LGW Refits FAQ

That's interesting. So it showed the old config until 48 hours before and then switched. Did it hold the reservations you'd made?

Yes, it did. But then I am UC and the config is the same in that cabin.

I'm flying Saturday (LGW to ANU in ECO) and the seat map in my booking is showing Boeing 747 congfig 1.

I'd be disappointed if we don't get a refitted aircraft, but its not the end of the world.

Last week there was odd seats available and now they are all showing as unavailable. Am planning on doing OLCI but want to try and get exit seats or upgrade to PE once we get to LGW, however I think this is also unlikely.

Slightly confused, flying to Barbados VS29 on Friday, seat map shows a refit (PE & EC on upper deck), but still calls it a 747-400 config 1 (the "re-fit" layout only came on line this morning). Flight back shows old layout but still called 747-400 config 1.

Hi there, I realise that I may be shot down in flames if this has already been asked but I cannot find the answer in this rather large thread.
I am flying PE from Gatwick to Barbados on 10th Feb 2013 I have just gone on to choose seats as I am within 90 days of flying and the seatmap is for Configuration 4.
I assume all planes will be refitted by then and I was under the impression they would all be the LGW-1 configuration. Any ideas please?

Isn't config 4 a LHR plane? Might be planned to do a one-off flight on that route?

Isn't config 4 a LHR plane? Might be planned to do a one-off flight on that route?

Yes it is but Barbados is a popular route and VS often schedule an LHR plane as it can sell a good number of UC seats. So it is nothing unusual.

Yes it is but Barbados is a popular route and VS often schedule an LHR plane as it can sell a good number of UC seats. So it is nothing unusual.

do you know if this will be a refurbished plane then or is it only the gatwick fleet that are getting the refurb?

[Neil]

Yes it is but Barbados is a popular route and VS often schedule an LHR plane as it can sell a good number of UC seats. So it is nothing unusual.

do you know if this will be a refurbished plane then or is it only the gatwick fleet that are getting the refurb?

Only the LGW 747's have been getting refurbished this year. The LHR fleet already has the new Y and PE seats on it, plus they have the VERA on demand IFE (V-Port).

Am flying on Fri to Montego Bay...able to choose my seats both outbound/inbound and is showing Boeing 747-400 (Seating configuration 1) . I sure hope it updates and isn't VTOP!

Not any more - it's showing a refit!

And I'm on it too!

Happy days! Am flying UC too - see you then!

Seat map has changed on my booking, PE and ECO upstairs.

It has let me change my seats for 2 at the back but I'm assuming this will change with OLCI tomorrow morning.

okay here's my dilemma we are returning on Sat 17th from MCO and is now showing a refit after months of the old config.... I have managed to grab two econ seats in row 79 i.e. upstairs, do I now stay put or go for a paid PE upgrade. all thoughts welcome. Thanks
John

after weeks of waiting on looking for vs75 man - mco the seating configuration has changed to 747 config 2. this looks like vtop. cant believe it. just my luck .lol. can anyone confirm this if possible.thanks

oops sorry never put in the date and my question,Too early in the morning. we are flying man/mco on 18 nov (vs75) we have 61a&c prebooked but in the new config 21 a&b are available.anyone know which seats are better? thanks again

I very much doubt anyone will be able to confirm that.

It looks like it could be what is planned. It's doing the VS29 LGW-BGI today, so it will return into LGW tomorrow morning as the VS30. Then it could go to MCO as the VS15 tomorrow, returning as the VS74 into MAN landing the morning of the 18th then may become the VS75 into MCO...

But things do always change!

[Neil]

oops sorry never put in the date and my question,Too early in the morning. we are flying man/mco on 18 nov (vs75) we have 61a&c prebooked but in the new config 21 a&b are available.anyone know which seats are better? thanks again

21 is the bulkhead in the small economy cabin, so while you have more actual space between you and the wall than in a normal seat, you can't stretch your legs out under a seat in front like you could in 61. Also, 21 is a bassinet position so you could be near a baby/small child.

The big benefit of 21 is that you will be one of the first people off the plane, rather than one of the last from row 61 so you will have a much shorter wait for immigration.

Can anyone please tell me the process for selecting the seat when the seat layout changes in the way we're seeing with LGW/MAN fleet?

When I log into manage my booking I see "Boeing 747-400 (Seating configuration 1)", which I'm hoping will change to the new config before my flight on 03/12.

When this happens are the previous seats I've selected lost? They're in Economy.

Following on from that do I select new seats, hopefully in the bubble before go through OLCI, or do I go through OLCI and select seats as part of that process?

[Neil]

Because the main two economy cabins aren't any different between the two configs your existing seat requests just stay the same. If you end up on a new one you will be able to change seats to the bubble at OLCI if some are available.

After nearly 11 months of waiting, finally managed to request my seats, 19 H&K for VS93 on Tuesday and it's on a Refurb yay. looks like I'm the first to request them, all other PE seats for the flight were available (apart from the front rows of course). I swapped between rows 19 and 24 about 10 times so far, really found it hard to decide. Have opted for downstairs on the way out and hopefully bubble on the way home.

We're flying UC in March LGW to MBJ, hopefully by then the refurb will be all sorted & VTOP retired!

Can any one advise how the boarding & disembarking process works with the UC cabin on these aircraft both in LGW & MBJ?

thanks

[Neil]

UC will be allowed to board first, however they will disembark at the same time at the downstairs PE cabin as you have to walk through that to get off the a/c so not practical to make them wait. The main downstairs Y cabin to the right of door L2 will be held back.

Wow what a fast reply, thanks. What about the upper deck pax on disembarking do they go before or after UC, & does anyone have any experience of the Mobay lounge which I believe we can use before we leave Montego Bay?

[Neil]

Sometimes they hold the upper deck back, but on the last few occasions it has been released at the same time as the downstairs PE/UC cabins. If you Stockton walking down the A side of the aircraft then it won't really affect or hold you up.

I was on VS029 VTOP on the 16th don't bank on what you are getting until you are on a refit, flight showed a refit on seat map on the 15th !! Still was in UC so had to have more champers to quell my dismay .

I've just checked our booking for the VS075 on Thursday and it looks as tho we've got VTOP too! ii)

I've got fingers and toes crossed for a refurb but has anyone got any seat recommendations for PE?

[Neil]

I've just checked our booking for the VS075 on Thursday and it looks as tho we've got VTOP too! ii)

I've got fingers and toes crossed for a refurb but has anyone got any seat recommendations for PE?

If you are on TOP (and tbh, it does look quite likely) then you should go for any seat in the bubble, but ideally I would say 79A/C, an old favourite of many a V-Flyer.

Does anyone know if VTOP will stay flying out of MAN for the for seeable future??