGW - LHR (Assumed positioning for the Port Harcourt flight)
VS808P LGW - LHR
VS811P LHR - AMS
VS812P AMS - LHR
VS813P LHR - DUB
VS814P DUB - LHR

I'm sure some of the VS staffers can more numbers to that list, and increase our triva knowledge

My niece used to crew for VS and the repositioning flights, although staffed with skeleton crew (for safety reasons), do not carry fare paying passengers.

She said that all crew members used to fight for these flights as it was an easy days work...well I guess they had the freedom of the plane without having to look after any of us lot:D:D

Matt

I have flown as a errrr..."mailbag" before on one of these flights, a long time ago!
I was dating a Stewie from a certain airline and myself and a Captains GF were logged as mail

Had some fun on that flight! Almost as much as one Christmas at EMA [}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)]

It gets better - so why are their positioning flights from DUB and AMS? How does a VS plane end up in those airports ?

quote:Originally posted by 747sardine
It gets better - so why are their positioning flights from DUB and AMS? How does a VS plane end up in those airports ?

Ahhh, DUB & AMS are used for maintenance, refits & repaints, etc...

Cheers

Michael

One of the 343s was at FZO last month too

[Nottingham Nick]

quote:Originally posted by AlanA

Had some fun on that flight! Almost as much as one Christmas at EMA [}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)]

LOL:D:D

Some of the data is missing.

VS would not position an aircraft from JNB to LON.

They are called ferry flights and happen quite often. twice a week for the A343 between LGW and LHR for PHC routes.

The flights normally have two flight crew and one cabin crew member.

When aircraft go to AMS for maintenance the crew wil fly the virgin aircraft over and then get either a BA/BD flight back to London.

I think VS utilise there aircraft in a very cost effective way. most of there aircraft spend more time in the air than on the ground.

For example the VS16 lands in LGW at 0930 and by 1230 its back in the air going back to MCO.

Its cheaper for the plane to be in the sky than on the ground.