The end of VS LHR 747 services will now be in FEBRUARY 16

I read this article this morning:

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/1 ... n-february

Having checked "My Booking", this appears to be correct. Our 747 flight to MIA in April will now be on an A340-600. I checked the seat allocations. We had been left in 12A and 12K, which is sepearated by a centre row of seats on this aircraft. I have reallocated us to 4K and 5K, which I assume are decent enough seats?

So do check to see if you seats need re-allocating if this affects your flights post-February.

Those are our favourite seats on the 340 far enough away from the WC and bar with only the backs of the seats in the centre row visible. Quite quiet too, you will not go far wrong with those. Linda

[buns]

I for one will mourn thier departure from the fleet

One can live in hope that one might be kept back to support the hard pressed Gatwick Fleet, but I am a realist and realise that this will never happen.

Best I get myself booked on a LHR 747 before too long

buns

G-VBIG is moving down to LGW and being reconfigured in leisure configuration

Likewise Buns I've got over 300,000 miles sat in my account and I fully intend to book a couple of 747 flights. It was this great aircraft that first drew me to VS and even though most of my flying these days is with BA I still try and source 747 flights with them.

I read this article this morning:

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/1 ... n-february

Having checked "My Booking", this appears to be correct. Our 747 flight to MIA in April will now be on an A340-600. I checked the seat allocations. We had been left in 12A and 12K, which is sepearated by a centre row of seats on this aircraft. I have reallocated us to 4K and 5K, which I assume are decent enough seats?

So do check to see if you seats need re-allocating if this affects your flights post-February.

Thanks for that info Maximus. We 'were' also on a 747 flying home from JFK in March. Just checked and our flight has now changed also to a A340 and they had allocated us in seats in row 3 A&K separated by the middle row - seriously
Luckily all seats free, so I've moved us to 5&6K which we would always chose if possible.

Also noticed the outbound flight to MCO has been re-scheduled to arrive 10minutes later. No big deal and once I confirmed accepting the change, they sent another e-ticket. I couldn't alter our seats until I had completed the confirmation. Wish the change aircraft had been a 787

Maximus, your seat choices are great. We like either 3K and 4K, or 4K and 5K.

It will be sad to see the 747 disappear from Heathrow routes, at least it will be around for some years on holiday routes from Gatwick. Our last Virgin flight from Heathrow in May was on a 747 so that is likely to be our last Heathrow/747 flight. We are booked on VS001 to Newark in November, currently showing as a 340/600 (just about to book seats 4 & 5k) based on info above (thanks), really hoping though for a 787 that seems to operate that flight occasionally.

oldboy

[honey lamb]

I am heartbroken! I have flown in my last LHR 747 and that was in 2012 - the day my house was flooded. Seems appropriate as I feel like crying buckets at the thought!

Oh, I've flown with VS since then - on the 343s to and from Vancouver and I've also flown 747s with BA in First but it wasn't the same.

I've flown 'em all including Ruby Tuesday before she went over to LGW and was re-configured for that airport.

Oh, such memories!

My first VS 747 was to EWR way back in 2001 (I'd flown to JNB several times on the A343) and we were upgraded on the aircraft to UC as Aer John's PE seat was inoperable. They were the old J2000 seats.

Two years later (after a couple of forays in PE on the 747s to the USA when PE was on the upper deck) I bought our first UC flight to SFO. The T/A requested our seats and we were in 3A and C. In the meantime, VS announced the suites saying they would first start on the JFK and SFO route. Full of excitement, we headed to LHR only to learn that the configuration had not yet started. To add insult to injury, when we boarded the plane we were directed upstairs instead of into the nose as we confidently expected. In addition, across the aisle from us was a guy who could talk for England and get a gold medal and was obviously in training. He had a voice that carried throughout the entire cabin, ceasing only when he fell asleep in the last 90 minutes of the flight! We learned our lesson then and changed our seats for the return journey.

Since then, my 747 flights have mostly been to SFO and JFK with a couple of EWR and JNBs thrown into the mix. Some of them have been superlative like the one to EWR where the cabin crew gave me a bottle of champagne and chocolates to make up for a disappointing CH experience and then the same cabin crew turned up on an SFO flight the following year and remembered me , others have been excellent and what have kept me flying VS (and the 747s) but there has been the occasional lapse.

In November, I am due to fly to JNB on the 787. Maybe it will console me.

In the meantime, thank you LHR 747s and goodbye. I will miss you

[Darren Wheeler]

Not surprising really the LHR aircraft haven't received the TLC that LGW/MAN aircraft have in the last few years and are feeling their age inside.

G-VFAB Lady Penelope joined the fleet in 1994 and has done 100608 hours as of Dec 2014. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 27/4/16
G-VHOT Tubular Belle joined the fleet in 1994 and has done 94220 hours as of Dec 2013. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 11/10/15
G-VWOW - Cosmic Girl joined the fleet in 2001 and has done 57998 hours as of Dec 2013. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 12/12/15
G-VBIG Tinker Belle joined the fleet in 1994 and has done 85167 hours as of Dec 2013. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 09/06/16
G-VROC Mustang Sally joined the fleet in 2003 and has done 47732 hours as of Dec 2013. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 21/10/15. She still has some life left in her.

Mind you, some of the BA 747's have way more hours and are from the late 80's.

All data available from CAA GINFO - https://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx? ... 65&appid=1

Well guess who got all excited when I read the link cos the blacky clan are travelling out to JFK on the 15 th February and returning on the 20/21 February from JFK ,then I remembered we are flying back with bloody delta !!!!!!
Anyone think a phone call to FC might get me a change of flight on the 20th if I beg enough ?

I would have though G-VWOW or G-VROC having done less hours & are newer than G-VBIG , one of them would go to gatwick.

peter

[honey lamb]

Aaaw! G-VWOW. I flew her in my my first return trip on VS in 2001. The seats in PE were different and when I commented on it the cabin crew told me it was a brand new aircraft with new seats.

[mitchja]

I personally won't miss the VS LHR 747's as they are all showing their age in their cabins now...not to mention internal bits (almost) falling off them as well the other month (G-VFAB I'm looking at you lady!!!)

I remember getting G-VFAB when VS where rolling out the UCS as well...the last 744 to get the refurb and I got her along with her J2000 seats and the rubbish Arcadia IFE coming back from SFO about a week before she went to have the UCS upgrade.

I'm fairly sure G-VFAB fell out with me after and and hasn't liked me since!

Give me a VS B789 Dreamliner any day now!!!

I'll sure miss them...

I think the exclusivity of the UC nose section is unrivalled for the price.

Flying on one today to JFK, and got one on the return in 3 days

Close Call..... we are flying in Jan : LHR to MIA , in UC in 12A and 12K - we really will appreciate it ! even if it will look a bit shabby.....

I just checked and it looks like both legs of our NYC work trip will be on the 747. Sadly we're in PE, so looks like I'll not get chance to try out Upper :(

I for one will mourn thier departure from the fleet

buns

Me too buns! We've had some great flight on 747s - along with a few not so great ones - but we will be sad to see them go.

I think the exclusivity of the UC nose section is unrivalled for the price.

Definitely. BA have the same number of seats in the nose - but that's First Class where you're paying twice the price.

Apologies if this has been answered....

What will the routes that are currently flying the 747 out of LHR be replaced with, or has not been announced as yet?

I'm flying VS5 in February 17 (not long to wait lol) and am curious

Like others, I have a great fondness for the 747's - flown on VFAB, VWOW and VBIG in my time...

Tatty they may be, but the 747 has such a reassuring feel to it and a sound all of it's own.

Like PaulS, I too do most of my flying with BA these days, and have flown on more 777's than I care to think in recent years.

So, imagine my surprise, when I see that my flights to/from BOS are 747's (probably tatty as well, but it's still a jumbo!).

Just chiming in with my love of the 747's. A zone can't be beaten with the width and comfort. I even like the 5 seater bar where there is more room to eat and read the paper! I will certainly miss the VS19/20 on the 747's as I moved one of my flights the other week just to get on the VS19 747 instead of the VS41 A340. A VS captain a year or two back when we were chatting at the bar said 'enjoy them while you can'

Sad times.

Hi Guys - flew last month in Upper on 2 of Virgins LHR 747s and after all of the reviews I was expecting tatty interiors - I was pleasantly surprised on boarding to find the inner portion of the suite had been recovered with new fabric and brand new leather on the seats - I asked the crew at the bar and they said that although the LHR 747s were not being refurbed to Gatwick standards it was decided that Upper would have a small refresh to keep it line with brand standards.

Certainly both I flew on felt (and smelled) almost brand new (despite the ancient IFE) - does anyone know if all of the remaining 747s at LHR had the same Upper 'refresh'. I have another flight in Feb on a 747 which now appears to be the last ever!

We're out on VS1 in September. Checked seats again yesterday, 4A and 5A on the Dreamliner as booked. Decided to click through to seat map......just a minute, what's this? Changed to 747 and no thank you, I don't want to sit upstairs in 4A and 5A. Quick change and hooray , our favourite seats 15A & K in the A zone. Yes the 747s are looking their age (I share the feeling) and I do like the newest planes but we'll love what will probably be our final flight on a 747.

Not surprising really the LHR aircraft haven't received the TLC that LGW/MAN aircraft have in the last few years and are feeling their age inside.

G-VFAB Lady Penelope joined the fleet in 1994 and has done 100608 hours as of Dec 2014. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 27/4/16
G-VHOT Tubular Belle joined the fleet in 1994 and has done 94220 hours as of Dec 2013. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 11/10/15
G-VWOW - Cosmic Girl joined the fleet in 2001 and has done 57998 hours as of Dec 2013. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 12/12/15
G-VBIG Tinker Belle joined the fleet in 1994 and has done 85167 hours as of Dec 2013. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 09/06/16
G-VROC Mustang Sally joined the fleet in 2003 and has done 47732 hours as of Dec 2013. Her Airworthiness is due to expire 21/10/15. She still has some life left in her.

Mind you, some of the BA 747's have way more hours and are from the late 80's.

All data available from CAA GINFO - https://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx? ... 65&appid=1

So I'm guessing those dates are the rough retirement schedule? Or has anything else been announced yet?

Shame that VROC looks like it will be the first to go - the only VS 744 that I've not logged!