LGW Refits FAQ

Travelling out on 4th December LGW-BGI. Current seat map is showing configuration with all PE upstairs ... assume this is an 'un-loved' plane. I have been able to book seats 64AC for now.
My question is : If there is only Virginia Plain left why is my booking showing this old configuration? Surely I have more chance now of being on a refurbished plane. Another question is : I am assuming that if they change the config will this be done at the very last minute at the airport or just before OLCI.

From my understanding the map will show the old config right up to either olci or when you arrive at the airport and you should be able to grab an upstairs economy seat (assuming you don't get V-TOP) then. I think it's done this way as upper and econ seating (bar the little section of econ upstairs) hasn't changed with the refits. Can only imagine that once the refits have been completed, the maps for every flight will change to the new map

Thanks for the reply. I am really hoping I don't get that old cronk V-TOP!!
I have managed to grab economy seats upstairs earlier this year and last year but these weren't refurbished planes ..these ones had UC and EC upstairs! These seats were only released online about 3 or 4 hours before OLCI.

The LHR 747s have upper and economy upstairs

Yeah but I flew out of lgw on one of these

[Neil]

Yeah but I flew out of lgw on one of these

Sometimes an LHR a/c will operate some flights ex LGW when one of the usual LGW a/c are in for maintenance etc.

I'm a virgin Virgin flyer and will be on VS085 MAN - LAS on 04 November. Does anyone know which aircraft will be operating this service yet? We're booked in PE and wondered if there is any point in calling VS to see if I could pre-book seats on the upper deck.

This is such a fantastic site! Well done all.

Thanks

Welcome to the site.

You won't be able to find out which a/c is operating your flight until the day as this information is not released in advance due to security reasons.

There is little point calling VS to be honest, but it is worth keeping an eye on the manage my booking section on the VS site, as the seat map should start appearing soon. It might look like you will be able to select seats initially but then when you hit save it will throw up an error message, this is normal as it is at OLCI stage only you will be able to select seats. However the system has been doing it recently.

If you do get the choice of seat, especially on a refurbished a/c I can highly recommend the downstairs PE cabin, this is definitely our area of choice now ahead of the mixed class bubble.

And I think we all know that Virgin hiding behind this is absolute tosh.

But, this thread has had 106,821 views so there is a ton of interest out there in seeing what a farce this seat map fiasco is.

[Neil]

And I think we all know that Virgin hiding behind this is absolute tosh.

But, this thread has had 106,821 views so there is a ton of interest out there in seeing what a farce this seat map fiasco is.

Not tosh at all. No airline releases the name/reg of what a/c is flying a specific flight in advance for security reasons.

I appreciate your views on the seat map issue, but it is becoming very tiresome that almost every post you make is just to criticise Virgin, whether it be on this subject or any one of the many others you aren't happy with, repeating the same thing over and over again. Like another member posted recently, I really do ask myself why you still choose to fly with Virgin if everything is as bad as you say.

Please keep this thread talking about factual information and advice on the refits so that people are able to find out and ask questions without them getting lost in general chatter etc.

Does anyone know where the extra legroom seats in theis config are?

Are they:-

50 ABC HJK
51 ABC HJK
53 DEFG
54 DEFG

as they were before the refit or somewhere else. I was guessing elsewhere as the config is quite different

And I think we all know that Virgin hiding behind this is absolute tosh.

But, this thread has had 106,821 views so there is a ton of interest out there in seeing what a farce this seat map fiasco is.

Not tosh at all. No airline releases the name/reg of what a/c is flying a specific flight in advance for security reasons.

I appreciate your views on the seat map issue, but it is becoming very tiresome that almost every post you make is just to criticise Virgin, whether it be on this subject or any one of the many others you aren't happy with, repeating the same thing over and over again. Like another member posted recently, I really do ask myself why you still choose to fly with Virgin if everything is as bad as you say.

Please keep this thread talking about factual information and advice on the refits so that people are able to find out and ask questions without them getting lost in general chatter etc.

Yup, absolute tosh. I know the exact a/c type that I fly on United in advance. And, three days before, maybe more but I haven't checked, I can find out the reg of it and where it is going to come from. And out of all airlines you might think that United would be a little more sensitive to putting info like that in the public domain.

Relax a bit and read the bit where I say I fly Virgin because I think the crews are fantastic. Credit is given where it is due. End of.

[Neil]

Well Virgin don't and I'm pretty sure BA and many if the other airlines don't either.

Regardless, it is well known they don't, as are your feelings on the matter, so as I said let's keep this thread for people who want to ask questions and find information out about the VS refits rather than repeating existing criticisms that add nothing to it.

I'm doing lgw - bgi on the 4th of jan, is it fair to assume that I'll be on a refit? From the way I've read these posts, all 7 will be completed. But, then there's the issue of one final 747 that's leaving early 2013?? Also, once the 7th is completed (in about 3 weeks?), is there any reason to continue this issue of not being able to pre select seats on flights before the 5th jan? I can't see what the issue would be, they'll all have the same seating config... ? I'm just really wanting to select a nice seat, near a window! At least I've got 17a on the way back!! Hoping its a nice one!? 'Neil'.... I'm sure your the man that's gonna be able to let me know!

[Neil]

You won't be able to select seats until January, there is nothing to suggest Virgin are going to change that policy.

By the time of your flight it will be a 7 in 8 chance of getting a refurbished plane, so you can only cross your fingers and hope its not TOP.

An answer within 6 minutes, I bloody love this site! Thank you Neil!

Just returned from Vegas and hows my luck? Flew on TOP. What a piece of junk.

Thats all I have to say.

Careful, you will be put on the naughty step.

Does anyone know when TOP is retiring as wifey & I are flying UC to MBJ on 6th March and of course would prefer one of the upgraded planes

Hi everyone, quick one, I'm looking forward to flying with virgin from man to las on the 2nd of December. I've been keeping a close eye on this thread to see how the upgrades are going. Just out of curiosity I tried to choose my seats on the a/c and sure enough I was not given the option. I tried a few weeks ago and I was able to choose my seat in pe but both the in and outbound flights show the ac as a A330 not a 747. could this be true? I will be trying the OLCI on the day but wondered if any others have had the same

Thanks john

[buns]

Does anyone know when TOP is retiring as wifey & I are flying UC to MBJ on 6th March and of course would prefer one of the upgraded planes

If Virgin haven't finished the refurbishment programme by March I am sure they would willingly give you a piggy back :w

buns

So when is V-TOP being retired?

hi guys / gals
I'm flying Manchester -las Vegas on 11th nov a week today yay ! however I wanted to know if my plane will be a new retro fitted 1 or the old 747 vs085
returning on vs086 15th any help please thanks x

TOP is leaving in February

TOP is leaving in February

Do you think GVTOP will actually be used in Jan and Feb though? Not exactly a busy time of year with quieter schedules, especially to MCO?

I would have thought they would just keep it back "encase" of tech issues with a refurb, WDYT?

It will keep flying. VS don't have aircraft sitting around doing nothing it's not economical. Plus there are always aircraft going off for maintenance.

[Neil]

hi guys / gals
I'm flying Manchester -las Vegas on 11th nov a week today yay ! however I wanted to know if my plane will be a new retro fitted 1 or the old 747 vs085
returning on vs086 15th any help please thanks x

Hi, you should know about 2/3 days before hand by checking the seat map in the manage my booking section on the VS site. If its a mixture of PE and Y in the bubble (upstairs) then it's a refit.