LGW - LAS delays

I have been monitoring flights from LGW to LAS, We are going to LV soon. I have noticed that while a 30minute delay is not unusual some delays are well over an hour.
Is this a "planned" delay? or something different?
Also hearing bad reports of IFE not working, poor food and poor drinks service.
Do I need to pack food and drink ?
any info will be good.

[Neil]

Hi and welcome to V-Flyer.

As I am sure you are aware delays are quite a common practice on all airlines, and with Virgin the LGW fleet is run quite tight and heavily that sometimes a small delay can take quite a few days to be made up because they don't have a/c just sat around that can step in to help sort any backlog.

Also, quite often a departure/take off delay is quite easily made up in flight time, so a 1 hour delay actually leaving, will still result in an on time or ahead of schedule arrival.

With regards to some reported issues on the LGW flight, we have had this thread running recently, so you might find some of that useful.

I wouldn't say you have to take food/drinks on board, but I guess it will depend if you are happy with the usual economy offerings on a long haul flight. I suppose it never harms to have a few snacks just in case.

The IFE isn't the best on the current LGW a/c, there is no doubt about that, and usually it works okay and you have a fairly decent choice of films/tv shows. There are some occasions when there are some issues with the IFE, but obviously that cannot be predicted and to be fair it does happen on the LHR fleet with the better IFE.

Hope you have a great flight.
Neil

Don't forget that not all delays are the airlines fault.

Some maybe down to issues with the weather, airport operations or air trafic control. Fellow pax are also a cause with some people turning up at the gate late etc etc

If there is a 'planned' delay then airlines will add that into the arrival rather than a departure time. I cant see the logic of an airline say advertising a departure is for 14.00 but actually planing it as a 15.00 departure.

I'm with Neil on the issue of snacks - no harm with being stocked up with some addtional snacks (crisps / sweets etc) and drinks as you can munch on these on your trip if you don't eat them on the plane. Personally I'm partial to a bag of wine gums.

Anyway have a good trip and fingers crossed for an on time departure !

Hi, Thanks for input, yet again today - Friday 5th Aug, the A/C is planned due over 1hr late for take off.
VS 43 has been late taking off all week most over 1hr.
I have checked other VS routes & other airlines, this regular delay gives rise to a poor score and will put people off using VS for long haul. We have already booked a V holiday at Christmas to Oahu and we are concerned that big delays could affect onward travel.

can I nit pick?

VS have not 'planned' this delay. It is not a deliberat decision to delay take off as there are repercussions if they did.

You also need to consider what time VS43 arrived at its destination. Surely thats the only delay that matters to the majority of pax?

I looked on the Schedule for VS43 and for July it doesent look too bad to me (but it could look better!). And this week (up until Thursday) there was an hour + delay on only one day (Tuesday) and the next 'worse'delays were only 20 mins.

VS want their flights to take off on time but its not always possible and not always their fault !

Don't mind any comment

When I say planned - the flight time was delayed this am well before published flight time!
I do mind the time on the ground at departure as it often causes a backlog at arrivals.
I am sure if you were to check on Flightstats, VS43 has a NO STAR
rating. While I am sure Virgin would like to do better, this looks like a problem not a "hiccup"

[Neil]

The schedules page on here is a really good way to see an overview of how the flight has been performing lately. Just select the flight and month and you will see the take off and landing times for a whole month. They are also colour coded depending on how late they were. It is interesting to see that often a flight leaves late but arrives on time.

Neil

My flight last week was delayed over an hour as the plane was in the hangar having something fixed.

Hi
thanks for link, very good.
You lot seem very informed !!
I just wonder are delays high due to A/C being older or is it some other reason?
Also why do they use older A/C on this route ?

I just wonder are delays high due to A/C being older or is it some other reason?
Also why do they use older A/C on this route ?

The 744's that are used ex LGW are not older aircraft - they are some of the newest 744's in the fleet.

Tinkerbelle is right, the 744's used out of LGW are some of the newest in the fleet, I think the problem is they are used mainly on the holiday routes and subject to a harder life than the AC out of LHR.

The seats are getting pretty worn out now and the IFE can be a little doggy at times, but the service remains top notch!

Tinkerbelle is right, the 744's used out of LGW are some of the newest in the fleet, I think the problem is they are used mainly on the holiday routes and subject to a harder life than the AC out of LHR.

The seats are getting pretty worn out now and the IFE can be a little doggy at times, but the service remains top notch!

Plus the fact they have never had the seats refitted (with the exception of the UCS), where as the older LHR based 747's have had more PE/UC seat designs than i can remember!