Cabin layout of VS new 787

787 will need to have a (once again) class leading J product I think. UCDS just so disappointing.

I am also very keen that Y needs to be 2-4-2. Whether travelling solo or with my family (2 adults and 2 kids), 3 by the window does not work for me, I like the A340s in Y for this very reason.

My thoughts.

Upper - UCDS redesigned to take into account feedback. Still with flatbed (powered). Using same layout as A340/A360

Not putting money on it though.

I think everyone is in agreement that the UCDS needs to be redesigned and I hope that VS take this on board so to speak and get actual feedback from regulars on the new design.

VS made great play that they did involve passengers in the design etc of the new suite.

I'm sure they did but not so sure they made any changes as a result of the feedback !

As for First, I really don't see the need for it, unless VS does something like TAM has done on their new 777s, one row of four seats. It's not just about lounges, they require wholly superior onboard offerings, additional cabin crew, as well as check in desks, you name it.

And I agree, even if (big if) First came, I don't see a need to change the clubhouses since they are arguably as good if not better than many airlines' first class lounges (I've been in a few that I could mention ... e.g. AA's at ORD which is pitiful, even Cathay's at HKG which I though much inferior). Some are as good, such as the Concorde room at T5 but that's a BA stand out, and some of the BA First lounges down route are pretty ordinary (apart from the quality of wines and champagnes). EK's even First lounges I find like bus terminals ...

If it aint broke dont fix it right? VS UC onboard experience could simply be made even better.

Apologies if this has been discussed many moons ago but why is VS UC not seen as First Class?

Well they asked me and I said I wanted to get (much) closer to my fellow passengers and have nowhere to store anything larger than a pen to access during the flight.

I think they may have given my comments undue weighting...

Well they asked me and I said I wanted to get (much) closer to my fellow passengers and have nowhere to store anything larger than a pen to access during the flight.

I think they may have given my comments undue weighting...

Did you also say you have a conical head and only sleep with one leg on the bed?

VS made great play that they did involve passengers in the design etc of the new suite.

I'm sure they did but not so sure they made any changes as a result of the feedback !

Yes that definitely appears to be the case judging by all the feedback on here about the UCDS.

Lets hope they learn from this with the 787

Well they asked me and I said I wanted to get (much) closer to my fellow passengers and have nowhere to store anything larger than a pen to access during the flight.

I think they may have given my comments undue weighting...

Did you also say you have a conical head and only sleep with one leg on the bed?

ah we found the culprit lol lol

OH? no bottled water in the lounge currently? meaning you have to stop in the departure lounge to buy some?

No, they have it, you just have to order it instead of self-service like in BA's Club lounges.

Interesting point someone made about many BA pax preferring self-service food to waiter service - I wonder if that was before or after BA's recent change in catering supplier? Reading Flyertalk you'd think the world had caved in for all the complaints. The buffet selection is basically dead things in sauce - seems to be usually curry, chilli, beef bourgignon, mustard chicken, pasta, jacket potatoes and salad) - the VS food offering is far superior.

No, they have it, you just have to order it instead of self-service like in BA's Club lounges.

Or like when you used to be able to pick it out the open fridges in the CH! If you want a bottle, just ask, they normally give you one no questions asked. There will be a bottle on board anyway (in UC)

As for BA food, I was talking about buffet/waiter service comments from before the contract switch! I'd expect they would take anything else now )

My thoughts.

Upper - UCDS redesigned to take into account feedback. Still with flatbed (powered). Using same layout as A340/A360

Not putting money on it though.

I think everyone is in agreement that the UCDS needs to be redesigned and I hope that VS take this on board so to speak and get actual feedback from regulars on the new design.

VS made great play that they did involve passengers in the design etc of the new suite.

I'm sure they did but not so sure they made any changes as a result of the feedback !

I think they asked a bunch of passengers just arriving after as long flight from Sydney in Economy what they thought of the new UC seat.

No, they have it, you just have to order it instead of self-service like in BA's Club lounges.

Or like when you used to be able to pick it out the open fridges in the CH! If you want a bottle, just ask, they normally give you one no questions asked. There will be a bottle on board anyway (in UC)

oh cool thats good to know! just the bottle on board is 250ml for which I am grateful but I drink like a fish on long haul flights

I think they asked a bunch of passengers just arriving after as long flight from Sydney in Economy what they thought of the new UC seat.

lol brilliant

Well they asked me and I said I wanted to get (much) closer to my fellow passengers and have nowhere to store anything larger than a pen to access during the flight.

I think they may have given my comments undue weighting...

Did you also say you have a conical head and only sleep with one leg on the bed?

No I said, "Make sure I can't turn off the light all night long. I will therefore not be able to sleep, thus giving me ample time and lighting to eventually retrieve my passport from the impossibly thin magazine compartment. As such the normal shape of my head and my full complement of limbs will not be an issue."

I would be stunned if the 787 isn't 3-3-3 in economy, just like nearly every other operator so far. ANA is about to reconfigure its 787's from 2-4-2 to 9 abreast. VS' main competitor, BA is going down the 3-3-3 route.

As far as PE is concerned, I don't think we'll see much difference to the existing leather seat. Why would we, it's still widely regarded as the second best PE product in the sky behind NZ.

Interesting to see what happens with UC. I wonder if they'll buy an off the shelf product like the AA/CX seat.

I would be stunned if the 787 isn't 3-3-3 in economy, just like nearly every other operator so far. ANA is about to reconfigure its 787's from 2-4-2 to 9 abreast. VS' main competitor, BA is going down the 3-3-3 route.

Really? i would have thought that the 3-3-3 config wouldnt be very popular,especially for families?

Average family of 4?

As far as PE is concerned, I don't think we'll see much difference to the existing leather seat. Why would we, it's still widely regarded as the second best PE product in the sky behind NZ.

And I believe NZ is changing it to a lesser product on the new 787's

I would be stunned if the 787 isn't 3-3-3 in economy, just like nearly every other operator so far. ANA is about to reconfigure its 787's from 2-4-2 to 9 abreast. VS' main competitor, BA is going down the 3-3-3 route.

Really? i would have thought that the 3-3-3 config wouldnt be very popular,especially for families?

Average family of 4?

Emirates have been jamming 3-4-3 in to the back of their 777's for a long time and it doesn't seem to have done them too much harm. Many other airlines have followed, in fact.

Sad fact is that economy is only going to get more packed in, as it's largely a price rather than service-sensitive cabin.

And I believe NZ is changing it to a lesser product on the new 787's

Yes no space seat on anything but the 777-300ER's, they are fitting 787-900 and refitting the 777-200ER's with this new 'Business lite' seat as a PE section.

ANZ were forced to remove an entire row from the PE SpaceSeat cabin due to a lack of leg room.

Emirates have been jamming 3-4-3 in to the back of their 777's for a long time and it doesn't seem to have done them too much harm. Many other airlines have followed, in fact.

Sad fact is that economy is only going to get more packed in, as it's largely a price rather than service-sensitive cabin.

That makes sense. but im not sure about 3-3-3.

[Neil]

Emirates have been jamming 3-4-3 in to the back of their 777's for a long time and it doesn't seem to have done them too much harm. Many other airlines have followed, in fact.

Sad fact is that economy is only going to get more packed in, as it's largely a price rather than service-sensitive cabin.

That makes sense. but im not sure about 3-3-3.

Well unfortunately that is the way most of the operators are going. While it may not suit everyone, the airlines are businesses at the end of the day and while 2-4-2 would be lovely, 3-3-3 adds lots more pax and revenue.

Emirates have been jamming 3-4-3 in to the back of their 777's for a long time and it doesn't seem to have done them too much harm. Many other airlines have followed, in fact.

Sad fact is that economy is only going to get more packed in, as it's largely a price rather than service-sensitive cabin.

That makes sense. but im not sure about 3-3-3.

Well unfortunately that is the way most of the operators are going. While it may not suit everyone, the airlines are businesses at the end of the day and while 2-4-2 would be lovely, 3-3-3 adds lots more pax and revenue.

The downside of the 3-3-3 config of the Dreamliner I went on was that the seats were about as wide as the IFE screens. Still I guess it makes the airlines more money to cram in an extra seat per row.

I think everyone is in agreement that the UCDS needs to be redesigned and I hope that VS take this on board so to speak and get actual feedback from regulars on the new design.

VS knows however what I was suspecting was an improved UCDS to iron out the things people don't like, I wasn't expecting a new seat (or a return to the UCS). So we'll have to wait and see..

I agree with Slinky here....VS know for sure that the UCDS has disappointed many and I'm not expecting a new seat on the 787s either, more of a modified version of the UCDS. It will be interesting to see what happens and especially with all the feedback we have all provided about the UCDS....I think VS might surprise us

Jon

And with a new CEO to ensure the same mistakes are not made.....

And with a new CEO to ensure the same mistakes are not made.....

And a new CEO that doesn't have any interests in the seating company!

And with a new CEO to ensure the same mistakes are not made.....

And a new CEO that doesn't have any interests in the seating company!

Oh didn't know that about the previous one.
Anyway looking forward to seeing developments regarding the 787
Especially as I mainly fly LHR-NRT