New LGW Config

What a load of moaning over something that isn't even confirmed. People moan about the current seats so they get their way, VS replace them and now they've found something else to moan about. As we've said many times, the current PE product is better than a industry standard PE. VS is fitting the seats that are standard out of LHR. For those of us who exclusively use the A340 there is no upper deck to even consider. Why not appreaciate the: new seat; new carpet; new IFE and then sit back and relax and if you are lucky enough to be on the upper deck appreciate the privilege rather than expect it as a right.

oo)

What a load of moaning over something that isn't even confirmed.

Oooh, I think we just became a 'focus group' ^) Now let's see if anyone is listening...

What a load of moaning over something that isn't even confirmed...

oo)

Ditto ! oo) oo) oo)

I think people get protective over thier little fiefdoms, and any threat to that raises thier hackles a bit. Going on what is being bandied about on the VS facebook page, the PE travelling community appear far more millitant about changes to what is seen as a 'luxury' (the bubble) than I recall from the J/Y config change.

maybe vscss is a BA dirty tricks plant !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Personally, I won't fly PE if its not the bubble... But flown UC recently anyway, but did PE once downstairs on a LHR 747 and the Airbus and will _never_ pay more for that again. I'd go economy over that...

Smid - that's the point isn't it.

The OP asked what we thought, and people have responded - err, guess what, with their own oppinions.

Like you, PE in the bubble is worth the premium, PE in the larger cabin, especially in the bank of 4 is not -- in my humble, minority oppinion......especially now that other airlines are coming up with highly competitive premium and business products in terms of price and service offering.

Now then, if VS could refit some of the CC to remove inconsistency, that'd be something!!

I sincerely wish I had not booked with them so early if this does prove to be the case. And as they must know what config the bubble is going to be at this stage then they should come out and say it. Very disappointed in their approach to this.

Loyalty is very important to many of the MCO passengers.
This is very obvious on sites such TheDibb.

Virgin pax have in the past been very loyal, particularly when some become very critical. They have believed that VS offer a better service than that offered by the many other options on the MCO routes. Unfortunately we are now seeing other options such as Thomson at a fraction of the price. I just did a test booking for Nov/Dec from Manchester. £759 for premium seats - VS are £1200 for PE and £2270 for UC!

Not surprisingly Thomson have few seats and dates left for 2012 but when they release their winter 2013 seats this June I will certainly be looking there if I haven't completely transferred my loyalty to BA. VS have lost it.

[Neil]

So now we are comparing VS with a charter airline? I don't think I've seen such an over reaction like this before, and all because VS are moving 20 PE seats from upstairs to downstairs and putting some Y seats on the Upper Deck. Sure it would be better for PE pax if they didn't, but it really isn't that big a deal

We are totally forgetting they are installing brand new Y and W seats, brand new IFE, and introducing a new PE meal service.

I'm sure you will enjoy flying in to SFB, on a Tuesday or Saturday only, ending up in an economy seat because Thomson decided to send an a/c without premium seating installed (happened 3 out of 4 flights to my colleague). Oh and enjoy all the benefits and potential savings from their FF scheme, oh wait a minute, that's right, they don't have one.

Must agree that this seems to be a slight overreaction;

It's actually great news for the majority who fly - new IFE and refurbishment will please all those Econ pax in the back.

I've had the displeasure of flying PE downstairs on the current LGW 744; hated it and told VS. The new arrangement downstairs sounds much better. I've been lucky enough to have "done the bubble" a few times in the past and agree that it's a nice little space.

My last couple of trips to MCO have been via JFK and MIA - to avoid the inferior planes. Worked well for us.

I also would fly to LAX or SFO to get to LAS; direct flights are often too pricey and I had a bad flight, (due to PAX mainly), from LGW to LAS direct.

So, given that I've gone out of my way to avoid the LGW route, (and have again this year - ANZ to LAX), I still don't think VS have made such a dreadful mistake.

Although I understand this being more of an issue for those that fly in and out of MCO regularly, (thinking Flabound here...!).

Still, it's always good having an interesting thread!!

Craig.

Interesting comment from Virgin employee on their FB page on this topic:

"With our first 747 yet to leave service for its upcoming refit, I’m afraid it’s a little premature for us to comment. We will bring you updates of the progress through the refurbishment and let you know as soon as we can "

Far be it from me to cast doubt on the information from the OP, but is there anything here that is directly attributable to VS sources? Surely, until then, this is all merely speculation.

Yes the bubble is nice. If these changes come about it will be harder to secure a seat in the bubble, but an enhanced PE downstairs may also provide a pleasant experience.

Let's see what happens and judge it from actual experience. I am pleased that vs are investing in the fleet.

if you look at thjis from the point of view of someone who very rarely gets to fly in any class other than economy (me) I would not choose to sit in economy on the upper deck of a 747.
In the PE configeration the bubble is 'spacious' if you add in another 2 seats in every row like the LHR jumbo's (3/3) you end up with a lot of seats in a very small space. i would choose to sit in the front few rows of Y on the 'ground floor' any time i was given the choice.

but as others have said it does seem that VS have got very expensive on the route. looking at prices for a trip next year (in economy) BA are cheapest on most dates direct to MCO and on the other dates CO are cheapest via EWR from LHR

.... and all because VS are moving 20 PE seats from upstairs to downstairs and putting some Y seats on the Upper Deck. Sure it would be better for PE pax if they didn't, but it really isn't that big a deal

For me its not the taking out of the 20 PE bubble seats - its purely because it would seem that Virgin Holidays get exclusive use of the remainder and personally I do see that as a big deal. By all means make the changes but have the remaining PE seats on the upper deck for all passengers willing to pay the premium upgrade, not just for a so called special few.

Yes this is pure speculation at the moment but numerous different posts on the same topic have been running ever since VS announced the planned changes, so folk obviously need to vent their concerns.

I honestly do not believe for one second the comment apparently made by a VS employee .."With our first 747 yet to leave service for its upcoming refit, I’m afraid it’s a little premature for us to comment. We will bring you updates of the progress through the refurbishment and let you know as soon as we can ". Oh come on, with the first aircraft due to go out of service within a couple of months, I sincerely hope VS have got the new parts on order and all the planned layout ready, otherwise the refit is going to take quite a while

In my opinion based on personal experiences, PE on Virgin is far superior to the BA product for as long as its on the LGW upper deck y) . I've travelled many times in the downstairs seats of a 747 and it was awful. The airbus PE product is even worse. Like many other previous Posters have said, better to book a cheaper economy seat if the PE seat is not going to be good value for the high price.

[mitchja]

I just want to clear up this thing about Virgin Holidays and the Upper deck. Yes, they get pre-reserved seating, but you can only reserve these seats if you book over the phone with VHols directly and the seats must be pre-booked on the same day the booking is made.

Book by any other channel (including booking direct online or via a travel agent) and you cannot reserve these seats at all, you only get to pick the same PE seats as anyone else booking a VS flight.

Also if you book over the phone out of the 11 month flight booking window, again these seats are not available to you.

Not really a benefit that many customers are actually going to be able to make use of!

Folks, just be glad VS are still flying, and look to stay that way for the foreseeable!! Please don't flame me - just saying!

Could be worse: TCX are refitting their A330s...seat width of 16.5 inches and seat-pitch of 29 inches. No PE class on outbound flights, due to APD. So count your blessings WRT to Virgin! y)

Not everyone can afford to fly PE/Upper, so for some folk to fly on a jumbo and sit UPSTAIRS would be pretty damn epic. Not often you can say that. If you were travelling with young kids, can you imagine how excited they'd be walking upstairs on an aircraft?!?

So yeah, I think this is actually a bloody good move by Virgin!

*Ducks for cover*

Not everyone can afford to fly PE/Upper, so for some folk to fly on a jumbo and sit UPSTAIRS would be pretty damn epic. Not often you can say that. If you were travelling with young kids, can you imagine how excited they'd be walking upstairs on an aircraft?!?

It's hardly 'epic' to be on the upper deck of an aircraft - maybe so when the original 747 came into service - but not anymore with the A380 being an option (albeit not on VS for the foreseeable future). I'm sorry, but the days of finding a set of stairs on an aircraft a novelty have long gone.

Not everyone can afford to fly PE/Upper, so for some folk to fly on a jumbo and sit UPSTAIRS would be pretty damn epic. Not often you can say that. If you were travelling with young kids, can you imagine how excited they'd be walking upstairs on an aircraft?!?

It's hardly 'epic' to be on the upper deck of an aircraft - maybe so when the original 747 came into service - but not anymore with the A380 being an option (albeit not on VS for the foreseeable future). I'm sorry, but the days of finding a set of stairs on an aircraft a novelty have long gone.

not so sure on that last comment about it "not being a novelty". The first time I took my grandkids on a VS flight to Orlando in 2002, their little faces when climbing up the stairs was priceless - my daughter was pretty delighted to

It's hardly 'epic' to be on the upper deck of an aircraft - maybe so when the original 747 came into service - but not anymore with the A380 being an option (albeit not on VS for the foreseeable future). I'm sorry, but the days of finding a set of stairs on an aircraft a novelty have long gone.

I agree - I've only visited the UD once (long story) last April and even without passengers in it felt really claustrophobic. (BA 747). I'd prefer to be downstairs in any cabin.

I wonder how many people who complain about the split deck have actually experienced it for themselves on a LHR plane?

I agree with some of the previous posters about the new seats, new cabin, new IFE and new meal service. Surely the sum of all parts if greater than fretting over climbing up some stairs?

The bubble is nice, but I think there has been a slight over-reaction to speculation about the proposed changes. Are some life-long VS supporters seriously considering switching sides because they *may* not get a seat in the Bubble? It's not like there aren't going to be any PE seats up there if the rumour is true.

(Disclaimer, I've travelled in all classes on LHR split config planes)

[Darren Wheeler]

I did have a very quick dig through the TR's and found a couple of Economy one's where it was on the upper deck and the OP liked it. For example..

forum/index.php?f=6&t=270940&rb_v=viewtopic

yea but come on Darren -they did have the whole row to themsleves !!!

a point i just made on FB is many EC pax are saying 'yes i would love to sit in the bubble' well those who do so pay extra to fly PE. The downstairs PE is not worth it. so the gamble now becomes greater.

PS I fly PE and would love to use the CH....gonna open that us to us lesser mortals ???? -you see my point ?

[Darren Wheeler]

Doesn't appear they had on their other flight

forum/index.php?f=6&t=269115&rb_v=viewtopic