New LHR Config 747s Appearing in Schedule

I've just checked my V19/20 trip for August 3/18 this year and the VS website is now showing a new config 747 with Y seats at the rear of the bubble. My seat assignment has changed slightly, but we're still in the front section of UC and is has seated us together for the outbound leg and left our return assignment as was. Curiously enough I'd logged in to change our assignment from being an A and K to being an A and A arrangement on the outbound.

[Neil]

Thanks for the heads up, I have kept checking our booking for May in case of the new config changing our seat requests so will keep an even closer eye on it now.

Neil

Seat map for flight back from SFO was showing new configuration for me also. Makes the bubble so unattractive with all those extra bodies up there.

Went for A zone seats.

I've noticed that too on my Boston flight

Same with VS31 in March going to St. Lucia (Economy at the rear of the bubble), luckily not for the return journey where it's all UC.

Personally disappointed with this and feel for the cabin crew who have to walk through Economy with the food for the UC pax as well as the inevitable additional queueing to get out, Economy pax walking through UC to get to the toilet etc etc.

With a relatively small number of remaining UCS sharing everything with Y on the upper deck (including the loss of priority disembarkment), is there any possibility the few UC seats will be used for those PAX on staff travel and FF? How else can the diluted product be justified to those PAX who pay J money?

Call me a cynic...[ii]

[Scrooge]

If I was booking an FF seat and was told I HAD to travel in the bubble, I would tell VS to stick it, in one move they have turned the best seats for a quiet nights sleep into the worst.

On another note, from what I am reading travel in the premium cabins is starting to rebound, so VS made the switch to less J more Y just in time....Again.

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
If I was booking an FF seat and was told I HAD to travel in the bubble, I would tell VS to stick it, in one move they have turned the best seats for a quiet nights sleep into the worst.

On another note, from what I am reading travel in the premium cabins is starting to rebound, so VS made the switch to less J more Y just in time....Again.


Have also booked VS19 in May and it's showing the new config. No way would I want to be stuck in J upstairs ... it's worth checking every booking to ensure that VS haven't moved you there. It'll be dire.

Also, Scrooge, I agree. VS may just be spending money needlessly here AND pissing off passengers. Last week I flew back from Newark and UC was full on a 747 whereas PE and Y weren't. That may not be true on all flights but surely if VS wanted more Y seats going back to the old UC and PE upstairs plan would be so much better.

[Neil]

Our booking has now changed to the new config, I imagine that all bookings after a certain date will change now, as VS must now have a schedule of when the a/c are due for the change.

[Scrooge]

I can understand VS moving to a higher Y seat count, last year, but it has taken to long to do and now they are behind the curve again.

agree tottaly with an earlier poster that they have turned the best zone into the worst zone. if they needed a bigger Y yield then they ought to have looked at the bigger picture and made the buble either all Y or some PE. this move will, in my opinion greatly devalue the USC product

I know the pro's and con's of this configuration have already been discussed and am sure like many others am interested in hearing how it goes once put into action.

Its just seems a complete unworkable scenario and for any UC passenger in the bubble its adowngrade of the product. I am never able to use the online check-in due to the additional security check and am fearful of getting to LHR and finding my seat request has changed and I end upstairs. Admitedly till the recent change upstairs was my personal preference but now a no go zone. May not have been as bad if Y was at the front of the bubble, but disembarking behind 30 odd Y passengers isn't going to be fun, so much for priority....

quote:Originally posted by slinky09
quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
If I was booking an FF seat and was told I HAD to travel in the bubble, I would tell VS to stick it, in one move they have turned the best seats for a quiet nights sleep into the worst.

On another note, from what I am reading travel in the premium cabins is starting to rebound, so VS made the switch to less J more Y just in time....Again.

Also, Scrooge, I agree. VS may just be spending money needlessly here AND pissing off passengers. Last week I flew back from Newark and UC was full on a 747 whereas PE and Y weren't. That may not be true on all flights but surely if VS wanted more Y seats going back to the old UC and PE upstairs plan would be so much better.


Exactly the same on my return from LAX a couple of weeks ago, Upper was full, PE about 3/4 full and economy only 1/2.

Have been tempted to upgrade my outbound flight to BOS in June, however, it's scheduled as a 747 and I would hate to be stuck upstairs especially in regards to queues for the bathrooms[:I] and not being able to disembark first.

-Steve

[mitchja]

quote:Originally posted by Stevieboy


Have been tempted to upgrade my outbound flight to BOS in June, however, it's scheduled as a 747 and I would hate to be stuck upstairs especially in regards to queues for the bathrooms[:I] and not being able to disembark first.

-Steve


You might find that your BOS flights have changed to an A346 A/C now. Both my BOS flights in April changed last week from a 744 to a 346.

Regards

[Darren Wheeler]

Just checked the May party Bus and that's split too.

Rows 1 to 5 are Upper. Then 75 to 80 are Y

10 Upper seats and 18 Y seat. Seating plan doesn't show any toilet changes either.

quote:Originally posted by mitchja
quote:Originally posted by Stevieboy


Have been tempted to upgrade my outbound flight to BOS in June, however, it's scheduled as a 747 and I would hate to be stuck upstairs especially in regards to queues for the bathrooms[:I] and not being able to disembark first.

-Steve


You might find that your BOS flights have changed to an A346 A/C now. Both my BOS flights in April changed last week from a 744 to a 346.

Regards


Looking at the loads it would not surprise me, the agent told me when I booked I was the only one in PE. Knowing my luck I'll get a A340-300[n] (which is the aircraft on the return leg).

-Steve

My Pledge:

As someone who is a regular Y traveler, sometime PE traveler and once-in-a-lifetime (reward) future UC traveler (December 14th LHR - SFO), I will happily stay in my Y seat in the bubble until such time as the UC guys have disembarked. I would expect the cabin crew to enforce this but usually they're so nice to everyone they won't stop it. If someone has paid 10x what I've paid they don't deserve to listen to me snoring all night then have me jump in front of them as soon as the seatbelt light goes out!

I do remember flying PE up there once with the old UC in the front; Robbie Williams was there with a few of his mates. I got through LAX immigration before them, which didn't feel right.

[Darren Wheeler]

I'm just wondering how long before the first row at the bar.

the UC pax on Gatwick 747's dont disembark first.

Both my May flights to SFO (sadly not the party bus) show Y upstairs - won't affect me in PE though

Crispin

[honey lamb]

The old config is still showing for my flights to and from JNB next month

The new config is showing up for my flights to and from BGI in September. I'm slightly disapointed about this as I enjoyed the mini cabin feel upstairs on the LGW fleet. Oh well, chance fot it to change, and if it doesn't, at least I'll get V-Port... someone please tell me I'll get V-Port!

quote:Originally posted by Aaron
The new config is showing up for my flights to and from BGI in September. I'm slightly disapointed about this as I enjoyed the mini cabin feel upstairs on the LGW fleet. Oh well, chance fot it to change, and if it doesn't, at least I'll get V-Port... someone please tell me I'll get V-Port!


If you are on a LHR based 744, you will get V-Port! [:D]

Just booked my first VA flights for some time.

My destination is Antigua, but due to the UC sale not affecting antigua, I'm going via Barbados.

I've been waiting years to fly in the UCS bubble an now they've gone and changed it! I had the choice of a suite upstairs or 24A by the bar, opted for 24. My flight is on the 7th of March btw. Seems like an odd move to me.
BTW don't wish to de-rail the thread, but am I safe in assuming the LGW clubhouse is refurbished now? Remember reading something about that on here.

[Neil]

quote:Originally posted by seany
BTW don't wish to de-rail the thread, but am I safe in assuming the LGW clubhouse is refurbished now? Remember reading something about that on here.


Yes the LGW CH is fully open after its refurbishment now.