Schedule change LHR-EWR March 30 2014

Just noticed from March 30th 2014, LHR-EWR flights have changed...
VS001 will now leave at 09.45 and arrive at 12.25
VS002 will now leave at 19.30 and arrive at 07.30
VS017 will now leave at 20.30 and arrive at 23.20
VS018 will now leave at 07.15 and arrive at 19.15

I cant believe after all these years of using the VS001/002 I will be unable to use this again because of the times, JFK is not really an option as I need to be in NJ and JFK can be 2hrs with traffic, where as EWR is 15mins away! I wish I could transfer my miles to someone as alas its British Airways for me now, as they still have a 4pm flight from LHR-EWR...

Yes, this was announced several months ago.

It's all because of the Delta tie-up.

Delta don't even fly to EWR from LHR! very annoying

It's a real nightmare isn't it. We've been flying twice a year LHR/EWR to visit family in NJ. We're not interested in arriving around midnight and just as unacceptable for us is the 0715 EWR/LHR. No way am I getting up at 4.00. Gs on the 1930 are proving invisible and I'm also beyond the age when I'm prepared to sit up overnight, even in PE.

Exactly whiterose, these new times are ridiculous, I had a reply from Virgin when I emailed them, and all they said was "Well can't you fly to JFK?" Alas it will have to be British Airways for me now as they still have a 4pm flight from Heathrow and a decent late evening return...

The BA187 is also scheduled to be their new 787 metal

I must admit, I agree with you. The old VS1 was a great flight -- you got to NYC in time for a quick bite and then a decent sleep. It is definitely a blow to lose that -- there is always the VS9, but that is not much use if you are staying in NJ or heading west.

Having said that, I think I prefer the new timing of the VS2 -- and I'll be trying it out soon.

I agree too - VS 1 was a perfect flight time to NY to maximise the day in London and to arrive in NY at a reasonable time.

It is not the end of the world, but along with the Sydney withdrawal, the lack of an alliance - it will only be skyteam and that is just a cluster of airlines that I have no desire to fly, the new UCS which has ridiculously being called a dream suite when it is a step backwards from the original.

Today I signed up to BA On Business and I am moving to BA and taking everyone else who flies within my company.

Actually feel quite sad and have always refused to and stayed loyal to Virgin when it made far more sense to move to BA. But it's an easy choice now. Will miss my GC, the lounges, the standard of PE v the competition and even in Econ how they have a few seats that have extra leg room that make a difference if you are over 6ft and fly Econ for whatever reason.

I too will miss the 'old' VS1.

But it's swings and roundabouts. Until now VS was useless for anyone who wanted to arrive in EWR before late afternoon. They had no choice but to use BA (or - shudder - UA). That will now be rectified, with the 'new' VS1 much better timed for those who need to arrive earlier.

So as with most things there'll be winners and losers. VS will presumably be hoping that by timing the VS1 to depart at 0945, they'll win some business from BA whose first EWR flight doesn't leave until about 1100.

And of course - and this is probably the main driver for the change - the earlier VS2 will be much more useful to business people who need to be in central London by about 10am.

But it's swings and roundabouts. Until now VS was useless for anyone who wanted to arrive in EWR before late afternoon. They had no choice but to use BA (or - shudder - UA). That will now be rectified, with the 'new' VS1 much better timed for those who need to arrive earlier.

I think they would have done better to keep the 1 where it was and instead switch the 17 to 0945 and make the 18 a red-eye back. Now that the 25/26 is back on the schedule, there is another late-evening option to NYC, and a day flight back. I find it hard to believe there's a need for both of these at both airports (especially the day flight, which involves an aircraft sitting on the ground for a long rest overnight) -- but I'm probably wrong.

But it's swings and roundabouts. Until now VS was useless for anyone who wanted to arrive in EWR before late afternoon. They had no choice but to use BA (or - shudder - UA). That will now be rectified, with the 'new' VS1 much better timed for those who need to arrive earlier.

I think they would have done better to keep the 1 where it was and instead switch the 17 to 0945 and make the 18 a red-eye back. Now that the 25/26 is back on the schedule, there is another late-evening option to NYC, and a day flight back. I find it hard to believe there's a need for both of these at both airports (especially the day flight, which involves an aircraft sitting on the ground for a long rest overnight) -- but I'm probably wrong.

The problem with that is the VS17/VS18 serves the large Indian population in NJ that connects onto the VS300, So by changing the times to a red eye would eliminate the connection for those passengers. There are also large numbers that connect onto the VS651 and other late evening flights, so the VS17 and VS18 serves its purpose well where it is.

Dan

I will be flying on the VS1 on the 22nd Feb - I shall definitely enjoy the evening arrival over NJ for one last time (or until they change it all back )

But it's swings and roundabouts. Until now VS was useless for anyone who wanted to arrive in EWR before late afternoon. They had no choice but to use BA (or - shudder - UA). That will now be rectified, with the 'new' VS1 much better timed for those who need to arrive earlier.

I think they would have done better to keep the 1 where it was and instead switch the 17 to 0945 and make the 18 a red-eye back. Now that the 25/26 is back on the schedule, there is another late-evening option to NYC, and a day flight back. I find it hard to believe there's a need for both of these at both airports (especially the day flight, which involves an aircraft sitting on the ground for a long rest overnight) -- but I'm probably wrong.

The problem with that is the VS17/VS18 serves the large Indian population in NJ that connects onto the VS300, So by changing the times to a red eye would eliminate the connection for those passengers. There are also large numbers that connect onto the VS651 and other late evening flights, so the VS17 and VS18 serves its purpose well where it is.

Dan

That is very true . Even though UA fly from EWR to DEL non stop , VS has solid market share between EWR and DEL . VS are finally running like a hub airline and connecting pax from Asia and Africa to the US . Connecting passengers pay no APD so VS needs these passengers . The DEL feeds into the 25 to JFK as well .

With the new VS 1 timings EWR stands connected to BOM too . VS stand to gain on connecting traffic to BOM from EWR as well .

Both ports in NY now have flights that connect to DEL and BOM .

As much as the new timings might not suit some folk i think on the whole it makes great business sense . Both for the VS network to India and the business pax between LHR to EWR .

Also switching from a 747 from the VS 1 to the VS 9 makes sense as JFK is DL's hub airport whereas EWR isn't .