LGW refits

Looks like a further delay, Ladybird isnt now going in until tomorrow, I though they may have been taking her seats out at LGW, but she is shown as being on the 015 today.

VROM now shown as back Thursday, rather than yesterday, in service for the weekend??

so what will be the % chance of getting a refitted 747 on the 23rd July on the Gatwick-Vegas run?

I'm guessing more than 0 but less than 1.

so what will be the % chance of getting a refitted 747 on the 23rd July on the Gatwick-Vegas run?

I'm guessing more than 0 but less than 1.

1%? :w Given 7 aircraft to refit, approx 1 per month, say 3 by end July, about 43%.

Hello new here! I was wondering if there is a way to know in advance witch particular aircraft I will be flying on the 16 of July 2012 from LAS-LGW, with its return on the 31 of July 2012 LGW-LAS. I know it’s a 747-400; I am interested in knowing witch one. TKS

Back to the bubble situation and the new LGW fig1. Wouldnt it have made more sense to put the economy forward and PE aft. This would allow PE to disembark first and row 75 with its leg room advantage would be for the higher ticket passenge.

[Neil]

Hello new here! I was wondering if there is a way to know in advance witch particular aircraft I will be flying on the 16 of July 2012 from LAS-LGW, with its return on the 31 of July 2012 LGW-LAS. I know it’s a 747-400; I am interested in knowing witch one. TKS

Welcome y)

I'm afraid the answer to your question is, no. No airline releases this information in advance due to security reasons, and also plans change weekly/daily/hourly so there really is no point.

If you check the status updates page, in the toolbox section above, a few hours before the information, which comes direct rom Virgin, should show which a/c it will be your flight, but that is the earliest you will find it anywhere

so what will be the % chance of getting a refitted 747 on the 23rd July on the Gatwick-Vegas run?

I'm guessing more than 0 but less than 1.

1%? :w Given 7 aircraft to refit, approx 1 per month, say 3 by end July, about 43%.

Where 0 is impossible and 1 is definite. :w

or 43%.

Where 0 is impossible and 1 is definite. :w

Way too binary for me...

Where 0 is impossible and 1 is definite. :w

Way too binary for me...

As they say, there are only 10 types of people in the world - those that understand binary, and those that don't...

i was in two minds about it.

[honey lamb]

Back to the bubble situation and the new LGW fig1. Wouldnt it have made more sense to put the economy forward and PE aft. This would allow PE to disembark first and row 75 with its leg room advantage would be for the higher ticket passenge.

They didn't do that when they split the bubble into half UC/Y on the LHR aircraft so they are unlikely to do something similar on the LGW ones.

On a similar note, the first time I booked a UC flight ex-LHR was when the bubble was half UC/PE. It was just before the suites were introduced (and before such niceties as booking on-line) and we booked through a travel agent. We looked for seat requests but in the absence of seat maps etc, we took what we were offered. We had travelled in the past in PE in the bubble and can still taste the disappointment we felt when we got on board and were directed upstairs. I can still remember the frustration we felt on arrival when we had to wait for PE to leave especially as there was an elderly lady there who quite frankly should not have been upstairs and had difficulty in manoeuvring the stairs (I'm old and can say such things ) )

For the return flight we requested and were given seats in the B zone which was the experience we had wanted

They didn't do that when they split the bubble into half UC/Y on the LHR aircraft so they are unlikely to do something similar on the LGW ones.

Well, just because they didn't doesn't mean someone shouldn't think about it, it's a good idea!

Mind you, at least you learnt what the B zone was, and how advantageous that is!

My first time in the bubble was on a 747-200 when it was all UC!

I remember the two old 747s they used at MAN with just Club Orlando upstairs (a cheaper version of UC for us poor northerners) but back to the LHR config the major difference at the row 75 leg room problem doesn't exit as all the UC passengers have better legroom and a totally different product and therefore won't feel as cheated. Disembarkment is another matter. I always get frustrated on the LGW fleet when IC have to wait for PE / Economy before gettin off.

I remember the two old 747s they used at MAN with just Club Orlando upstairs (a cheaper version of UC for us poor northerners) but back to the LHR config the major difference at the row 75 leg room problem doesn't exit as all the UC passengers have better legroom and a totally different product and therefore won't feel as cheated. Disembarkment is another matter. I always get frustrated on the LGW fleet when IC have to wait for PE / Economy before gettin off.

On a similar note, the first time I booked a UC flight ex-LHR was when the bubble was half UC/PE.

The first time I flew PE - 2003 - it must have been this configuration. Since then I've thought I must have imagined it! All the sweeter for it being (a) an operational upgrade and (b) a flight to LAX...

On a similar note, the first time I booked a UC flight ex-LHR was when the bubble was half UC/PE.

The first time I flew PE - 2003 - it must have been this configuration. Since then I've thought I must have imagined it! All the sweeter for it being (a) an operational upgrade and (b) a flight to LAX...

Almost ditto, mine was to SFO and also an opup!

by Ampthillhatter » 22 May 2012, 06:54

Is that the new seats?

It would be nice to think that at any moment VA are going to release a press announcement with lots of photos of the refit. All the excitement is getting to me now and with a flight in seven days to MCO just want to know what plane we will be on! Can't wait!!

It says on the Virgin website that the new PE seats will be available on LHR flights and Gatwick to Barbados.

The VS web site often has a loose grasp of reality. It is still insisting that the new PE seat is available on LHR flights and will shortly be rolled out to other services. Updated march 2012.

Clearly the two new A330's with the new PE seat that entered service April last year have not yet been noticed. :w

Where is this on the VS site? I can't find it!

I am assuming therefore that G-VROM is planned to be operating all flights to BGI from this/next week? How will this interact with VS29/35/37 and different departure times etc? ?|

by pjh » 22 May 2012, 15:51



cockerhoop wrote:so what will be the % chance of getting a refitted 747 on the 23rd July on the Gatwick-Vegas run?




stevebrass wrote:I'm guessing more than 0 but less than 1.


1%? Given 7 aircraft to refit, approx 1 per month, say 3 by end July, about 43%.

Timescales seem to be slipping. I reckon there will be only two in service by end of July.

[Darren Wheeler]

As with all things, the first one is going to take a bit longer as the fitting team find all the little niggles that slow things down. No doubt they are finding quick wins on some of them as we speak.

As with all things, the first one is going to take a bit longer as the fitting team find all the little niggles that slow things down. No doubt they are finding quick wins on some of them as we speak.

And we're always apologetic when VS get it wrong ... really, do they have project managers and are they held to account ... flew out late, refit late, return to service late ... it's a catalogue of errors.

totally agree with slinky,

the 1st refitted aircraft was due back in april, hence the reason why no seat allocation because they wont know which aircraft will fly what route,
though VA knew the 1st aircraft would not be back be in service untill at least mid may, why couldnt they do the decent thing and open up seat allocation to PE ?|

jason

[Darren Wheeler]

it's a catalogue of errors.

Yes, but not necessarily VS's fault.

I have no issues over any blame - things happen. However, with only 7 days to next flight, would like to think that plane type has been determined. I am travelling PE in group of 8 with young children. Have emailed VA direct today....let's see what reply I get!

I have no issues over any blame - things happen. However, with only 7 days to next flight, would like to think that plane type has been determined. I am travelling PE in group of 8 with young children. Have emailed VA direct today....let's see what reply I get!

AFAIK, they do plan aircraft movements at least a month ahead and tell airport operators what plane they expect to use on what route. But it is highly open to change due to various problems/conditions. They wont tell you want exact plane you are on for security, but you should know what type of aircraft will be operating the route when you book, but again its easily changed. but for LGW/MAN it's a B747 or A333. Until the first refurb is back, only one type of PE config on B747s