VS075 G-VSXY

What do I like about VS?
Easy - upper class beats club world at a price I can afford. Miles are easy to accumulate from alternative sources. The clubhouse is fab. Crews tend to be friendly.
But I am in touch with reality- A343s are a bit rubbish- V Port is industry average and other IFE is pants. Food isn't good on board and the brand looks small rather 'boutique' with each passing year. Not a time to get complacent.
Your mileage may vary but I suspect most VFlyers are close to my assessment.

Just done a quick side by side of the two photos.
I'm fairly sure they are of exactly the same screen - but from a 90 deg angle and wide lens, it can be made to look bigger.

ife pe.jpg (23.78 KiB) Viewed 2234 times

I'm sure they are bigger than the current offering tho'

Would like to add my thoughts to this discussion. Yes the entertainment system is not the best and the food is not the best, but i still would rather travel with virgin rather than any other airline for the service you get off the airline and the employees.

I've been mulling over the lack of information about the new A330. We know there are official photographs, but not yet released and weknow VS look at this site (because of the contact re the Facebook photogaphs). But essentially still no decent shots of cabin interiors.
Going a little deeper, the VS website details on premium economy are silent on the new cabin (in fact erroneously stating that non LHR cabins are of the older style), and the press kit details do not mention the fact that VS now have an A330 as part of the fleet.

I get the idea that VS PR/Marketing is of the chocolate teapot variety. I can't think of many businesses that would studiously not promote a new product offering.

Perhaps somebody from VR PR/Marketing might read this and.............. :w

The in seat displays are the same as ANZ.

[mitchja]

Also remember how much time & effort VS put into asking what pax would like to see on-board in terms of the IFE and on-board connectivity via their Facebook and YouTube pages last year? All of which now seems a bit pointless considering all VS have actually done is install an 'off-the-shelf' system that everyone else is installing anyway. The Virgin PR machine running in over-drive again!!!

Also remember how much time & effort VS put into asking what pax would like to see on-board in terms of the IFE and on-board connectivity via their Facebook and YouTube pages last year? All of which now seems a bit pointless considering all VS have actually done is install an 'off-the-shelf' system that everyone else is installing anyway. The Virgin PR machine running in over-drive again!!!

I get the idea that VS PR/Marketing is of the chocolate teapot variety. I can't think of many businesses that would studiously not promote a new product offering.

No offense guys, but first VA are guilty of PR over-drive, and then are accused of NOT marketing their new products. Which one is it, it seems like they cannot win either way.

Nobody who has commented on this threat has flown on the new aircraft, I think you should maybe reserve your judgement on how good/bad the new IFE system is until all of the planned functions have been enabled and you have used them on a VS aircraft.

The EX2 system allows a great deal of customisation by the airline.

So it is quite correct to say that we haven't seen it yet.

But why have VS not told us about it?
All PR but no information?

Passengers do like to know what they are paying for - before they get on the aircraft.

Lufthansa has internet access rolling out across its long haul fleet. Already fitted to some aircraft

[Neil]

The EX2 system allows a great deal of customisation by the airline.

So it is quite correct to say that we haven't seen it yet.

But why have VS not told us about it?
All PR but no information?

What PR? out of everything you can say about VS and the A330, over PR on it is not one of them.

I've been following this thread, and I have to say I find some of the comments very strange. For years we have all moaned about MAN/LGW and the tired a/c and inferior IFE. So when VS finally get their act together, put new a/c on its maiden flight ex MAN (yes MAN, not LGW), with the widely praised (both on here and in the industry) PE product, its most recent Y product, with a brand new IFE, they still get criticised.

We don't know anything really about how VS have customised the IFE, but we believ and it looks like it is a huge step forward on V-Port, with things like USB ports, and there are still more things to come like net access, so I think they have done a good job.

Of course, as others have said, the proof is in the pudding, and I am looking forward to reading TR's and finding out more, and I do think we need to wait for that, before we start VS bashing. Let's not forget, it wasn't that long ago many VF's had doubts we were even going to see any of these A330's!

The EX2 system allows a great deal of customisation by the airline.

So it is quite correct to say that we haven't seen it yet.

But why have VS not told us about it?
All PR but no information?

What PR? out of everything you can say about VS and the A330, over PR on it is not one of them.

I've been following this thread, and I have to say I find some of the comments very strange. For years we have all moaned about MAN/LGW and the tired a/c and inferior IFE. So when VS finally get their act together, put new a/c on its maiden flight ex MAN (yes MAN, not LGW), with the widely praised (both on here and in the industry) PE product, its most recent Y product, with a brand new IFE, they still get criticised.

We don't know anything really about how VS have customised the IFE, but we believ and it looks like it is a huge step forward on V-Port, with things like USB ports, and there are still more things to come like net access, so I think they have done a good job.

Of course, as others have said, the proof is in the pudding, and I am looking forward to reading TR's and finding out more, and I do think we need to wait for that, before we start VS bashing. Let's not forget, it wasn't that long ago many VF's had doubts we were even going to see any of these A330's!

Neil a voice of reason as last ^)

Neil is quite right.

However, Virgin have arguably made a bit of a rod for their own back in recent years by ordering A380, talk of 747 re-fits but with no follow-up action.

I think this is where the cynicism understandably kicks in.

Having flown on the new aircraft and used the IFE, I can actually comment with some knowledge. It's great. The screen quality is brilliant, it's simple to use, the functionality is excellent and it's a refreshing change to other airlines. It's hilarious to hear you all commenting on something you haven't experienced.

I agree with Neil and Kiwibrit.

I am sure Virgin have there reasons for not over promoting. Its important to get a balance between a bunch of geeks and 1000s of passengers. With 30 plus planes and only one with the new system/seats if they over promote all they will recieve is a influx of complaints from people who assume that they will have it. People don't generally take notice of the detail that it might just be one plane. Given the complaints re V-port and nova they may well have learnt a lesson, especially with the open forum of facebook where comments can be very damaging to a brand.

I can't wait for these planes to start flying out of Heathrow and replace the old 340-300s.

Other airlines have there problems too - a colleague flew Emirates last week - flat bed on the a380 in business, but not on the second leg on a 777. I have recently flown on BA's oldest 777 and there newest. It was like a different airline. I don't see BA overly promoting the new WT and WTP or 1st class, I assume they are waiting for it to roll out.

In case anyone hasn't seem them, Business Traveller has posted a bunch of photos of the new IFE on Flickr.

Just as an aside, I can't wait to read Neil's TR from his flight on the A330 in a few weeks!

I just wonder how long it will be before we have the first row when over zealous passengers start jabbing the screen (back of someones seat) constantly and inevitably p*ss someone off? ):

Must say, I am surprised the harsh criticism the 330 launch is getting, and agree with most of what Neil said there. Also remember, right now the "new offerings" are on one aircraft, flying out of MAN, perhaps a bit early for such heavy PR especially with the length of time it's going to take to get any kind of consistency throughout the fleet, in fact I find it rather refreshing that VS aren't going overboard with the launch.

Is there in seat power in the new system?

Is their in seat power in the new system?

I believe there are power sockets in PE.

?| WHY are the new A330 VSXY not on the Aircraft Database. v(

[Neil]

?| WHY are the new A330 VSXY not on the Aircraft Database. v(

This has to be manually added by Pete, and he obviously hasn't time to do it yet, so please be patient.

I'm not sure what some people expect from the IFE, we have the very latest state of the art system that is available. What do people want, 3D telly or something?

I'm not sure what some people expect from the IFE, we have the very latest state of the art system that is available. What do people want, 3D telly or something?

VB I think HD holographic at the very least .

I am sure it is a great system. Perhaps on par or better than the leaders.

What I'd like to see is a confirmation that it will be fitted across the fleet as refits happen ... not sure we've had that?

The V:Travelled blog has posted some more pictures here.

VSXY was one ahead in the taxi queue in front of my BA 1391 shuttle to LHR yesterday. Very nice she looked too in the Manchester sunshine.

Regards
R3dV