New Upper Class and A330's

ISTBC, but no carrier can get 4 abreast in a herringbone layout in to an A330/340. This (to me) seems like VS is going to be deploying a seat that is similar to the new Cathay Pacific Business Class.

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_HK/ ... inessclass

I'd agree that the bar location seems to be a bit of a mystery.

What I'd also say is that this layout confirms what a cash cow PE is for Virgin, as it seems to attract business as well as leisure travellers and is probably a good earner in terms of revenue per sq foot on the aircraft.

[Darren Wheeler]

I did read somewhere that it was confirmed that all Upper passengers would still have aisle access, so the more traditional seat is a possibility.

Either that or they've found a warehouse full or J2000 seats. :w

Either that or they've found a warehouse full or J2000 seats. :w

If there were a warehouse full of the things, then the only thing that should be done with them is for them to be burnt.

I was looking at some of my old trip pictures the other day, and I'd forgotten how unpleasant they were.

It can't be long now then before the new UCS is revealed? It must be quite a radical change if 4 are able to fit across the cabin.

I might delay booking my next holiday to Tokyo until the new UC is on that aircraft.

Although I'm guessing it will be one of the last to be done. Or it might just be complete luck as to which aircraft is designated to that route when I fly.

I might delay booking my next holiday to Tokyo until the new UC is on that aircraft.

Although I'm guessing it will be one of the last to be done. Or it might just be complete luck as to which aircraft is designated to that route when I fly.

I wouldn't hold your breath on NRT - it's less likely to see an A333 since it's about 5,950 NM whereas a fully loaded A333 is specified for 5,850 NM ...

I might delay booking my next holiday to Tokyo until the new UC is on that aircraft.

Although I'm guessing it will be one of the last to be done. Or it might just be complete luck as to which aircraft is designated to that route when I fly.

I wouldn't hold your breath on NRT - it's less likely to see an A333 since it's about 5,950 NM whereas a fully loaded A333 is specified for 5,850 NM ...

Yes NRT is surely a route for the B787 (whenever Boeing actually manage to deliver more than a few of the damned things). Until then it'll remain firmly in the A340 camp.

Looking at the seat maps it looks like the cabin extends slightly further back towards the doors than on the A343 (as there's no WC between the UC seats and the doors as on the A343) so definitely seems that they're going to be at less of an angle compared to before! But definitely seem to be squeezing more seats into the same space than on the A343 (the 343 and 333 fuselages are the same size!) so surely somethings got to give to achieve this, either the length or width of the suites (as there's not really that much 'wasted' space in the current config!)

So it's up ... EF is showing A346 on the VS003 through April 13 then a A343 from April 14, and then A340s through May, how about a bet that the A333 is being launch on April 14 (after all, VS did say "Spring" and on the VS3 route)?

Might plan a trip just to see ...

Am off to JFK on the 13th annoyingly! If it does look like it's going to be on there any earlier as a v-flyer will of course do my best to change to the VS3 armed with a camera!

I might delay booking my next holiday to Tokyo until the new UC is on that aircraft.

Although I'm guessing it will be one of the last to be done. Or it might just be complete luck as to which aircraft is designated to that route when I fly.

I wouldn't hold your breath on NRT - it's less likely to see an A333 since it's about 5,950 NM whereas a fully loaded A333 is specified for 5,850 NM ...

Yes NRT is surely a route for the B787 (whenever Boeing actually manage to deliver more than a few of the damned things). Until then it'll remain firmly in the A340 camp.

Does that mean the A340 won't be getting a refit?

I wouldn't hold your breath on NRT - it's less likely to see an A333 since it's about 5,950 NM whereas a fully loaded A333 is specified for 5,850 NM ...

Yes NRT is surely a route for the B787 (whenever Boeing actually manage to deliver more than a few of the damned things). Until then it'll remain firmly in the A340 camp.

Does that mean the A340 won't be getting a refit?

Nothing has been announced. A few are being returned at the end of lease. You could speculate not but that is just pure speculation.

So is it only the A330 to have the new UC?

Interesting... will be travelling to NYC around that time

Just to throw another idea in:

I can't see how you could fit 4 herringbone seats across the A333, unless one of the middle pair (either D or G) is a rear-facing seat. I think this must be very unlikely, and the seat map doesn't suggest that it will work like that, but it is not totally inconceivable...

So is it only the A330 to have the new UC?

That's interesting speculation - at the minimum the A333, certainly the B787, but then according to VS it will be rolled out across the fleet so we assume all the A346s and B747s that are remaining.

But as always with VS, it's somewhat guesswork when you read between the lines of the announcements.

Needless to say everyone, if I get a chance at all at work to get onboard the VS new A330 when it arrives at LHR, then I shall post a full report on here for everyones discussion - one of the benefits of being quite senior at LHR...though I shall have to think of an excuse; information gathering exercise for V-Flyer sound reasonable?

Fortunately (unfortunately?) I'll be on the LHR-JNB UC in September. At the moment the 744 has got the sector but it'll switch back to the 346 before we go on our honeymoon. Shame as UC at the pointy end would be fab! however it's looking like an old style UC 346 for us? Unless anyone else knows different?

[Neil]

Fortunately (unfortunately?) I'll be on the LHR-JNB UC in September. At the moment the 744 has got the sector but it'll switch back to the 346 before we go on our honeymoon. Shame as UC at the pointy end would be fab! however it's looking like an old style UC 346 for us? Unless anyone else knows different?

This year it will only be the new A333 that are introduced to the fleet that will have the new UCS on them. VS have said that they will roll out the new UCS to the rest of the LHR fleet over the next three years.

The current UCS that is on all the fleet currently is still a very good seat and with the improvements in on board services, it is still a very good J class offering.

The current UCS that is on all the fleet currently is still a very good seat and with the improvements in on board services, it is still a very good J class offering.

Personally I really like the A346, and my last flight to NRT was excellent. The cabin was very clean and looked in very good condition. However, I wouldn't be happy flying UC and knowing there were other aircraft with a better/newer version of the product. Although that's just because I'd be jealous of those that were experiencing the new product.

Unless, of course, the price will be reduced on the old style cabins. Unlikely, I know.

this is how i envision the 4 suites to be placed..

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/US_Air ... -200_B.php

[honey lamb]

However, I wouldn't be happy flying UC and knowing there were other aircraft with a better/newer version of the product. Although that's just because I'd be jealous of those that were experiencing the new product.

Unless, of course, the price will be reduced on the old style cabins. Unlikely, I know.

I kinda know how you feel. It was the same for some of us when they were introducing the suites into the LHR 747s (before the arrival of the 346s) and we got landed with the J2000 seats. And no, the price wasn't reduced

this is how i envision the 4 suites to be placed..

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/US_Air ... -200_B.php

With that layout on US airways there's only 28 seats in the front of a A330-300 - VS are having 33 and a bar in the same amount of space by the looks of it.. is the bit that concerns me!

this is how i envision the 4 suites to be placed..

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/US_Air ... -200_B.php

With that layout on US airways there's only 28 seats in the front of a A330-300 - VS are having 33 and a bar in the same amount of space by the looks of it.. is the bit that concerns me!

Note that seat map was from a US A332 not an A333 - and it's still conjecture. Didn't we all look at the 333 seat map when the PE / Y config was released online and all go, hmmm that looks odd? Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Darren Wheeler]

and of course, it comes down to the accuracy of the graphics in terms of correct sizing etc.

this is how i envision the 4 suites to be placed..

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/US_Air ... -200_B.php

With that layout on US airways there's only 28 seats in the front of a A330-300 - VS are having 33 and a bar in the same amount of space by the looks of it.. is the bit that concerns me!

Note that seat map was from a US A332 not an A333 -

Yeah, it's the A333 that has 28, the A332 on that seat map has 20!

One thing that VS do seem to get right is their new onboard hard products though! (slow rollouts and J200 excluded!) so still hopeful, just does seem a lot in that space at first glance!

Just being 6'7" I sort of like the bed being as long as it is currently haha!

[One thing that VS do seem to get right is their new onboard hard products though! (slow rollouts and J200 excluded!) so still hopeful, just does seem a lot in that space at first glance!

Just being 6'7" I sort of like the bed being as long as it is currently haha!

You know, in its time, I thought J2000 was fabulous, I loved the red leather ...