Virgin's 2 Cabin A330-200's

Morning,
First time posting on here, signposted from Trip Advisors forums. Just a quick one really regarding the 2 cabin fleet that are due to start operating soon. Anyone got any idea exactly when?
For my upcoming trip to the states in October, I'm due to be on one of these for the first leg of my journey from MAN to SFO, and, as we're down for economy, was wondering whether its worthwhile paying the £30 to reserve one of the window pairs now (travelling as a couple), paying the extra £20 on top of that pp to go for extra legroom, or just waiting until T-72 as we are both FC Red to hopefully still have some availability in one of the window pairs without forking out the £60 needed to reserve any earlier?
Any helpful advice would be appreciated

Well none of us can predict the future (or we'd be down the newsagents choosing the right 6 numbers on the lottery now!)... however, I know on the 747's that the eight pairs of seats right at the back of Economy are normally very popular with couples. These are the only eight pairs of seats on a 747 in economy though - everything else is 3-4-3 downstairs or 3-3 upstairs.

If it's any help, I've looked on ExpertFlyer at LHR-JFK for 1st October on a A330 flight (so seating 2-4-2 in economy). There is only one window-pair of seats taken so far (so the pax clearly decided to pay to reserve).

Depending on your plans on arrival in SFO, paying to reserve a window-pair of seats at the front of the economy cabin (where the one pair taken on the LHR-JFK is!) could save you a lot of time in immigration. That said, you could get lucky at T-72 and get a window pair for free - probably not at the front though.

To be honest, we're only in SFO for a connection, but have plenty of time there before our onward flight (approx 4.5-5 hours now the MAN-SFO flight have been brought forward by the schedule changes) and as we're in Delta's domestic First Class for our other two short flights on the day, we have Sky Priority included so being at the back of the queue for immigration, as painfully long as the queue might be, will still leave plenty of time for us to grab some refreshments once back through into the Departure Lounge at SFO.
Main reason for bringing it up on here is that I'd heard somewhere that a couple of routes had already begun to operate the new layout, not sure of which routes however, and also have my doubts on the validity of that info, with the VA website stating they should be in operation from next month.

[mitchja]

VS's first 'revenue' flight using the A332's was only yesterday as they operated a charter flight to/from MIA.

They go into full service next month up at MAN.

For some strange reason, VS seem to have now removed the info about the A332's from their website in the travel news section?

Just a question about the A330-2s, they're here to help out during the 787 engine replacement program but what's the longer term plans for them? Are they being used on the Manchester leisure fleet to increase frequency? From a purely selfish point of view I'm hoping one could run a year-round service from Glasgow.

I would suggest booking the window seats in a pair plus doing the extra legroom seats..


Money well spent on a long flight

Just a question about the A330-2s, they're here to help out during the 787 engine replacement program but what's the longer term plans for them? Are they being used on the Manchester leisure fleet to increase frequency? From a purely selfish point of view I'm hoping one could run a year-round service from Glasgow.

The reports on here and elsewhere have said the leases are for 4 years, so make of that what you will. Although the press reported they would be dedicated to MAN, they're not being used on all flights (e.g. JFK through the summer is now 747's and MCO will remain 747 as present) and they're also operating some flights to the Caribbean from LGW.

As it stands at the minute, my LAS -MAN flight this October is due to be on a 744, so I'd be assuming there are still several routes out of Manchester that are not being operated by the 332's, although this could obviously change.

Just noticed G-VMIK is on the VS127 to New York today.

Yep V-GMIK positioned in advance of starting ops on the 1st and G-VMNK moved up north yesterday from Gatwick. Interested to see if VS have done anything inside to them, doubtful, other than installing Vera.

[mitchja]

Interested to see if VS have done anything inside to them, doubtful, other than installing Vera.

I dont even think they have done that as they are using the existing AVOD system as VS are calling it 'Zodiac'. I bet they have just re-skinned the user interface.

Noticed G-VWND moved on the 8th from LGW to Cambridge for painting. Isn't there a 4th and have I missed the registration and name ?

Noticed G-VWND moved on the 8th from LGW to Cambridge for painting. Isn't there a 4th and have I missed the registration and name ?

Strawberry Fields (G-VLNM)

Thanks for the info