Virgin Atlantic 787-900 New Article

I was having a look online and came across this article. I cant say i am over the moon that virgin are sticking with the dream suite and it sounds like it will be as cramped as ever. I hope the website is wrong and that virgin will rethink the suite.

What will you find inside the Virgin Dreamliner? The 787-9 will have three cabin classes with a total of 250 to 290 seats, depending on the configuration. Up front, there’s Virgin’s Upper Class business product (above), with the latest herringbone seating just re-introduced on the Airbus A330-300, with presumably the famous in-flight bar. Seating is now 1-2-1 across on the A330, which is denser than 1-1-1 previously on the A340, so we’re curious to see whether the narrower body of the 787 will get 1-2-1 as well

What do you all think? Here is the Link http://www.jaunted.com/story/2014/2/19/ ... t's+Inside

There's a lot of opinion and not very many facts in that article.

Not worth the ink IMHO.

David

Agreed with David, that article is pure speculation with no real fact or source material cited. Clearly a slow news day over on jaunted

I rather enjoyed the link to the Virgin Redhead.

The layout, unless something drastically changes, will be 1-1-1, 2-3-2, and 3-3-3..

Seating was reported to be 1-2-1 BUT the B787 is wider than an A330 (one of many factual inaccuracies in the article) so I'm hoping for something better than the disastrous UCDS. If rumours are to be believed, it will be a new seat in any case.

It will not be the dream suite but an enhanced version of the original suite

It will not be the dream suite but an enhanced version of the original suite

Wasn't the dream suite an enhanced version also? Well experiencing this for the first time in 8 days so will let you know my thoughts y)

Seating was reported to be 1-2-1 BUT the B787 is wider than an A330 (one of many factual inaccuracies in the article) so I'm hoping for something better than the disastrous UCDS. If rumours are to be believed, it will be a new seat in any case.

Fingers crossed

Interior widths

A330 5.28m (17ft 4")
B787 5.77m (18ft 11") (ellipse)
B777 5.87m (19ft 3")
B747 6.10m (20ft) (oval)

If 1-2-1 fits in an A330 then don't see any reason why it wouldn't fit in a 787.

Back in economy on the A330 other operators use a 3-3-3 configuration which is a bit of a squeeze, Virgin are 2-4-2. However with the extra 490mm to play with I'd expect Virgin to have 3-3-3 config on their 787s (opinion).

It will not be the dream suite but an enhanced version of the original suite

Wasn't the dream suite an enhanced version also? Well experiencing this for the first time in 8 days so will let you know my thoughts y)

No.

Dream Suite is like taking the previous configuration and squishing it right up, then crowbarring a bar at a funny angle at the end.

It's bearable, but not in any way an improvement.

I suspect the idea that it is, is perpetuated by the likes of tripadvisor, and talking of which, we're due someone turning up asking if a 747 is likely to have been refurbished, and to specifically use the term 'tired'.

No.

Dream Suite is like taking the previous configuration and squishing it right up, then crowbarring a bar at a funny angle at the end.

Isn't that how a bean counter would describe 'enhance'?

The configuration in Upper is 1-1-1. Economy is 3-3-3.

It's gonna have a 1-1-1, 2-3-2, 3-3-3 config.

It will not be the dream suite but an enhanced version of the original suite

I'm looking forward to the enhancement!

It will not be the dream suite but an enhanced version of the original suite

I was speaking to the FSM's on my recent flights to and from DXB and they both confirmed this. One went as far as telling me that the seat had to be redesigned after very negative feed back from passengers.

Also said that the last she had heard was the first one should be delivered in September and was going to BOS.

-Steve

Can anyone confirm the A330's are staying after all the 787's are delivered. ?

Seem to think they were actually a bit of a stop gap because the 787's were so far behind schedule.

Thanks

David

Can anyone confirm the A330's are staying after all the 787's are delivered. ?

Seem to think they were actually a bit of a stop gap because the 787's were so far behind schedule.

Thanks

David

They were a stop-gap due to 787 delays but as far as I'm aware they're all staying. It's the A340's that will be going.. Then at some point I imagine the 747's will be going too.

And here's hoping they retrofit the "enhanced" UCS in 111 config on the A330.

Thanks

And here's hoping they retrofit the "enhanced" UCS in 111 config on the A330.

Thanks

Rather than going to the expense of that, they could refit the dream suite 111 and perhaps remove a row or two to space them out more. That would improve the 333s immeasurably.

Rather than going to the expense of that, they could refit the dream suite 111 and perhaps remove a row or two to space them out more. That would improve the 333s immeasurably.

With options for another 8 dream liners there is a distinct possibility to switch out the a333's with the 789's with a policy of just fleet renewal and not expanding.

But that would surely incur needless extra costs which I can't believe VS would be keen to run up at the moment. I really can't see them mothballing the 333s so quickly. They are far from disastrous -- aside from the UC seating density, they are a fantastic plane.

I think it would be rather hard to remove any seats in the middle row as they are interlinked and don't look like they are separate modules.

VS will keep the A330, it's an economical aircraft and is embedded now, unless DL take them on there here to stay.

Thanks

With options for another 8 dream liners there is a distinct possibility to switch out the a333's with the 789's with a policy of just fleet renewal and not expanding.

They only have options for 5 more 787's. Also don't forget the A330's are on 10 year leases like the 340-600's were - so will be around for at least another 8-9 years.

VS will keep the A330, it's an economical aircraft and is embedded now, unless DL take them on there here to stay.
Thanks

DL definitely like the A330 with over 30 in their fleet. I'm not saying they will be getting rid of them as soon as the 789's arrive, I do think there is a possibility that the A330's might eventually be replaced or shifted over to DL to replace some of their older, as let's not forget they are not going to get 16x 789's all within a single year but spread over multiple delivery dates in sync with removing the A340's.

With the first A330 that came online around 2 years ago, if the 10 year lease is accurate, just adding up the timelines would potentially be the time frame that some options of the 789 might be available if they confirm them in the next couple of years.

Wwings - I thought they had options for 8x and all the relevant sources do say 8x unless I missed something somewhere!! They also said they have potential purchase rights for 20 more after their options if its a successful aircraft for VS.

Just some thoughts!!