LGW Refits FAQ

Got a refit for tomorrow on the VS34 , woohoooo ! ^)

Really debating upper deck vs lower deck right now, 20A is available upstairs, which is the front row so that's tempting, or I have the option of 18A or 19A below...any opinions !?

The old cabin had 14J /58W /379Y Totalling 451.

The new cabin has 14J /66W/ 375Y Totalling 455

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by Ian6969 » 23 Aug 2012, 14:43

The old cabin had 14J /58W /379Y Totalling 451.

The new cabin has 14J /66W/ 375Y Totalling 455


VS must be losing some revenue on each flight at the moment, whilst the upgrades are happening - as the number of Y seats is being lowered and W increased - they must surely have to err on the side of caution when selling seats at present, as obviously, they can't sell 66 PE seats, when there is still a distinct possibility of an un-refitted plane flying any route.
There must be ample possibilities of upgrades at the airport at present
Or am I being dim i)

Hi

New to the forum, quite an aviation enthusiast myself just had a few questions on my forthcoming flight to go to my honeymoon destination flying into Cancun from Gatwick.

So am aware i cant pre book my seats because Virgin dont know what will be going outbound and return but wanted to ask what would be the earliest i could login online and be able to request a seat? Is it a few days before, 48 hours before, 24hours before or can it be anytime?

I have booked premium economy seats and understand on 747 fleet that the seats upstairs are slightly better and roomier. Is this true? Are these also reserved for passengers who booked via virgin holidays or can anyone book them? I just ask as i booked a package through a different tour operator.

From looking at the configurtions it seems in PE its a 3 seat configuration each side, are there no PE with 2 seat config?

What is the best window seat in PE, is there such a thing? or does this depend on which type of 747 is flown? Basically which seat should I be requesting when it comes to book.

For other members who have been on the vs94/93 routes, do they tend to be busy full with passengers? I am aware its a fairly new route. I am going in middle of September...

Looking at the history for the flight it seems so random which plane is used? Can I ask because this flight only runs on saturday and tuesday, what does this plane do on other days? I assume its used for other destinations.... I just ask because i been following the flight departures every Saturday to see if it runs on time and noticed today it will be 2 hours late. I am wondering why as the flight isnt coming from Cancun... The only resemblance i see is a flight comes in from LAS into LGW at about 10.30 so assume this then becomes the cancun flight?...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Just a quick question guys.

I'm on the VS34 on Friday (hoping for a refit!), however in my booking I can't enter my Frequent Flyer number, is this anything to do with not being able to select a seat too? I can't figure out at all why it wont let me enter it, there is just a blank space with no link.

That happens to me if I'm on a redemption ... otherwise it sounds like a lovely web site bug.

Yes it's Miles plus money booking, is it a bug or does it just mean the FF number associated with the miles is automatically attached to the booking?

(Sorry for going OT)

If its Miles Plus Money then there is no space to enter your FC number as its not needed - you don't earn miles or tier points on a MPM flight.

[Neil]

Hi

New to the forum, quite an aviation enthusiast myself just had a few questions on my forthcoming flight to go to my honeymoon destination flying into Cancun from Gatwick.

So am aware i cant pre book my seats because Virgin dont know what will be going outbound and return but wanted to ask what would be the earliest i could login online and be able to request a seat? Is it a few days before, 48 hours before, 24hours before or can it be anytime?

I have booked premium economy seats and understand on 747 fleet that the seats upstairs are slightly better and roomier. Is this true? Are these also reserved for passengers who booked via virgin holidays or can anyone book them? I just ask as i booked a package through a different tour operator.

From looking at the configurtions it seems in PE its a 3 seat configuration each side, are there no PE with 2 seat config?

What is the best window seat in PE, is there such a thing? or does this depend on which type of 747 is flown? Basically which seat should I be requesting when it comes to book.

For other members who have been on the vs94/93 routes, do they tend to be busy full with passengers? I am aware its a fairly new route. I am going in middle of September...

Looking at the history for the flight it seems so random which plane is used? Can I ask because this flight only runs on saturday and tuesday, what does this plane do on other days? I assume its used for other destinations.... I just ask because i been following the flight departures every Saturday to see if it runs on time and noticed today it will be 2 hours late. I am wondering why as the flight isnt coming from Cancun... The only resemblance i see is a flight comes in from LAS into LGW at about 10.30 so assume this then becomes the cancun flight?...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi and welcome.

Officially the earliest you can log in and select seats is at OLCI, so T-24, however it does seem the seat map sometimes becomes available in the few hours before that, although nobody knows exactly when.

The current LGW PE config is 2-2 upstairs and 2-4-2 downstairs, that is also the case on the new config, but with just a much larger downstairs cabin and only half the upper deck now. Only on the A333/A340 a/c is it a 2-3-2 config in PE.

On the 747's I wouldn't sat one set of seats offers a better window view than any other.

Thanks,
Neil

[honey lamb]

Hi

New to the forum, quite an aviation enthusiast myself just had a few questions on my forthcoming flight to go to my honeymoon destination flying into Cancun from Gatwick.

So am aware i cant pre book my seats because Virgin dont know what will be going outbound and return but wanted to ask what would be the earliest i could login online and be able to request a seat? Is it a few days before, 48 hours before, 24hours before or can it be anytime?

I have booked premium economy seats and understand on 747 fleet that the seats upstairs are slightly better and roomier. Is this true? Are these also reserved for passengers who booked via virgin holidays or can anyone book them? I just ask as i booked a package through a different tour operator.

From looking at the configurtions it seems in PE its a 3 seat configuration each side, are there no PE with 2 seat config?

What is the best window seat in PE, is there such a thing? or does this depend on which type of 747 is flown? Basically which seat should I be requesting when it comes to book.

For other members who have been on the vs94/93 routes, do they tend to be busy full with passengers? I am aware its a fairly new route. I am going in middle of September...

Looking at the history for the flight it seems so random which plane is used? Can I ask because this flight only runs on saturday and tuesday, what does this plane do on other days? I assume its used for other destinations.... I just ask because i been following the flight departures every Saturday to see if it runs on time and noticed today it will be 2 hours late. I am wondering why as the flight isnt coming from Cancun... The only resemblance i see is a flight comes in from LAS into LGW at about 10.30 so assume this then becomes the cancun flight?...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi and welcome to V-flyer

As Neil says you will only find out when OLCI opens but with regard to which aircraft, yes, it is random as no aircraft is assigned to a particular route and indeed the LGW fleet is also used to service MAN and GLA

Hi all...

I'm new to this but was just after a bit of advice.
I'm flying from LGW to LAS economy on Wednesday, and chose my seats on both legs of the journey when I booked weeks ago. I keep checking my seats every couple of days to make sure they haven't been changed.

When I looked today my return flight has changed to the LGW-1 seat config and it's letting me choose seats in the bubble.
I've read what people have said about not knowing which aircraft until OLCI 24hrs before so I am a little bit confused.
Not sure whether to change my seats to the available ones left in the bubble or keep the ones I have at the moment, don't want to lose the seats I have now and left with seats at the back if it goes back to the old config.

Sorry I know it's long winded but wasn't sure why the config had changed if the AC isn't released until last minute, any ideas? Thanks!

Anyone have any info on G-VROS scheduled return date ?

In Mexico at the moment & just thought I'd add that we flew on a Tues but was able to book seats on the Sunday.
Flew premium economy in the bubble on Barbarella & it was a fab flight...entertainment system worked, cabin crew went above & beyond with helpfulness & made my husband a jacket potato & a huge salad as he doesn't eat cheese or butter but everything seemed to have one or the other!
Hoping to have a fab return flight on Tuesday

Hi all! with 234 posts I have not read all of them so I apologise if this question has already been asked.

By the time I go on my next flight with Virgin all the refits will have been done which is great. My only concern is the picture I have seen of the new economy seats. The head rest seems so large I am wondering how comfortable it is going to be if you are vertically challenged, like myself, 5ft 2in. Has anyone been in economy yet? and how are the seats?

Both times I've managed to choose seats 2 days before flights if this helps anyone...just chosen mine back to Gatwick from Cancun & am pleased to have another refit

Just come back PE from LAS to LGW on V-LIP - beautiful refurb. Was slightly confused as rely on v-flyer for all info but the plane is still showing the old configuration even though it has been back in service for couple of weeks. It also has the old paintwork which I thought would have been updated with the refit. Anyway pleasant surprise

They will only go in for repaint when they're due

[mitchja]

Pete, our esteemed leader, is the person who updates the V-Flyer seat maps and he's been up in Edinburgh for the past month reviewing Fringe performances. He's back this week so the map should now get updated

how upto date is this list?
we are flying man mco in oct on vs073 and I am hoping for a refitted plane

how upto date is this list?
we are flying man mco in oct on vs073 and I am hoping for a refitted plane

the list on the first page is up to date and is updated when anything changes.

Flew on G-VLIP in PE of the VS034 last Friday.

My thoughts...Well JAM is a pretty awesome improvement. I was sat in the bubble, it's very nice up there, there was never an issue with queuing for the loo, not even before landing. Avoid row 20 on night flights, the light from people opening the loo door was quite annoying, that was just an oversight on my behalf, should have thought of that, but the whole split-cabin thing is really a non-issue in my opinion, if anything having less seats makes the PE section feel a little more private.

The little economy section is really very nice, next time I fly econ I know I'll be trying to bag one of those, it's like its own separate class.

New PE seats noticeably less comfortable than the old ones, however overall I felt it was a better PE experience, if only slightly.

Just booked VS093 on 6th Oct. Not flown with VS for a while, despite being Silver FF - as we ALWAYS fly out of Gatwick (excluding Orlando flights) and always get a crappy old plane!!!

Figured, since we've waited a while, we'll retry and hope we get a refit !!

6th Oct - LGW - Cancun
16th Oct - Cancun - LGW.

Just reserved seats and the config was set to "configuration 1" which is the old config... This is not a good start

Really, really hoping we get the new entertainment system... 10 hours of restarting the system is not my idea of fun! I can count at least 4 flights where we all had to watch one childs film becuase the system crashed !!


At least I can hit the bar !! Wish I never flew from Heathrow - Orlando, then I wouldnt know what we were missing on Las Vegas, Cancun and Cuba flights !!

Any thoughts?

[Neil]

Who did you fly to Orlando with ex LHR? Virgin only fly to Orlando from LGW or MAN.

For your flight there will be 4 maybe 5 refitted a/c in operation so the %'s are getting higher, however until all are complete and G-VTOP leaves the fleet then there is always a chance of getting a non refitted a/c.

Yes you are right; All Orlando were Gatwick, but all were on Airbuses not Boeings... So all Three flights we on the new PE upgrade (with no UC on board)... Although I think they have now added UC on these flights?

Heathrow is Egypt Air... Not so good, but at least it's a short flight !!

Really hoping we see the new VS on the 747s... We're off to Las Vegas again next year (7th trip) and that flight will be AWESOME if it's upgraded

Hmmm, just thought I'd have a little look to see if online check in was open yet & now can't see seat plan from yesterday...wondering if they've swopped the plane since last night.wanted my refit!

All good, seat plans now back & as it was

Yes you are right; All Orlando were Gatwick, but all were on Airbuses not Boeings... So all Three flights we on the new PE upgrade (with no UC on board)... Although I think they have now added UC on these flights?

Heathrow is Egypt Air... Not so good, but at least it's a short flight !!

Really hoping we see the new VS on the 747s... We're off to Las Vegas again next year (7th trip) and that flight will be AWESOME if it's upgraded

There's a lot in that which I couldn't follow ... are you on the beer ) ?

Yes you are right; All Orlando were Gatwick, but all were on Airbuses not Boeings... So all Three flights we on the new PE upgrade (with no UC on board)... Although I think they have now added UC on these flights?

Heathrow is Egypt Air... Not so good, but at least it's a short flight !!

Really hoping we see the new VS on the 747s... We're off to Las Vegas again next year (7th trip) and that flight will be AWESOME if it's upgraded

There are only 2 Airbus A333 that operate out of LGW - new IFE and no UC. However, they fly along side the 747 for LGW/MAN/GLA flights.

The boeing 747 have been used along side the A333 since their introduction.

UC has not been added to the A333 LGW/MAN fleet, the new A333 out of LHR have 3 cabin layout with new UCDS.

Assume you mean new 'IFE' on the VS 747's?

It's a sunday gimme a break

Yes I want the new IFE on 747

If Virgin leave me to watch something like Shrek for 10 hours on the way to Cancun, I am going to play "who can drink the bar dry fastest... Economy or me!?"