Which Aircraft Redux

I have searched the forum regarding threads that ask "which aircraft" will be flying a certain route on a certain day. I read (all 10 pages of) the "Which Aircraft" thread, where it looked like those type of questions were being frowned upon due to "security issues". Is that a policy of this site, or is it just someone's opinion?

Below is a copy of a post I had on flyertalk, and a poster said to come here for the info. I do not want to violate rules, but if anyone could be of assistance, I'd appreciate it....
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Is there a way to find out in advance which aircraft will be flying a specific route? I know it is subject to equipment change, but one of the annoying things I find with VS is that it seems to be a crapshoot on the ammenities you'll receive (specifically IFE) when flying.

I will be flying VS008 (LAX-LHR) on Oct. 16th in Upper Class. I'm hoping for v-port, but last time I flew I got an Odyssey system (aircraft was named Virginia something), and it wasn't very good at all. Games didn't work, no on-demand, etc. Yeah, it's kind of nit-picky, but when people gush about their UC experience (the Suites, the IFE, etc) and the experience literally depends on which aircraft you get, you can wind up being disappointed.

I guess my biggest gripe with VS is that it seems like a crapshoot (will there be a Suite? Which IFE system will I get?). Oh well, here's hoping for v-port (and if anyone can tell me which airplane is scheduled to fly the route on the 16th, I'd be grateful).

[Bazz]

Hi biztraveller30,

You should be on a 744 with the UC Suites. All eight LHR 744's have been equipped with the suites now. I can't tell you which aircraft will fly on the 16th but one of the VS staffers may be able to advise which one is scheduled on VS008. The security issues are a real concern to some people, here on the site we respect that some may not wish to disclose this info, others are more relaxed, it is down to the individual.

The IFE is more likely to be v:port than any other system, but some aircraft do not have v:port installed so you may be unlucky.

The aircraft you were on previously must have been G-VTOP, Virginia Plain who has Odessey IFE if you look here you will see which aircraft have which IFE installed.

I hope you have a good flight and get the UCS and V:port.

Following yesterdays events I dont think aircraft registrations should or need to be given out.

In some ways I agree with what Declan says. In the current security situation, the least info that's released about a flight, the better.

However, people obviously will still know that there's a VS flight going etc (as the schedules are readily available), they just won't know the specific plane.

What do other people think?

I can't see that giving the name out of the aircraft due to fly a particular route matters.

You know its either gonna be a 744 or a 343. Is there any difference in any of the 744's for example (except the difference in interior and IFE's)?

Matt

If you work for an airline you would understand why.

Knowing what IFE you may have is one thing but knowing the reg does not need to be given out.

Not sure what events are being referred to, but sigh... I was on an Odyessey-equipped aircraft again today (Ladybird). You'd think with the 75% chance of getting v-port on this route that I would luck out, but so far I'm batting 0 for 2. Maybe the return on Friday....

(and I wouldn't mind if people "in the know" just would indicate which IFE system, and not necessarily the specific aircraft.)

quote:Originally posted by declansmith
If you work for an airline you would understand why.

Knowing what IFE you may have is one thing but knowing the reg does not need to be given out.

But knowing the reg and name of the aircraft poses no security threat whatsoever!

No one ever gives a good reason why. If someone explained it then people would not keep asking. "The less information we give out the better" does not explain why the information is a security risk.

[Decker]

Seems like we might have a conundrum here. VS staff saying "it gives away too much information if you know what insiders know". Forum participants asking "what is it I don't know as an insider?". Catch-22 perhaps - to make you an insider ALL people reading this board have to be made insiders.

I (as previously stated) can see that the less information anyone has about a particular flight, the more difficult it would be to plan an operation against that flight. Plane interiors differ, even if only slightly, call signs differ, radar squawks differ etc etc etc.

I am not an insider but I have no problem with just being told the IFE for requests like this - until only one plane in the fleet is left with a unique IFE [8D].

But then the last 4 flights I've hardly touched the v:port - how quickly we become spoilt...

[Bazz]

quote:Originally posted by Decker
...But then the last 4 flights I've hardly touched the v:port - how quickly we become spoilt...

Me too, I can't see the screen from the bar!