New Seat Configuration

[buns]

Just came across this on the VS site.

The double asterisks apparently denote 'on or after January 2010' does this signify a possible change to the LGW fleet perhaps[:?][:?][}:)][:?][:?]

Or have I missed something[:I][?]

buns

There was a thread on here a little while ago about the removal of upper deck J and replacing with Y - looks like this is a half measure or a trial perhaps?

I think its a Heathrow change

[buns]

quote:Originally posted by Daffy
I think its a Heathrow change


I think you are right, but at a time when costs are tight[:?]

buns

Its the Heathrow 747's, thats why the SFO routing has currently been changed to an Airbus instead of the 747 while they do the seating refits

That's the previously reported change to the LHR 744 fleet, reducing the number of J seats by 12, back down from the current 'high-J' to the original UCS config of 44J.

Shame that PE hasn't gone back in the bubble, but Y in the bubble with the side bins reinstated isn't to be sniffed at, especially given that the seat pitch could be quite generous - the number of rows of Y seats is the same as the number of rows there used to be of PE seats on the upper deck of the LHR 744.

Maybe this is an area which could nominally be set aside for Au? (SAA used to do this with Y in the bubble on their 744s)

Mike

[Darren Wheeler]

That'll make meal time interesting, not to mention use of toilets.

[buns]

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
That'll make meal time interesting, not to mention use of toilets.


LOL[:D][:D] I can see the threads now[}:)]

buns

quote:Originally posted by buns
quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
That'll make meal time interesting, not to mention use of toilets.


LOL[:D][:D] I can see the threads now[}:)]


Maybe the rear UD lav cubicle will be re-instated, but it's just not shown on the seatmap?

Remember that you currently get two extra UCS on the right-hand side that are facing the stairs, where the W lav used to be on the old config.

Mike

33 Economy pax getting off before 10 in UC. That'll not go down well!

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by locutus
33 Economy pax getting off before 10 in UC. That'll not go down well!

You took the words out of my mouth!! It was bad enough with PE there especially when I got stuck behind an old dear who really shouldn't have been up there as she couldn't manage the stairs

[Scrooge]

So take out the PE seats, replace them with UCS, take out UCS and replace them with Y.....[B)]

Seriously, the upper deck went from best to worst in under a year.

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
That'll make meal time interesting, not to mention use of toilets.


Your right, all those UC pax looking at the food from Y and wondering why theirs doesn't taste that good.

Actually, I am seeing a bigger problem, which side of the curtain does the stairs end on ?

I can see a whole bunch of Y pax sitting at the bar.

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
quote:Originally posted by locutus
33 Economy pax getting off before 10 in UC. That'll not go down well!

You took the words out of my mouth!! It was bad enough with PE there especially when I got stuck behind an old dear who really shouldn't have been up there as she couldn't manage the stairs


You fly PE [:p]

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge

Seriously, the upper deck went from best to worst in under a year.


Spot on [y]

Why anyone paying UC fares would want to be stuck up there is beyond me, noise, traffic, delays deboarding ... VS shooting itself in the foot again [:w].

Is Y really that oversold that they need another 33 seats?

[Darren Wheeler]

I thought Upper was doing very well indeed at the moment

[Scrooge]

quote:Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
I thought Upper was doing very well indeed at the moment


It is, but the yields are kind of blah.

I did redo my post with a couple more thoughts.

What is more troubling to me is that they didn't put the PE seats back in.

PE generates the most $$$ per sq ft and they don't need more seats ???

[mitchja]

Don't forget though the LHR 744's lost 60+ Y seats when VS refitted PE on the main deck.

Regards

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
especially when I got stuck behind an old dear who really shouldn't have been up there as she couldn't manage the stairs


You traveled with Scrooge?

Now swerving wildly back OT...

I do feel sorry for the airlines, to some degree. It must be hell right now, after so many of them began configuring their craft to fly more premium fare pax. Then the Great Recession hit and business travel declines, even the wealthy pull back from buying those $15,000 r/t BA LHR-SEA tickets...

Now the great scramble to figure out the next profitable configuration.

God 'elp 'em.

GJ

I have found the Upper Deck UC service poor at best, when it was all UC there.....I should imagine that it will only get worse. There will be additional noise on overnight flights, so the front portion can no longer be the snooze zone IMO as the economy people will still get fed. I am assuming you will either need to carry your boarding card to get a drink at the bar....or maybe wear one of those 'all inclusive hotel bands' so that everyone knows you are able to get a drink )

[Neil]

Seems a very strange choice by VS I must say, and it will be really interesting to see how the service and logistics work out.

Putting PE upstairs would have been the most sensible cost, but I imagine that with the current config have a very large PE section already it might have been over supply, with Y being under supplied.

I am not sure also the maths adds up too well. Surely 12 UC fares are likely to bring in similar, if not more revenue than 33 econ fares? Plus then there is the cost to change the config.

Maybe VS are planning to sell these Y upper deck seats at a slight premium, a bit like the extra leg room seats on the LGW fleet?

[Darren Wheeler]

It use to be Upper at the front and PE behind. I remember the bowls of strawberries being wheeled past us PE'er and beyond the magical curtains...

One thing's for sure folks, whatever they do and however they do it, it will benefit them and not us!
When ever you see 'new and improved' on any item it generally means cheaper to produce for the manufacturer !

I guess they could just remove the bar too and that would solve any potential issues about non entitled using it .....

and what do they do with 40 spare pretty new UCS's kicking around?

[Scrooge]

quote:Originally posted by McMaddog
and what do they do with 40 spare pretty new UCS's kicking around?


They will go in the new aircraft coming into the fleet or be used to switch out some of the older suites that are in need of some TLC.