Barbarella

VAST leaves Gatwick on 21/05 at 1400 and arrives at HKG at 0900 on 22/05.......the crew then presumably have a little break and then get on VROM which has a departure time of 1230 on 22/05 and arrives back at LGW at 1825 (all times local)

I think the crew legally need to have a longer break than 3.5 hours on a flight of that duration. Unless a separate crew will be deadheading out on VAST in the suites and the first leg crew will then get their rest on the return?

You can't position that far before a duty. A different crew would operate the return sector after having spend several local nights in HKG.

just checked the status updates page and it looks like barbarella is now due to fly out on may 24th now.

just dont know why VA cant open up the seating map for PE based on the fact it will be a config 1 or 2 from april 1st to at least may 24th ?|

jason

You can't position that far before a duty. A different crew would operate the return sector after having spend several local nights in HKG.

I am fairly certain that all the LGW/MAN 747's that head to/from HKG for refit work will make the positioning flights empty, i.e. no pax & quite possibly no seats in Y on the outbound (as we saw with G-VROM).

As such, these aircraft can fly with next to no crew. Think all you need is the flight deck crew + 1 cabin crew member to do "fire watch", i.e. walk round the passenger areas every so often to check for fires. Must be a very lonely flight for the CC member!

Crew can't fly to HKG and back again with 3.5 hours rest. A crew cannot fly out as passengers in the empty seats and fly the aircraft home as rest has to be in a hotel free of all duty. The amount of cabin crew required on the HKG sector will be two+ as they will have to 'crew rest' during the flight too.

VAST leaves Gatwick on 21/05 at 1400 and arrives at HKG at 0900 on 22/05.......the crew then presumably have a little break and then get on VROM which has a departure time of 1230 on 22/05 and arrives back at LGW at 1825 (all times local)

Is Barbarella back at LGW or still in HKG and if so is the refit complete. VAST is still in service. Looks like the refit timetable is all to c##k. Was hoping for a chance to sample refit on our fligh to MBJ on 1st of July but it looks like VROM will be the only plane in service by then and I believe solely on the Barbados route.

[Neil]

She is still in HKG and due to fly back to LGW tomorrow, with G-VAST due to fly out to HKG on Friday.

There has obviously been a slight delay is getting ROM finished, and they can't afford to have two a/c out of action in one go, so will have just delayed sending G-VAST out until Friday.

I'm not sure I believe the whole, G-VROM will only operate the BGI route thing, it is unusual for VS to operate this way, the only time it has happened is with the A330 first on the VS75 for a month last year until the second arrived, and now with G-VRAY until more arrive, time will tell though.

I'm not sure I believe the whole, G-VROM will only operate the BGI route thing, it is unusual for VS to operate this way, the only time it has happened is with the A330 first on the VS75 for a month last year until the second arrived, and now with G-VRAY until more arrive, time will tell though.

Don't VS have a bit of a history doing that on the BGI route? I remember VFAB operated almost all the VS029/30 flights for an extended period, but not the services that continued onto ANU/UVF.

Hi all,
I'm flying LGW-LAS in UC in July - am I likely to notice any difference in UC at that time? (I seem to remember there was some kind of deep-clean/repair process going on in UC for the LGW fleet).
Not fussed either way - the UC in the nose of the 747 is always great! Just curious to know if I should see any changes.

Strange - VROM has disappeared from the status update pages...

Hi all,
I'm flying LGW-LAS in UC in July - am I likely to notice any difference in UC at that time? (I seem to remember there was some kind of deep-clean/repair process going on in UC for the LGW fleet).
Not fussed either way - the UC in the nose of the 747 is always great! Just curious to know if I should see any changes.

If PE and Y have been refurbished on your flight then UC will have had its 'deep clean' and 'refresh'. And you'll have the JAM IFE system too.

If PE and Y have been refurbished on your flight then UC will have had its 'deep clean' and 'refresh'. And you'll have the JAM IFE system too.

Thanks tontybear - I didn't realise that JAM was a factor! That is definitely something to hope for then, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Seeing as Barbarella has disappeared from the status update page, and there has been no word of her heading back this way, are we to assume she has been delayed even further?

She has just landed at LGW

I'm not sure I believe the whole, G-VROM will only operate the BGI route thing, it is unusual for VS to operate this way, the only time it has happened is with the A330 first on the VS75 for a month last year until the second arrived, and now with G-VRAY until more arrive, time will tell though.

Don't VS have a bit of a history doing that on the BGI route? I remember VFAB operated almost all the VS029/30 flights for an extended period, but not the services that continued onto ANU/UVF.

Correct. VS does have past history of doing this with BGI. IIRC another LHR based 744 also did a stint for a while as well.

Correct. VS does have past history of doing this with BGI. IIRC another LHR based 744 also did a stint for a while as well.

I think that was G-VBIG

[honey lamb]

Correct. VS does have past history of doing this with BGI. IIRC another LHR based 744 also did a stint for a while as well.

I think that was G-VBIG

Over the last three months both G-VHOT and G-VWOW have done runs on the BGI route |:)

The information is in the Toolbox in the Which Aircraft? tab

She has just landed at LGW

Really? Where did you find this info?

Over the last three months both G-VHOT and G-VWOW have done runs on the BGI route |:)

Back in 2009 we flew back from BGI on G-VWOW. IIRC VS (or VH?) did a mail shot about the purple leather experience being available on the route.

I see VAST has been delayed another 24 hours and not goes tomorrow. I wonder if the old seats would have been removed at LGW within the last 48 hours.

Barbarella must be at LGW now, guess her debut will also be tomorrow, which lucky punters will get the first ride, hope we get a TR soon...

She has just landed at LGW

Really? Where did you find this info?

I watched her come in on FlightTracker app

G-VAST has just left LGW for a delayed BGI run which was due to be operated by G-VLIP. I imagine the seats are still in situe or this flight could prove a very interesting TR!!

At this rate refit could take years!!

G-VAST is finally on her way just passing over the Baltic sea

G-VAST is finally on her way just passing over the Baltic sea

Yay