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Is there not already a thread for this?

The opinions will usually come across from people who fly using the LHR fleet more, like myself for example. The product is noticeably different, with the Gatwick fleet in real need of this overhaul. :w

Would you not rather travel in a potentially better and definitely cleaner aircraft with a nicer seat, more responsive and user friendly IFE if given the chance? I for one cannot wait to try out the "upgraded" Gatwick fleet although it may have to wait for the new year when I can get some holiday - Vegas here I come!! 8D

The fun of this is watch as views will spin round.. with complaints stacking up against VS for not tidying up their LHR fleet too.

[Neil]

Who said they hated them? Maybe it would be a good idea to have a read back through the many threads on this subject, and you will see that a lot of people like the current LGW fleet, especially PE pax.

I applaud your obvious keenness for all things VS, but sometimes it is best to have a look around and see if things have been discussed previously before starting another new thread just duplicating existing questions or discussions.

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[honey lamb]

Most people seem to want refurbs desperately, and just dont like the old 747s

The reason that people want the refurb is because it was supposed to happen over two years ago but had to be put off because of the recession. Because of the delay the interiors have become somewhat tired and people have reported here about the cabin looking shabby and often things not working.

With regard to them being old 747s, LGW has some of the youngest 747s in the VS fleet and certainly much younger than the LHR 747s with the exception of G-VROC and G-VWOW

Why do people prefer oydessy over nova??

Nova is a digital based system
With great picture quality and good sound.

Oydessy is run by video cassettes where often the pic is not clear due to old heads playing the tapes and a poor grainy picture.

Nova is great.

The old LGW 744s are absolutely filthy inside. I have a large number of pics to prove it.

I have a theory that because the aircraft are due to be refurbed/retired shortly, a 'deep clean' has been deliberately neglected and they are doing the bare minimum to save costs.

I think that if they were a restaurant or takeaway shop serving food, environmental health would be all over them.

(I still love Virgin, just hate the state they have let their old aircraft get into)

Having flown on a re-ferb LGW aircraft the other week i'd have to say that i'm a fan of the old LGW layout but the newly refurbished aircraft are a good improvement, the tv system is much better, (although I didn't really mind the old system, prefered oddesey to nova) and the seats seem nice, just the seat pockets are stupidly small, but that would be my only criticism

Will do a trip report at some time!

From my point of view the old upper deck format of all PE is an almost perfect environment for a quiet flight and good service. New seats and IFE are good but I value the quiet atmosphere on the all PE upper deck. Travelling in Oct and May next year with VS to MCO to we are sure to experience the new layout. Probably try and get the downstairs PE cabin as we like to get off the plane as quick as possible. We have tried the new PE seats in the airbus and not that impressed, did not seem as comfortable. All in all ithe flights are only a tiny part of the holiday so not worth worrying about something I cannot change.

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[preiffer]

I'd rather have a current aircraft than a refurb.

The new "dream suite" is narrower, more cramped, has less storage, only one arm rest - and the entertainment is only as good as the content on it (which is updated VERY slowly).

For me - no refurb please.

I'd rather have a current aircraft than a refurb.

The new "dream suite" is narrower, more cramped, has less storage, only one arm rest - and the entertainment is only as good as the content on it (which is updated VERY slowly).

For me - no refurb please.

No "dream suites" on the LGW refurbs though? You forgot to mention that the arm rest comes over and into your seating space, effectively making the seat smaller.

But back to the orriginal question, never flown on the Gatwick fleet, but I get the impression they aren't very clean and are suffering from being used so much (falling apart, the seats etc, not the aircraft itself...).

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The old LGW 744s are absolutely filthy inside. I have a large number of pics to prove it.

I have a theory that because the aircraft are due to be refurbed/retired shortly, a 'deep clean' has been deliberately neglected and they are doing the bare minimum to save costs.

I think that if they were a restaurant or takeaway shop serving food, environmental health would be all over them.

(I still love Virgin, just hate the state they have let their old aircraft get into)

Any chance you could upload the photos to gallery and send me a link

I will put them up as soon as I get acknowledgement of my complaint from Virgin. Will also do some trip reports (when I get around to it) as I have upcoming PE/UC trips on LGW aircraft.