Barbarella

Que people whinging about the 'old' LHR fleet and wanting VS to update them to match the LGW fleet ):

Que people whinging about the 'old' LHR fleet and wanting VS to update them to match the LGW fleet ):

Speaking of which, when WILL VS update the LHR fleet, it's so old, the IFE is ancient, etc etc ):

The Economy seating, on further inspection, appear to have a leather headrest! Looks very swish!

According to the seat map on the VS website there should be a toilet between PE and Economy on the starboard side which doesn't seem to be there in the video?

Whilst Sitting on Dover beach supping on a few cocktails, glad to report that barbarella flew straight over me at about 1000ft. Looking very shiney ,Let's hope she does the vs36 on June 6th

I realise that the UC cabin has not been refitted but other than installing the "JAM" system have they made any other changes (lighting, carpets, etc)?

-Steve

Carpets have been changed to the dark slightly speckled that you find on the LHR aircraft, galleys and toilet modules all stripped down and refurbed, and that horrible yellow tinge has gone. New taps with a twizzle-press mixer knob and invisible plugs, very fancy. All tedlar (wallpaper) has been replaced with a lighter, fresher one, this goes for all panels and ceiling panels. Lighting is now purple (i think, from memory) on the outboards, like what was found originally just in upper. Ife station still between L2 and R2, you'll probably still have to ask me to move to be able to cross the aisle! Upper is lovely now too, all the old wear and tear signs vanished.

Credit where credit is due, this really looks top notch, short video I know, but the economy seats and new IFE look fabulous.

Tell you what, if I was guaranteed a seat in the economy exit row in the bubble, as shown in the video, I would fly economy every time, what a great place to sit ! Loads of leg room, and the window is right in line with the seats.

We are on VS073 on 27th June, and I know the chances of being on Barbarella are pretty slim, but I am curious where the seats would be for special assistance passengers, having always been allocated row 21 in the mini cabin behind PE. We travel with my brother who is paraplegic and an amputee and my son who has special needs too, and row 21 is always perfect for them. Looking at the seat config, row 30 might be the best option now.
Sightly anxious.....and maybe hoping we'll NOT be on Barbarella!

I just logged on to Virgin and was able to reserve economy seats in the bubble! Does this mean we're on Barbarella? We fly out on the VS15 on Thursday.

I reserved my seats yesterday for VS27 to MCO but now can't check in. Anyone else have this problem? We were set to be on the refit plane.

6pm tonight, Meriden tv ,has a program on the gatwick refits , filmed in hk

6pm tonight, Meriden tv ,has a program on the gatwick refits , filmed in hk

That's a shame I get central

6pm tonight, Meriden tv ,has a program on the gatwick refits , filmed in hk

There's a video here

She does look nice and new...interesting video

[honey lamb]

Pity it didn't show the other cabins rather than just UC given those cabins are where the biggest change is

Poor show by Virgin this week, some people ( on the DIBB forums) flying from LGW-MCO in the next 3 days have found their seat maps changed to the new layout and obviously got quite excited and have changed their seats to the bubble, well todays flight isn't on Barbarella and what's the betting that tomorrow and Friday's aren't either?

Poor show by Virgin this week, some people ( on the DIBB forums) flying from LGW-MCO in the next 3 days have found their seat maps changed to the new layout and obviously got quite excited and have changed their seats to the bubble, well todays flight isn't on Barbarella and what's the betting that tomorrow and Friday's aren't either?

Aircraft are never confirmed until you're hurtling down the runway.

[Neil]

Poor show by Virgin this week, some people ( on the DIBB forums) flying from LGW-MCO in the next 3 days have found their seat maps changed to the new layout and obviously got quite excited and have changed their seats to the bubble, well todays flight isn't on Barbarella and what's the betting that tomorrow and Friday's aren't either?

Aircraft are never confirmed until you're hurtling down the runway.

I have to agree - a/c change constantly, and while you probably haven't noticed it before due to the configs being the same, it might be a bit more obvious during the refits.

Virgin never confirm an a/c type in advance, so it isn't a poor show by them at all.

Yes it is, they could have left the seat map in the old config instead of getting people's hopes up.
It hasn't even been part of the MCO route yet, if it had then it would be excusable, but it's been on the Caribbean routes.
It's not as if they draw the flight no's out of a hat for the next day now is it?
I presume a little more planning is involved.

It's not as if they draw the flight no's out of a hat for the next day now is it?

Don't even suggest it! :w

[Neil]

It hasn't even been part of the MCO route yet, if it had then it would be excusable, but it's been on the Caribbean routes.
.

The a/c has only operated 3 flights so far, and all have been to different destinations, so there is nothing to suggest they weren't planning on sending to MCO.

As I have already said, there is nothing for Virgin to apologise or make an excuse for - maybe they originally planned to send it to MCO, but there are so many operations reasons why the decided to swap things around - it really does happen all the time.

People are going to have to accept that until all the a/c are complete then there is no guarantee they will get a new one. Of course everyone wants to be on a refitted a/c, but that isn't possible and Virgin have not committed or promised the a/c to any flight or route, so they are doing nothing wrong making perfectly normal operational changes/swaps.

The a/c has only operated 3 flights so far, and all have been to different destinations

Which given that at one time the mill was churning out "BGI route only" rumours is a good thing.

I guess VS will have to steel themselves to accusations of favouritism / mishandling expectations until the refits are complete.

I have to say I can see both sides go the argument. I agree VS should just leave the old LGW seat plan up for all flights at the moment and not release VROMS route allocation until it is at the gate and ready to go. I noticed this morning that it was not on the flight status update as they were obviously waiting before finally allocating its routing. I too am hoping for this aircraft on the 1st July but working on the premise that it will be an 85% chance that we won't get it. Not so bad for me as I have our seat allocation, it's only the IFE for us

I have to say I can see both sides go the argument. I agree VS should just leave the old LGW seat plan up for all flights at the moment and not release VROMS route allocation until it is at the gate and ready to go. I noticed this morning that it was not on the flight status update as they were obviously waiting before finally allocating its routing. I too am hoping for this aircraft on the 1st July but working on the premise that it will be an 85% chance that we won't get it. Not so bad for me as I have our seat allocation, it's only the IFE for us

By 1 July, you'll have two refurbished aircraft back in the fleet, so that'll improve your odds.

Although it would be nice to be on a refitted aircraft, it's certainly not going to ruin a flight for me if I'm not.

The config for my flight to UVF this Friday has changed three times already since Saturday and although it's currently looking like it will be G-VROM, I fully expect this to change at least once again before we board.

Matt