Virgin 747 Upper Class

Hi, does anyone know if there is a bar in UC . We were on V-BIG a couple of weeks ago and it was just a big blank table. Are they removing all the bars or were we just unlucky.

[mitchja]

Welcome to V:Flyer

You where just unlucky unfortunately as G-VBIG is the only VS aircraft with no bar fitted in the Upper Class cabin.

That particular aircraft was converted from it's former LHR cabin config to it's current LGW/MAN/GLA config a few months ago and for what ever reason, VS couldn't instal the smaller bar into it.

Only VS know the reason but I suspect it's probably something like the company that supplied it may no longer be in business etc. All fixtures and fittings installed in all UK registered aircraft have to undergo CAA certification so I guess VS deemed it too expensive and time-consuming to find a new supplier and then get the bar fixture certified.

Also, the current fleet of VS 744's have only got a few years service left in them now as well, as they are to be replaced with the brand new A350-1000 aircraft in a couple of years which is probably another reason why no bar was fitted on G-VBIG.

Not that im a complete alcholic but is there anyway of discovering which 747 is flying VS15 on the 3rd

[mitchja]

Not that im a complete alcholic but is there anyway of discovering which 747 is flying VS15 on the 3rd

Not until the day of your flight unfortunately.

Speaking with the FSM last week on my flight and the A330s will not have a bar after the refits

thanks, keeping on the vbig theme any ideas why the vs 16 was diverted to manchester last week?

Thanks for the info, lets hope we're not on V-BIG next September.

Speaking with the FSM last week on my flight and the A330s will not have a bar after the refits

That rumour's done the rounds before but a couple of people - including a VS crew member - suggested a month or so ago that it wasn't true:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=293703

So I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I don't think I'd miss the bar if it disappeared altogether.
I've only ever sat there for a posed photo before take off and I've rarely seen anyone else use it in flight.

Dick D

You where just unlucky unfortunately as G-VBIG is the only VS aircraft with no bar fitted in the Upper Class cabin.

That particular aircraft was converted from it's former LHR cabin config to it's current LGW/MAN/GLA config a few months ago and for what ever reason, VS couldn't instal the smaller bar into it.

G-VLIP is another 744 with no bar FYI. It was also converted from an LHR config to cover maintenance of other aircraft I believe. As to when it was converted I do not know, but alas, no bar

I really don't think the bar going is any great shame. Especially on the 787 where it is now just a table more so than the bar you get on the A340. The bar for me personally only seems useful if theres three or four of you travelling together which for me is rare and seems to be rare on VS250. With Emirates, Etihad etc putting showers and the like on their A380s its no great selling point. I do appreciate UC is a business class product (with first class ground service imo) but even so I would take more seats on the plane and hopefully upgrade availability etc over the bar. Or is the bars position linked to emergency exits safety regulations and the like ???

On a side note are Virgin likely to commit to their 6 A380s and if so what routes do people feel would be most likely leisure or heathrow ?

You where just unlucky unfortunately as G-VBIG is the only VS aircraft with no bar fitted in the Upper Class cabin.

That particular aircraft was converted from it's former LHR cabin config to it's current LGW/MAN/GLA config a few months ago and for what ever reason, VS couldn't instal the smaller bar into it.

G-VLIP is another 744 with no bar FYI. It was also converted from an LHR config to cover maintenance of other aircraft I believe. As to when it was converted I do not know, but alas, no bar

Don't know if you've got the wrong tag, but Hot Lips (G-VLIP) has definitely got a bar, it was infact one of the new 747's delivered to the Gatwick fleet around 2001 (a cancelled order originally from Alitalia) which I flew back in on the 3rd of this month.

David

I really don't think the bar going is any great shame. Especially on the 787 where it is now just a table more so than the bar you get on the A340. The bar for me personally only seems useful if theres three or four of you travelling together which for me is rare and seems to be rare on VS250.

After some initial shyness about the bar, MrsPJH and I try to make a point of using the bar to break up the journey and have a chat with passengers and crew. I appreciate the latter may be less possible now since the changes in crewing.

With Emirates, Etihad etc putting showers and the like on their A380s its no great selling point. I do appreciate UC is a business class product (with first class ground service imo) but even so I would take more seats on the plane and hopefully upgrade availability etc over the bar. Or is the bars position linked to emergency exits safety regulations and the like ???

But that's on their A380s and in First Class. Though the bar on the Emirates A380 is quite something, it is only on that airframe. Their 777 which are more equivalent to the VS fleet doesn't feature a bar.

On a side note are Virgin likely to commit to their 6 A380s and if so what routes do people feel would be most likely leisure or heathrow ?

I think the consensus is that they won't and have substituted with orders for A350 instead.

Don't know if you've got the wrong tag, but Hot Lips (G-VLIP) has definitely got a bar, it was infact one of the new 747's delivered to the Gatwick fleet around 2001 (a cancelled order originally from Alitalia) which I flew back in on the 3rd of this month.

As above, G-VLIP definitely has the small 2 seater UC bar in the Upper Class cabin - it was the first aircraft I flew Upper Class on back in 2006 (& have not looked back / turned right since then - apart from on Emirates on their A380 & 777 to get to the J cabin).

The Emirates J product / service on the A380 is excellent & their bar at the back is quite something. The Emirates J product on the 777 is a very poor relation to the A380. No direct aisle access for all in J due to the 2-3-2 config being the main letdown for me.

I really don't think the bar going is any great shame. Especially on the 787 where it is now just a table more so than the bar you get on the A340. The bar for me personally only seems useful if theres three or four of you travelling together which for me is rare and seems to be rare on VS250.

After some initial shyness about the bar, MrsPJH and I try to make a point of using the bar to break up the journey and have a chat with passengers and crew. I appreciate the latter may be less possible now since the changes in crewing.

With Emirates, Etihad etc putting showers and the like on their A380s its no great selling point. I do appreciate UC is a business class product (with first class ground service imo) but even so I would take more seats on the plane and hopefully upgrade availability etc over the bar. Or is the bars position linked to emergency exits safety regulations and the like ???

But that's on their A380s and in First Class. Though the bar on the Emirates A380 is quite something, it is only on that airframe. Their 777 which are more equivalent to the VS fleet doesn't feature a bar.

On a side note are Virgin likely to commit to their 6 A380s and if so what routes do people feel would be most likely leisure or heathrow ?

I think the consensus is that they won't and have substituted with orders for A350 instead.

I appreciate the shower and such is only for First Class I just meant people who don't fly regularly with Virgin aren't going be wowed by it considering the other offerings available in premium cabins. I wrongly assumed the bar was on all Emirates flights. I must have always got lucky and been on an A380.

I (again) wrongly assumed the A350 were A340 replacements rather than 747.I think its shame we are unlikely to see a VS A380 any time soon as people still go out of their way to book A380 flights.

The Emirates J product / service on the A380 is excellent & their bar at the back is quite something. The Emirates J product on the 777 is a very poor relation to the A380. No direct aisle access for all in J due to the 2-3-2 config being the main letdown for me.

If there are two of you travelling and can grab the window pairs the 777 product is OK , though it doesn't feature the soft drink mini bar. From our recent experience of 380 / 777 flights in sequence I'd say the service is better on the 777. Though the EK crew don't engage at the bar on a 380 the same way VS crew do (in my experience), it's set up and staffed throughout the flight, even on night flights.

I appreciate the shower and such is only for First Class I just meant people who don't fly regularly with Virgin aren't going be wowed by it considering the other offerings available in premium cabins. I wrongly assumed the bar was on all Emirates flights. I must have always got lucky and been on an A380.

I (again) wrongly assumed the A350 were A340 replacements rather than 747.I think its shame we are unlikely to see a VS A380 any time soon as people still go out of their way to book A380 flights.

I'd select VS Upper Class over Emirates Business Class on a 777 without a doubt. The food may be a bit better on Emirates, but I want direct aisle access - no climbing over someone else or, worse still, getting the middle seat of the 3. I also prefer the Upper Class seat for the bit of privacy it offers & also the fact the bed mattress is a different material to the seat. (I know some people don't like the latter as you have to stand up to put the seat into flat bed mode - but this does not bother me).

Given that Emirates has over 150 777's, you stand a good chance of getting one - particularly on the less prestigious routes.

I'd select VS Upper Class over Emirates Business Class on a 777 without a doubt. The food may be a bit better on Emirates, but I want direct aisle access - no climbing over someone else or, worse still, getting the middle seat of the 3. I also prefer the Upper Class seat for the bit of privacy it offers & also the fact the bed mattress is a different material to the seat. (I know some people don't like the latter as you have to stand up to put the seat into flat bed mode - but this does not bother me).
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As would I, if the prices were comparable.

Looks like I'm on G-VBIG today. Not bothered by the lack of bar and it will prevent interlopers from elsewhere hogging it!

I'd select VS Upper Class over Emirates Business Class on a 777 without a doubt. The food may be a bit better on Emirates, but I want direct aisle access - no climbing over someone else or, worse still, getting the middle seat of the 3. I also prefer the Upper Class seat for the bit of privacy it offers & also the fact the bed mattress is a different material to the seat. (I know some people don't like the latter as you have to stand up to put the seat into flat bed mode - but this does not bother me).
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As would I, if the prices were comparable.

Me too

[honey lamb]

I'd select VS Upper Class over Emirates Business Class on a 777 without a doubt. The food may be a bit better on Emirates, but I want direct aisle access - no climbing over someone else or, worse still, getting the middle seat of the 3. I also prefer the Upper Class seat for the bit of privacy it offers & also the fact the bed mattress is a different material to the seat. (I know some people don't like the latter as you have to stand up to put the seat into flat bed mode - but this does not bother me).
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As would I, if the prices were comparable.

Me too

And me