LGW Refits FAQ

Hi guys, thought this might be worth a go, feel free to contribute...

Which aircraft have been refitted already?
All 7 a/c have now been refitted.
G-VROM (Barbarella)
G-VAST (Ladybird)
G-VLIP (Hot Lips)
G-VROS (English Rose)
G-VGAL (Jersey Girl)
G-VROY (Pretty Woman)

When will I be able to select my seats?
Before the 5th January, when OLCI opens, 24 hours before your flight.
However, the seat maps have been known to open up a few hours before this occasionally.
After the 5th January, 90 days before your flight.

What are my chances of being on a refitted plane?
All 7 aircraft are now complete.

Which aircraft are being refitted?
G-VROM (Barbarella) - Complete
G-VAST (Ladybird) - Complete
G-VLIP (Hot Lips) - Complete
G-VROS (English Rose) - Complete
G-VGAL (Jersey Girl) - Complete
G-VROY (Pretty Woman) - Complete
G-VXLG (Ruby Tuesday) - Complete

What about G-VTOP?
G-VTOP will not be refitted, at it is leaving the fleet in early 2013.

What will the new layout look like?
You can find a seat map here

god bless the girls at customer service, they are not as in the know as yourself. In a semi automated reply to my question on been unable to request seats on VS43 July 23rd, she told me how to visit the my booking part of website and request seats!!

I read that G-VTOP is not being refurbished and is an LGW plane. Does that mean it will continue to operate flights until the end of the year?

So, even when all 7 aircraft are refurbished LGW customers still have a 1 in 8 chance of being on G-VTOP?

It's a great idea to capture the information in one thread, but already been done, see here, for example.

Like that thread, this one will slip down the list as another twenty 'what plane will I get', 'when can I request (reserve sic.) seats', and 'where are the extra legrooms eats' etc. come along.

Oh for a sticky!

From Mr Glum!

It's a great idea to capture the information in one thread, but already been done, see here, for example.

Like that thread, this one will slip down the list as another twenty 'what plane will I get', 'when can I request (reserve sic.) seats', and 'where are the extra legrooms eats' etc. come along.

Oh for a sticky!

From Mr Glum!

Yes I feel your pain guys!

[honey lamb]

It's a great idea to capture the information in one thread, but already been done, see here, for example.

Like that thread, this one will slip down the list as another twenty 'what plane will I get', 'when can I request (reserve sic.) seats', and 'where are the extra legrooms eats' etc. come along.

Oh for a sticky!

From Mr Glum!

'Tis done!

Hi I have a question apologies if this has already been answered. I am due to fly on VS15 on 3/9. I have already picked my seat, does this mean that we will not be on a refurbished aircraft?

[Neil]

Hi I have a question apologies if this has already been answered. I am due to fly on VS15 on 3/9. I have already picked my seat, does this mean that we will not be on a refurbished aircraft?

Hi - no it doesn't mean that - this far in advance I doubt even Virgin will know. It is only PE pax that can't select their seats, because it is the PE cabin that has changed, so if you are flying UC or Y then the seat map won't change regardless of if you are on an old or refitted a/c.

I read that G-VTOP is not being refurbished and is an LGW plane. Does that mean it will continue to operate flights until the end of the year?

So, even when all 7 aircraft are refurbished LGW customers still have a 1 in 8 chance of being on G-VTOP?

VTOP is not being refurbished but that is because she will be leaving Virgin. I belive this is at the end of this year or early 2013.

I'd stick VTOP on the list as a non refurb then, because by the sounds of it people flying in November might have a chance of still getting Nova...

Anyway, first one took a month, when was the planned time they are all done? It looks like end of December to me at the current going rate...

[mitchja]

G-VTOP has the Odyssey IFE as she's an ex-LHR A/C.

I am happy to maintain the list of questions at the top, but we may need a mod to keep popping in and sanitising the rest of the thread please

[honey lamb]

I am happy to maintain the list of questions at the top, but we may need a mod to keep popping in and sanitising the rest of the thread please

Don't worry, we will

Does anyone have any idea what economy seats are likely to be allocated by Special Assistance regarding the new layout?

I imagine it would be either of the 12 bulkhead seats.

Does anyone have any idea what economy seats are likely to be allocated by Special Assistance regarding the new layout?

I imagine it would be either of the 12 bulkhead seats.

Surely that depends on the nature of the person and the assistance they require?

I am so pleased that this was made into a sticky -- I understand the mods' reluctance to have the huge sticky threads but really the situation was getting out of hand with so many separate threads on this broad topic.

Am I mistaken, or are there the same number of rows of Economy seats in the bubble as there are rows of PE seats in the old layout? ...and does that mean the new Economy seats must have similar legroom to the old PE seats?

Well it does look that way according to the seat map, but in the pics it seems that they are not the beige colour that extra legroom seats usually are.

How strange!

Does anyone know if G-VAST is nearly finished as it is getting towards 3 weeks since it has been in Hong Kong.

This video http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2012-0 ... ck-jumbos/ mentions it takes 3 weeks per aircraft.

VROM took about 6 weeks so I wouldn't hold your breath.

god bless the girls at customer service, they are not as in the know as yourself. In a semi automated reply to my question on been unable to request seats on VS43 July 23rd, she told me how to visit the my booking part of website and request seats!!

Where is that hidden then ?

Hi there,
Well I have just looked at the new layout on the 747 and to be honest it looks to me like a backwards step, why on earth have they moved economy into the bubble from it being PE only, to me it would have made more sense to stay with the old Man/Lgw config, or even upper class in the bubble PE front downstairs and E in the rest.

Or am I missing something ?

Auto Pilot v(

[Neil]

Hi there,
Well I have just looked at the new layout on the 747 and to be honest it looks to me like a backwards step, why on earth have they moved economy into the bubble from it being PE only, to me it would have made more sense to stay with the old Man/Lgw config, or even upper class in the bubble PE front downstairs and E in the rest.

Or am I missing something ?

Auto Pilot v(

There are many views on the changed layout and if you have a search you will find a few threads discussing it at length. Just to point out also for one of your suggested layouts, Virgin (and all carriers) have to offer all cabins on the main deck to comply with the disabilities act, as some pax might not be able to use the stairs to the upper deck.

It seems Virgin wanted to increase the number of PE pax on the fleet while not dramatically reducing the number of Y pax. They have decided that the new config is the best way to do it. It would seem inevitable that the bubble experience won't be quite the same as it is currently, but on the LHR 747's they have UC and Y mixed on the upper deck so it isn't something new or exclusive for LGW/MAN PE pax.

Here's the refit http://youtu.be/5Mm44HjLddI

[honey lamb]

Here's the refit http://youtu.be/5Mm44HjLddI

Posted here