A340-600 on VS045 normal?

I have a flight booked from LHR to JFK (VS045) on the 7th Oct - I always catch this flight and it's normally a 747, but going to check what seats are available, it's giving me a A340 config. Does anyone know what aircraft this might be on the day? I know it's normally a 747 so I'm intrigued.

(plus just seen the option to upgrade to PE has jumped from 200 to around 60 for the flight - guess it's a busy one?!)

Cheers,

Oli

[Scrooge]

If you take a look in the 'which aircraft' section to the left it gives a nice breakdown of which type of aircraft fly each route.

To answer your question, no it's normally a 744.

[buns]

Looks like an aircraft switch to me as it comes up as a 340 on Expertflyer.

Bet there will be a few people on the flight who will be surprised as well - especially as they will have had their previous seat requests changed to take account of the switch[:0]

buns

quote:Originally posted by virginboy747
Yep not due to be on an A340-600 until 27th October when it goes on a 600 on tue/wed/thu for the winter, but looks like this has been brought forward and from 25th departure time becomes 2 hours earlier at 12:00 for the winter period also.


I understood the 45 had been switched to a 346 in Winter time before, the 747s needed on South Africa and elsewhere. I do get irritated with switching departure times by hours however, the 45 (for me) has a good arrival time into New York (cocktails and dinner and bed in sweet succession when arriving at the 'usual' time).

Thinking 747s ... I wonder what VS will route to South Africa during the World Cup next year and the effect of that on planes and schedules ...

Wow, it's now 1,157 to upgrade both legs to PE. Would that be due to the plane change or just due to demand?! I was thinking about upgrading when it was around 250 but now there's no chance!!

Yes the VS45 is on a 346 - I have one rostered next month and saw that it had changed to a 346 whereas it is usually a 744.

Have been on the 45/46 a couple of times when it has been an Airbus so it has changed a few times before in previous years.

How is it on the 346 that time of day? The 747 is normally quite full so I'm guessing the 346 will be packed?!

We're on the VS046 coming back from JFK on 23rd Dec, and it's an A346, so not the usual 747.

Wonder why this is the case, would have thought the 747 would be needed because I imagine that the flights will be packed?

[Neil]

quote:Originally posted by clarkeysntfc
We're on the VS046 coming back from JFK on 23rd Dec, and it's an A346, so not the usual 747.

Wonder why this is the case, would have thought the 747 would be needed because I imagine that the flights will be packed?


Either the loads aren't that busy, or more likely the 747's are needed elsewhere. The LHR 747's are helping out on the LGW routes and also they are having the re-fit to remove some of the UCS from upstairs and replace them with the Y seats that are going up there, so they will have to be off line whilst that is being done.

quote:Originally posted by olisones
Wow, it's now 1,157 to upgrade both legs to PE. Would that be due to the plane change or just due to demand?! I was thinking about upgrading when it was around 250 but now there's no chance!!


Likely due to the aircraft change, yes. Less PE seats on the 346, 38 on the 346, compared to the 52 on the LHR 744.

This will have made the cheaper 'bucket' run out because the cabin has fewer empty seats.

Mike

The VS45 has been scheduled to be operated by a A346 on a Tues/Wed/Thurs between 3 November and 11 March next year for quite some time so it is not a sudden change.[|:)]

Cheers Tinkerbelle - understand why it's downsized in Nov-March time but still thought it might need a 747 for the week up to Xmas... guess there are other routes that need the Jumbo more!

I wasnt worried about the 343 doing the vs45 until i noticed the retched plane is now also being used first week of april to sfo and tokyo[:0] guess i wont be going there anytime soon until it returns back to a 346!
i dont recall it being used on these routes for some time now or was i asleep for a long time[|)]

cheers
alex

Alex,
Where did you see the equipment change on Tokyo. I can't believe that it will be a 343 on that route, please let me know - Ed

quote:Originally posted by eejp1007
Alex,
Where did you see the equipment change on Tokyo. I can't believe that it will be a 343 on that route, please let me know - Ed


The schedule I have shows the VS900/901 as an A346 through 2010.

there must have been a glitch because when looking up tokyo early april it did indeed show a 343 but now 346 so false alarm.

cheers

alex

I travel on VS001 and VS002 to Newark every 4-5 weeks or so and it is always a 346 (has been all year anyway). Am booked to go this Saturday and also 12th Feb and they are both coming up as 744's on the seat map(a 1st for me on that route), so looks like a straight swap between EWR and JFK?

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by Istate75
I travel on VS001 and VS002 to Newark every 4-5 weeks or so and it is always a 346 (has been all year anyway).

No it hasn't. I flew to EWR on the VS1 in September and it was a 747. It changed to a 346 on September 12th and I returned on a 346

quote:Originally posted by Istate75
I travel on VS001 and VS002 to Newark every 4-5 weeks or so and it is always a 346 (has been all year anyway). Am booked to go this Saturday and also 12th Feb and they are both coming up as 744's on the seat map(a 1st for me on that route), so looks like a straight swap between EWR and JFK?


The VS1 constantly swaps between the 346 and 744. The upcoming schedules continue this pattern.

18 November 2009 - 27 February 2010 - 744
28 February 2010 - 27 March 2010 - 346

[:X]

quote:Originally posted by Istate75
I travel on VS001 and VS002 to Newark every 4-5 weeks or so and it is always a 346 (has been all year anyway). Am booked to go this Saturday and also 12th Feb and they are both coming up as 744's on the seat map(a 1st for me on that route), so looks like a straight swap between EWR and JFK?


Not so, many days of the week the VS1/2 and VS45/46 are operating with 747s at the moment ... shopping, New York, Christmas ...

Also how long has VS17 been running a 343? This was just one more reason that I picked AF for my trip home this year, the only non astronomical PE prices had me on vs17, which I noticed was now an A343.

quote:Originally posted by aft1981
Also how long has VS17 been running a 343? This was just one more reason that I picked AF for my trip home this year, the only non astronomical PE prices had me on vs17, which I noticed was now an A343.


I've holded back on taking the 17 now it's a 343, on a day flight, you really need VPort ...

quote:Originally posted by aft1981
Also how long has VS17 been running a 343? This was just one more reason that I picked AF for my trip home this year, the only non astronomical PE prices had me on vs17, which I noticed was now an A343.


The VS17/18 switched to a A343 when the winter schedule started in October. It is currently scheduled to switch back to a A346 on 14 March next year.

Sorry, can I hijack this for a moment... Anyone got the plans for VS19/20 for next year? It seems to be an A343 in Nov next year. I can't do that, it's enough to make me to BA!

quote:Originally posted by locutus
Sorry, can I hijack this for a moment... Anyone got the plans for VS19/20 for next year? It seems to be an A343 in Nov next year. I can't do that, it's enough to make me to BA!


Currently showing as a A346 until 27 March 2010 and a B744 for the summer until 30 October 2010.

Personally I can't ever see SFO going on a A343 unless it was a last minute aircraft change.