"Shabby" VS LGW plane interiors...

In the context of frequent mentions that the VS fleet at LGW/MAN are a bit "lived in", with specific mention of PE.....I was wondering.

Are they considered shabby in comparison to other carriers?

The planes are young, so do other carriers re-fit more often?

Do other carriers maintain the interiors better? (Clean more thoroughly, repair faulty fittings etc (better fault reporting mechanisms?))

Or, are they considered shabby compared with a previous expectation of VS planes?

Just curious as to what people think on this.

Moved to Departure lounge forum so visible to all

I have found them comparable to some of the older BA flights, however, from the flights I've been on I'd say BA fly less flights which would be classed as 'shabby'.

I've said this before but I really don't think the LGW/MAN fleet is all that bad. While I agree it's not the same standard as the LHR fleet is it really truly awful? Every flight I've been on, it's been cleaned to the same standard as LHR planes. Yes the seats have imperfections etc however isn't that the same as a car? When you get it it's new, after years it degrades and then eventually it gets replaced. What's the difference here? VS have advertised that it is being upgraded when the 2nd A330 arrives. I'm aware that the planned upgrade got canned a year or so ago but, there was a global recession going on and, I reckon VS decided throwing money at V:Port wasn't the best idea. When you get a chance like this, take it. This time next year the LGW/MAN fleet will have the newest interiors with the newest IFE. PAX will then be moaning when their 744 gets subbed with an LHR one!

[Neil]

I've said this before but I really don't think the LGW/MAN fleet is all that bad. While I agree it's not the same standard as the LHR fleet is it really truly awful? Every flight I've been on, it's been cleaned to the same standard as LHR planes. Yes the seats have imperfections etc however isn't that the same as a car? When you get it it's new, after years it degrades and then eventually it gets replaced. What's the difference here? VS have advertised that it is being upgraded when the 2nd A330 arrives. I'm aware that the planned upgrade got canned a year or so ago but, there was a global recession going on and, I reckon VS decided throwing money at V:Port wasn't the best idea. When you get a chance like this, take it. This time next year the LGW/MAN fleet will have the newest interiors with the newest IFE. PAX will then be moaning when their 744 gets subbed with an LHR one!

I agree 100% y) and having flown a fair bit on the LGW/MAN fleet I don't think it is all that bad. IFE is dated now, but that is something the BA fleet suffers with also.

I've never particularly thought they were shabby either, but have seen very many comments to that effect.

So was curious to know what it's being compared against...

This time next year the LGW/MAN fleet will have the newest interiors with the newest IFE. PAX will then be moaning when their 744 gets subbed with an LHR one!

Haha...ain't that the truth!

Are the LGHW/MAN 744's still going to be refitted???

Just got back from LGW to LAS in UC on the old 744 and got to say it was in a terrible state. While I was fortunate to have UC because of miles a couple I met on the flight had paid £4500 each for their return ticket to LAS. I would have been gutted to have paid that money and then to see the state of the UC product and cabin on that flight. The cabin and seat should not be in a state of "not bad" if you are going to justify charging people that money. I can tell you now that the couple that paid that money would be spending it on another airline in the future. The seats were dirty and broken in areas and there was thick dust build up all around. Great shame as really all it needs is a regular and thorough clean in my opinion.

Victim of their own success maybe? The LHR A346's are pretty 'bling' inside with all the nice new seats, chrome-effect fittings etc, perhaps these make the LGW 747's look a bit dated?

[Darren Wheeler]

Not to mention that the LGW get a very hard life inside compared to the business routes out of LHR.

What is disappointing is that the cabins are often dirty. This really isn't acceptable regardless of the economic climate. If I were CC I'd be embarrassed. Perhaps there's an opportunity for a business to tender to do a really good job (or your money back!) Anyway, good cabin crew make up for shoddy furniture any day... IMHO

i don't think the LGW 744's are that bad i have flown on newer aircraft in a worse condition (BE's SOU based Q400's)

the only things that are dated on the fleet are the IFE system and some of the seats being a bit worn.

The LGW A/C have the tightest turnaround of any of the fleet which is why they don't always get as deep a clean as the LHR a/c. The cleaners are under huge pressure to be on and off asap. They have a checklist of things to do depending on the time available, so if it's say a very tight turnaround they will just do section A which is the basic essential cleaning. If they have longer they will also do section B cleaning which is a bit more thorough and so on and so forth.
I think if you compare the LGW 744s with the 343s then they're not too bad and comparable with many other airlines I've flown on if not better. Of course the 346s look better because of the mood lighting/ chrome fittings /sparkly toilets etc.
Hopefully next year when the LGW 744s have had their refit they will then be the envy of the rest of the fleet

The LGW A/C have the tightest turnaround of any of the fleet which is why they don't always get as deep a clean as the LHR a/c. The cleaners are under huge pressure to be on and off asap. They have a checklist of things to do depending on the time available, so if it's say a very tight turnaround they will just do section A which is the basic essential cleaning. If they have longer they will also do section B cleaning which is a bit more thorough and so on and so forth.
I think if you compare the LGW 744s with the 343s then they're not too bad and comparable with many other airlines I've flown on if not better. Of course the 346s look better because of the mood lighting/ chrome fittings /sparkly toilets etc.
Hopefully next year when the LGW 744s have had their refit they will then be the envy of the rest of the fleet

Good point on the cleaning and turnaround times. Presume if they slow down, this has cost and therefore price implications. It's just a shame. As an aside; anyone agree with me that as PAX we have a responsibility to leave the plane in a tidy condition? I alway try to sort out my rubbish, not spill stuff etc...

Last time i flew on an LHR 744 (back in 2006) i seem to remember that being in a far worse state than any of the LGW 744s ive been on recently. Had torn seatcovers and one of those seats that goes into full recline on takeoff and doesnt come forward again until they hit the brakes on landing!

[Neil]

Are the LGHW/MAN 744's still going to be refitted???

The last news was that they are due to start their refits later this year, so until something different is said them we have to assume that is still the case.

Plus have you seen a 744 after a full flight from Orlando with hundreds of kids - it's not pretty! You can imagine the mess from dropped food trampled into the carpet and in the seat pockets and on the seat covers plus vomit etc - It obviously takes longer to clean all this up on the leisure route a/c than the LHR traiditionally business routes a/c leaving less time to pay attention to all the small details. Also factor in the high config of the LGW 744s - takes longer to clean them than the lower config LHR a/c.

I can understand that the economy cabins can be left in a terrible state after a MCO-LGW flight, but what's the excuse for the Upper cabin to be so grubby. Compared to the numerous flights I've taken in BA CW, upper cabins are dirty, food down the side of the seats etc. I've got 2 UC flights with Virgin this year and hope the cabins are 100% better than the last the LHR-MIA flights last August.

I was unfortunate enough to fly to Toronto on BA in PE in December and the sight of accumulated rubbish down the side of my window seat made me take a picture. In case you can't make it out, there are used dirty ear plugs, elastic bands, plastic cutlery, salt & pepper sachets, dirty napkins and general filth. :$

So its clearly not just a VS problem, more of an industry wide issue and in part due to cutbacks in "non-core" services.

Whilst dirt and filth like that is not acceptable in any class, I have to agree with sunsational that in UCS you have a right to expect a much higher standard of cleanliness given the substantial premium you pay.

"Look at the muck in here!"

[honey lamb]

I can understand that the economy cabins can be left in a terrible state after a MCO-LGW flight, but what's the excuse for the Upper cabin to be so grubby. Compared to the numerous flights I've taken in BA CW, upper cabins are dirty, food down the side of the seats etc. I've got 2 UC flights with Virgin this year and hope the cabins are 100% better than the last the LHR-MIA flights last August.

I flew in BA CW last year for the first time. I'm not the best of housekeepers - Kim and Aggie would despair of me (but not enough to put me on their show I hasten to add :0 ) but even I was itching to start scrubbing the dirt off the seat surround on my outbound. Grimy doesn't even begin to describe it and the inbound was only marginally better.

Plus have you seen a 744 after a full flight from Orlando with hundreds of kids - it's not pretty! You can imagine the mess from dropped food trampled into the carpet and in the seat pockets and on the seat covers plus vomit etc - It obviously takes longer to clean all this up on the leisure route a/c than the LHR traiditionally business routes a/c leaving less time to pay attention to all the small details. Also factor in the high config of the LGW 744s - takes longer to clean them than the lower config LHR a/c.

On every flight we've taken where I've walked from the back to the front MrsPJH and I have been taken aback by the state in which people leave the area in which they've been sat. It takes no time at all to bundle your rubbish up to help others in their efforts to clean and prepare the aircraft. As my parents used to say, you wouldn't do that at home, why do it here?

Plus have you seen a 744 after a full fllght from Orlando with hundreds of kids - it's not pretty! You can imagine the mess from dropped food trampled into the carpet and in the seat pockets and on the seat covers plus vomit etc - It obviously takes longer to clean all this up on the leisure route a/c than the LHR traiditionally business routes a/c leaving less time to pay attention to all the small details. Also factor in the high config of the LGW 744s - takes longer to clean them than the lower config LHR a/c.

On every flight we've taken where I've walked from the back to the front MrsPJH and I have been taken aback by the state in which people leave the area in which they've been sat. It takes no time at all to bundle your rubbish up to help others in their efforts to clean and prepare the aircraft. As my parents used to say, you wouldn't do that at home, why do it here?

Agree but unfortunately the majority of people these days don't have any respect for anything! I remember accidentally spilling a coke once on the floor on a flight and I felt awful, let the CC know and offered to clean it, but that's my nature!

My brother is an aircraft technician and joins the planes at the same time as the cleaners and I've heard some awful stories of what people leave behind, enough said..... Lol

On every flight we've taken where I've walked from the back to the front MrsPJH and I have been taken aback by the state in which people leave the area in which they've been sat. It takes no time at all to bundle your rubbish up to help others in their efforts to clean and prepare the aircraft. As my parents used to say, you wouldn't do that at home, why do it here?

I find it strange that when on EU flights, where turn arounds are very tight, the cabin is left nearly spotless (when I have flown anyway, and yes taking into account the shorter flight)
But I think the airlines make a big fuss of telling people if they take their rubbish/tidy up, it keeps flights on time and keeps fares low.
Maybe virgin could make more of a fuss over asking pax to be tidy?

Plus have you seen a 744 after a full flight from Orlando with hundreds of kids - it's not pretty! You can imagine the mess from dropped food trampled into the carpet and in the seat pockets and on the seat covers plus vomit etc - It obviously takes longer to clean all this up on the leisure route a/c than the LHR traiditionally business routes a/c leaving less time to pay attention to all the small details. Also factor in the high config of the LGW 744s - takes longer to clean them than the lower config LHR a/c.

I know exactly what you mean; I've flown Y a few times sitting right at the back, in one of the pairs. Literally having to wade through the debris to get out! It really is all about respect for our fellow traveller; we always aim to leave our seats ready for the next PAX. But haven't had to do this with kids yet - perhaps easier said than done... At least the purple leather in PE and UC are easy to wipe down with the missus' make-up remover wipes!

Quite often at the end of a long haul flight, the space in and around my seat is knee deep in papers, magazines, food wrappers, empty bags, cups, plastic glasses....the one difference is that I make sure that I have cleared EVERYTHING up or binned it prior to landing. Basic courtesy.