LGW Refits FAQ

Flying to GND end of November and looks to be a fair chance the upgrades will be completed. Will G-VTOP be retired or kept in service? If kept in service perhaps renamed as Whatadog? (Memories of last MCO flights).

The two at the front are shared between J and W and the one at the back is just used by W. there's a curtain so Y pax don't use it

Thanks, that's very useful. I'm thinking I'll avoid the bubble as it looks like it might get quite noisy up there with the new Economy seating...

A follow up to my starter for ten:

If we sit downstairs I would assume that 19AC would not be restricted in reclining due to the exit behind?

[Neil]

Flying to GND end of November and looks to be a fair chance the upgrades will be completed. Will G-VTOP be retired or kept in service? If kept in service perhaps renamed as Whatadog? (Memories of last MCO flights).

TOP leaves the fleet at the end of February.

I see G-VLIP has been doing the MAN MCO route recently...i fly back on VS074 wednesday evening...bound to get G-VTOP again ?|

Flew VS016 on G-VROS last night and slightly concerned at the longevity of the refits.

A number of IFE not working properly (dodgy headphone socket connections and the like) and a flickering strip light at the rear of economy and issues with reading lights throughout downstairs cabins scream quality issues!

Tom

Hi All.

I'm flying VS043 (Gatwick - Vegas) on Friday morning. Does anyone know what aircraft will be operating this flight and whether it will be a re fit aircraft or not?

Thanks

A follow up to my starter for ten:

If we sit downstairs I would assume that 19AC would not be restricted in reclining due to the exit behind?

19AC are against a bulkhead (which separates the seat back from the exit but there is plenty of room to recline. I sat there on Ladybird and it's a good seat choice IMO. 19DEFG and 18HK also recline, however 19G and 18H are next to the WC so you may not want those.

Well that's my holiday over and happy to report we had two of the refits, Ladybird out to CUN and Jersey Girl back to LGW.

I sadly didn't make any notes worthy of a trip report beyond a couple of points:

Ladybird 19A the handset screen didn't respond to touch so I was unable to use it to navigate the IFE or as a secondary skymap. The unfortunate passenger in 18D managed to break the side of the seat where the tray is stowed, so future passengers might want to give that a miss until it's fixed.

The IFE was a joy to use however some passengers obviously don't know their own strength when tapping the screen as it felt like a form of torture during an 8.5 hour flight with someone tapping my skull. Maybe some improved guidance on how to use the detachable handset wouldn't go amiss?

A minor gripe but there still seemed to be a free-for-all when boarding and leaving the aircraft, despite cabin crew advising passengers of the order of cabins.

The breakfast on the flight from CUN to LGW was - as one of the cabin crew described - "a bit Mexican" and not the best IMO.

My suite 7a on Hotlips was faulty, not possible to turn suite in to a bed unless electric disconnected, otherwise it was just cleaner but IFE very good.

Flight out V15 2nd Oct awesome service on Virginia Plain
Return veryvery surly

Is there no way to tell what aircraft will be used later this week or do we not know yet. Friday VS043

Is there no way to tell what aircraft will be used later this week or do we not know yet. Friday VS043

Unfortunately not, this is one of the most asked questions on this site.

Can anyone who has been on one of these new refits, let me know what the upstairs cabin is like for Premium now? Is it noisier now having more rows due to economy instead of PE seating?

I presume there is no curtain as the WC's are at the front of the upstairs cabin...

Weighing up between sitting upstairs (as they were generally nicer seats) and downstairs for my next trip.

Can anyone who has been on one of these new refits, let me know what the upstairs cabin is like for Premium now? Is it noisier now having more rows due to economy instead of PE seating?

I presume there is no curtain as the WC's are at the front of the upstairs cabin...

Weighing up between sitting upstairs (as they were generally nicer seats) and downstairs for my next trip.

It's slightly noisier but only due to the additional footfall as it sounded like people were stomping their way to the WC's, I don't recall it being as noticeable pre-refit.

There's a curtain separating Premium Economy and Economy, which was closed during the flight.

Thanks Joff

Thanks Joff

No problem and FWIW, I would probably choose the lower deck cabin for PE in future.

Hi all,

Just wondering how many more of the LGW aircraft have still to be refurbished??

Hi there,

If you look at the below post, you'll see LOTS on it

forum/index.php?f=4&t=274811&rb_v=viewtopic

btw it's one in the shop now (nearly 3 weeks) and 1 left to complete after that (Ruby Tuesday)

2, pretty woman is being done now and Ruby Tuesday will go when pretty woman returns, Virginia Plain is the other Lgw 747 and she isn't being refurbed as She is leaving the fleet in feb I believe

There's a curtain separating Premium Economy and Economy, which was closed during the flight.

So do Economy upstairs walk through PE to the toilets or do they trundle downstairs?

So do Economy upstairs walk through PE to the toilets or do they trundle downstairs?

Both PE and Economy passengers on the upper deck use the upper deck toilets.

Is there a way that for the first post we could have a "Last update date". It currently shows as last being edited in May 2012 but I know that is not true. It might just give a bit more clarity to the date of refits for people (assuming they can be bothered to read the refit schedule!). Ta.

Thank You ^)

If VTOP is in service until the end of February I assume uncertainty about getting re-fit equipment, and no PE advance seat selection, will continue until then.
Fortunately next MCO trip after that!

Am I right to assume that if my booking from Gatwick to Vegas for tomorrow is now suddenly showing config 2 outbound and config 1 inbound, that i'll be on a NON refit aircraft both times?

Cheers

Flew HAV-LGW on 22/10/2012 on V-TOP in PE in the bubble. Shabby AC matched only by the shabby service from cabin crew who didn't seem bothered about passengers. No duty free round was completed in PE, and if I hadn't asked to buy some, none would have been offered. It then took me over an hour to get a carton of cigarettes. IFE very disappointing and screens were plagued by continual horizontal lines disrupting viewing experience. Only film I wanted to watch had no sound. Half empty flight meant Economy passengers had far more space to lie down etc in contrast to full PE cabin where we were cramped in our seats & I couldn't sleep. Outward flight on a refit AC was far better in terms of service, despite sharing the bubble with Economy passengers without the curtains being drawn. Return flight very disappointing and nothing like the "rock star" experience hyped in the corporate advertising.