Plane config changed vs027

Hello all I'm due to be flying with virgin on Feb 14th from LGW to Orlando. I am flying premium economy and choose my seats on the upper deck. I logged on earlier this week and the plane config has changed and i'm now on the lower deck. The Upper deck now appears to be First and economy. What has happend ? I am really annoyed as I wanted to be upstairs where hopefully it would be quieter and now I cant as there is no seats available on the upper deck. What I want to know is there anything I can do about it or am I just stuffed and will have to sit on the lower deck ?
Thanks in advance

[Nottingham Nick]

Welcome to the site.

If they have changed the config, and there is no PE upstairs, then I can't really think of much you can do about it - other than upgrade to Upper Class (Virgin don't do First) .

Seriously though, there is nothing to say that the config won't change again, so keep your eye on it - right up to when OLCI opens. Your original seat requests will have gone by the wayside, so, if it does change back, you will have to re-request them.

On the bright side, ISTBC, but I believe all the planes with this lay out (LHR Config 4) have V-Port.

Nick

Sounds like your plane has been swapped to a LHR so Upper Class/Business(Virgin Atantic dont have a first class product) and Economy share upper deck and all PE is on the lower deck.

However the PE product will be the newer version and with VPort so that is a great advantage.

The only way now to sit on the Upper deck is to upgrade to Upper Class if you can.

[Darren Wheeler]

If it's showing an upstairs config of Upper and Economy seats then the aircraft has been swapped for a LHR-based 744. While it does mean that PE is downstairs only, it also means you get the purple leather seats and the IFE will now be V-Port.

Hi Chris, welcome to V-flyer.

Depending on the flexibility of your ticket, you could see if you could upgrade to Upper (business class) or even downgrade to economy - but you still might not get upper deck seats. Upper looks really busy though.

The other possibility is to switch to the VS15 which is still showing PE upstairs. But the back half of PE looks as though all of the seats are already assigned. The front half is held back for a while for Virgin Holidays passengers and it sometimes only released at online chceck in.

And you could do all that and find out on the day the aircraft has changed again.

If I were you I'd reconcile myself to the fact I'm sitting downstairs and not let it get in the way of my holiday - it is PE and a day flight afterall. There are many on here who lamented the changed config, being in the bubble was a good experience.

Regards
R3dV

It sounds like your aircraft has changed to a LHR configured aircraft - which has Upper Class on the upper deck in the first 5 rows and economy behind. The PE cabin on these aircraft is on the lower deck only.

However, the aircraft will have v-port (rather than Odyssey or Nova) which is a big plus and the lovely purple PE seats which I believe are much better than the old style on the LGW/MAN aircraft.

Two of the LHR configured aircraft have been operating out of LGW for sometime now and these changes do occur to accomodate demand - as the aircraft have 62 PE seats, which is always in demand to MCO it could be the flight is busy already.

Hope that helps - I agree, upstairs is nice and roomy but I am sure you will enjoy your flight.

Horburyflyer

Thanks for all the replies, is vport the system with the big tv's in the seats from the most recent virgin advert ? If so I guess sitting downstairs will be ok ! I'm really looking forward to my flight And have just managed to secure some VIP tickets for the shuttle launch as well. Can't wait really need a holiday !
Does PE help you get you car hire quicker at the other end or is it the same queue for everyone ?

Thanks for all the replies, is vport the system with the big tv's in the seats from the most recent virgin advert ? If so I guess sitting downstairs will be ok ! I'm really looking forward to my flight And have just managed to secure some VIP tickets for the shuttle launch as well. Can't wait really need a holiday !
Does PE help you get you car hire quicker at the other end or is it the same queue for everyone ?

Hi Chris,


V port is the "on demand" system, start and stop films when you want and loads of channels and games! The best!

The new seats are also great!

Unfortunately PE won't officially get you your car faster, however, the fact you get off the plane first, means you get through immigration quicker and join the car hire queue faster, so you will more than likely get there faster!

Have a great trip!

Luke

Does PE help you get you car hire quicker at the other end or is it the same queue for everyone ?

what will help is that you are in the second block of pax to get off the plane after UC so you (should) be through immegration quicker ...

We are flying on the 19th to MCO on VS27 PE and that was switched to a LHR 747 some months ago shame about not sitting upstairs but V Port is a big plus.

Re car hire whilst you should get off the plane before economy passengers you still need to get through immigration, my tip would be to collect your bags after clearing immigration put them on the second transfer belt then go sort your car then collect your bags from belt 8a which is along from the car hire desks.

This forum rocks ! Thanks for all the info the entertainment system sounds like one that is used on emirates the new double decker job A380 that was excellent to use, you could even put a USB stick in and store where your films and tv stopped so you could just resume them on the way home.

This forum rocks ! Thanks for all the info the entertainment system sounds like one that is used on emirates the new double decker job A380 that was excellent to use, you could even put a USB stick in and store where your films and tv stopped so you could just resume them on the way home.

whilst the system is 'on demand' i.e. play/pause etc you can't use your own USB etc in it as it dosent have that capability

I am also travelling feb 19/26 and the flights have been changed to a LHR 747. gutted as i prefer upstairs over vport and the seats

Well, if all these MCO flights are being subbed with LHR 747s, maybe, just maybe, a refurb or two is happening quicker ...

Hi all,

This plane swapping is all very interesting...

I was planning to fly LGW-MCO on 19th Feb but it is sold out. I was offered the MAN-MCO as an alternative so I'm now booked onto VS073 in PE. Does anybody know whether this plane has been switched to LHR 747, or will I be on the normal plane with PE in the bubble?

Thanks,

G

I'm flying on VS015 on the 17th Feb and VS028 on 28th Feb - I can't see the config by logging on at the VA website as there are no seats remaining to choose. Would any kind soul be able to have a glance & tell me the configs? I know Virgin Holidays put in Upper Deck requests (also flying PE) but I guess this doesn't mean that those flights have PE on an upper deck. I think I'd rather have V Port and the new seats anyway!

Thanks for all the info the entertainment system sounds like one that is used on emirates the new double decker job A380 that was excellent to use, you could even put a USB stick in and store where your films and tv stopped so you could just resume them on the way home.

Sorry to disappoint you but v-port is IMHO nothing as sophisticated as the IFE on the EK A380.
DL