A330 for LGW-BGI and other Caribbean Routes

Just seen the following on TripAdvisor http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g147262-i230-k5890117-Virgin_Atlantic_to_Introduce_Airbus_A330_to_Barbados-Barbados.html.

Not good at all, flights there have been getting more and more expensive over the past few years (ok, I know you can say that about most places...). Will presumably be less sale inventory next time I go then...

The LGW 330's are getting refitted in 2013 to LHR configs and it will be these configs that will fly on the above mentioned routes. Although a reduction in W/Y seats it will mean an increase in J seats to ANU/UVF etc.

Manchester will return to two based 744's.

CUN will still be operated on the 744.

G

Do you know if thinks will change back for summer 2014 or is that too far ahead?.. from this it looks like the current VS51/VS52 is being dropped?

Do you know if thinks will change back for summer 2014 or is that too far ahead?.. from this it looks like the current VS51/VS52 is being dropped?

Both Tobago and GND will operate via UVF twice a week instead of GND operating via Tobago twice a week.

LGW-UVF-GND
LGW-UVF-TAB.

G

There was no mention of summer 2014 on the thread I got the original information from I am afraid.

[honey lamb]

Copy and paste from other sites is against forum rules and is indeed a contravention of copyright. The OP has been contacted and requested to amend it as a link

The LGW 330's are getting refitted in 2013 to LHR configs and it will be these configs that will fly on the above mentioned routes. Although a reduction in W/Y seats it will mean an increase in J seats to ANU/UVF etc.

Manchester will return to two based 744's.

CUN will still be operated on the 744.

G

Presumably the LGW MCO route as well?

Makes sense to offer a consistent 3 cabin aircraft on these routes. Expect there will be some passenger confusion as the switch is made.

The LGW 330's are getting refitted in 2013 to LHR configs and it will be these configs that will fly on the above mentioned routes. Although a reduction in W/Y seats it will mean an increase in J seats to ANU/UVF etc.

Manchester will return to two based 744's.

CUN will still be operated on the 744.

G

Presumably the LGW MCO route as well?

Makes sense to offer a consistent 3 cabin aircraft on these routes. Expect there will be some passenger confusion as the switch is made.

My understanding is all LGW a/c will have J/W/Y class fitted.

Will there be the same number of UC seats on the LGW 333 as the LHR fleet

So will the LGW/MAN fleet be all 747's? or will there be a mixture of these and (3 class) A330's?

Just curious to know. Before the 2 class 330's the LGW/MAN 747's could rotate around; mixing aircraft type makes this a little more difficult to do if an unplanned switch is needed.

Will there be the same number of UC seats on the LGW 333 as the LHR fleet

One of the above posters said that these would be in the LHR config, so we'll have to assume yes.

Not good at all, flights there have been getting more and more expensive over the past few years (ok, I know you can say that about most places...). Will presumably be less sale inventory next time I go then...

We should assume that VS does know it's loads and yields so is best placed to take this decision ... and on the contrary, it should also mean more UC redemptions.

More broadly though, if some BGI flights, all St Lucia, Tobago, Grenada and Antigua flights are to be A333s then that frees up one whole 747. I wonder where that might be going to :w .

There will be no 333s at MAN just two 744s. And yes the LGW 333s will be configured the same as the LHR ones.

There will be no 333s at MAN just two 744s. And yes the LGW 333s will be configured the same as the LHR ones.

But with the usual 14 UC seats rather than the 40+ on the LHR fleet?

Is there that much demand for UC on the LGW routes?

Ahh reading between the lines elsewhere I'm guessing CUN will get more flights including 2 or 3 weekly from MAN.

There will be no 333s at MAN just two 744s. And yes the LGW 333s will be configured the same as the LHR ones.

Do we have timings for this. I'm man MCO next April.

A little sad to see this change really since i've been flying with Virgin to the Caribbean for the past 10, almost a tradition on the 747's n(

But with the usual 14 UC seats rather than the 40+ on the LHR fleet?

Is there that much demand for UC on the LGW routes?

It will be interesting to see how many seats the LGW A333s come back with, because the UC cabin on the LHR 333s itself seems to be under a question mark -- there was a rumour on here that the LHR fleet might have 1 aisle of UC seats removed because of the cramped cabin.

Maybe the refitted LGW 3-cabin A333s will be the first sign of the truth or otherwise of that rumour?

There will still be 33 seats no
Plans to remove any

There will still be 33 seats no
Plans to remove any

What a great shame

Looking at VS29 to Barbados for Spetember/October 2013.

Online it is saying 747 for Thursdays flight only and the other days A330.

Anyone know if this is intended or a mistake? Thanks

This is correct. http://airlineroute.net/2013/01/01/vs-s13update5/

So saddened to hear this, probably the worst VS news I have ever heard personally. ANU being my primary destination, I've been flying back and forth on the 747 for years. It's the main reason I have stayed with VS, I just love everything about the aircraft and fortunately I usually travel in W or J, in the bubble on in the little private nose cabin, just can't beat it!

On the positive side, ANU is now getting 4 flights a week instead of 3, unconfirmed which day of the week. This isn't mentioned in the OP link but it's what I've heard from various sources.

what will happen to the 747's that fly these routes now/

MCO is going back on the 744 and one 744 is being parked up for the summer