Monarch leasing a Virgin A/C??

Just been reading on a Florida Forum , that in just over a month Monarch are letting folk know who were on their LGW - SFB that they are now on LGW - MCO Virgin VS9987 ?|

Anyone shed any light please??

They might have an aircraft shortage, so in order to operate the flight for the people who have booked a holiday with them, they may have wet-leased an aircraft and crew from VS.

They might have an aircraft shortage, so in order to operate the flight for the people who have booked a holiday with them, they may have wet-leased an aircraft and crew from VS.

Bet it's a VA plane and crew with Monarch frills! Like paid drinks etc!
Wonder if anyone from Premier will get a upper class seat!

[Neil]

Maybe they will use G-VINE? It's in a 2 class config and from what I have heard not due to start operate VS Caribbean routes until the winter.

Maybe they will use G-VINE? It's in a 2 class config and from what I have heard not due to start operate VS Caribbean routes until the winter.

Good find, I'll pass that on, that would seem quite a likely outcome... rather than Monarch getting their mitts on a Refit

[Neil]

Maybe they will use G-VINE? It's in a 2 class config and from what I have heard not due to start operate VS Caribbean routes until the winter.

Good find, I'll pass that on, that would seem quite a likely outcome... rather than Monarch getting their mitts on a Refit

Well it is/will be fitted with all the latest seats/IFE so is just as good as a refitted a/c.

I believe Monarch have been having problems with one of their old 330 aircraft during the summer. I have twice experienced aircraft changes this summer, as they wait of new 787's to be delivered. As for Monarch scheduled as an airline I am gold as I was with VS and whilst it's not the same service i.e. paid drinks etc this also reflects in pricing and on a customer service / crew level Monarch is certainly the equl of VS.

I believe Monarch have been having problems with one of their old 330 aircraft during the summer. I have twice experienced aircraft changes this summer, as they wait of new 787's to be delivered. As for Monarch scheduled as an airline I am gold as I was with VS and whilst it's not the same service i.e. paid drinks etc this also reflects in pricing and on a customer service / crew level Monarch is certainly the equl of VS.

Hmmmm...will be interesting to see how this pans out as Monarch cancelled their entire order for the 787s in September 2011 so maybe one of their A330S will be out of action for a while.

Neil could be right about G-VINE. She is in Zurich at the moment having some cabin modifications..

Any update on VS9987, i am meant to be flying with Mon to SFB but the flight has been changed to VS9987 to MCO. from what i can get from the net it will be a rented A330?? anyone have any news on this Saturdays flight.

[Neil]

Any update on VS9987, i am meant to be flying with Mon to SFB but the flight has been changed to VS9987 to MCO. from what i can get from the net it will be a rented A330?? anyone have any news on this Saturdays flight.

What 'news' are you looking for? As you have stated it appears that Monarch are leasing one of Virgin's A333 a/c, which we believe will be G-VINE to operate a few flights during October. There really isn't much more information available right now, guess we will know more on Saturday after the first flight has taken place.

I've been reliably told it's just a normal VS service (i.e Complimentary) on a 2 Class A330.

Cheers guys, it looks like we will have to suck it and see on Saturday, just rather annoying being told you are flying with Virgin, yipee, only to find out you can't prebook seats, can't check in on line, only 20 Kg baggage etc etc. as well as having to change car hire booking due to destination change.

i believe i may also be on this flight
i booked with lowcostholidays and they seem to have no information and cannot find the vs 9887 on gatwick airport site, is the departure time you have been given 09:10, do you know what baggage allowance will be?

Regards

Adam

Sure is 09:10 Adam. I have been told standard 20KG baggage, but possibly 30KG for premium economy or however they designate the different sections.
Who knows we maybe sitting in the same row???

Premium Economy allowance on Virgin is 2 x 23kg bags, standard Economy is just one 23kg bag. It will be interesting to see if the Monarch rules still apply for you. One thing is for sure, you will be happy with the IFE upgrade from the Monarch A330.

It's actually a great thing that Monarch are doing this, especially after the troubles with their recent Lithuanian aircraft leasing. I also had a bad experience (at least they got me there safely) with Monarch when they swapped a faulty A330 to MCO with a cramped MON B757 that had to refuel in Canada. So, good on them this time around.