VFAB back in service?

Is VFAB back in service yet since it was scheduled for the addition of vport in late June.

[Bazz]

There appears to be a delay due to the amount of work involved, suites, v:port, new Cash & Wash seats, general tidy-up, etc, see the following thread for more info:

http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1749

FAB due back early August I think this was always the plan since so much work had to be completed.

Then only XLG left!!!

Is that correct as Ruby Tuesday is the one that Pixuk forgets abouts! As it is currently shown on the resources as having the suites already. I am asking as my wife flys on VS 11 on Friday 16th July and each day the seating plan on line keeps changing from a Suite configation to back to the old style, then back again. So is she on suite less Ruby Tuesday or not!

[Pete]

According to my records, G-VXLG Ruby Tuesday went for Suites at the beginning of June, and returned to service by the 24th June, as shown by the data gap in the Aircraft Database.

Pix

XLG is the olny LHR400 still not fitted with suites.

Fab will return in the next few weeks.

All A340-600 and XLG Should have suites by end of summer!

[Pete]

Can you double check that, since it conflicts with info I have from another VS employee.

Pix

I'm very interested as well. Because I have to fly home from Boston on my birthday, I'm treating myself to my first Upper Class ticket to Boston on 5 August, returning on 9th August. Right now the seating plan shows J2000 seats, but I'm hoping VS will surprise me with a Birthday Suite (pardon the pun)!

100% certain G-VXLG is the only remaining LHR 744 needing to be fitted with UCS. G-VFAB is returning early August

correct!

XLG still has J2000

[HighFlyer]

When i came back from MIA i asked what plane we were on and i was told Ruby Tuesday, this plane did NO have suites but did have Odyssey.

This is confusing as i thought that Ruby Tuesday did have suites, maybe we have made an error then? I thought maybe the IFA got the plane name wrong, but after reading this thread im more sure that she was right.

[Bazz]

Cabin crew frequently don't know the name or reg of the aircraft and often have to ask the flight crew.

Although XLG might be the last LHR 744 with J2000, they are also using a LGW 744 as well out of Heathrow. My wife flight to Boston today and return on Sunday are both on a LGW 744. Not at all pleased as at least the J2000 seats are a lot better than the LGW seats!

Ooh! I'd be well annoyed if I ended up with an LGW plane after splurging on an Upper Class ticket. While LHR J2000 planes are still a high quality service, I think an LGW 744 would definitely be a step down, and should be reflected in a lower price for the UC service

Basically, VS get themselves into a hard place when this happens. It's very easy to build a high expectation of service from the VS fleet at LHR (even more so with suites - hence the speedy rollout!), and therefore naturally disappointing to the pax when this isn't delivered because of an equipment swap.

I'm sure the cabin crew try to make up for this with the service once you are onboard, but it's natural to feel "cheated"...

Write in a letter complaining about the aircraft substitution resulting in a difference in service levels - no full-length recline, no bar, etc., yet for the same price you could have had ended up with a suite-fitted 744. It's an unpleasant lottery at J prices.

You may get some bonus miles to make up...

I think a de-facto automatic 20k each way (enough for a W to J upgrade) would appease most J pax if a J2000 aircraft turns out on a JFK/SFO flight (which are now vigorously advertised with suites), or if any LGW aircraft is turned out for an LHR circuit.

Mike

Well I'm still going to be optimistic. Ironically, I had been hoping to get a suite plane (in honor of my birthday...I know, I have high expectations of my value to Virgin). Now, I'm just begging to at least have J2000 (which are still fab). I've been checking the seatmap every day to see if it changes config. I may also taking advantage of freeway's generosity and ask them to look up my aircraft closer to the time.

quote:Originally posted by eurohill
Although XLG might be the last LHR 744 with J2000, they are also using a LGW 744 as well out of Heathrow. My wife flight to Boston today and return on Sunday are both on a LGW 744. Not at all pleased as at least the J2000 seats are a lot better than the LGW seats!

Am not best pleased about this either! I am flying VS11 to Boston on Friday and noticed that lately V-GAL (LGW based) is serving this route. I alwayyyys seem to get V-GAL when I fly Virgin out of Gatwick and now I find I may still get it out of Heathrow!!!!

quote:Originally posted by jonathan020

quote:Originally posted by eurohill
Although XLG might be the last LHR 744 with J2000, they are also using a LGW 744 as well out of Heathrow. My wife flight to Boston today and return on Sunday are both on a LGW 744. Not at all pleased as at least the J2000 seats are a lot better than the LGW seats!

Am not best pleased about this either! I am flying VS11 to Boston on Friday and noticed that lately V-GAL (LGW based) is serving this route. I alwayyyys seem to get V-GAL when I fly Virgin out of Gatwick and now I find I may still get it out of Heathrow!!!!

jonathan20, how did you figure out that you would be flying VGAL? To add even more irony to my trip, I originally was going to take the later flight (VS53) on 5 Aug, which I know is an older A340, but switched to VS11 figuring I had a chance for the fleet. I might beg and plead (since I have a Z ticket) to be switched back to VS53 if I find out VS11 is an LGW 747.

quote:
jonathan20, how did you figure out that you would be flying VGAL? To add even more irony to my trip, I originally was going to take the later flight (VS53) on 5 Aug, which I know is an older A340, but switched to VS11 figuring I had a chance for the fleet. I might beg and plead (since I have a Z ticket) to be switched back to VS53 if I find out VS11 is an LGW 747.

I did not figure that I am going VGAL, I just noticed that VGAL has been doing the trip a few times lately. I was just saying I dont want it to be VGAL as I have flown on her a few times before and was looking forward to a LHR 744 and the possibility of V:PORT. I am coming back on the VS54 A343 on 1st Aug, not overly happy with that as the A343's are a bit crampt I have been spoilt by taking AA to BOS the last couple of times, great leg room on AA but no where near the good service that Virgin offer.

Oops, I misunderstood. In any case, in Y class, I would rather take an LGW 744 over a 343. However, in UC, I would prefer an older Airbus over the LGW plan because at least you get the full UC treatment (bar, beaty therapist, in-flight power, etc.), and the J2000 seat, even if the plane is a bit narrow.

Agreed as according to my wife who flew the LGW 744 to Boston on VS 11 she spent the time talking to the beauty therapist, who was on board but could not carry out any treatments!

quote:Originally posted by eurohill
Agreed as according to my wife who flew the LGW 744 to Boston on VS 11 she spent the time talking to the beauty therapist, who was on board but could not carry out any treatments!

Shoddy! I have checked the availability tool for my flight on Friday and it says no suite aircraft, rather annoyingly Thursday and Saturday are both Suite aircraft..... My only annoyance of Virgin, lack of consistance across the fleet.

quote:Originally posted by jonathan020

quote:Originally posted by eurohill
Agreed as according to my wife who flew the LGW 744 to Boston on VS 11 she spent the time talking to the beauty therapist, who was on board but could not carry out any treatments!

Shoddy! I have checked the availability tool for my flight on Friday and it says no suite aircraft, rather annoyingly Thursday and Saturday are both Suite aircraft..... My only annoyance of Virgin, lack of consistance across the fleet.

I agree. Let's hope that at a minimum your flight is on an LHR 744 and not one from LGW

Yep, if I get another LGW 744 with a bloody Nova system one more time I may have to settle in future for a lovely consistent AA 777 with loads of legroom. At least with AA when I buy my ticket I know exactly what I will get.

Can anyone shed any light on why we have a LHR 744 (V-XLG) serving London Gatwick over the past few days ( Vegas and Orlando routes , whilst we have UC passengers travelling to San Francisco and Boston on Gatwicks fleet (V-GAL & V-ROM) ? Dont get me wrong, I understand from time to time for reasons beyond their control, Virgin would have to switch aircraft, but surely its a bit silly to just switch a LHR 744 and a LGW 744. Can anyone out there give us a reason behind this?