Are Virgin flights to Vegas really that bad

I am off to Vegas next week and cant wait My only concern is that I have heard lots of bad reports about the Virgin flights. I have used my FF miles and upgraded to PE y) . I know the planes are older but are they really that bad.
Do they run out of drink on a regular basis and does half of the IFE not work.
Please someone reassure me that the flight is ok. I didnt want to book BA due to the uncertanty of the strikes - I hope I have made the right choice ?|

They'll likely be on "old style" PE, and not have the V:Port AVOD entertainment system, so films come on at set times-you can't just start when you want, screens also much smaller.
The seats, are older and not the Plush purple leather affairs that are heavily advertised. (generally only out of LHR currently)
Try and get Upstairs on your seat request..
IMHO Overall WT+ is inferior to VS PE, even with the PE older seats

Thanks for that - I have pre booked seats in the bubble so hopefully they wont get changed ;0)

I've never done a LAS flight myself, but I've travelled on the old PE seats, and in some ways, they are more comfortable than the new PE seats, as long as they have nothing wrong with them.

The other main criticism you made about the LAS flights, that the bar service is suspended part way through the flight, seems to happen quite often, but not on every flight.

Up in the bubble, you may not even notice if bar service is suspended down at the back of the bus, unless it's announced on the PA.

There's three things which contribute to the bars being suspended early on the LAS flights:

1) Pax going to LAS are usually trying to get the party started early, so lots of boozing takes place on the plane.

2) Virgin (rather short-sightedly) reportedly use a standard liquor cart load on all LGW flights, so what's loaded for LAS is the same as MCO, which has a rather different pax demographic.

3) All liquor is round-tripped from the UK, so the crew need to save something for the flight back to the UK, as it is not replenished downline.

Slight digression, but interestingly, Air New Zealand has it's own version of the LAS flight:

The daily AKL-PER-AKL flight, which is a 7-8 hour flight flown on the 767-300, offers the full ANZ international wine and food service and reportedly has the highest bar consumption of any ANZ flight network wide.

I've been told that ANZ actually have a special bar load for that particular flight, due to the sheer amount that the pax on that flight consume, and the amount drunk actually went down slightly when the 767s flying that route were equipped with seat-back AVOD enterainment!

Mike

I have done this flight once and never again. It was in PE, upstairs in the bubble.

The seat I had was a bulkhead one, where the TV did n't work, I then got moved to sit behind someone who had drunk so much started abusing his girlfriend physically.

I would rather fly somehwere else and connect to Vegas than experience the direct flight.

As there is such a high Y load on this flight, every possible space is used by people stretching their legs. It was very hard to actually get down the stairs and move about the plane.

The planes are not that old, they are just a different configuration, and have not yet been updated to incorporate the recently redesigned PE seat.

Before I got a set of noise cancelling headphones, I actually found the old PE seats more comfortable to sleep in.

Now, when I switch on my headphones I can get a better nights sleep in just about any seat.

Mark

Vegas flights do get additional alcohol loaded its just simply a case of a number of people drinking from the moment the services start.

Then they order two or three beers for there friends, then when the beers run low they go on to wine and spirits.

We always wonder if people would drink as much if we charged for it?

People seem to think that the flight is part of an ALL INCLUSIVE holiday, since the alcohol is round tripped from the UK crew have to ensure that there is enough for the way home.

Obviously we have a duty of care to ensure people dont get drunk so alcohol is limited.

Dont thinking loading more would solve the problem in the long term just need to stop binge drinking on board ^) )

Vegas flights do get additional alcohol loaded.

Good to know. Someone else had previously given a different impression, so thanks for the correction.

its just simply a case of a number of people drinking from the moment the services start.

Ahh. Brits Abroad. Can't beat em. ):

Mike

[buns]

I have done the LGW - LAS Flight on a couple of a occasions now, either in PE or UC.

Whilst i have been aware of some "boisterous" passengers on board in Y, I have never once encountered any announcement that the bar has been closed.

As regards to the the IFE and seat in the bubble, given that it is a long flight, I have taken along my I Pod to pass away the hours after the main meal service.

enjoy your time in Vegas and Good Luck

buns

Thanks for all the replies. I guess you have to take the highs and lows - a direct flight with a fewwissues or a longer indirect flight with possibly better service.
It is too late now as I go in a week so will let you know how I get on when i get back

[HighFlyer]

I havent flown direct for many years but the flights I have taken (in PE) were all fine. I didnt experience any overly rowdy behavior, but I know it can and does happen. At least in PE in the bubble you are away from the masses and should hopefully find the flight more peaceful.

Thanks for all the replies. I guess you have to take the highs and lows - a direct flight with a fewwissues or a longer indirect flight with possibly better service.
It is too late now as I go in a week so will let you know how I get on when i get back

Please do post a trip report, we look forward to those.

Please do post a trip report, we look forward to those.

Indeed we do
FWIW it's not just on the LAS flights that the grog runs out.I (amongst other fellow v-flyers)have been on numerous ex LHR (or returning to LHR) flights where the champagne in UC has been whisked away some hours in to the flight, needing to be "saved" for the return journey or run out completely on the return trip itself !.
You're off to Vegas . Just enjoy .
DL

Hi

I have doen the LGW-LAS flight 3 times with Virgin and with children age 9 & 12 i can say they are no different then any other Virgin flight....

Except my children were the only two children on the whole flight, you will have a fab time.

I've been to Vegas 10 times in the last 10 years always with Virgin never had a bad experience, never seen drunken behaviour. Last 2 times were upstairs in PE and it was worth the price. Go with a positive attitude and you'll have a great time. With the amount of flights now going to Las Vegas I'm sure the vast majority of them are great and unfortunatly you're more likely to hear about the ones were something has gone wrong.

I went to LAS in February and there was no announcements about alcohol being stopped and the outbound was very full.

Also, we're lucky that both ways, the plane was changed to LHR config plane.

Thanks for all the replies. I am feeling better now which is great . My only very minor concern is that my seat will be changed and I wont be in the bubble . I will be doing my online check in 24 hours before so fingers crossed i will still be uptairs 8D

[honey lamb]

Thanks for all the replies. I am feeling better now which is great . My only very minor concern is that my seat will be changed and I wont be in the bubble . I will be doing my online check in 24 hours before so fingers crossed i will still be uptairs 8D

You stand less chance of losing it by doing OLCI at least 13 hours before the flight

I just want to re-iterate, the Virgin Vegas flight for me has been grand the 2 times we've been on it. No real complaints, it is a heavily loaded flight - similar to MCO in peak season from my experience.

I personally wouldn't take the non-direct route after hearing a few horror stories from other members of the wedding party on the last trip - they couldn't go direct due to full Virgin flight and were late booking. Both the parties via Delta and American had terrible journeys with (both of them) non-working TV's - and (on American) no food availability despite being booked for Vegatarian options months in advance. I usually end up flying American with work and was shocked at how bad the flight was, as I usually find them fine.

Basically everyone has a bad flight time to time, even with Virgin, but overall I've definitely been more happy with Virgin than the other airlines... well the ones work lets me fly on anyhow.

On the Vegas routing, I'll be interested to see how BA compares - I likely have a work trip Summer 2011 (this year if my boss can't do the conference) to Vegas (too hot grrr), and work will likely use BA...

With regards the bar on LAS flights, it was a CC on here said that all flights were loaded with the same load. On my flight it was closed 4 hours in and couldn't see or hear anyone hitting it hard, nor did I hear from anyone else. Infact it was a lot quieter than I thought it would be, yet the bar ran out v early on.

I flew out to Vegas last Monday. I was in the bubble and it was fine. Good selection of films, although no v-port. I did go for a walk and down stairs almost everyone was standing up. It was odd and nothing I have seen before so it was pretty hard to get through.

No closing of the bar. I had heard bad stories too and my last trip I went via LA, but waiting for a connection makes a long journey even longer.

It was work so only there for a few days, but weather in Vegas was great - warm with blue skies and not too hot. If you get a chance check out the newish Aria hotel - its not so claustrophobic compared to the others.

Have a great trip

Not done the LAS trip myself, but have witnessed the 'clientelle' in the LGW CH.

I sat down for breakfast with my family and the language (and volume)was appalling. I mentioned it to the staff who said they were going to speak to the group as they had other complaints.

I felt sory for anyone stuck on a 10hr flight with that mob.

[RichardMannion]

Well for starters the flight departs from Gat-wich....

Never flown direct with VS (only BD due to them loading Business Class on their website for £250 a few years ago), and like ukcobra I'd always choose to go in-direct via LAX or SFO; but then nowadays I'd probably do the same for MCO (go indirect via MIA) if its remotely busy.

Short answer to your question...YES. Sorry.

Flew to Vegas 3 weeks ago on BA from T5. STREETS ahead of VS, and this was on the 1st day of the strike.

Totally different type of passenger, drinks service the whole way through the flight, T5 instead of the chavpit South Terminal, 777 with AVOD, much better flight times( took me 20mins to get through immigration at McCarran and we were last off the plane). I have booked for next year and am using them again.

Totally different type of passenger..T5 instead of the chavpit South Terminal

And, whoosh, with one wave of the hand vast swathes of humanity are put in their place...

Please please please try and argue that T5 is inferior to the South terminal at Gatwick...you must be having a laugh.
And whilst you're doing that try convincing me that the IFE on the LGW 744s is superior to that on the BA 777s that they use on the LAS route. Because you won't be able to. The simple fact is that the LGW product is now worse than many charter flights. Deal with it and stop making excuses.