New LGW Config

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and finally like I said many pages ago! - why cannot VS come out and be honest about the changes they know are going to happen within weeks now. They must have got stock of the parts and the plans must be outlined by now. Why oh why all the concealment and secrecy v(

Because they can?

It's down to them to announce it when they see fit. Until then everything is pure rumour. I doubt your boss tells you everything at work until they are ready.

Little bit difficult because I am the boss .

I'll admit I do conceal the truth from my staff if I feel it could be painful but on the whole its my competitors I keep in the dark

Like you say Dareen, its all rumour at present but its been an interesting debate. Wonder how many pages the real event will cover once the new 're-fitted' aircraft comes back into service!

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and finally like I said many pages ago! - why cannot VS come out and be honest about the changes they know are going to happen within weeks now. They must have got stock of the parts and the plans must be outlined by now. Why oh why all the concealment and secrecy v(

Because they can?

It's down to them to announce it when they see fit. Until then everything is pure rumour. I doubt your boss tells you everything at work until they are ready.

Little bit difficult because I am the boss .

I'll admit I do conceal the truth from my staff if I feel it could be painful but on the whole its my competitors I keep in the dark

Like you say Dareen, its all rumour at present but its been an interesting debate. Wonder how many pages the real event will cover once the new 're-fitted' aircraft comes back into service!

You hit the nail on the head there, they don't want to release anymore details until they really have to because they want to keep their competitors in the dark!
As far as I know very few people know anything about the new J Seat....it's all very secretive in Crawley....I have tried on numerous occasions to get info from trainers and management....blood and stone!
As far as the new LGW configuration goes it's very similar. The only person that seems to know is vscss.....nothing has been confirmed internally to us.

This has gone from silly to ridiculous. The purple seats are fine. PE downstairs on a LHR 744, for instance, is a really good product. Yes there are issues with a 2-4-2 config, but the product is sound. If you don't like it, fly (newly refurbished) economy -- or another airline. VS can announce what they like when they like. You can fly who you like when you like. All the rest is noise.

This has gone from silly to ridiculous. The purple seats are fine. PE downstairs on a LHR 744, for instance, is a really good product. Yes there are issues with a 2-4-2 config, but the product is sound. If you don't like it, fly (newly refurbished) economy -- or another airline. VS can announce what they like when they like. You can fly who you like when you like. All the rest is noise.

thanks Mr Ridgway

This has gone from silly to ridiculous. The purple seats are fine. PE downstairs on a LHR 744, for instance, is a really good product. Yes there are issues with a 2-4-2 config, but the product is sound. If you don't like it, fly (newly refurbished) economy -- or another airline. VS can announce what they like when they like. You can fly who you like when you like. All the rest is noise.

As was pointed out earlier tonight, we are all entitled to our opinions. Your comments above are totally uncalled for :0

I respect your opinion that you feel "The purple seats are fine. PE downstairs on a LHR 744, for instance, is a really good product". I personally was voicing my opinion which is what this forum is all about surely. Don't like what is being written, then don't read it :w :w

[honey lamb]

Now, now people, play nicely!

Now, now people, play nicely!

absolutely, always do.

I think the PE in the bubble how it is currently on the LGW fleet is a very good product. I would rather have the current seats, with the current entertainment system etc, as I enjoy the space and peace and quiet, you get 9 times out of 10 when sitting up there. Hands down it beats the 2-4-2 configuration downstairs, whether thats 2 rows or a whole section. There will still be PE upstairs, which I suppose is good, but there will be the additional noise from 13 odd extra people and that exclusive feel will no longer be there.

This has gone from silly to ridiculous. The purple seats are fine. PE downstairs on a LHR 744, for instance, is a really good product. Yes there are issues with a 2-4-2 config, but the product is sound. If you don't like it, fly (newly refurbished) economy -- or another airline. VS can announce what they like when they like. You can fly who you like when you like. All the rest is noise.

Up until this point, I don't think anyone had talked nonsense.

I am really very sorry if I have offended anyone, particularly Hev60. I did not intend to do so. I was simply trying to make the point that the LHR jumbos have the new PE product downstairs and, so far as I am aware, we are not deluged with complaints about it. I have flown it myself and it was one of my most comfortable flights.

The LGW refits will mean that you have the option of this (in my opinion, perfectly acceptable) product, or the chance of a seat upstairs. Economy passengers will also have the chance of a seat upstairs. That seems to me to be a good thing.

I genuinely don't understand why people are commenting on VS's supposed "secrecy". All companies choose when to release product launches. We do not know if the OP is a deliberate leak or otherwise. We do not know if the OP is authorised to release this information or not. We don't even know if it is accurate!

The (second) point I was trying to make is that perhaps none of this really matters. Maybe, just maybe, the subset of passengers who get really exercised about this is a very small one? VS will do what they want, and we are free to pick our airline accordingly. And that's how it should be.

I certainly did not say or mean to imply that people aren't entitled to their opinions. What I did say, and I accept that I said it too strongly, was that the level of discontent about these changes is in my opinion OTT, when you consider how long we have waited for these refits and how generally welcome they are.

Anyhow, I apologise once again.

Personally, I'm not sure why there hasn't been anything confirmed - on MMB, it states that the first new a/c will be ready 1st April 2012 - I suspect that if they don't know by now, it's a bit late !

When we booked, we thought it was PE only upstairs, it was one of the reasons for paying - dissapointed that it may be the case that we miss out because there are less PE seats upstairs, certainly, the reviews seem to indicate that the PE product upstairs is much better than the main cabin.

I have my fingers crossed they are going to install the new PE seat from Air New Zealand ! y) y)

[Neil]

I have my fingers crossed they are going to install the new PE seat from Air New Zealand ! y) y)

Well I can 100% confirm they are not.

They will be installing the purple leather PE seat that is installed on all LHR based a/c.

Taking the upstairs/downstairs debate out of the equation, can anyone name a better Premium Economy product "across the pond" than Virgin's, save for the NZ option to LAX only?

Given that the first refitted aircraft is due into service in April, I guess it won't be too long before we see the first aircraft to be refitted (or G-VROM if it is returning) position to HKG. I believe the refit work is going to be carried out at HAECO.

Given that the first refitted aircraft is due into service in April, I guess it won't be too long before we see the first aircraft to be refitted (or G-VROM if it is returning) position to HKG. I believe the refit work is going to be carried out at HAECO.

How right you are, here's the press release.

Shame they won't have the Boeing 'sky' interior but I believe only Boeing can retrofit that.

In that press release, it says there will be "new monuments" ----- can someone help me out with what on earth that is?:D

In that press release, it says there will be "new monuments" ----- can someone help me out with what on earth that is?:D

Possibly the same thing as a 'shining beacon' (aka the NYC Clubhouse...). Or at least from the same author!

Wardrobes

In that press release, it says there will be "new monuments" ----- can someone help me out with what on earth that is?:D

Maybe that's what you get when you experience this service?

From the press release : "new and upgraded seating" - seems to confirm the OP's first post.

Seems even worse if whats posted elsewhere by Neil (more a modification of the current suite and not anything radically different) is correct.

Why not just fit the new suite - the costs savings are probably marginal given the labour that would be required to strip, modify, repair, paint, change IFE and then refit each suite rather than just simply replace with the new one.

Everyone would be "singing from the same hymn sheet" - consistancy achieved - and there would be no whinging and mumping for the next 7 or so years until the next refit.

David :w

Hi all

Does anyone know when the new IFE will be installed into the LGW fleet?

Thanks!

[Neil]

Hi all

Does anyone know when the new IFE will be installed into the LGW fleet?

Thanks!

The LGW fleet are getting their refits, including new IFE between April and November this year.

Excellent - thanks Neil.

Will have to keep an eye out for news of which ones have been refitted, as we are flying out April 30th!

You'll have a 1 in 7 chance as the first one comes back into service at the end of April - fingers crossed for you

LGW ~ MCO in early Oct for me UCS, wonder what will be new for me, I was within a whisker of trying BA CW but as usual my VA loyalties kicked in.